Wattage question???

bluesrock5

bluesrock5

New member
I play in a modern/indie rock band with lots of punk style playing with high gain overdrive.I play lead and have a 30 watt ss combo and my rythmn guitarist has a 40 watt ss combo. We're both are going to replace our amps cause the band is going to play in clubs and schoolhalls....
My question is: Before I buy a halfstack, is a 30/40 watt tube combo real enough for my situation??? My bandmate is going for a ss halfstack but I'm not sure about that yet ,he don't want to pay more than 500 bucks, but he could also go for a cheap tube combo? So what should I do??
 
Re: Wattage question???

I think a good 2x12 tube combo would be perfect for you. That's all assuming your other guitarist doesn't try to become a volume wh0re and keep his amp cranked all the way. There's no need for him to with a ss amp.
 
Re: Wattage question???

When you consider to get a good balance today everything will be miked to go thru the PA. You will need a good PA to manage the bands overall sound. The most wattage you will need for your amp to play most situations is 50W. Higher wattage amps won't be much louder, but they will have more headroom.
 
Re: Wattage question???

Before you (or your buddy) buy a half stack you need to ask THIS question first. Do I really want to lug this damn thing around!? & Do I really have room in "the car" and on the stages on which I will perform? The lure of the big amp can be a strong one especially when you see Big Time Rock Star using one! Just remember B.T.R.S. doesn't have to carry it and performs on stages as large as some whole clubs and venues as large as a small neighborhood!

~50 watts and a 2x12 will get the job done until you are the B.T.R.S. where at that point you'll have slave labor...ummm errrr...roadies to lug your gear for you.

Moving and using "the fridge" might be exciting at first but trust me. It gets old quickly....like on the third gig quickly!
 
Re: Wattage question???

My theory is nothing sounds like a half stack than a half stack.

For the weight and the price these things are great!

vortex_stack_mid.gif


BOTH the guitar players in my band have these. They're all SS, the heads weigh next to nothing (I seriously can pick a head up with my pinky) and the cabs are unbelievably light. They're not that expensive- I think in the $600 range. They're not the quintessence of tone- but they're really not bad for what they are.
 
Re: Wattage question???

I'm with Sly on this one. Sometimes B.T.R.S. don't even use the gear you
see on stage with them. Example: Last time I saw AC/DC Angus had a row
of Marshall Stacks behind him. At the end I was watching the roadies break
down the stage. A roadie not much bigger than Angus (Who's a tiny person)
Goes and picks up 2 4x12 cabs and walks off with them? As he walked by
a spot light you could see the cabs where empty. :rolleyes: STAGE PROPPS!
Pick a amp that fits your style and fits in your car without hassle's. 4x12
cabs sound cool and look cool, But the coolness ends when you have to
lug it up a flight of stairs Then figure a way to stuff it into your car.
 
Re: Wattage question???

kmcguitars said:
Pick a amp that fits your style and fits in your car without hassle's. 4x12
cabs sound cool and look cool, But the coolness ends when you have to
lug it up a flight of stairs Then figure a way to stuff it into your car.
Click to expand...

A big +1 there. I've dealt with big and small amps, and from my experience the volume and "guitar snob appeal" gained by having a half stack is not worth the PITA factor of hauling that huge thing around all over the city.
 
Re: Wattage question???

check out a used JCM800 combo. should be able to find one for fairly cheap and they sound great. theres a 50w version too
 
Re: Wattage question???

Tube amps are MUCH MUCH louder than solid state. 40 to 50 watts is all you need -- it'll blow a 100 watt solid state amp out the window. You might even find 30 watts or so to be better in some venues. And the point about miking the amp for good balance is key...
 
Re: Wattage question???

It depends on the amp. I've used a 10W tube head through a 1x12 cab in a two guitar situation and did fine (without miking). I've also had much more powerful amps get buried because the amp's voicing didn't cut through as well.

If you're planning on miking your amps and running them through the PA, then the amp really only needs to be loud enough for you to hear yourself. If you're just running vocals through the PA, you might have issues being heard, especially outdoors.

That said, I hate combos. My head + 1x12 might be a little bigger than some 1x12 combos but IMO it's easier to deal with two smaller/lighter pieces even if the combined size/weight is a little greater. Also, since most combos are open-backed, they often don't sound quite right as you increase the amount of gain.

YMMV.
 
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Re: Wattage question???

I'm a bigger guy so I like combos just fine. I can walk out the door with the amp in one hand and the guitar in the other so I make just one trip.
 
Re: Wattage question???

I also depends on the venue -- the sound it has, where you put the amp, etc., etc., endless. But miking it is the best way to spread the sound around evenly so you don't have to play as loud.
 
Re: Wattage question???

yeah, 2x12 or 4x10 tube combo will work fine

i guarantee your amp will be louder & sound better than his

for lead i'd check out a peavey classic 50 4x10, or a mesa

for rythm, IMO, nothing sounds like a 4x12, but then again i love chunky tone
 
Re: Wattage question???

A 2X12 around 30w tube will give you the volume you'll need for most small to medium size gigs. Always mic when possible (although not always realistic, which is why a band PA isn't a bad idea to invest in).
 
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