This isnt meant to be a slam towards anybody and what they buy, but the thread about the new Joe Satriani amp got me wondering. 120 watts. Man, that is a LOT of power. Unless one is playing in some VERY big places is that much power really needed? Once just for kicks I asked a buddy if I could borrow his 100 watt Marshall. OH MY GAWD!! It was frightening how loud that thing had to be to sound good. I use a Peavey Classic 30 with Eurotubes. Between a touch of compression here, a tad of EQ there and my Tonebone Hot British thru the clean channel that little amp just screams. I just cant imagine the need for more power. Again, not slamming, just wondering. Peace.
100 watt amps. Do you really need that much power?
- Thread starter Mike M.
- Start date
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Lewguitar
Guest
Re: 100 watt amps. Do you really need that much power?
I say no. Not only do we not need to play that loud, it's bad for our health. At 54, my hearing is all but shot from abuse. I get the best tone I've ever got in my life these days (if I could only hear it! :smack: ) playing through two 20 watt amps in stereo. I play through two Fender 50's 5E3 Deluxes or two Fender '67 blackface Deluxe Reverbs. I put 'em up about 15" off of the floor, spread them about 3' apart and the tone is everything I wished I had in the 70's and 80's when I did this for a living! I've gigged with a pair of my small amps a bunch and I've never needed more volume. If I did, I'd just bring a third one. Satriani doesn't even need those big amps...he often records with a 20 watt amp. Lew
I say no. Not only do we not need to play that loud, it's bad for our health. At 54, my hearing is all but shot from abuse. I get the best tone I've ever got in my life these days (if I could only hear it! :smack: ) playing through two 20 watt amps in stereo. I play through two Fender 50's 5E3 Deluxes or two Fender '67 blackface Deluxe Reverbs. I put 'em up about 15" off of the floor, spread them about 3' apart and the tone is everything I wished I had in the 70's and 80's when I did this for a living! I've gigged with a pair of my small amps a bunch and I've never needed more volume. If I did, I'd just bring a third one. Satriani doesn't even need those big amps...he often records with a 20 watt amp. Lew
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Falstaff
Guest
Re: 100 watt amps. Do you really need that much power?
Big wattage amps were necessary before amps were mic'd, but the trend seems to be towards smaller amps these days.
Big wattage amps were necessary before amps were mic'd, but the trend seems to be towards smaller amps these days.
Pandemonium
New member
Re: 100 watt amps. Do you really need that much power?
If you get your crunch and distortion with pedals you could use the extra headroom to your advantage I suppose, but for me even 50 watts is too much.
If you get your crunch and distortion with pedals you could use the extra headroom to your advantage I suppose, but for me even 50 watts is too much.
Young Angus
Kometose Tonologist
Re: 100 watt amps. Do you really need that much power?
I say definitely not...
*sheppishly looks over at ENGL Savage120*
I say definitely not...
*sheppishly looks over at ENGL Savage120*
TwilightOdyssey
Darkness on the edge of Tone
Re: 100 watt amps. Do you really need that much power?
I love my 100W heads!! Granted, I usually play at around 3 on the master volume, which is very loud, but my band is very loud, with the drums just playing acoustically. When recording, I crank the amps to about 4. I've played many places where I've had the master volume on 4 and it sounded adequate for what we're doing.
You get a lot more dynamic range out of a 100W head, and I play through a full stack, which really needs to have the horsepower.
I love the Classic 30, I think it's a nice little amp, but for my style of music, the Engl/EL34 100/100 combo is the bare minimum entrance price. If I played the Classic 30 at rehearsal, I would never he heard.
I love my 100W heads!! Granted, I usually play at around 3 on the master volume, which is very loud, but my band is very loud, with the drums just playing acoustically. When recording, I crank the amps to about 4. I've played many places where I've had the master volume on 4 and it sounded adequate for what we're doing.
You get a lot more dynamic range out of a 100W head, and I play through a full stack, which really needs to have the horsepower.
I love the Classic 30, I think it's a nice little amp, but for my style of music, the Engl/EL34 100/100 combo is the bare minimum entrance price. If I played the Classic 30 at rehearsal, I would never he heard.
Re: 100 watt amps. Do you really need that much power?
need a 100w? no. but its nice to know that i have it, when i need it. i played an out door gig last summer and i had my twin cranked and it still sounded weak on stage. sounded killer front of house though
need a 100w? no. but its nice to know that i have it, when i need it. i played an out door gig last summer and i had my twin cranked and it still sounded weak on stage. sounded killer front of house though
TwilightOdyssey
Darkness on the edge of Tone
Re: 100 watt amps. Do you really need that much power?
And for the record, I always wear earplugs at rehearsals and shows.
And for the record, I always wear earplugs at rehearsals and shows.
italic zero
New member
Re: 100 watt amps. Do you really need that much power?
I'm selling my 100 watt Marshall... too much power for me. I've only gigged with my Screamer 50 once, I had it on around 5 in a large room setting. At a large gig I could concievably crank it, it has a nice amount of power and headroom for me.
I'm selling my 100 watt Marshall... too much power for me. I've only gigged with my Screamer 50 once, I had it on around 5 in a large room setting. At a large gig I could concievably crank it, it has a nice amount of power and headroom for me.
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Lewguitar
Guest
Re: 100 watt amps. Do you really need that much power?
That's cuz you play to loud!
TwilightOdyssey said:
That's cuz you play to loud!
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TheProphet
Guest
Re: 100 watt amps. Do you really need that much power?
No ... it's because Drummers don't have volume control.
Standing next to a drummer's crash symbol teaches you the value of earplugs
Lewguitar said:That's cuz you play to loud!
No ... it's because Drummers don't have volume control.
Standing next to a drummer's crash symbol teaches you the value of earplugs
Young Angus
Kometose Tonologist
Re: 100 watt amps. Do you really need that much power?
Tell me about it! Drums wreck your ears faster than anything!
Tell me about it! Drums wreck your ears faster than anything!
papersoul
New member
Re: 100 watt amps. Do you really need that much power?
I used tube heads since I was 15, but now I just take my Line 6 Vetta II head to practice and gigs. Does me fine.
One thing I hate concerning volume is that we play louder at rehearsal than gigs. :smack: I am usually the last one at practice and the guys are cranked! Especially our lead singer/guitarist....has his amp cranked and it's solid state. I have to turn way up to compete or crank the mids......crazy. They won't listen! :smack:
I used tube heads since I was 15, but now I just take my Line 6 Vetta II head to practice and gigs. Does me fine.
One thing I hate concerning volume is that we play louder at rehearsal than gigs. :smack: I am usually the last one at practice and the guys are cranked! Especially our lead singer/guitarist....has his amp cranked and it's solid state. I have to turn way up to compete or crank the mids......crazy. They won't listen! :smack:
kmcguitars
GuitarArtologist
Re: 100 watt amps. Do you really need that much power?
It's nice to have a 100 watter in your arsenal, But for most gigs it's overkill.
Years ago I used a 135 watt Twin in small clubs (volume on 8 !!) I was drowning out the drummer (who was a hard hitter) make 'in him play harder
and his meter faster. And the singer was blowing his voice out. So no matter
how good I played or my tone was, I was make'in my band sound like crap. :blackeye: So It smartend up and retired the Twin , And brought a
15 watt Princeton Reverb. :13: That's all I needed !!
It's nice to have a 100 watter in your arsenal, But for most gigs it's overkill.
Years ago I used a 135 watt Twin in small clubs (volume on 8 !!) I was drowning out the drummer (who was a hard hitter) make 'in him play harder
and his meter faster. And the singer was blowing his voice out. So no matter
how good I played or my tone was, I was make'in my band sound like crap. :blackeye: So It smartend up and retired the Twin , And brought a
15 watt Princeton Reverb. :13: That's all I needed !!
