100 watt amps. Do you really need that much power?

[B2D]

Re: 100 watt amps. Do you really need that much power?

I run a 100 watt Carvin Legacy and that amp doesn’t have the Marshall thing where it needs to be up around 5 to sound good, but it starts rattling windows at around 3 on the volume knob. I love the actual tone of the amp but I have never needed quite that much power. I usually keep an attenuator on it to keep it under control. The only situation where I found the extra power useful was playing outdoors without being miced through a PA, where your sound just disperses a lot. I think the maximum amount of power I’d ever need would be a 50 watt tube halfstack or combo. I say halfstack because I love the bottom end the overall dimension a 4x12 gives you.30 watts would be perfect for most gigs but I haven’t found a 30W EL34 powered amp that I like yet.

100W of tube power has it’s uses but IMO they’re few and far between.

[nepalnt21]

Re: 100 watt amps. Do you really need that much power?

i think the most wattage i would EVER want would be like 40. 20 is also plenty.

[Axl H]

Re: 100 watt amps. Do you really need that much power?

Well... It is a tough one.. I have a big love for old 100watt Marshalls, and high power 80s and 90s high gain amps.

But after I got my 4x12.. My 50watt engl is plenty loud for what I want ATM.


That said, if I got a arena gig, I will get a bunch of plexis or Screamers as my backline.. At least 3 and 6 4x12

its also a matter of what you are looking for in the amplifier. One guy wants headroom, and will rather use pedals to get drive, while some like me, drives the power amp, and someone does a whole different thing.

[Christobevii3]

Re: 100 watt amps. Do you really need that much power?

I'd be happy with an amp that had a 5w and 1watt switch...

[The Golden Boy]

Re: 100 watt amps. Do you really need that much power?

I'd be happy with an amp that had a 5w and 1watt switch...

Could you hear yourself over drums?

[Markk]

Re: 100 watt amps. Do you really need that much power?

i definately dont need all 120w of my XXX......but it sounds so threatening

That's key. If you can't outplay your rivals, you can atleast blow them all away by the power of your gear!

[Pete Galati]

Re: 100 watt amps. Do you really need that much power?

High power tube amps are great. But they're not for everyone, and not everyone should use the things.

I have a SoundCity SC120 head that Doug Roccaforte rebuilt and using a Marshall Masterlead style preamp section. There's nothing like having that much power behind your sound. And it's not really that much about being loud either. There's just a very thick, solid sound behind you.

I haven't pulled that amp out in a while because it's just an insane amount of power. And even though I usually use a JTM45, or a cathode biased SF Bassman (both have more power than I need) the SC120 is just pure magic.

Almost nobody actually needs 100 or 120watt amps, but there's more to having that much power than db levels or bragging rights.

4 to 6 EL34 tubes singing together, and large output tranformers, sound great.

Pete

[Sleeping Martyr]

Re: 100 watt amps. Do you really need that much power?

In a band setting I never turn my 50 watt >50 caliber over 3 . . . . anymore and the rhythm section begins to *****!! hahahaha