How much amp is too much?

[wilerty]

Anything over 40 lbs.

This ...

Mine never leaves the house, so the 64 pound Mark V is fine. If I were going out ... 40 pounds, 25 watts, open back, and 2X10 would be fine.

 

[sergiodeblanc]

I finally ditched my half stack last year after hauling the damn thing around for twenty years. I can't believe it took me so long, and I'm amazed at how well I can hear myself now.(not to mention the rest of the band!)

 

[Egads]

I like my old combo Fender Reverbs. Super and Twin... Most of the time it's the Super. I just like the headroom. I don't like amp distortion and I use a whole bunch of pedals to color the sound and so those clean amps really do it. It's about headroom.

Depending on the venue it's either a Super Reverb and a 65amps Ventura OR a Super Reverb and a Twin Reverb (most times). I use pingpong delay between the two so I like making small rooms sound like arenas. Not for image but for the sound I get. And as I don't need to crank them, I can run them on 2 or so and have plenty of headroom and use my pedals for all dirt.

I love the two amp setup, but could you pick a couple heavier amps? :box: I ditched my Twin for the same reason I ditched the Mk IV (will I never learn?) It just weighed too much and I always ran it at 25 watts. I have been thinking about building a stereo/mono open/closed 2x12, so I can run two heads, I won't get the stereo spread, but I love the tone of two separate sources. It also means two mics...

As everyone else is saying, it's not about moving air on most stages. Most places just won't let you crank loud enough to move air. Go back to Zeppelin--Fender Champ cranked, and it's not tinny and small. It just has to be mic'd. I like the feel of my pants flapping and my chest thumping, but I also like my ears and being asked back to gigs.

John, LOVE your wife's rig! That's one of the all time greats!

 

[Mikegarveyblues]

100 watt stacks are a relic of the past.

There was a reason loud amps and stacks existed but there's no need for them these days either on a tiny pub stage or stadium gig. I've seen plenty of bands in pubs with the 100 watt Marshall head and 4 x12 and either 1 of 2 things happen. It's either turned right down or deafening the audience! I'm not against a 4x12 per se but I just don't see the need for loud amps these days. There's not many pubs left in the UK that would allow you to crank up the volume anyhow.

I understand the need for plenty clean headroom if you need it but 50 watts should be more than enough for most.

 

[prsrocker1988]

I love the two amp setup, but could you pick a couple heavier amps? :box: I ditched my Twin for the same reason I ditched the Mk IV (will I never learn?) It just weighed too much and I always ran it at 25 watts. I have been thinking about building a stereo/mono open/closed 2x12, so I can run two heads, I won't get the stereo spread, but I love the tone of two separate sources. It also means two mics...

I just like the sound those amps make. They are heavy (I use a cart to haul them). My heroes used Fender amps (Joe Walsh and Don Felder) and used those amps live in the 70s (recordings were Tweed usually, live was Blackface). If I want the Marshall sound I use a foot pedal. Deluxe Reverbs are nice, but just not enough headroom compared to a Super Reverb or Twin Reverb. And Princeton Reverb is even less than a DR. Maybe if I was playing in a bar or something.

I mainly play outdoors and/or in big indoor places. I don't do the bar band thing. I do party band gigs now and mainly play in the spring/summer. Before that I was in an Eagles tribute band that did big festivals and whatnot. That said the volume is never above 3, especially on the Twin. But still, I like that sound. That round clean tone that I can shape with pedals. It's that classic Eagles guitar tone. And the combo of 10s and 12s covers SO much range.

 

[Egads]

I just like the sound those amps make. They are heavy (I use a cart to haul them). My heroes used Fender amps (Joe Walsh and Don Felder) and used those amps live in the 70s (recordings were Tweed usually, live was Blackface). If I want the Marshall sound I use a foot pedal. Deluxe Reverbs are nice, but just not enough headroom compared to a Super Reverb or Twin Reverb. And Princeton Reverb is even less than a DR. Maybe if I was playing in a bar or something.

I mainly play outdoors and/or in big indoor places. I don't do the bar band thing. I do party band gigs now and mainly play in the spring/summer. Before that I was in an Eagles tribute band that did big festivals and whatnot. That said the volume is never above 3, especially on the Twin. But still, I like that sound. That round clean tone that I can shape with pedals. It's that classic Eagles guitar tone. And the combo of 10s and 12s covers SO much range.

I hear you, and nothing rings a room like a Twin on 8!

Walsh and Felder had a couple big guys whose job was to move those amps. I can't afford to buy a round of drinks, much less pay Jimmy to haul gear. So, I sold my Twin...to our other guitarist, who is now mainly using a cranked Jr mic'd.

 

[László]

100 watt stacks are a relic of the past.

I honestly think that depends on a lot of factors. You do get a different sound with 100 watt amps, especially in the low end -- even when the amp isn't cranked, there's sometimes a firmer bottom, etc. And in an outdoor setting, a full stack can be useful.

We tend to think of 100 watts as a giant-killing beast of an amp, but they can give you more clean headroom. I have relatively small powered monitors in my studio, and each tweeter and each woofer is powered with a separate 90 watt amplifier. I don't push them very loud (usually I monitor at around 80 db), but I want the clarity that the extra headroom provides.

I tend to go for 50 watts with a 212 cab, but I've had some 100 watt amps that were very useful in the studio, even at moderate volumes, because they have a particular sound that comes from the extra tubes and big trannies.

And in something like a 3 piece band (drums, bass, guitar) I think I'd want to have a half stack instead of a 212 just to fill out the sound a little more.

I don't disagree, however, that a full stack is way overkill for many venues.

 

[Boogie]

...We tend to think of 100 watts as a giant-killing beast of an amp, but they can give you more clean headroom.

+1. In my vintage rock gig, we play Dick Dale-ish clean and self amplify, so anything smaller than 100W will get raspy at volume. I tried gigging my Boogie several times in 25W mode but it just didn't fit. The Twin did the best job and now I'll be using the Bassman 100. We aren't loud, but we need the clean headroom and that takes power.

In a club doing any other rock genre, you're absolutely right, Mike.

 

[aristotle]

Yeah.... I've never understood the truisms put out there that a 100W half stack is too much. Regarding ease of transport, a Marshall 4x12 is as easy as it gets. Just wheel it where you want it. It usually takes the same floor space as a 2x12 combo and is much easier to get into the club typically. And regarding volume, unless you're dealing with an old 100W non MV plexi and insist on getting all of your dirt from the amp, you can get great tone at any reasonable club volume.

Take the Marshall Vintage Modern. The 100w version sounds better (to me) than the 50 W version all the way down to whisper volume. Same for the 50 watt MDT. From my experience, volume control has much more to do with self control than amp rated power or the nber of speakers in the cab. Having said that, nothing wrong with a small combo either,

 

[Boogeyman]

Is 50W into 4-12's "reallY" louder than 50W into 2-12's? When playing my Marshall 2553 I can switch from 25 to 50W. Practicing alone, I like the 25W setting but when you add a drummer, it's just not enough (for me) so I prefer the 50W setting when playing with the band. With 2, 2-12 cabinets, I can unplug one and the level doesn't really change much, but I lose bottom end. The 4-12 produce a "fuller" sound with more bottom end....and I think I have plenty of headroom at 50W. My 2 Ch H sounds awesome through the 4-12's, so much so that I'm not even looking for different cabs for it.

 

[Jazzedout]

Depends on the speakers and the cab. 15W is plenty loud, but lacks clean headroom. Run it with efficient, low power speakers and it would rock.

Yeap, I have a 2xEL84 15W 2x12 combo with 2 celestion 25W greenbacks and really keeps up with a band.

 

[John Beef]

Is 50W into 4-12's "reallY" louder than 50W into 2-12's?.

I don't have a decibel meter to confirm scientifically, but to my ears and in my case, yes.

 

[Egads]

+1. In my vintage rock gig, we play Dick Dale-ish clean and self amplify, so anything smaller than 100W will get raspy at volume. I tried gigging my Boogie several times in 25W mode but it just didn't fit. The Twin did the best job and now I'll be using the Bassman 100. We aren't loud, but we need the clean headroom and that takes power.

In a club doing any other rock genre, you're absolutely right, Mike.

Saw Dick Dale last Fall...in a pretty small place. And, he was still running TWO DUAL SHOWMANS! I can still feel it ringing in my head.

 

[John]

After using a MESA half stack and 60+ lb combo for years, switching to an Axe-FX and going direct is one of the better choices I've made- now that's the only thing I will use live. The MESA amps are staying at home now.

 

[Rango]

I had a 100watt EVH 5150iii half stack... want to scare the crap out of a small bar owner? Roll in with that kind of firepower. LOL!!! :biggrin:

I gave it up - 30 watt 2x12 is plenty for anyplace I get to play. :wink: I usually put a mic on it so we can run a little guitar into the monitors and PA - just to get some additional sound dispersion

I've got a 50watt 4x10 Bassman if I really need more volume - I love the Bassman but that is one FREEKEN loud amp!