Amp choice for the poor

[stratovarius]

Hey guys, my band "Seraphim" is playing some venues and I love my Crate Blue Voodoo to death. The problem is it's only 60 watts and I'm ALWAYS up all the way and it's not enough. I hate to part with it but what am I gonna do. I need a amp UNDER 500$ that is 100 watts or higher and preferably a combo. I've been looking at a Line 6 Spider 2 2/12 combo. Any thoughts on that amp? And any suggestions to help me out?

 

[hellrider77]

Re: Amp choice for the poor

hmmm. i never had aproblem with my voodoo beein loud enough. they will rock just about anyplace. ive also had the 120 watt voodoo head and its just too loud for most places. maybe your tubes are goin out. have a few things checked on it. you shouldnt have much problems nailin folks to the wall with a 60 wattt voodoo unless you playin a colloseum or stadium. hope this helps
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beer and strippers are proof that god wants us to be happy

 

[gordon_39422]

Re: Amp choice for the poor

I played through a Line 6 Duoverb until recently. People have complained about these modelling amps cutting through the mix, but we solved that problem when running it through the PA. I can't say for sure about the Spiders, as I have never gigged with one, but I hated to part with my Duoverb. You guys must not be running a PA. Otherwise, you could simply mic the Crate. I guess, this was a pointless posting to your thread, sorry. I have no idea what you could get for under $500 that would cut through anymore than your current 60-watt amp without using a PA.

 

[hellrider77]

Re: Amp choice for the poor

thats a good idea gordon. maybe instead of gettin another amd you should invest in a cheap PA. it's a thought anyways
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beer and strippers are proof that god wants us to be happy

 

[aestus]

Re: Amp choice for the poor

Your crate should be way more than enough..... Sounds like the power tubes might need replacing.

Actually, now that I think of it.... do you scoop all yoru mids out? I know a lot of metal players make the mistake of sucking out too much mids when they play. Sounds great in the bedroom, but will not cut when played live. I forgot the exact ratio, but a tech told me that for every 5 decibels of sound, you need x amount more mids to get what you hear in your bedroom. Meaning if you like your mids at 3 at bedroom settings, you need to set it at 5 when you crank it live. There was an old interview with metalica and I remember reading that they too keep their mids at around 3-5 depending on the venue when they play live. They get their brutal scooped sound on recordings by layering supwards to 13-20 guitar tracks for the rhythm.

If you dont' play metal and scoop your mids, then ignore what I just said above

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Amp choice for the poor

Do you mic the amp? If not, why not give that a shot?

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: Amp choice for the poor

Going from 60 watts to 100 watts isnt a big jump in volume. I'm inclined to think that there is something wrong with the amp a blue voodoo with the master on 10 is a feedbackin mother with the preamp up very high. Get the amp checked out then look into sending your rig through the PA... You will get better sound spread that way anyways instead of tearing the head off of anyone standing in front of the amp and having people in the corners who cant hear you...

 

[stratovarius]

Re: Amp choice for the poor

Sorry guys, im not the usual moron metal player, I have my mids at 6. I like my mids. So you really thing the tubes might be old? I bought it in Spetember and the tubes were unknown agewise. Maybe I'll get that checked out. I still need info on that spyder 2 though.

 

[NT02]

Re: Amp choice for the poor

I can't imagine maxing out the volume on a 60w tube amp in a normal band environment. That's awful loud, and should drown out an un-mic'd drummer. I used to keep my 60w Fender around 4, and it went to 12. We didn't play quitely, either. I say the tube check is a great idea.

 

[funkywrench]

Re: Amp choice for the poor

Correct me if i'm wrong, but i can't imagine that 100 watts of solid state/modeler would be louder than an all valve amp.

I think that maybe something is wrong with the amp. If you decide to get an new amp, maybe look around first. I have a mate with the 100 watt stack version of the spider II, and while it sounds alright at lower volumes, it loses a bit of its "magic" at higher volumes.

 

[proxy]

Re: Amp choice for the poor

I can't imagine maxing out the volume on a 60w tube amp in a normal band environment. That's awful loud, and should drown out an un-mic'd drummer. I used to keep my 60w Fender around 4, and it went to 12. We didn't play quitely, either. I say the tube check is a great idea.

+1 I had a 100 watt amp that I brought down to 50 watt and I still don'y crank it much even when we play out.

 

[aleclee]

Re: Amp choice for the poor

+ another one who believes that a 60W tube amp should be able to keep up. In such a situation, power tubes are the first thing to check.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Amp choice for the poor

Im also gonna jump on the boat...60 watts is more that enought power...make sure the amp is in top notch running contition. As for the spider that is the ONLY Line 6 amp that gets less that rave reviews, if that helps at all

 

[BigBazz]

Re: Amp choice for the poor

just so you know for my 5150 its 120 watts. at 60 watts i would lose 3db of the maximum volume. 60 watts is more than enough for any amp. if you want to go louder im afraid its probably better investing in some more speakers (a 2x12 or 4x12 external cabinet). ive been running a jcm800 type amp that runs at 12 watts through one 6l6 valve and through my marshall 4x12 its loud enough to play most venues. to top this off a 60watt valve/tube amp will equal considerably more volume than any solid state amp, marshall, line6 and fender all have redicoulously powered solid state amps and my 5150 valve amp (curently at 120watts with 4 year old valves due to be changed in a week) can match thier volumes easy and sounds a lot better at high volumes.

oh and your amp is in a different league to a spider. i think you would be disapointed greatly by its volume and sound quality, especially when turned up(the spider is crap in comparision to your current amp is what im trying to say ).

 

[Quencho092]

Re: Amp choice for the poor

jb from hell, is that the esteban dude that's always on qvc trying to sell his guitar in your avatar?

 

[gordon_39422]

Re: Amp choice for the poor

With respect to switching from tubes to models...... Like I said originally, I just sold my Duoverb for a great price, and bought a 40-watt Fender Hot Rod Deluxe. I lost the 2-12 and stereo, but I gained so much more. I had forgotten how well guitars and tube amps communicate. The articulation is so much more responsive and inspriational through a tube amp. Some of the Line 6's have great tube emulation, but they will never replace that connection you make through the guitar AND the amp.

Even though the Line 6 was 100 watt SS, I gained so much more usable volume with the 40-watt tube amp. I fear that you would miss your Crate if you did "step down." I still dont know if you play through a PA or not, but some great points have been made regarding their use. After you get the amp tuned up, check into an inexpensive PA. Even if you dont necessarily increase the overall volume, you will get a more dispersed sound which will give the band a better review from audience. EVERYONE will hear relatively the same thing, and you can keep the gear running at its optimal sonic settings.

BTW, if you have to replace your tubes in any of the stages, do some research. You can usually increase/decrease your headroom as well as increase/decrease the output simply by choosing certain tubes that give the desired tone. IE breaking up earlier, but with higher output tubes gives more of the natural tube saturation. If you are after more of a clean sound, get tubes that don't break up as early, but still get the higher power tubes.

Good Luck on your quest for tone,
Allen

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: Amp choice for the poor

Definitely get the BV checked out, if 60w tube isn't loud enough for you, get a hearing aid :saeek:

 

[HRP]

Re: Amp choice for the poor

I highly suggest Laney amps. Check out the GH50L.

AWESOME for rock/metal!

 

[Kac]

Re: Amp choice for the poor

I'll sell you a Fender FM-212 100 watt combo, 3 channels, good clean, awesome distortion. $200.... It's loud too... Just a thought, PM me if you might be interested.
Rock On :13:

 

[CaptainCrunch]

Re: Amp choice for the poor

Correct me if i'm wrong, but i can't imagine that 100 watts of solid state/modeler would be louder than an all valve amp.

+1 to that. I've got a Flextone 2 plus, rated at 100 watts with an extension cab plugged in, and I can't imagine it being louder than your Crate, based on the 50 watt tube amps I've had.

I personally can't believe you would be happy going from the Blue Voodoo to a Spider based on my Line 6 experience.