Is 30 Watts Enough?
- Thread starter 1000 Watts
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1000 Watts
New member
Re: Is 30 Watts Enough?
Oh. I see. Well maybe I'll save some money..use my dads $250 and then add mine in or something...
Oh. I see. Well maybe I'll save some money..use my dads $250 and then add mine in or something...
Pink Unicorn Horsey
Megä Pöny Rÿdr
Re: Is 30 Watts Enough?
That's the thing about tube amps: They're expensive. Solid state amps were created as a heartier, more cost-effective alternative, but players quickly realized the solid state amp's tonal limitations. So players are back to valves because of the tone only a valve can achieve. Unfortunately, those things -- and all the things that hook into 'em -- are pricey; great tone at a cost.
You could take a page from Gearjoneser's book and start with something that'll do for now, and continually trade up till you're playing through a Bogner Ecstasy, Marshall Plexi, vintage Fender Twin, or whatever premium tube amp floats your boat. (And BTW, all those examples are high-wattage amps, but if you pack stadiums, you'll need 'em.
)
- Keith
That's the thing about tube amps: They're expensive. Solid state amps were created as a heartier, more cost-effective alternative, but players quickly realized the solid state amp's tonal limitations. So players are back to valves because of the tone only a valve can achieve. Unfortunately, those things -- and all the things that hook into 'em -- are pricey; great tone at a cost.
You could take a page from Gearjoneser's book and start with something that'll do for now, and continually trade up till you're playing through a Bogner Ecstasy, Marshall Plexi, vintage Fender Twin, or whatever premium tube amp floats your boat. (And BTW, all those examples are high-wattage amps, but if you pack stadiums, you'll need 'em.
)- Keith
That90'sGuy
DyzaBoyzologist
Re: Is 30 Watts Enough?
You can get by with the right 30w tube amp in most reasonable band applications, but don't expect clean headroom. Your cleans will suffer in the process, plain and simple. In my last band, I used a Crate V32 Palomino for a little bit and it cut pretty well, although the cleans were slightly overdriving at full gigging volume.
People that say you can get by with 15w amps either know of really good venues that mic everything and have good sound engineers or are delusional. Good luck getting a 15w amp to cut through a loud drummer; with a loud drummer, you'll be wanting atleast 30w tube.
Playing live, I really appreciate the 80w I have on tap with my amplifier. I never fully open it up (I don't need it to sound killer and really, most tube amps sound the best in my opinion about half opened up), but I really like having that kind of power to use if I need it and I have run into instances where I have needed it. People may say it's overkill, but when they complain about their cleans not staying articulate and sweet at fully opened volumes, I tell them "told you so".
You can get by with the right 30w tube amp in most reasonable band applications, but don't expect clean headroom. Your cleans will suffer in the process, plain and simple. In my last band, I used a Crate V32 Palomino for a little bit and it cut pretty well, although the cleans were slightly overdriving at full gigging volume.
People that say you can get by with 15w amps either know of really good venues that mic everything and have good sound engineers or are delusional. Good luck getting a 15w amp to cut through a loud drummer; with a loud drummer, you'll be wanting atleast 30w tube.
Playing live, I really appreciate the 80w I have on tap with my amplifier. I never fully open it up (I don't need it to sound killer and really, most tube amps sound the best in my opinion about half opened up), but I really like having that kind of power to use if I need it and I have run into instances where I have needed it. People may say it's overkill, but when they complain about their cleans not staying articulate and sweet at fully opened volumes, I tell them "told you so".
Davey
Goliath of Tone
Re: Is 30 Watts Enough?
try playing metal with the preamp gain on 2.
sorry, but we come from two entirely diferent schools of thought (and playing)
loud or not, for metal you NEED a pedal in front to boost the amp, unless of course you got a gain monster already.
but even on those the norm is to keep the preamp low, stick an overdrive in front and let er rip (no, i refuse to use distortion pedals.. as they generaly suck balls. overdrives set for clean boost however :headbang: )
besides, if you also use one like that for a home setting practice, you cant have it cooking all the time (and no i dont have enough money.. nor willing to spend any ammount on somehting i can only use at home)
i'm very happy with the rig i got right now.
btw, what's this clean headroom thing you guys speak of????
:lmao:
try playing metal with the preamp gain on 2.
sorry, but we come from two entirely diferent schools of thought (and playing)
loud or not, for metal you NEED a pedal in front to boost the amp, unless of course you got a gain monster already.
but even on those the norm is to keep the preamp low, stick an overdrive in front and let er rip (no, i refuse to use distortion pedals.. as they generaly suck balls. overdrives set for clean boost however :headbang: )
besides, if you also use one like that for a home setting practice, you cant have it cooking all the time (and no i dont have enough money.. nor willing to spend any ammount on somehting i can only use at home)
i'm very happy with the rig i got right now.
btw, what's this clean headroom thing you guys speak of????
:lmao:
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Pink Unicorn Horsey
Megä Pöny Rÿdr
Re: Is 30 Watts Enough?
When you stated your initial argument, you didn't say you were talking about metal. This changes things around a bit, methinks.
When you stated your initial argument, you didn't say you were talking about metal. This changes things around a bit, methinks.
The Golden Boy
Fleecy Sweaterologist
Re: Is 30 Watts Enough?
Davey,
I realize we're probably worlds apart in terms of "what's a good sound." The way I figure it- ultra gain ends up being "smooshy" and not necessarily tough sounding. So much of what you hear isn't necessarily what's there. I grew up thinking Zeppelin was the most massive sounding stuff. I think of Whole Lotta Love- man, that's just vicious. Go back and listen and it's so unbelievably clean. Wow. Listen to any 80s Judas Priest- that's about my Park with the gain at 3 and the amp at 7. It's not super distorted- it's context is where your mind fills it in.
I do realize there's also the difference in "hard rock" and "metal" in the context of "kids these days." :laugh2:
Davey,
I realize we're probably worlds apart in terms of "what's a good sound." The way I figure it- ultra gain ends up being "smooshy" and not necessarily tough sounding. So much of what you hear isn't necessarily what's there. I grew up thinking Zeppelin was the most massive sounding stuff. I think of Whole Lotta Love- man, that's just vicious. Go back and listen and it's so unbelievably clean. Wow. Listen to any 80s Judas Priest- that's about my Park with the gain at 3 and the amp at 7. It's not super distorted- it's context is where your mind fills it in.
I do realize there's also the difference in "hard rock" and "metal" in the context of "kids these days." :laugh2:
gripweed
Jolvisologist
Re: Is 30 Watts Enough?
If you're playing in your bedroom, and don't plan on gigging, 5 watts of pure delicious tubeness would be *more* than enough. Go for the Epi option.
I have two little early 70's silverface Champs and they are much louder than you would guess just looking at them. I wouldn't recommend them for your purposes, probably not enough gain.
If you're playing in your bedroom, and don't plan on gigging, 5 watts of pure delicious tubeness would be *more* than enough. Go for the Epi option.
I have two little early 70's silverface Champs and they are much louder than you would guess just looking at them. I wouldn't recommend them for your purposes, probably not enough gain.
Davey
Goliath of Tone
Re: Is 30 Watts Enough?
my sound is a tougher, more in your face, kick you in the balls and laugh at you Iron Maiden - Killers sound ... so it's not superhigh gain, that you hear in some of todays recordings.
though i still do not grasp the concept of clean
i bought this amp with the intention of giging.. if i wasnt looking at that, i'd get a VC or LC15 and be perfectly happy.
though you cant do metal with anything less than 30 and be serious about it.
my sound is a tougher, more in your face, kick you in the balls and laugh at you Iron Maiden - Killers sound ... so it's not superhigh gain, that you hear in some of todays recordings.
though i still do not grasp the concept of clean
i bought this amp with the intention of giging.. if i wasnt looking at that, i'd get a VC or LC15 and be perfectly happy.
though you cant do metal with anything less than 30 and be serious about it.
Davey
Goliath of Tone
Re: Is 30 Watts Enough?
every time i open my mouth it's about metal.... i think it's time people realise that
i didnt get my forum gloss for nothing :6:
every time i open my mouth it's about metal.... i think it's time people realise that
i didnt get my forum gloss for nothing :6:
Pink Unicorn Horsey
Megä Pöny Rÿdr
Re: Is 30 Watts Enough?
Right on.
Totally unrelated question: Is "Goliath of Tone" (and all the others) known as a forum gloss? I wasn't sure what that was called.
every time i open my mouth it's about metal.... i think it's time people realise that
i didnt get my forum gloss for nothing :6:
Right on.
Totally unrelated question: Is "Goliath of Tone" (and all the others) known as a forum gloss? I wasn't sure what that was called.
The Golden Boy
Fleecy Sweaterologist
Re: Is 30 Watts Enough?
So if you say the word "Britney," does that mean Britney Spears is, indeed, "metal?" :laugh2:
every time i open my mouth it's about metal.... i think it's time people realise that
So if you say the word "Britney," does that mean Britney Spears is, indeed, "metal?" :laugh2:
Davey
Goliath of Tone
Re: Is 30 Watts Enough?
Depends on the amp. My DC30 had a plenty of clean headroom and gets VERY loud. It gets so loud in fact that I've flipped the switch and taken the wattage down to a 15 watt which is also plenty loud for most gigs. Another 30 watt amp I had the pleasure of gigging was a Bruno Undergroung 30. It also had plenty of clean headroom and was very loud.
Eric
Depends on the amp. My DC30 had a plenty of clean headroom and gets VERY loud. It gets so loud in fact that I've flipped the switch and taken the wattage down to a 15 watt which is also plenty loud for most gigs. Another 30 watt amp I had the pleasure of gigging was a Bruno Undergroung 30. It also had plenty of clean headroom and was very loud.
Eric
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1000 Watts
New member
Re: Is 30 Watts Enough?
Nice! haha..Yeah..i usually play in my room..I like a real heavy sound from guitars..but would also like variety... From Zakk Wylde to Lamb Of God to Pantera....I like loudness...And i can almost gauruntee I'll start a band once I get maybe another year under my belt 9And i'd like for the amp. to be ruggid enough to last that long.)
Nice! haha..Yeah..i usually play in my room..I like a real heavy sound from guitars..but would also like variety... From Zakk Wylde to Lamb Of God to Pantera....I like loudness...And i can almost gauruntee I'll start a band once I get maybe another year under my belt 9And i'd like for the amp. to be ruggid enough to last that long.)
MII Assault
New member
Re: Is 30 Watts Enough?
Crate VSeries 1215 1x12 15 watts EL84 power. I have had one for 4 years no problem only downer is no line out. They can be had new for $350 or used on the bay $200. Accutronics spring reverb, 2 EL84 power tubes 3 12xA7 preamp tubes. Made in the USA. I bought the GC Demo for 300 out the door. I only play at home and it is perfect at low volume but is a very loud 15watts if need be.
Crate VSeries 1215 1x12 15 watts EL84 power. I have had one for 4 years no problem only downer is no line out. They can be had new for $350 or used on the bay $200. Accutronics spring reverb, 2 EL84 power tubes 3 12xA7 preamp tubes. Made in the USA. I bought the GC Demo for 300 out the door. I only play at home and it is perfect at low volume but is a very loud 15watts if need be.
1000 Watts
New member
Re: Is 30 Watts Enough?
Thank you for the input.
Thank you for the input.
