alex_dorsten
New member
What do you guys think? I've been looking at an ac15 for a while just don't know if it's loud enough for big shows at bars and amphitheaters
Is 15 watts enough to gig with?
- Thread starter alex_dorsten
- Start date
SlyFoxx
Glossless
Re: Is 15 watts enough to gig with?
Depends on the tone you want, the gig/music, the room and how loud you want to be (and how hard your drummer hits). If your PA system can do some of the lifting and the stage monitors are good all the better. More info about your situation would be helpful.
Depends on the tone you want, the gig/music, the room and how loud you want to be (and how hard your drummer hits). If your PA system can do some of the lifting and the stage monitors are good all the better. More info about your situation would be helpful.
crusty philtrum
Vintageologist
Re: Is 15 watts enough to gig with?
It depends on the style of music ... next to a drum kit, 15 watts might keep up, but you will be stuck with a flat-out dirty sound the whole time. If you play styles that need clean sounds, 15 watts is not enough, there's simply not enough clean headroom available to get clean rhythm sounds alongside a moderate drummer.
It depends on the style of music ... next to a drum kit, 15 watts might keep up, but you will be stuck with a flat-out dirty sound the whole time. If you play styles that need clean sounds, 15 watts is not enough, there's simply not enough clean headroom available to get clean rhythm sounds alongside a moderate drummer.
probo_squad_henry
New member
Re: Is 15 watts enough to gig with?
If there's a good PA available, you'll be fine
If there's a good PA available, you'll be fine
Lake Placid Blues
New member
Re: Is 15 watts enough to gig with?
Another factor is speaker efficiency. A 15 watt amp running through Vintage 30s is like a 30 watt amp running through G12M Greenbacks.
But to expand on Crusty's points; I attended an outdoor wedding party and they had a country band with a drummer and only a limited PA. The guitar player was playing through a Deluxe Reverb which is a 22 watt amp. I don't know what speaker it had. It was distorting when loud enough to hear it. I thought it sounded okay, but I could see the guitar playing cringing every time it crunched instead of chimed. He really needed a 100 watt amp for playing that kind of music outdoors.
Another factor is speaker efficiency. A 15 watt amp running through Vintage 30s is like a 30 watt amp running through G12M Greenbacks.
But to expand on Crusty's points; I attended an outdoor wedding party and they had a country band with a drummer and only a limited PA. The guitar player was playing through a Deluxe Reverb which is a 22 watt amp. I don't know what speaker it had. It was distorting when loud enough to hear it. I thought it sounded okay, but I could see the guitar playing cringing every time it crunched instead of chimed. He really needed a 100 watt amp for playing that kind of music outdoors.
wahwah
GumbyLoveologist
Re: Is 15 watts enough to gig with?
Here's my 18w Fender Super Champ (The Rivera era amp, not the recent digital thing) in a 2,000 seat theatre, recorded on a camera mic from side stage. I think I might have had some coming back through monitors, which really only works with a good, modern monitoring system. I usually have it with a high pass filter @ 100Hz and a low pass filter @ 3kHz. It is possible, if you have the right sound reinforcement. The amp is running clean, with the drive coming from pedals. This was from the Experience Jimi Hendrix Concert here in Melbourne a few years ago. Audio drops out toward the end but comes back in time for the final kerrang!
Cheers.................................... wahwah
Here's my 18w Fender Super Champ (The Rivera era amp, not the recent digital thing) in a 2,000 seat theatre, recorded on a camera mic from side stage. I think I might have had some coming back through monitors, which really only works with a good, modern monitoring system. I usually have it with a high pass filter @ 100Hz and a low pass filter @ 3kHz. It is possible, if you have the right sound reinforcement. The amp is running clean, with the drive coming from pedals. This was from the Experience Jimi Hendrix Concert here in Melbourne a few years ago. Audio drops out toward the end but comes back in time for the final kerrang!
Cheers.................................... wahwah
NjuiMusic
New member
Re: Is 15 watts enough to gig with?
my buddy gigs in a hard rock/metal band with an Orange Dark Terror (15 watts) and a custom 2x12 and it is plenty, he used to play a Orange rockerverb 100 and 2 2x12s (in stereo) but it was back breaking so he down sized to the dark terror and 1 2x12.
my buddy gigs in a hard rock/metal band with an Orange Dark Terror (15 watts) and a custom 2x12 and it is plenty, he used to play a Orange rockerverb 100 and 2 2x12s (in stereo) but it was back breaking so he down sized to the dark terror and 1 2x12.
dystrust
New member
Re: Is 15 watts enough to gig with?
It really comes down to whether a clean sound is needed and how good the PA support is. In LPB's case, PA support was lacking and a clean sound was required; so the Deluxe's 22 watts weren't enough. In your buddy's case, you've said nothing about PA and he can probably get by with a less than perfect clean sound if he uses one at all.
It really comes down to whether a clean sound is needed and how good the PA support is. In LPB's case, PA support was lacking and a clean sound was required; so the Deluxe's 22 watts weren't enough. In your buddy's case, you've said nothing about PA and he can probably get by with a less than perfect clean sound if he uses one at all.
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: Is 15 watts enough to gig with?
+1. Lots of variables, there is no one answer. In some situations yes, in others, no. For the size venues you're talking about it's only viable if run thru the PA.
+1. Lots of variables, there is no one answer. In some situations yes, in others, no. For the size venues you're talking about it's only viable if run thru the PA.
ItsaBass
New member
Re: Is 15 watts enough to gig with?
Un-miked, as long as you aren't playing against someone with a louder amp and/or more speakers, 15W are usually okay IME. It's a given that if you are playing a 15W amp, you aren't after "truly clean" cleanliness. Even at the lower end of their range, they are usually pretty crunchy if you play hard enough. If "truly clean" clean is what you need, you really need to be miked. With a good sound guy and good PA, headroom doesn't matter. Do what gives you the right tone, and let him/her worry about the volume.
Extension cabs can do a lot to boost a low wattage amp in the live mix. If you are playing against a chronically louder guitarist, try using twice as many, or even four times as many, speakers as him/her.
Since about 1995, a 15W amp has been my main amp for all purposes. It only struggled when I was in a two-guitar band with a guy who just played too damned loudly. I learned to either slave out, bi-amp, or use a 4x12, if a mic and good sound system was not available.
Long story short, it can work, but it's a constant consideration/battle if there are other prominent instruments in your group, especially another guitarist who plays 50-100 watt amps all the time. A 50 or 100 W amp usually gives you more coverage in more situations.
Un-miked, as long as you aren't playing against someone with a louder amp and/or more speakers, 15W are usually okay IME. It's a given that if you are playing a 15W amp, you aren't after "truly clean" cleanliness. Even at the lower end of their range, they are usually pretty crunchy if you play hard enough. If "truly clean" clean is what you need, you really need to be miked. With a good sound guy and good PA, headroom doesn't matter. Do what gives you the right tone, and let him/her worry about the volume.
Extension cabs can do a lot to boost a low wattage amp in the live mix. If you are playing against a chronically louder guitarist, try using twice as many, or even four times as many, speakers as him/her.
Since about 1995, a 15W amp has been my main amp for all purposes. It only struggled when I was in a two-guitar band with a guy who just played too damned loudly. I learned to either slave out, bi-amp, or use a 4x12, if a mic and good sound system was not available.
Long story short, it can work, but it's a constant consideration/battle if there are other prominent instruments in your group, especially another guitarist who plays 50-100 watt amps all the time. A 50 or 100 W amp usually gives you more coverage in more situations.
Last edited:
Matt42
New member
Re: Is 15 watts enough to gig with?
I've gigged with a 5w Tweed Champ and a 100w Super Sonic Twin and tons of stuff in between. I prefer smaller amps (15-20 watts). With a good mic and PA setup, 15 watts will work well unless we are talking about metal. If you don't have the PA to back it up, 30-40 might be better.
I've gigged with a 5w Tweed Champ and a 100w Super Sonic Twin and tons of stuff in between. I prefer smaller amps (15-20 watts). With a good mic and PA setup, 15 watts will work well unless we are talking about metal. If you don't have the PA to back it up, 30-40 might be better.
Aceman
I am your doctor of love!
Re: Is 15 watts enough to gig with?
I've used a Marshall Studio 15 for many years and it is plenty loud enough, and our drummer can slam with the best of them. However, he also has great touch and dynamics.
I get all the clean, crunch and distortion I need just using my volume control.
However, we always mic the guitar so my FOH is not amp dependent and on larger stages we add guitar to the monitors also.
As mentioned, very PA dependent and I would make very different choices if the PA was not as efficient.
I've used a Marshall Studio 15 for many years and it is plenty loud enough, and our drummer can slam with the best of them. However, he also has great touch and dynamics.
I get all the clean, crunch and distortion I need just using my volume control.
However, we always mic the guitar so my FOH is not amp dependent and on larger stages we add guitar to the monitors also.
As mentioned, very PA dependent and I would make very different choices if the PA was not as efficient.
IM4Tone
New member
Re: Is 15 watts enough to gig with?
OR re-amp it, but if your reason for getting a 15 watt amp is to save $$$, this won't help.
For a basic unsophisticated PA (single or dual monitor), it can be a major struggle if any other band members (especially drummers), are 'heavy hitters'. Often, vocalists don't want a loud guitar in their monitor mix.
And I'd add to the "good PA" definition the need for it to include individual/multiple monitor sophistication so that your amp can be placed in the mix according to each member's needs/preferences.
OR re-amp it, but if your reason for getting a 15 watt amp is to save $$$, this won't help.
For a basic unsophisticated PA (single or dual monitor), it can be a major struggle if any other band members (especially drummers), are 'heavy hitters'. Often, vocalists don't want a loud guitar in their monitor mix.
Phantasmagoria
watch where you point that sabre
Re: Is 15 watts enough to gig with?
Yeah, it's fine. I've used both my 15 watt high gain Goldea Rex 3200 tube amp & 50 watt solid state AMT Stonehead at gigs (both about as loud as each other)
I even used the Goldea at a big open-air show a few years ago (mic'd) and it sounded awesome.. (lol...speaking subjectively :laugh2
Here's the Stonehead through a cab at a (medium sized) club where we often play ..it's plenty loud!
Yeah, it's fine. I've used both my 15 watt high gain Goldea Rex 3200 tube amp & 50 watt solid state AMT Stonehead at gigs (both about as loud as each other)
I even used the Goldea at a big open-air show a few years ago (mic'd) and it sounded awesome.. (lol...speaking subjectively :laugh2
Here's the Stonehead through a cab at a (medium sized) club where we often play ..it's plenty loud!
