how much wattage do you *need*?

[Davey]

Re: how much wattage do you *need*?

If you feel better having reserve, cool. However, to my ears, tube amps don't really start sounding good until they're cranked up pretty high. I still think it makes more sense to get something that is appropriately powered.

thats why. when i get my amp, i'll be using an attenuator to cut the volume down, but will still sound good cos i'll crank it. they dont make those kind of amps i want lower than 50W and even that is too much for practice. for gigging i'll take the attenuator away and be ready, all my guns blazing.

maybe i sound foolish, but i stand behind what i say. a 30W will NEVER sound the way a 100W will

 

[Skarekrough]

Re: how much wattage do you *need*?

ok.. let me rephraise.. why are there 100W amps, if nobody, ever, anywhere, doesnt need more than 30W ???

explain that to me.
but you want to know why? because a 30Watter cant take you where a 100W can. if you're talking pure volume, 1W is enough to produce enough dB to burst your ear drums and you know how many people play through 1W amps 'just for the volume' .. it's NEVER just COS of the volume!!!! that is just a side factor

Because there was a time....long ago....when the only thing that came through the PA was the vocals.

But alas we evolved....we got the kids to stop eating lead paint from the walls, we grew thumbs, created the 5-way position switch for the Strat and we evolved.

Anything over 30 watts is compensating for a bad PA, compensating for a bad drummer, or just straight up ****-waving.

In the world there are plenty of things in existence that have no practical purpose; mens nipples, 50 cal firearms, the porthole windows on 80's Town Cars and disco revival movements.

But they're still there....they still exist....and we can all actively state that they do for no good reason other than ****-waving or bad judgement....of which 100 watt amps fall firmly into both categories for most musicians.

 

[Sozos]

Re: how much wattage do you *need*?

Supposing that you don't intend to play at the Rockwave, 60 watts of tube amp are trully more than enough.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: how much wattage do you *need*?

well, i'm talking big venues and the superstition that everybody needs no more than 30W people here keep spreading. and noone seems to care to explain why bands like maiden, priest hell.. any other band that's playing larger (more than 1000 people) venues use at LEAST half stacks when there's 'always' the PA

I think you're calling the wrong mindset a superstition. Do the guys from KISS really need all the 4X12s they have on stage? Did Ted Nugent really need like 10 Fender Twins running all the way up? No, obviously not. Why do they have them? Because it looks cool. Why do most pros use full stacks? Because they WANT to. It has absolutely nothing to do with need.

Why does Carlos Santana *need* a $5000 PRS while Jeff Beck gets by with a $1300 Strat?

 

[Davey]

Re: how much wattage do you *need*?

Because there was a time....long ago....when the only thing that came through the PA was the vocals.

But alas we evolved....we got the kids to stop eating lead paint from the walls, we grew thumbs, created the 5-way position switch for the Strat and we evolved.

Anything over 30 watts is compensating for a bad PA, compensating for a bad drummer, or just straight up ****-waving.

In the world there are plenty of things in existence that have no practical purpose; mens nipples, 50 cal firearms, the porthole windows on 80's Town Cars and disco revival movements.

But they're still there....they still exist....and we can all actively state that they do for no good reason other than ****-waving or bad judgement....of which 100 watt amps fall firmly into both categories for most musicians.

BWAHAHAHAHAHA, you dont know ****.. you've been avaoiding straight answers for all of this thread.
you really think everything is perfect out there? that all the places have a perfect PA? that you can cut through everything with a 30W amp?
ever played in a club that has almost no stage and there's no PA? you think people in the back will hear you?
you think that in an arena with an outdated and buzzy PA will cary your sound for more than 20 ft?

 

[Davey]

Re: how much wattage do you *need*?

I think you're calling the wrong mindset a superstition. Do the guys from KISS really need all the 4X12s they have on stage? Did Ted Nugent really need like 10 Fender Twins running all the way up? No, obviously not. Why do they have them? Because it looks cool. Why do most pros use full stacks? Because they WANT to. It has absolutely nothing to do with need.

Why does Carlos Santana *need* a $5000 PRS while Jeff Beck gets by with a $1300 Strat?

80% of those amps are just for showing off.. yngwie is guilty of the same. IF they have diferent amps, diferent cabs can be rigged up to them.

why do they NEED that? well, use what you feel best with and what you like the sound of, noone is forcing you to. in the end it's only TONE and THAT is what i'm talking about

 

[Davey]

Re: how much wattage do you *need*?

it is relevant because you are backing an idea of 100 watt amps.....when you dont own one and dont play out with one.......i am not being negative or combative, i am just simply pointing this out

you're pointing out that i got a $500 paycheck and am broke most of the time, nothing else.. if i had the money, i'd already have it

 

[flank]

Re: how much wattage do you *need*?

bro.....your the one mixing it up.......first you say its all about sound.....but from your post above, it seems to be mostly about volume.....which is it? lol

 

[RiffRaff]

Re: how much wattage do you *need*?

thats why. when i get my amp, i'll be using an attenuator to cut the volume down, but will still sound good cos i'll crank it. they dont make those kind of amps i want lower than 50W and even that is too much for practice. for gigging i'll take the attenuator away and be ready, all my guns blazing.

maybe i sound foolish, but i stand behind what i say. a 30W will NEVER sound the way a 100W will

Davey, for you it's 100 watt stacks.....that's cool, for others it's 18 watt combos - life is all about differences, the only one true constant is the enjoyment factor - I think we would all have to agree it's why we do this crazy thing in the first place!

 

[Skarekrough]

Re: how much wattage do you *need*?

BWAHAHAHAHAHA, you dont know ****.. you've been avaoiding straight answers for all of this thread.

Actually, I think I've answered every question you've asked. if I haven;t then someone else covered it better than I could of.

you really think everything is perfect out there? that all the places have a perfect PA? that you can cut through everything with a 30W amp?

Nope....I've played through my share of bad PAs. I've even owned a few of them. But what it did teach me was to know the venue you're playing, know the PA, know the soundguy and know when to bring your own.

ever played in a club that has almost no stage and there's no PA?

Watch your mouth....I've probably played gigs like that an exponential number of the years you've been alive.

you think people in the back will hear you?

They did when we did it right.

you think that in an arena with an outdated and buzzy PA will cary your sound for more than 20 ft?

Haven't we been through this already?

you sir are a d!ckhead and you've just proven it

Actually....I think the inverse has just been proven pretty conclusively.

Thanks for participating in a civil discussion!

 

[Davey]

Re: how much wattage do you *need*?

bro.....your the one mixing it up.......first you say its all about sound.....but from your post about, it seems to be mostly about volume.....which is it? lol

both, but sound more than volume. i'm not saying you'll need all the volume most of the time (as i said before) and i'd be perfectly content with a 50W amp talking about sheer volume.

lets say you got your tone. all good, but then you get to a place with ****ty to no PA like the guys here like to say (if it's not loud enough, there's always the PA) what are you going to do then? when noone but the 1st 3 rows are going to hear you? depend on the wind to cary the music across?

 

[Davey]

Re: how much wattage do you *need*?

Davey, for you it's 100 watt stacks.....that's cool, for others it's 18 watt combos - life is all about differences, the only one true constant is the enjoyment factor - I think we would all have to agree it's why we do this crazy thing in the first place!

yah.. anything that gives you your tone. you got that right. but dont come crying when you play one gig and your sound sucks, noone can hear you etc etc etc. that's where you'd wish you had more room to play with, even though you had your sound. if it's too loud just ue an attenuator or turn the master volume down. noone said you HAVE to crank it all the way

 

[ledzepp29]

Re: how much wattage do you *need*?

Davey, you have a point when talking about TO and DirtyCraig, who both play the 80's metal thing. Thats "2" peopel out of the however many people on the forum.
RiffRaff is right, this thread is turning into Davey vs. the seymour duncan forum :laugh2:

 

[flank]

Re: how much wattage do you *need*?

unfortunately its hard to be able to get your sound just right, PA or no PA.......ive been to shows where there is an awesome PA......and the lead guitarist had 2 halfstacks. This place is an awesome venue and there sound people are good....... i was on the other side of the room of the lead guitarist......i could virtually hear no notes he was playing......such is life

 

[Neeradj]

Re: how much wattage do you *need*?

bro.....your the one mixing it up.......first you say its all about sound.....but from your post above, it seems to be mostly about volume.....which is it? lol

+1
Davey, dude calm down, I've been reading again ever since I posted and you seem to be getting more pushy and ruder by the post :smack: . Last time I visited a lot you were a lot different.

 

[Davey]

Re: how much wattage do you *need*?

Actually, I think I've answered every question you've asked. if I haven;t then someone else covered it better than I could of.

of course you did

Nope....I've played through my share of bad PAs. I've even owned a few of them. But what it did teach me was to know the venue you're playing, know the PA, know the soundguy and know when to bring your own.

and you brought the right equipment.. was it always a 30W or lower? what would've happened if you didnt know the venue.. and you prolly know that a 30W doesnt always handle the situation

Sir, we cant go louder, why dont you crank it up a notch?

cant, running the amp at full volume!

duh.. i guess you should've brought something bigger then

but 30W can handle it!

and then everybody laughs their asses off.

Watch your mouth....I've probably played gigs like that an exponential number of the years you've been alive.

so what? i dont care if you played more gigs than any other band out there, that still doesnt prove you right

 

[Davey]

Re: how much wattage do you *need*?

+1
Davey, dude calm down, I've been reading again ever since I posted and you seem to be getting more pushy and ruder by the post :smack: . Last time I visited a lot you were a lot different.

well, there comes a thread that just keeps pissing me off ...

30W is enough for everything.. every venue.. for all the world! and they just cant prove me wrong. ALL that EVERYONE NEEEEEEEDS is 30 W .. nobody still didnt answer why people use 100W's in big shows? cos they want to? nope.. nothing else gets the point across..


well, you're right. i need to chill down.. i'm through with this thread. i'll be seeing you all next friday.. i gotta pack for another week of ass ramming i need to do to get my paycheck

see ya guys.. maybe you'll learn something new by then.. and perhaps me too

 

[Neeradj]

Re: how much wattage do you *need*?

if we're talking loudness, no, you dont *need* more than 30W, if we're talking dynamics, response, headroom, and a certain sound at a proper volume, then you're stuck dead with the 30W. no PA can give you that, anywhere, EVER. Period, end of discussion

I erased the first part of your post because it had already been answered. If we're talking loudness, I suppose wattage wouldn't always be that respresentitive, the 1987X Plexi blows away my Powerball in volume. Headroom doesn't mainly depend on the amps's wattage. I've heard plenty of responsive and dynamic 30W heads, ever heard a Cornford Hellcat? If I were to play a stadium with a 30W amp, I'd check the PAs out first. For 90% of the gigs I've done I've had more than enough with a 30W amp.

EDIT: Sorry I answered that after you posted, oh well, in big lines it doesn't really contain anything that wasn't said before.

 

[ledzepp29]

Re: how much wattage do you *need*?

wow

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: how much wattage do you *need*?

Sir, we cant go louder, why dont you crank it up a notch?

cant, running the amp at full volume!

duh.. i guess you should've brought something bigger then

but 30W can handle it!

and then everybody laughs their asses off.

Hey Davey, let me ask you a question... is a 100 watt tube amp twice as loud as a 50 watt tube amp?