I'm really getting tire of....

[3'scompany]

All these threads where people say that 100 watts is too much unless you're in a stadium. From my experience, 100 watts starts to hit its limits in a venue built for 500 or more people (assuming there are about that many people there) unless its run through the PA. But that's neither here nor there. Remeber, not everyone's perfect tone is with their volume knob on 8. Different people like different things. Tone is rather subjective.

And I know some of you say, well how many of you regularly play to crowds of 500 or more people? Who knows? Maybe they do, and maybe they don't. And maybe they will in the future and don't want to have to buy a new amp or borrow one from someone else. It really is irrelevant.

There is a reason that so many 100 watt heads are built and that they sell so well. People like them. So let it go that you don't necessarily agree that someone should buy one.

Ultimately, unless someone can come up with some divine, empirical evidence that undoubtably shows that no one should buy an amp over 50 watts unless you're on a stadium tour, can we please just lay this to rest? It really is a waste to argue over highly, and purely, subjective matters. Have your personal preferance for you, but don't tell others that they are dumb for having theirs.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: I'm really getting tire of....

Jeff Beck uses 50 watt Marshalls. So does Yngwie.

IMO, the reason there's so many 100 watt rock amps is the same reason there's so many amps that have the same "bagful of angry bumblebees tone": FANTASY/POSING

IMO, the only players who really need 100 watts or more are those playing clean JAZZ or COUNTRY...not semi distorted blues or rock.

But you're right...to each his own. Go ahead and ruin your hearing if you must...but 30 years from now when you can't pick out your wife's voice and keep saying "What? What did you say???" when she's sitting right across from you in a noisy restaurant I'm gonna say: "I told you so!":laugh2:

Kids...they think they're indestructable. They're not.

Lew

 

[ModestCargo]

Re: I'm really getting tire of....

There's not much volume difference between 50 and 100 watts anyway - it's more tonal differences.

But I agree - if you're like me and play clean with just a *slight* overdrive, than a 50 or 100 watt half stack would not be as much overkill as you might think.

Having said that I'll stick with my DSL 401 and just add a 4x12" if the gigs get that big.

 

[xerxes]

Re: I'm really getting tire of....

jimmy page allways used 50 watt heads, including his stadium tours.....


and yes, tone is subjective, but nobody can hear a difference at that loud, its just plane silly. some people just like to be loud, and thats cool, but u cant hear the rest of the band normally.....its just to loud.....imo.....

 

[xerxes]

Re: I'm really getting tire of....

but yes, there are tonal differences, for instance ****ey betts used 100 watt amps abck in the day and had a more slightly distorted tone than duane who used 50 watt amps.....

 

[DesertRose]

Re: I'm really getting tire of....

I'm using a 100watt JCM900 and 180watts Fender twin in my room. lol
When my friends come over and gig, I would need them since the drums and bass will cover up most of the sound

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: I'm really getting tire of....

No one said you couldn't buy one.

The best idea is to select wattage that's appropriate for what you need it for.

If you're 15, sitting in your bedroom with parents down the hall, a 100W halfstack is going to be a problem. In that case, you need a small modeling rig, where you can get a lot of good tones at a volume that won't cause your dad to keep screaming 'shut that sh!t OFF!"

If you're playing in a garage with a small PA with vocals and a drumkit, a 30-50W tube amp is what's needed.

If you're playing in a commercial rehearsal space with a drum riser, $2600 drumkit that's LOUD, a huge PA, and you play venues that are 200-1000 people, then a 50W-120W amp is acceptable.

If you're playing large halls and arenas, then leave the 30W amp at home, and wheel out the cannons!

 

[Lake Placid Blues]

Re: I'm really getting tire of....

Some guys need a lot of clean head room, depending on the type of music they play, and how their rig is configured. Many forms of guitar music may not find power tube breakup, or speaker breakup desirable. Even some forms of rather heavy rock are built on pre-amp and outboard distortion timbres, and powerstage breakup isn't that desirable.

I recall watching a country band playing a wedding once. The guitarist was using a BF Deluxe Reverb, and the distortion was driving him crazy. It was kinda funny. He kept turning down to clean up, and then he would go invisable in the mix. He would turn back up, and get what I though was a sweet overdrive, but he wanted it pristine clean, dang it!

For guys that use a lot of effects and want their effects, especially the reverbs, and delays, to come through un-muddied, a 100 watt may be essential.

The Fender Twin Reverb is a 100+ amp and it's been the traditional club amp for decades. The are usually louder than Marshalls, but people don't seem to realize it.

The 50 watt Marshall 1/2 stack with Vintage 30's produces the same SPL's, as a 100 Watt Marshall 1/2 stack with Greenbacks, or 75's, but it won't have as much clean head room.

 

[3'scompany]

Re: I'm really getting tire of....

3'scompany: How much regular gigging do you do and what amp(s) do you gig with?

I don't play live at the moment, but up untill recently I was playing a show about every 1.3 days. But I have since quit that band. I giged with my mesa triple rec and my marshall JCM 2000 in stereo together. And it was not as loud as most people would think. When running through my BBE I could play with a louder master volume and manipulate my overall actual volume with my FX Loop outputs. Now I could only change it so much and keep my tone, but it worked to adjust fine enough for me. We were playing venues that ranged from 150 max capacity to having 600 people in a venue. I can honestly say that it was nice to have 100 watts.

And just cause you have a 100 watt amp doesn't mean you HAVE to play loud. If you own a sports car are you going to drive it at full throttle every time you get behind the wheel? Yes your tone will suffer some (in my opinion) when you're playing in your room at lower volumes, but when you need it, like when I was playing live, it was nice to have. Its sort of a trade off seeing as how I can't afford to have two more amps to replicate what I have, only in 50 watt variances.

I'm also not advocating that everyone go out and buy a 100 watt amp. But if you want it and/or need it, go for it. They're not for everyone, but they are practical for some... Which I think that some people on this board have a hard time admitting. Saying that guys in stadiums played 30 watt amps does nothing for your cause. I could play a 15 watt amp in an arena if the PA was good enough to push it. Like I said, its pretty much all personal preference. There is no right or wrong.

I really could care less what wattage amp people buy. I just don't get why some people think that their way is always the right way. It all boils down to preference.

 

[suislidE03]

Re: I'm really getting tire of....

But you're right...to each his own. Go ahead and ruin your hearing if you must...but 30 years from now when you can't pick out your wife's voice and keep saying "What? What did you say???" when she's sitting right across from you in a noisy restaurant I'm gonna say: "I told you so!":laugh2:

Lew

For you older folks- there are things called ear plugs now days. I made the mistake of not wearing them when we got our new drummer this past weekend and my ears rang for 2 days afterwards. I will never play with a drummer again without plugs.

 

[taphappy]

Re: I'm really getting tire of....

Like said in earlier posts, wattage depends on your situation. I used to get yelled at for playing my 10 watt amp and I usually have to keep my 60 watter down to 1 or below. Even for big gigs I can only see 100 watts for players who need very high headroom.

 

[saladin]

Re: I'm really getting tire of....

I use a Carvin XV-212 which is 100 LOUD watts. It never goes past 2 on volume. It might be overkill but recently my band played an open mike and used the sound guys Bassman reissue. Great sound but I couldn't get enough clean headroom out of it, at the volume we normally play at the Bassman was all distortion, great for the blues but not for me!

 

[Quencho092]

Re: I'm really getting tire of....

but yes, there are tonal differences, for instance ****ey betts used 100 watt amps abck in the day and had a more slightly distorted tone than duane who used 50 watt amps.....

betts had the cleanish tone. Duane had the thicker gain because of the lower wattage head, and betts used JBL's for even cleaner tone.

 

[muttonchopsrule]

Re: I'm really getting tire of....

whether i'm pumping 50 watts or 100 watts, i find that my master stays at almost exactly the same level for both applications. but i prefer to run at 50 watts because i like the earlier breakup that it offers. it all boils down to what the player prefers.

it makes sense to have a more powerful amp if you want more clean headroom, as Lake Placid Blues illustrated. otherwise it just isn't necessary unless you're actually going to utilize all that power. plus, 50 watt amps are cheaper to retube (leave it to me to be a cheapa$$ :smack: )

 

[ErikH]

Re: I'm really getting tire of....

At home, my 100 watt head sits on the floor next to me like a loyal dog. My 15 watt combo is the one that gets played here. Sometimes that is even too loud (depending on the time of day). The 100 watter gets used when my bro-in-law and I get together once or twice a month and jam for about 6 hours. The master volume is at about 3 to 4 and it's plenty loud. If I go to 5 or higher, they'll be complaining a few blocks away.

 

[Quencho092]

Re: I'm really getting tire of....

and yes, i've used my deluxe reverb at a carnival/festival gig once, and it did fine....ok it barely made it with the volume on 8 and wailing distortion on most songs, no pedals, but the tone was excellent!

I also had my 40 watt bandmaster on hand and it kept cleaner than the Deluxe for a few songs. But i agree, a Twin could have obtained a very sweet tone full out clean for that setting.

Power has alot to do with how much you want to deal with your amp fighting, etc. If you like the pumping speaker, and < 40 watts of power to edge out every note, then that's cool, but if you want the extra headroom for your tone not to rumble loose beyond your full control, then that's fine.

I like the power of 100 watt amps and the like because it sounds 'neat' and under control, but for what i play, the deluxe takes OD and high volumes and turns it into smooth, sweet tone.

 

[jdm61]

Re: I'm really getting tire of....

First of all, Lew.......what the hell is this "bag of angry bee's" tone anyway?:laugh2: I do belive that Jimmy page sated that he used 3 100 watt Marshall heads that had been modded and retubed to put out power more along the lines of Marshall Majors. Master volume amps? blah!!!!!!:yell: As for your TRUE amps, get a Power Brake.:fingersx: i killed my hearing with my first few amps. JTM45, modded Deluxe, Super........but a lot of that had to do with the rooms i was practicing in and the distorted (bee-like?) tone that I like. I now have a Power Brake and I will be using with the Plexi ANd the 18w, which gets VERY loud in the 11x14 room i practice in.

 

[marvar]

Re: I'm really getting tire of....

On alot of these posts, people are asking for advice- and you can tell from their posts, that they aren't real up on gear like alot of you- hence, most of the guys who have been around, tend to recommend 50 watts or less- I don't think anyone is throwing off on 100 watters- it's just in most cases, people are just trying to recommend what they think the person asking really needs- and what will likely suit their needs.

 

[ErikH]

Re: I'm really getting tire of....

Don't know about you, but my Marshall displays it's fangs on 3 1/2. Come 4 it's at your ankles, 5 and above it's in for the kill.

 

[jdm61]

Re: I'm really getting tire of....

can't speak for my new plexi because it hasn't arrived yet, but on my JTM45 and 18w clone, both of which have tube rectifiers, you get it above 3.5-4, you start to get the growl if your guitar volume is turned up. neither of them would really get any louder after about 7-7.5....they just get NASTY........like a beehive in a bag, right Lew?:laugh2: sag, sag and more sag:fingersx: