That FOH issue is a big deal. If you're too loud on stage the sound guy can't fix that, unless there is someone else nearby to run up and adjust it.
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Your amp is probably enough
- Thread starter Jared Houseman
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Outside is so much harder. I have a small PA setup I roll with for that with a sub and 2 1x10 cabs.
Dual fridge, yeah where's the cartoon image of the walls being blown out?
I suspect you meant this as a joke but it is more than a little bit true; if you're playing bass that does matter. Feel the shake.What good is it to be heard if you can't be felt?
Yep I have played in a quiet church setup where a drummer used brushes; my little 40 watt Rumble, though not shaking the floor, was loud enough to be heard. A minimark was definitely enough in that scenario.
Everything is relative. In high school I had a Gorilla, and when I got to borrow one of these from school for the weekend it was finally enough. Really, way more than enough. Even now it's hard to imagine a situation where it wouldn't do in a pinch.
I've started to gigi with a Fender BXR 100 watts combo 1x 15. To be able to hear myself with a non loud band (only 1 guitar, 1 keys and 1 singer then the drummer and me), i've to push it way under the clean limit and sound was awfull.
I've switched to a GK700 RB 1x15 combo (320 watts under 8 ohms) and suddenly all was Ok: awesome sound and no more volume problem. I could clearly hear myself without get all the guts out of the beast turning it in a death metal singer.
Today i'm still with a GK 700RB head in a 2x12 - 8ohms. And the actual key-man + sax-man + drummer are making more noise than the ex band guys.
This is such a solid beast. Feast your eyes on: CHOAD HAMMER. A Peavey TNT130 that will melt your brain and turn you insane!!!! Nobody can handle the torturous power and frankly, the mild disgust, yet, moth to a flame curiosity the beast exudes. It boggles the mind .......
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If I can punch through a 25 piece big band in a 1500 seat auditorium using a 1x12 combo, 200w, I'll assume you have to reach ridiculous volume levels to warrant the setups some of us are lugging around.
I too wonder about the fascination with more and more powerful amps, same as I wonder about people owning bigger and bigger cars etc when a small hatchback will almost always do.
In my opinion and experience, I only need to pitch my volume to the acoustic drums, as if it's any louder we'll all be going in the PA anyway.....
However, I'm in the "each to their own" category....
In my opinion and experience, I only need to pitch my volume to the acoustic drums, as if it's any louder we'll all be going in the PA anyway.....
However, I'm in the "each to their own" category....
When I turn classD combo volume more than half way, it get louder but speaker wants to jump out and sound is to overdriven. With ext cab, i can turn the volume much more than half a way without distortion and it gets louder and louder.
However, with classD Ampeg head plugget into 410 + 210 speaker, I can turn the volume all the way up to the end, and it gets louder continuously from 1 to 10 (leaving the gain and not touching it below the drive limit).
I’ve seen too much not to bring an amp and cab that can be loud enough for any situation.
One of my favorite examples was a show where we were told not to bring a guitar cab.
When we arrived the “sound engineer” told us to turn on the guitar players tube amp without a cab connected to it and he would grab the sound from the effect send from effects loop…
One of my favorite examples was a show where we were told not to bring a guitar cab.
When we arrived the “sound engineer” told us to turn on the guitar players tube amp without a cab connected to it and he would grab the sound from the effect send from effects loop…
I used to own a Roland Cube, the 100W one with a 12" Coaxial speaker from about the mid 2000s - loved that amp! Oh, and it kept up; loud drummer, acoustic rhythm guitar, lead on a Fender Delux. Yep, it kept up. And then it farted out and died. I always wished I'd bought 2 or 3 when they were really cheap here on clearance and stacked them but I didn't. So it farted out and died. I'm not wanting to be rude but if you run amps, or engines for that matter, flat out all the time they wear out much faster!
Now I have 2 x 200W EA Wizzy 12 M-Lines that I just love but they're not enough for one project and if that project gets up I'll be going for more power rather than damage my favourite rig. Lesson learnt for me.
Now I have 2 x 200W EA Wizzy 12 M-Lines that I just love but they're not enough for one project and if that project gets up I'll be going for more power rather than damage my favourite rig. Lesson learnt for me.
Everything depends very much of the band and place where you rehearsing. In the beginning, i use to rehearsal with my rock band on my garage, with a lot of reverb which bundle the sound very much. My 100w "Meteoro" amplifier was always on the limit. Moving into a closed room, improved things a little bit, but with two guitarrists and a exibicionist drummer didn't not facilitate. I had to change to a Hartke HA350w amp with a VX115 cabinet to finally equal things.
But when we've played on open air the sound was much better, close to a studio. And i notice that with other less noisy bands 100w could be enough. So, from my own experience, 300/350w its all you need, 500w i think it won't be necessary in most of the cases, you will just drop more money out.
But when we've played on open air the sound was much better, close to a studio. And i notice that with other less noisy bands 100w could be enough. So, from my own experience, 300/350w its all you need, 500w i think it won't be necessary in most of the cases, you will just drop more money out.
I had a TNT130 as my second amp, first one was a 50w 12" Peavey Basic 12. That TNT130 did a good job, for what it was, but once I got something better I realized how it was actually barely getting by and I didnt know it. I agree, I could still make that work today in a pinch, but it would be no different than in 1984, it would be barely getting by.
I for one never said everyone has to have at least 500w and an 810, my only quibble is the statement in the OP that bass players in punk bands with a 100w 12" combo, loud guitars and hard hitting drummers and no FOH have no problems being heard, which is not at all what I have experienced. From my experience, 200-300 solid state watts and a 410/212/215 is probably the minimum for your average punk/rock/alt band, for less loud music a single 12 or 15 would absolutely work. My current rig is a GK 400RB IV, 280w and for me it works with whatever combination of one 15, two 15s or SWR Henry 8x8 cabinets I need. All of my stuff I bought used for cheap and it blows an Ampeg/Fender 210 combo out of the water, except for the weight.
Broke college kids ( I was one once so I know what its like) would be better served looking for good cheap used stuff in pawn shops instead of making a 12" combo "work".
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We have some 20mph speed limits around here. When I'm driving at 20 mph the car is telling me I'm getting between 70-80 miles per gallon.
Same with amps. A 500 watt amp running at half power sounds much better than a 250 watt amp running flat out. A good 800 watt amp can sound even better when handling a lack of FOH and outdoor gigs. All of my amps, 500, 700 and 800 watts, sound great when I practise at home and am running at a whisper,
My guess is that our amps will last longer, with fewer problems, if we are running them at a comfortable level.
Having a powerful amp doesn't mean you have to use all the watts every time. Our sound is better when we're using a lot less than full power and I like the concept of one amp to rule them all. The best amps are more flexible and sound better across their range from 1 to 11.
Same with amps. A 500 watt amp running at half power sounds much better than a 250 watt amp running flat out. A good 800 watt amp can sound even better when handling a lack of FOH and outdoor gigs. All of my amps, 500, 700 and 800 watts, sound great when I practise at home and am running at a whisper,
My guess is that our amps will last longer, with fewer problems, if we are running them at a comfortable level.
Having a powerful amp doesn't mean you have to use all the watts every time. Our sound is better when we're using a lot less than full power and I like the concept of one amp to rule them all. The best amps are more flexible and sound better across their range from 1 to 11.
I have a Fender Rumble 100 and it's hardly enough when used indoors with a loud drummer and guitar player. Outdoors? I wouldn't even try without PA support.
I believe the more power you have, the better. You can always turn the volume down, but there's a limit when turning the volume up and I like to have that limit as high as possible.
I believe the more power you have, the better. You can always turn the volume down, but there's a limit when turning the volume up and I like to have that limit as high as possible.
