Is 30 Watts Enough?

[1,000 Watts]

I went to Guitar center this week-end and picked out a new amp. I didn't order it or put it on lay-away..I just picked it out... Now - My current amplifier is only 15 Watts...and it seems as if it would be useless to get new pick-ups (Duncans) with a low-quality 15 Watt Amp...So I was wondering if a Line 6 Spider III 30 Watt Combo Amplifier would do the trick. Thank you.

[sosomething]

Re: Is 30 Watts Enough?

It's not a matter of watts... it's a matter of tone. If I were you, I'd do a little more looking. There are a number of great-sounding 30-watt amps out there, but I wouldn't count the Spyder among them.

[Baltar]

Re: Is 30 Watts Enough?

tricky question. depends on so many variables

-what kind of music do you play?
-how loud does your band play - which is hard for you to tell us now?
-are you the only guitarist in your band?
-what gigs do you plam to do with it? practice? club? hall? open air?

without really nowing the amp, i'd say that a medium/high
volume rock gig in a small club shouldn't be an issue with an celestion 12"
loaded combo. but it also depends on the efficiency of the line 6's circuits.
i know, that i couldn't play a band practice with a vox ad-30 which is a
10" 30watt ss modeling combo. so i'm unsure to tell you, because the amp
you mention is also 30W ss. if it would be an all tube combo i'd say go for it.
there can be a big difference in 30 tube watts and 30 ss-watts.

[GuitarStv]

Re: Is 30 Watts Enough?

If you're worried about volume, remember that speaker efficiency has AT LEAST as much to do with your volume as the wattage. . . a 15 watt amp with an 8 inch speaker is a practice amp, while a 30 watt amp with 2 efficient 12 inch speakers will be giggable.

[louthunder]

Re: Is 30 Watts Enough?

The Line 6 is a solid state amp, so 30 watts does'nt go very far. On the other hand 30 tube powered watts could be plenty for many applications. I say no to that particular amp. Line 6 makes bigger amps, if your interested in doing live shows with it.

[Simon_F]

Re: Is 30 Watts Enough?

From your user name I'm guessing it might not be

As others have said it really depends on what you want to use it for - what style of music, home practice vs. rehearsals vs. gigs, whether you will be miked up etc.

[paytojt]

Re: Is 30 Watts Enough?

I'd definitely go the tube route unless money is an issue. I had a 100 watt line 6 a few years ago and my 30 watt Mesa F30 is as loud on 3 as that was on 7! If money is a question, go with the Vox modelers over line 6.

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Re: Is 30 Watts Enough?

whether you will be miked up

This is a great point to consider. With today's PA systems, you can mic a small amp and have it hit the audience loud 'n' clear. In that situation, fifteen watts is plenty of power.

- Keith

[Robert Delahunt]

Re: Is 30 Watts Enough?

Enough for what? No, it's never enough!

Want a nice 50 watt amp? Peavey Delta Blues.

Want a nice 100 watt amp? Fender Twin Reverb.

Etc etc ad nauseum.

[Zerberus]

Re: Is 30 Watts Enough?

I went to Guitar center this week-end and picked out a new amp. I didn't order it or put it on lay-away..I just picked it out... Now - My current amplifier is only 15 Watts...and it seems as if it would be useless to get new pick-ups (Duncans) with a low-quality 15 Watt Amp...So I was wondering if a Line 6 Spider III 30 Watt Combo Amplifier would do the trick. Thank you.

THe main question : Enough for WHAT??

1 watt is enough for Bedroom Volume, and 2x150 watts pushing 4 4x12s can still not be enough at some open air gigs.

Please narrow your intended use for this amplifier down to something between those extremes. Dito for musical style, a Clean blues amp and a Death Metal amp rarely have much in Common

[RW James]

Re: Is 30 Watts Enough?

I am guessing that you are selecting a Spider because of funding issues. I have a Spider amp (Spider II 112 65 watts) and from my experience, I think you can do better.

I bought the amp because of the Line 6 name, and while Line 6 makes great products, the Spider line is at the bottom. I think a 30 watt Spider may actually sound louder than other solid state 30 watt amps - not sure why, but that's the experience I have.

But -- since you mentioned you will be getting new pickups -- my biggest complaint is getting consistent response form the Spider with different pickups and pickup combinations.

I changed all three of the pickups on my strat clone and it worked great through all my amps except the Spider. Depending on which position the 5 way switch was in, the sound levels were unpredictable. Very frustrating.

Again - I think you can do better.

[I_M_Ken]

Re: Is 30 Watts Enough?

save urself the trouble and dont bother about Line 6 Spiders pls...they are horrible IMO. very digital sounding. even with duncans it'd sound the same as if u are using stocks.

[1,000 Watts]

Re: Is 30 Watts Enough?

Okay..This wqill hopefully help -

I'm looking for a good amplifier - meaning tone, and volume.

I play mostly in my room, sometimes I practice with my step-dad.

I am NOT in a band.

I like to play very loud when i am alone

I need an amplifier that will really help emphasize the sound from the pick-ups you know?

And i have a budget of about $250...

[Robert Delahunt]

Re: Is 30 Watts Enough?

Okay..This wqill hopefully help -
I'm looking for a good amplifier - meaning tone, and volume.
I play mostly in my room, sometimes I practice with my step-dad.
I am NOT in a band.
I like to play very loud when i am alone
I need an amplifier that will really help emphasize the sound from the pick-ups you know?
And i have a budget of about $250...

How loud do you like to play when you're alone?

For just in a room, a Fender Blues Junior or any other small tube amp, or even solid state amp, would work. However, very loud is a subjective thing. I've played the Blues Junior and it can get pretty loud, but it's not big. There are some smallish Marshall tube amps with onboard effects which actually aren't bad, and I've played a couple (they have the gold faceplate). As for bigger, I've played a 50W Peavey Delta Blues, it's got plenty of punch if you want loud. Then there's the Twin Reverb by Fender, which I own a 1972 model. It's VERY loud at 100W.

So it's really how loud do you want for what you do? Do you have effects pedals? Honestly, for bedroom, a Blues Junior, or any 15W or less tube amp will do fine (even a 1W mini-tube-amp).

[I_M_Ken]

Re: Is 30 Watts Enough?

i think $250 can get u a used Peavey Classic 30.
maybe even a vox ad30?
the Peavey is tube, the Vox ad is solid state.

personally i'd get the peavey classic 30
i dont have experience with many amps and thats one of the good small tube amps i've tried