Andrew Lamprecht
Minion of One
What is the perfect tube amp wattage to use at gigs?
Your Perfect Amp Wattage
- Thread starter Andrew Lamprecht
- Start date
SirJackdeFuzz
New member
Re: Your Perfect Amp Wattage
Depends on the gig.
Depends on the gig.
James Rock
Active member
Re: Your Perfect Amp Wattage
Depends often my 15 watt is too loud and I use it for a clean sound. I don't think you need more then 30 watts because if you do you can get it miked or slave to more amps.
Depends often my 15 watt is too loud and I use it for a clean sound. I don't think you need more then 30 watts because if you do you can get it miked or slave to more amps.
Re: Your Perfect Amp Wattage
11-19 for me....my amp is always in front of me, tilted back like a monitor (i don't use regular monitors for guitar or vocals, even for bigger festivals). It is always miked or DI'd anyway, so as long as I can hear the direct sound, I am ok. Also, it is never very loud. Even an 18 watt amp is on maybe 3 or 4.
11-19 for me....my amp is always in front of me, tilted back like a monitor (i don't use regular monitors for guitar or vocals, even for bigger festivals). It is always miked or DI'd anyway, so as long as I can hear the direct sound, I am ok. Also, it is never very loud. Even an 18 watt amp is on maybe 3 or 4.
Petrovsk Mizinski
New member
Re: Your Perfect Amp Wattage
I don't even own an amp right now, but if I were to get one which I hopefully will later this year, it would have a minimum of 100 watts, 120 at the most.
I don't even own an amp right now, but if I were to get one which I hopefully will later this year, it would have a minimum of 100 watts, 120 at the most.
ACH91332
New member
Re: Your Perfect Amp Wattage
Well generally speaking you shouldn't need more than a 50W with that even pushing it. I use a 100W stack because I like the punch of a 100W head where the 50W would be a little more saturated at the same volume. It's not a HUGE difference but it's there and is noticeable if you have the ear for it. If you don't have the ear to it then 50W if u are getting a nice head. It will be lighter too because of the smaller transformers.
Well generally speaking you shouldn't need more than a 50W with that even pushing it. I use a 100W stack because I like the punch of a 100W head where the 50W would be a little more saturated at the same volume. It's not a HUGE difference but it's there and is noticeable if you have the ear for it. If you don't have the ear to it then 50W if u are getting a nice head. It will be lighter too because of the smaller transformers.
RLee
New member
Re: Your Perfect Amp Wattage
I like a 50 watt head for its low end thump, and ability to remain clean at sufficient volumes, even if you mostly play overdriven. Doesn't mean you would actually push out 50 watts; just that you'd have it on tap if needed.
You also need to take into account MV amps vs. NMV amps, and whether you depend on power tube clipping for your tones, or preamp, or overdrive pedals.
I like a 50 watt head for its low end thump, and ability to remain clean at sufficient volumes, even if you mostly play overdriven. Doesn't mean you would actually push out 50 watts; just that you'd have it on tap if needed.
You also need to take into account MV amps vs. NMV amps, and whether you depend on power tube clipping for your tones, or preamp, or overdrive pedals.
richard parker
Active member
Re: Your Perfect Amp Wattage
30 watts does it for me but it has to be valve. 30w solid state would not cut it. A 30w 1 x 12 or 2 x 10 combo gives me enough volume to play over a loud drummer without needing to be miked. Of course it depends on the quality of the amp. I did use a 15w Marshall Studio (2 x 6v6 output stage) for a couple of years but it struggled to produce a decent low end.
30 watts does it for me but it has to be valve. 30w solid state would not cut it. A 30w 1 x 12 or 2 x 10 combo gives me enough volume to play over a loud drummer without needing to be miked. Of course it depends on the quality of the amp. I did use a 15w Marshall Studio (2 x 6v6 output stage) for a couple of years but it struggled to produce a decent low end.
Lake Placid Blues
New member
Re: Your Perfect Amp Wattage
It really depends on the room and the type of gig. At a recent gig the room was big enough that I could use my 4x12. I actually could have used a 100 watt head with the 4x12 without problem, although I ended up using my Jubilee clicked up to the 50 watts range.
I use either a JTM45 (about 35 watts with KT66) and/or a Jubilee set at 25 watts (@ clipping) for the typical pub gig. Most of the time that is plenty. At a new years gig a few years ago I brought along only a 1x12 cab not knowing what to expect and hitching a ride, but the room was so big and filled up with so many people, that I had to dime my 50 watt Marshall to even hear myself. Don't count on decent monitors or a good PA to mic up to!!
A few years ago another band (a Who tribute band with Hiwatts) played the same big room as the recent gig. You could hear em several blocks away despite the big room. It was great!, but a 100 watt 1/2 stack would have been enough.
It really depends on the room and the type of gig. At a recent gig the room was big enough that I could use my 4x12. I actually could have used a 100 watt head with the 4x12 without problem, although I ended up using my Jubilee clicked up to the 50 watts range.
I use either a JTM45 (about 35 watts with KT66) and/or a Jubilee set at 25 watts (@ clipping) for the typical pub gig. Most of the time that is plenty. At a new years gig a few years ago I brought along only a 1x12 cab not knowing what to expect and hitching a ride, but the room was so big and filled up with so many people, that I had to dime my 50 watt Marshall to even hear myself. Don't count on decent monitors or a good PA to mic up to!!
A few years ago another band (a Who tribute band with Hiwatts) played the same big room as the recent gig. You could hear em several blocks away despite the big room. It was great!, but a 100 watt 1/2 stack would have been enough.
Lake Placid Blues
New member
Re: Your Perfect Amp Wattage
LOL, I ended up with a heavy hitting drummer in a band about ten years ago. You need loud amps with a loud drummer. Jimmy Page said that about Bonham. He had to use loud amps to strike the right balance for stage volume.
LOL, I ended up with a heavy hitting drummer in a band about ten years ago. You need loud amps with a loud drummer. Jimmy Page said that about Bonham. He had to use loud amps to strike the right balance for stage volume.
That90'sGuy
DyzaBoyzologist
Re: Your Perfect Amp Wattage
I was in some loud bands where I could get away with using the Crate V32 Palomino I used to have and that was a 30w tube head. With my Shiva, the master would always be turned down at gigs. It was never a problem and it always sounded good, but the Crate was able to be opened up more for sure. I haven't gigged in a year or so (maybe more at this point), but I remember 30w was important to keep some clean headroom live with my band. For the recording I do these days, my trusty Vox AC-15 works just fine, but I'm pretty sure live the cleans would be sacrificed trying to cut through a loud drummer.
I was in some loud bands where I could get away with using the Crate V32 Palomino I used to have and that was a 30w tube head. With my Shiva, the master would always be turned down at gigs. It was never a problem and it always sounded good, but the Crate was able to be opened up more for sure. I haven't gigged in a year or so (maybe more at this point), but I remember 30w was important to keep some clean headroom live with my band. For the recording I do these days, my trusty Vox AC-15 works just fine, but I'm pretty sure live the cleans would be sacrificed trying to cut through a loud drummer.
ksmith63
New member
Re: Your Perfect Amp Wattage
hmmm.....
While 18 watts is loud enough for any gig, I prefer the high power for the clean headroom and added bass response. It also helps to have an amp that sounds good at *lower* levels.
I voted 100+ because my amp, while only rated at 80w, was louder than a Dual Rec or 120w Crate Blue Voodoo.
hmmm.....
While 18 watts is loud enough for any gig, I prefer the high power for the clean headroom and added bass response. It also helps to have an amp that sounds good at *lower* levels.
I voted 100+ because my amp, while only rated at 80w, was louder than a Dual Rec or 120w Crate Blue Voodoo.
ImmortalSix
John Mayer's Mankini
Re: Your Perfect Amp Wattage
I just learned, after years of gigging that higher wattages move more air, period.
It sounds like a "duh" realization, but let me put it this way:
I am all about bass and "woof" and low end.
a 15 watt amp cranked still isn't going to give as much bass as a 60 watt amp on 1.
I would say I'd gig with 60 watts of 6L6
I have been gigging with 15 solid state / tube hybrid watts through a tiny 8" speaker though, this past year or two. (AD15VT)
I just learned, after years of gigging that higher wattages move more air, period.
It sounds like a "duh" realization, but let me put it this way:
I am all about bass and "woof" and low end.
a 15 watt amp cranked still isn't going to give as much bass as a 60 watt amp on 1.
I would say I'd gig with 60 watts of 6L6
I have been gigging with 15 solid state / tube hybrid watts through a tiny 8" speaker though, this past year or two. (AD15VT)
\m/(00)\m/
HeadBanginologist
Re: Your Perfect Amp Wattage
I own a 50 watter, that punches pretty well when at 4 for the "clean" sound, and around 4 or 5 for dirty sounds. I think altogether for a single channel amp I'd go with somewhere between 18 and 25 watts, enough to get dirty but enough headroom to clean up
I own a 50 watter, that punches pretty well when at 4 for the "clean" sound, and around 4 or 5 for dirty sounds. I think altogether for a single channel amp I'd go with somewhere between 18 and 25 watts, enough to get dirty but enough headroom to clean up
Andrew Lamprecht
Minion of One
Re: Your Perfect Amp Wattage
This poll is pretty close.
You guys think a 15 watt tube amp would be enough for a small-medium sized blues gig?
This poll is pretty close.
You guys think a 15 watt tube amp would be enough for a small-medium sized blues gig?
