Why do so many people have huge amps?
- Thread starter nahfuten
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chadd
New member
Re: Why do so many people have huge amps?
That's how the vast majority of modern, high gain amps are designed to function.
Powdered Toast Man
New member
Re: Why do so many people have huge amps?
Here's my perspective: I own four amps. Smallest is a 1973 Fender Champ (6w, 8" speaker) and largest is a '59 Bassman LTD (50W, 4x10" speakers). The Champ is great for home playing and recording. In a pinch it will work with the band during a practice. In the last year I've been taking my Bassman to gigs. Even though I don't need the volume or the power, the reason I prefer it is the SPREAD of the 410 speakers. I don't have to turn it up, but I can hear myself better on stage because the 410 speakers have a more broad spread than say a 112. I play the amp clean and use pedals for dirt, but I don't struggle to hear myself outside of the cabinet's direct path from the speakers. I've used a 1x12 5E3 at gigs and it has more than enough headroom, but I found that it's really super loud right in the path of the speaker, but step a couple feet to either side and it almost disappears. I don't have that issue nearly as bad with the larger multi-speaker cab.
Here's my perspective: I own four amps. Smallest is a 1973 Fender Champ (6w, 8" speaker) and largest is a '59 Bassman LTD (50W, 4x10" speakers). The Champ is great for home playing and recording. In a pinch it will work with the band during a practice. In the last year I've been taking my Bassman to gigs. Even though I don't need the volume or the power, the reason I prefer it is the SPREAD of the 410 speakers. I don't have to turn it up, but I can hear myself better on stage because the 410 speakers have a more broad spread than say a 112. I play the amp clean and use pedals for dirt, but I don't struggle to hear myself outside of the cabinet's direct path from the speakers. I've used a 1x12 5E3 at gigs and it has more than enough headroom, but I found that it's really super loud right in the path of the speaker, but step a couple feet to either side and it almost disappears. I don't have that issue nearly as bad with the larger multi-speaker cab.
Myaccount876
Amira-Maker
Re: Why do so many people have huge amps?
I like not having to kneel down to adjust the amp all the time.
But I would like the option of having a 2x12 once in a while instead of always having a 4x12.
But an AC30 is still just as capable of making someone clench their chest. When I played one on "10" I was able to feel the soundwaves blowing on my pant-legs. That thing can move some air.
And for people saying moving big amps is bad blah blah blah, lifting a ~60-70 pound AC30 combo into a car is just as bad. Head and cabs sure make it easier when you are able to carry/load one at a time.
I like not having to kneel down to adjust the amp all the time.
But I would like the option of having a 2x12 once in a while instead of always having a 4x12.
Because this
-
Will never sound like this
But an AC30 is still just as capable of making someone clench their chest. When I played one on "10" I was able to feel the soundwaves blowing on my pant-legs. That thing can move some air.
And for people saying moving big amps is bad blah blah blah, lifting a ~60-70 pound AC30 combo into a car is just as bad. Head and cabs sure make it easier when you are able to carry/load one at a time.
Justin Read
New member
Re: Why do so many people have huge amps?
To the guys with the big amps........ They took our jobs
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=768h3Tz4Qik
To the guys with the big amps........ They took our jobs
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=768h3Tz4Qik
JeffB
Let it B
Re: Why do so many people have huge amps?
My comment of course was made in jest.
Nothing sounds and feels like a jacked up big watt tube amp. For my type of tones, and all tye ones I truly love there is no substitute...volume is power and what creates the classic tones. Its not about high gain, its about the amp and speakers screaming for mercy and the dynamics involved...you play the amp as much as the guitar itself. Problem is, it is not very practical.
My comment of course was made in jest.
Nothing sounds and feels like a jacked up big watt tube amp. For my type of tones, and all tye ones I truly love there is no substitute...volume is power and what creates the classic tones. Its not about high gain, its about the amp and speakers screaming for mercy and the dynamics involved...you play the amp as much as the guitar itself. Problem is, it is not very practical.
Grenade
New member
Re: Why do so many people have huge amps?
This qoute is why I use this rig.
some_dude
Raging BB Gunologist
Re: Why do so many people have huge amps?
+1.
An AC30 through it's Celestion Blues is capable of slugging it out with a 100w Marshall through greenbacks.
Low powered doesn't necessarily equal quiet.
For example, look at a band like Soundgarden. On Kim's side of the stage you have a 100w Dual Rectifier 2x12 combo and a 90w Electra Dyne head into a 4x12, and Chris' side is 37w /13 into a 2x12 and 15w Savage 1x12 combos... and it's Kim's side of the stage that's the quiet side.
If there's anything there's a lesson there... choose what you want and make it work for you.
[in my opinion]Too much headroom is an issue for people who want to get breakup out of a non-master volume amp, and even for those there's methods for dealing with that. For anything with a master volume the issue becomes that of driving the speaker hard enough to get it to sound correct, which is also a problem that exists regardless of how much power your amp outputs.[/in my opinion]
On the other hand, an amp that's voiced to preserve headroom by cutting off the bass is going to sound different than an amp that's voiced to allow the full harmonic content of the note, and the second amp is going to require more power to amplify those low frequencies even if it's played at the exact same volume as the first amp. Being able to dedicate all of their power to amplifying just the midrange is why some of those low powered amps are so obnoxiously loud, and having their bottom end cut so that they don't sh*t the bed when the low E is is struck is why they don't typically sound as full as their big iron brethren.
In the end it's all about using what works for you. A Princeton Reverb is a killer sounding amp... but it doesn't sound like a Twin... nor does a Twin sound like a Princeton Reverb.
+1.
An AC30 through it's Celestion Blues is capable of slugging it out with a 100w Marshall through greenbacks.
Low powered doesn't necessarily equal quiet.
For example, look at a band like Soundgarden. On Kim's side of the stage you have a 100w Dual Rectifier 2x12 combo and a 90w Electra Dyne head into a 4x12, and Chris' side is 37w /13 into a 2x12 and 15w Savage 1x12 combos... and it's Kim's side of the stage that's the quiet side.
If there's anything there's a lesson there... choose what you want and make it work for you.
[in my opinion]Too much headroom is an issue for people who want to get breakup out of a non-master volume amp, and even for those there's methods for dealing with that. For anything with a master volume the issue becomes that of driving the speaker hard enough to get it to sound correct, which is also a problem that exists regardless of how much power your amp outputs.[/in my opinion]
On the other hand, an amp that's voiced to preserve headroom by cutting off the bass is going to sound different than an amp that's voiced to allow the full harmonic content of the note, and the second amp is going to require more power to amplify those low frequencies even if it's played at the exact same volume as the first amp. Being able to dedicate all of their power to amplifying just the midrange is why some of those low powered amps are so obnoxiously loud, and having their bottom end cut so that they don't sh*t the bed when the low E is is struck is why they don't typically sound as full as their big iron brethren.
In the end it's all about using what works for you. A Princeton Reverb is a killer sounding amp... but it doesn't sound like a Twin... nor does a Twin sound like a Princeton Reverb.
Last edited:
chadd
New member
Re: Why do so many people have huge amps?
That is the biggest reason for me. Even when I use my 2x12, I put a four space rack between the head and cab to bring the head up to a more comfortable level.
That is the biggest reason for me. Even when I use my 2x12, I put a four space rack between the head and cab to bring the head up to a more comfortable level.
jon the art guy
Nerdy Nerd
Re: Why do so many people have huge amps?
This is a 2000w peak/1000w program 12" powered speaker.
if you need to have air to move, buy two of these and plug it into a POD or AMT/Catalinbread/Big Joe/ROG/etc for your visceral experience.
This is a 2000w peak/1000w program 12" powered speaker.
if you need to have air to move, buy two of these and plug it into a POD or AMT/Catalinbread/Big Joe/ROG/etc for your visceral experience.
SirJackdeFuzz
New member
Re: Why do so many people have huge amps?
YUP . . . 5tf3 Wata from Boris knows !!!
Because this
-
Will never sound like this
YUP . . . 5tf3 Wata from Boris knows !!!
SirJackdeFuzz
New member
jon the art guy
Nerdy Nerd
Re: Why do so many people have huge amps?
Unf Wata
Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk
YUP . . . 5tf3 Wata from Boris knows !!!
Unf Wata
Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk
SongsForTheDeaf
New member
Re: Why do so many people have huge amps?
I hate Boris... freakin noise and I dig alot of stoner rock but Boris is just obnoxious IMO
I hate Boris... freakin noise and I dig alot of stoner rock but Boris is just obnoxious IMO
jon the art guy
Nerdy Nerd
Re: Why do so many people have huge amps?
Its a different creature. Japan has a skewed version of western culture, and it doesn't translate directly. Japanese punk is more abrasive than I care for.
Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk
Its a different creature. Japan has a skewed version of western culture, and it doesn't translate directly. Japanese punk is more abrasive than I care for.
Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk
SongsForTheDeaf
New member
Re: Why do so many people have huge amps?
Yeah I think Pink is the album I dislike the least lol so much feedback!
Yeah I think Pink is the album I dislike the least lol so much feedback!
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