Your Perfect Amp Wattage
- Thread starter Andrew Lamprecht
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Lake Placid Blues
New member
Re: Your Perfect Amp Wattage
If you don't need clean head room, then yes a 15 watt toob amp is okay. I have seen a gazillion Blues Jr's at small to medium (with mic-ing) gigs. Harp players use em and guitar players use em. The most common guitar amp at blues bars in America is without question the tweed bassman re-issue- with a pedal.
If you don't need clean head room, then yes a 15 watt toob amp is okay. I have seen a gazillion Blues Jr's at small to medium (with mic-ing) gigs. Harp players use em and guitar players use em. The most common guitar amp at blues bars in America is without question the tweed bassman re-issue- with a pedal.
Andrew Lamprecht
Minion of One
Re: Your Perfect Amp Wattage
I don't ever use a pure clean channel, But sometimes I use the clean channel with other overdrive pedals. You think it would be loud enough with a pedal?
I don't ever use a pure clean channel, But sometimes I use the clean channel with other overdrive pedals. You think it would be loud enough with a pedal?
dmandude123455
New member
Re: Your Perfect Amp Wattage
100000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000040000000000 watts, i want to make earthquakes when i play
seriously though for home play 10 watt other then that? 50 and up i guess
100000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000040000000000 watts, i want to make earthquakes when i play
seriously though for home play 10 watt other then that? 50 and up i guess
Stratman
Guitaris Maximus
Re: Your Perfect Amp Wattage
Define GIGS
Because that is going to define the venue that you are playing at.
Most small clubs will not book you if you use a 50 or 100 watt Marshall stack, while others will look with dismay is you walk in with a 22 watt Fender Deluxe.
It also depends on the type of music that is to be played.
The amount of the crowd, size and acoustics of the room, etc....
Solution: Have a 22 watt, 35 watt, 50 watt, and 100 watt amp ready or Have a great sounding amp and play it through the PA, as most gigging musicians now do.
Define GIGS
Because that is going to define the venue that you are playing at.
Most small clubs will not book you if you use a 50 or 100 watt Marshall stack, while others will look with dismay is you walk in with a 22 watt Fender Deluxe.
It also depends on the type of music that is to be played.
The amount of the crowd, size and acoustics of the room, etc....
Solution: Have a 22 watt, 35 watt, 50 watt, and 100 watt amp ready or Have a great sounding amp and play it through the PA, as most gigging musicians now do.
Lake Placid Blues
New member
Re: Your Perfect Amp Wattage
Are you talking Blues Jr? Depends on how big or small the room is, but for most small gigs a Blues Jr is man enough for the job. When the room gets bigger, often you have the option of mic-ing up.
If your worried about headroom then there's the Deluxe at 22 watts. Stock Deluxes aren't known for clean headroom though. From there's the Tweed Bassman/JTM45, then the 50 watt amps. The Tweed Bassman is probably the main workhorse, because it almost always has enough headroom, has good tone without being too loud, and it takes OD pedals well. It is also fairly portable and takes getting kicked around with out falling apart.
Are you talking Blues Jr? Depends on how big or small the room is, but for most small gigs a Blues Jr is man enough for the job. When the room gets bigger, often you have the option of mic-ing up.
If your worried about headroom then there's the Deluxe at 22 watts. Stock Deluxes aren't known for clean headroom though. From there's the Tweed Bassman/JTM45, then the 50 watt amps. The Tweed Bassman is probably the main workhorse, because it almost always has enough headroom, has good tone without being too loud, and it takes OD pedals well. It is also fairly portable and takes getting kicked around with out falling apart.
Fender_Punk
BerriesAndCreamologist
Re: Your Perfect Amp Wattage
I chose 40-49 simply because my gigging amp is a 40W and in bars it is set between 3-5 and at festivals between 5-7. I've never needed to crank it to get enough volume.
If you wanted to be able to crank your tube amp in any bar I'd suggest something between 15-20W. Like others have said if any more volume is needed it can be mic'd.
I chose 40-49 simply because my gigging amp is a 40W and in bars it is set between 3-5 and at festivals between 5-7. I've never needed to crank it to get enough volume.
If you wanted to be able to crank your tube amp in any bar I'd suggest something between 15-20W. Like others have said if any more volume is needed it can be mic'd.
Butch Snyder
ObsoleteChickenPickingologist
Re: Your Perfect Amp Wattage
I prefer anything from 15 to 30. That's tube watts too. I could play a 60,000 seat stadium with a 30-watt amp and be fine. It's all about the PA and monitors anyway when you get that big. In small clubs, I'll take 15-30 too. You can push the amp and still go through the PA. There's nothing worse that having a 50-100 watt amp and having to turn it down to 0.5. Of course, that's what a power soak is for I guess....
One of my favorite players, Jimmy Olander, uses two 30-what Matchless Chieftains. Brent Mason uses a coupld of Twin Reverbs, and Brad Paisley uses 30-watt Dr. Z amps.
I prefer anything from 15 to 30. That's tube watts too. I could play a 60,000 seat stadium with a 30-watt amp and be fine. It's all about the PA and monitors anyway when you get that big. In small clubs, I'll take 15-30 too. You can push the amp and still go through the PA. There's nothing worse that having a 50-100 watt amp and having to turn it down to 0.5. Of course, that's what a power soak is for I guess....
One of my favorite players, Jimmy Olander, uses two 30-what Matchless Chieftains. Brent Mason uses a coupld of Twin Reverbs, and Brad Paisley uses 30-watt Dr. Z amps.
Re: Your Perfect Amp Wattage
that pretty much sums up my collection... i have a 22watt Fender Deluxe, a C30 combo, a C50 head and 1x12 cab, a JCM 800 2204 50watter, a JCM TSL100, a 5150 half stack...
i did have issues in some clubs with my stacks... soundmen and bar owners sometimes hated the 4x12s... i ended up using the same heads thru a 150watt 1x12 cab tilted back like a monitor at my head and a mic boom on it... solved a lot of issues... towards the end of my last gigging outfit i started using 1x12 combos again with a pedalboard... made more sense then hauling the fridge worth of amps like i did a few years ago...
and i did a few outdoor gigs for local businesses special events with my stacks and we got shut down by the cops for excusive noise...
that pretty much sums up my collection... i have a 22watt Fender Deluxe, a C30 combo, a C50 head and 1x12 cab, a JCM 800 2204 50watter, a JCM TSL100, a 5150 half stack...
i did have issues in some clubs with my stacks... soundmen and bar owners sometimes hated the 4x12s... i ended up using the same heads thru a 150watt 1x12 cab tilted back like a monitor at my head and a mic boom on it... solved a lot of issues... towards the end of my last gigging outfit i started using 1x12 combos again with a pedalboard... made more sense then hauling the fridge worth of amps like i did a few years ago...
and i did a few outdoor gigs for local businesses special events with my stacks and we got shut down by the cops for excusive noise...
Andrew Lamprecht
Minion of One
Re: Your Perfect Amp Wattage
No, I'm just talking tiny amps in general. I really like the tone of the Tiny Terror.
No, I'm just talking tiny amps in general. I really like the tone of the Tiny Terror.
Andrew Lamprecht
Minion of One
Re: Your Perfect Amp Wattage
I don't have enough money for the first option. I'm 17 and without a job.
I was looking at the tiny terror but was just wondering if it would be loud enough. 3 people have already told me anything under 30 watts isn't really worth it.
I don't have enough money for the first option. I'm 17 and without a job.
I was looking at the tiny terror but was just wondering if it would be loud enough. 3 people have already told me anything under 30 watts isn't really worth it.
Reload in 5
Just Ultimate Slacker
Re: Your Perfect Amp Wattage
Well I have a 5 watt into a 1x12, that I can also run into a 4x12 (which is actually pretty loud)
Also have a twin available (if needed) and could get a bassman today with its cab, or run it into the 4x12.
I only own the valve junior and 1x12 though.
I would bet the tiny terror into a decent cab would be pretty loud as well.
I voted 20-29, but was actually thinking between the 18 watters and the 30 watters would be the best range.
Well I have a 5 watt into a 1x12, that I can also run into a 4x12 (which is actually pretty loud)
Also have a twin available (if needed) and could get a bassman today with its cab, or run it into the 4x12.
I only own the valve junior and 1x12 though.
I would bet the tiny terror into a decent cab would be pretty loud as well.
I voted 20-29, but was actually thinking between the 18 watters and the 30 watters would be the best range.
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The Golden Boy
Fleecy Sweaterologist
Re: Your Perfect Amp Wattage
Personally... 50w.
Just because my amps are 50w.
Personally... 50w.
Just because my amps are 50w.
Butch Snyder
ObsoleteChickenPickingologist
Re: Your Perfect Amp Wattage
I played ina Blues band here in Cincy where I used my Blues Junior. I used it many times not going through the PA. As Mincer said, if you watch the stage volume, it can be done.
I played ina Blues band here in Cincy where I used my Blues Junior. I used it many times not going through the PA. As Mincer said, if you watch the stage volume, it can be done.
Lake Placid Blues
New member
Re: Your Perfect Amp Wattage
But stage volume depends to a large degree on the drummer. In the band I was in ten years ago with a hard hitting drummer, I tryed to use a 15 watt amp once, but there was no way that was going to work with that drummer.
So yes, for small enough rooms and with the right drummer. But with a John Henry Bonham clone, and larger rooms with limited PA facilities, maybe not.
But stage volume depends to a large degree on the drummer. In the band I was in ten years ago with a hard hitting drummer, I tryed to use a 15 watt amp once, but there was no way that was going to work with that drummer.
So yes, for small enough rooms and with the right drummer. But with a John Henry Bonham clone, and larger rooms with limited PA facilities, maybe not.
Re: Your Perfect Amp Wattage
Ideally it shouldn't get past the rehearsal stage with a drummer who doesn't know about dynamics and who dominates the stage volume. It isn't fair to the other musicians to say 'this is the way I play. so you are going to have to figure out a way to be louder.' I mean, I know that happens...but not in any (non-rock) professional situation I have been in- he/she wouldn't be working for long. If it is a blues gig, you wouldn't have a rock drummer anyway. Good blues drummers generally have dynamics under control.
Ideally it shouldn't get past the rehearsal stage with a drummer who doesn't know about dynamics and who dominates the stage volume. It isn't fair to the other musicians to say 'this is the way I play. so you are going to have to figure out a way to be louder.' I mean, I know that happens...but not in any (non-rock) professional situation I have been in- he/she wouldn't be working for long. If it is a blues gig, you wouldn't have a rock drummer anyway. Good blues drummers generally have dynamics under control.
glassman
Electron Herder
Re: Your Perfect Amp Wattage
This discussion raises the question of why does the drummer seem to always be the one that dictates what level the band has to play at? I have some friends that recently acquired a new drummer who was rather heavy handed. Being unwilling to turn things up a notch or two to match his level, they built a plexiglass shield to wrap around him, which had two positive effects: (1) it reduced his stage level dramatically and (2) he got to hear himself and decided that he was too loud and that he sounded better when he didn't beat the life out of his drum kit. The shield still stands.
This discussion raises the question of why does the drummer seem to always be the one that dictates what level the band has to play at? I have some friends that recently acquired a new drummer who was rather heavy handed. Being unwilling to turn things up a notch or two to match his level, they built a plexiglass shield to wrap around him, which had two positive effects: (1) it reduced his stage level dramatically and (2) he got to hear himself and decided that he was too loud and that he sounded better when he didn't beat the life out of his drum kit. The shield still stands.
