half-stack too load for home?

[StratoGuy]

well i have never owned an amp bigger than a 50-watt combo and i am considering getting a marshall jcm2000 dsl and i just was wondering how many people here play a halfstack in their house? is it usable? or cant u turn it up loud enough so that it doesnt sound like crap?

 

[jmv]

Re: half-stack too load for home?

I've got my 50w tube halfstack (its a 2x12 cabinet), and i can turn it up loud enough to make it break up... however, if someone else is trying to use the phone/study, or whatever, you can't turn it up enough to really rock.... and i've also taken to sitting outside my room when i crank it just to make sure i don't hurt my hearing too bad. But even if you can't crank it to get natural distortion, i can get good clean sounds at manageable volumes... if you have a distortion channel, like on the JCM 2000, i imagine that would mean you could also get some decent distortion sounds at lower volumes, although it won't be as nice as the 'cranked up' power tube distortion....

Also, with a halfstack, you can get an attenuator, like the Weber MASS, which goes between the head and the cabinet, that will allow you to crank the head as high as you want to but still have what comes out of the speakers be as quiet as you want it to be.

hope that helps.

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: half-stack too load for home?

I have 3 rigs, which consist of 2 heads and a pre/power amp combo. (See my sig for details) I also have two 4x12 cabs. I don't use them at home, or I'd get thrown out of my building! I used to use a Kolbe Attenuator, but now I just keep everything in my studio and for home use I use a Korg PXR4 and computer speakers. Occasionally, I will use my Engl Tube Toner straight into a 2x12 here at the house, but I still can't do any of my rigs justice at the house. At the studio it's all about full stacks & earplugs!!

 

[Spoonman]

Re: half-stack too load for home?

I have a DSL50 halfstack and I'm using at home with no problems yet. It doesnt sound very good at really low volumes on the 2nd channel, but its useable. Its a good choice

 

[TheMist]

Re: half-stack too load for home?

I have a 120 watt Peavey XXX I play at home on 3. And thats loud.

 

[y2stevo]

Re: half-stack too load for home?

IMO out of a DSL 50 you get quiet decent distortion at lowish volumes but to get the best you really do have to crank it...but still very useable at home levels..

 

[RACER X]

Re: half-stack too load for home?

I have a Fender M-80 1/2 stack, much too loud for the house so I use my little 15wtt SS Marshall MG15-CDR, plenty loud.

 

[Guitarist]

Re: half-stack too load for home?

Well, my experience with Marshall 50W and above (including the DSL model you speak of), they are actually quite manageable at bedroom volumes - however, of course with most tube amps, you won't get that thick tone that you would if you were to blast it. It's actually quite thin and undelightful, but when it comes down to it - it's worth playing a tone-laden show even if you only get below par, may I say, quality at home. Especially if you already have a quiet little combo.

 

[StratoGuy]

Re: half-stack too load for home?

how much are those attenuators go for? eh cause i was thinkin of getting the 100 watt version....ehehe

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: half-stack too load for home?

Luckily DSL's are master volumes AND have an FX loop. Get the DSL halfstack
and an Alesis Nanoverb. Put the Nanoverb in the loop, then turn the amp up to the same level you'd use it in a rehearsal room. Set the input to a proper level, mix your reverb to taste, then use the output knob as your main volume. It may not be exactly like using a THD Hotplate (another option), but you'll be pleasantly surprised to see how cranked your amp sounds at practice amp levels. Plus the reverb will make you feel like you're at Madison Square Garden.....in your bedroom!
Any FX unit with input, mix, and output will work. The Alesis sounds pretty good, and you can get them for $60 used.

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: half-stack too load for home?

I use a 2x12 with a 80w head (100w through 4 or 8ohm... 80 through a 16ohm).

I can turn it up to decent volumes without killing everyone.

 

[y2stevo]

Re: half-stack too load for home?

Luckily DSL's are master volumes AND have an FX loop. Get the DSL halfstack
and an Alesis Nanoverb. Put the Nanoverb in the loop, then turn the amp up to the same level you'd use it in a rehearsal room. Set the input to a proper level, mix your reverb to taste, then use the output knob as your main volume. It may not be exactly like using a THD Hotplate (another option), but you'll be pleasantly surprised to see how cranked your amp sounds at practice amp levels. Plus the reverb will make you feel like you're at Madison Square Garden.....in your bedroom!
Any FX unit with input, mix, and output will work. The Alesis sounds pretty good, and you can get them for $60 used.

Nope, DSLs aren't master volume amps...

 

[Zerberus]

Re: half-stack too load for home?

Any maaster Setting over 3 causes me to endanger my lease. (50 W JCM 800 w/4x12)

I think I need an Attenuator soon

Nope, DSLs aren't master volume amps...

Yes they are. They just have a separate Master for each channel instead of a Global Master Volume. As soon as "preamp-gain" and "volume" can be separately dialed in, the amp is considered a Master volume amp

A 1959, for example, is a Non-master Volume head. One gain knob for preamp AND power amp gain

 

[southadc]

Re: half-stack too load for home?

I play a 100 Watt Hughes & Kettner Warp 7 half-stack at home. It can get pretty loud (I've never turned it up to 10), but it is possible to play at a reasonable volume.

EDIT: BTW, it's a 4x12.

 

[Burkwieser]

Re: half-stack too load for home?

Luckily DSL's are master volumes AND have an FX loop. Get the DSL halfstack
and an Alesis Nanoverb. Put the Nanoverb in the loop, then turn the amp up to the same level you'd use it in a rehearsal room. Set the input to a proper level, mix your reverb to taste, then use the output knob as your main volume. It may not be exactly like using a THD Hotplate (another option), but you'll be pleasantly surprised to see how cranked your amp sounds at practice amp levels. Plus the reverb will make you feel like you're at Madison Square Garden.....in your bedroom!
Any FX unit with input, mix, and output will work. The Alesis sounds pretty good, and you can get them for $60 used.

I did something similar to what Gearjoneser is talking about. I used a Rocktron Intellifex. I can crank up my preamp to get the tubes cooking, set my input and output on the Intellifex to a good desired mix, and then set my amp level. The amp is a Randall RT2/50 and I am running (2) Randall 4X12 XLT cabs. Believe it or not I can get a good cranked sound. I did run the the Intellifex through the effects loop on the Randall RM4 preamp to use the tubes to warm the effects loop, but I found out that it seemed like it was preamping my preamp. If that makes sense. It was way way too loud, and I couldn't get a good sound at lower levels. I ended up not using the effects loop and just running it straight to the Inlellifex. I didn't notice a sound quality difference at all. Worked cool!!

 

[Mincer]

Re: half-stack too load for home?

A half stack for home use is way overkill unless you plan to join a band and start playing big rooms soon. If it has a master volume (or worse, and attenuator) you are missing out on tube sounds anyway...well, not really, you are making preamp tubes distort, but that isnt saying much. It would be better for a low powered tube amp (15w) or a high powered modeling amp designed to sound good at low volumes.