What's the point in big 100 watt heads?

[Kamanda~SD]

Re: What's the point in big 100 watt heads?

On that note, my wife complained about me playing unplugged a few weeks ago while our daughter was napping. I was like, "You're kidding, right?". LOL

FYI, for those that have 100 watt heads, play at home, AND record: http://www.two-notes.com/en/torpedo-captor

There's a 20dB attenuator in there.

I have one of these to use as a loadbox and it's pretty great. I did try the attenuator and tbh I didn't like it, and I think it's because 20db is actually quite a bit of attenuation (the switch on my Weber mass adds 6db of attenuation and it's a very noticeable difference)

20db is weak sauce.

There's studio heasphones on the market with ~20db output difference between models (AkG k92 vs k240, for example, and I'm sitting here looking at both on my desk, just so no one tries calling me on a "bluff")


20db less than loud-loud.... is still nowhere near quiet.

I'll call you on your bluff. There's 9db sensitivity difference between those two, and the open vs closed back, impedance difference etc all factor in as well.

20DB is actually quite a bit of attenuation, see my remark above on how even the 6db range switch on my weber makes a very noticeable difference.

 

[LLL]

Re: What's the point in big 100 watt heads?

I did try the attenuator and tbh I didn't like it, and I think it's because 20db is actually quite a bit of attenuation

Undoubtedly. The "-16dB" setting on the THD HotPlate may as well be the "SUCK" setting.

 

[Securb]

Re: What's the point in big 100 watt heads?

It always struck me as weird that metal guys were into really big amps . . . like the reasoning that you need clean headroom and therefore a big amp makes sense, but metal guys aren't usually playing clean.

Looks cool

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: What's the point in big 100 watt heads?

It always struck me as weird that metal guys were into really big amps . . . like the reasoning that you need clean headroom and therefore a big amp makes sense, but metal guys aren't usually playing clean.

Most modern metal tones use a lot of Preamp gain and not power amp breakup. So you’ve effectively got a Preamp that is generating all the tone including clipping feeding a high headroom power amp that can respond quickly and efficiently.

 

[Nacho8807]

Re: What's the point in big 100 watt heads?

It always struck me as weird that metal guys were into really big amps . . . like the reasoning that you need clean headroom and therefore a big amp makes sense, but metal guys aren't usually playing clean.

Headroom is about more than cleans. It effects clarity too. A highly distorted sound can be really mushy and muddy when its a 40w or 50w amp compared to a 100+ watter.

 

[NegativeEase]

Re: What's the point in big 100 watt heads?

Originally, it was to make up for the short comings of the sound reinforcement products on stage and the emergence of the arena rock business. -but that is not an issue any longer

Now? and since the early 80s -honestly -it's often just abiding with the professional standard set for rock bands and the stage visuals (The beautiful stacks damn it!!) -and some high volume tonal approaches. but it's largely something that isn't essential anymore from a technical perspective. One legitimate reason would be that drum head and construction technology has made some drum set offerings much louder than in decades past which in a bad with a real banger on the drums and multiple guitar or hammond organ etc could make many guitarists want more potential volume to compete -even at rehearsal.

Often Metal and Hard rock bands who tour with mostly dummy cabinets and their backup heads on the stage for the aesthetic -and the actual head (or master head in front of some faithful slave pure power amps) is on the side stage with the guitar tech for access and adjustment and often a 40W, 50W or 80W head doing the tonal work.

 

[Securb]

Re: What's the point in big 100 watt heads?

Headroom is about more than cleans. It effects clarity too. A highly distorted sound can be really mushy and muddy when its a 40w or 50w amp compared to a 100+ watter.

Not only that but at least for me there are many points in my set where I play shimmering cleans and I want them to cut above the drummer and bass player. Just because a tone is clean doesn't mean it cannot be powerful and driving.

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: What's the point in big 100 watt heads?

Most modern metal tones use a lot of Preamp gain and not power amp breakup. So you’ve effectively got a Preamp that is generating all the tone including clipping feeding a high headroom power amp that can respond quickly and efficiently.

My 100W JVM does exactly that.

 

[JMP/HBE]

Re: What's the point in big 100 watt heads?

This is the point ...

 

[guitfiddle]

Re: What's the point in big 100 watt heads?

One more thing a big amp gives to the metal guys is better bass response. Less than 50 watts can make the bass fart out.

Its the same reason you want as much power as possible with a PA. A large power section breathing heavily gives a better tone than a small power amp screaming.

Contrary to popular internet "wisdom", great guitar sound doesn't only revolve around power amp distortion.

 

[Securb]

Re: What's the point in big 100 watt heads?

A 100-watt amp to me is like driving a powerful car. You never get to push the pedal to the floor but even at 40 MPH, you can feel the potential power under your foot.

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: What's the point in big 100 watt heads?

A 100-watt amp to me is like driving a powerful car. You never get to push the pedal to the floor but even at 40 MPH, you can feel the potential power under your foot.

Handles the turns much better, too. Can almost steer with your pinky.

 

[NegativeEase]

Re: What's the point in big 100 watt heads?

This forum has way too many guys with overly chorused/phasered/flanged tone fetishes.

And it seems like anyone who brags about their big rig and tone -posts something to review that I find comically bad.

It's like the internet is trolling me

Oh well, one man's trash is another man's treasure.....

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: What's the point in big 100 watt heads?

Most modern metal tones use a lot of Preamp gain and not power amp breakup. So you’ve effectively got a Preamp that is generating all the tone including clipping feeding a high headroom power amp that can respond quickly and efficiently.

So why not use a solid state amp then? There's no point to running power tubes if you're not driving them into distortion. Run your pedals or a tube pre-amp section into an SS power amp. It should be possible to design a power amp sections of three of four hundred watts for cheaper than a 100 watt tube power amp.

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: What's the point in big 100 watt heads?

So why not use a solid state amp then? There's no point to running power tubes if you're not driving them into distortion. Run your pedals or a tube pre-amp section into an SS power amp. It should be possible to design a power amp sections of three of four hundred watts for cheaper than a 100 watt tube power amp.

I think it’s hasty to assume a tube power amp isn’t contributing to the sound if the preamp is generating a lot of gain. Play a Fender Twin or a Deluxe Reverb clean, and then try to get the same sound out of some solid-state POS.

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: What's the point in big 100 watt heads?

I think it’s hasty to assume a tube power amp isn’t contributing to the sound if the preamp is generating a lot of gain. Play a Fender Twin or a Deluxe Reverb clean, and then try to get the same sound out of some solid-state POS.

It's possible to design a solid state amp that's not a POS. I've always liked JC-120s for clean sounds without any power amp distortion.

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: What's the point in big 100 watt heads?

It's possible to design a solid state amp that's not a POS. I've always liked JC-120s for clean sounds without any power amp distortion.

I don’t care. I like amps because they have tubes.

Forget it, Jake. It’s Chinatown.

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: What's the point in big 100 watt heads?

I always figured it was more about picking the right tool for the job.

 

[Diego]

Re: What's the point in big 100 watt heads?

So why not use a solid state amp then? There's no point to running power tubes if you're not driving them into distortion. Run your pedals or a tube pre-amp section into an SS power amp. It should be possible to design a power amp sections of three of four hundred watts for cheaper than a 100 watt tube power amp.

Metallica is now using Axe FX into SS poweramps. So really I can't see why that's not a thing. If it's good enough for them...

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: What's the point in big 100 watt heads?

I always figured it was more about picking the right tool for the job.

While that’s certainly an admirable approach, I prefer to buy things that drop my panties to the floor. Besides, we’re making music. There is no right tool, except the one that’s in the artist’s hands when he or she makes art.