Contemplating Low Wattage Tube Head For Gigs

  • Thread starter Thread starter Charvel1975
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Charvel1975

Charvel1975

Active member
So I've started to think about maybe getting a low wattage or I think some of the ones out now are called "Lunch Box" style tube amp heads for gigs. As you can see in my Sig the amps I have and use. The 6505+ is down right now. Last night's show I used the Mesa thru the 1960 4x12 and the sound guy and my guys were saying it was too loud, it's definitely not easy to keep the tremoverb quiet that's for sure! I think I barely had the clean and overdrive channel volumes between the 8 o'clock position, anymore than that sound guy said it was too loud :gethim:
 
Lunch box is a form factor more than a power level. The Legacy 3 is a lunch box and it's 100 watts. The Univalve is a lunch box and with a single 6K6 it puts out about 5 watts.

Why not just load the TVerb down a bit? Hot Plate or whatever.
 
Really interested in the Randall RD5 and matching 1x12 right now. Bubba is getting some nice grind out of it. Prob gonna pick one up inside of a month or so.
 
Rezamatix":kq0km20t said:
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There it is :thumbsup:

The Soldano Hot Rod 25 sounds great in clips (never plugged in)...may be worth checking out. There may be a thread with it somewhere ;)
 
rupe":237y6osy said:
Rezamatix":237y6osy said:
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There it is :thumbsup:

The Soldano Hot Rod 25 sounds great in clips (never plugged in)...may be worth checking out. There may be a thread with it somewhere ;)
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They both sound great but steep on $$
 
Sound guys are always bitching about it being loud. That's their job. I turn it down after they complain and then turn it back up after sound check. Sorry dude, that's my tone!

I have only tried the Orange Dark Terror and it was a nice sounding head but I don't think the lower wattage heads have the same "feel" as a 100 watter or more. Even when I had my JCM 800 50 watter I felt the same way. My advice would be to just keep what you have if you like it.
 
You don't need it loud to sound good. Just loud enough to get the goods from your amp. Let the soundman put it to FOH as loud as it needs in the mix. With low wattage amps, be careful because they will sound like cardboard at any volume and no matter how loud the FOH, you may not be happy.
 
Buckeyedog":159hqyp5 said:
The Mesa Mini Rec is a really cool amp as well.
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Do you have one? If so are they loud enough for like a Modern Metal 5 piece band like I'm in with another guitarist and does the clean channel stay pretty clean? You can see in my sig what cabs I have, the mini rec has kinda peaked my interest too besides the Jet City JCA22H & 50H
 
5150 III...pretty much all peamp distortion so it sounds good at all volumes.
 
rp108":2to13bji said:
Sound guys are always bitching about it being loud. That's their job. I turn it down after they complain and then turn it back up after sound check. Sorry dude, that's my tone!

I have only tried the Orange Dark wholeTerror and it was a nice sounding head but I don't think the lower wattage heads have the same "feel" as a 100 watter or more. Even when I had my JCM 800 50 watter I felt the same way. My advice would be to just keep what you have if you like it.
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Fuck what the band sounds as a whole as long as you sound good to you on stage huh? :confused:
 
I really like the Torpedo live and I do recommend it but they aren't cheap; $1k. May be a better alternative to buying a separate head just for gigs, especially if you already like your tone. I don't gig but the same volume issues exist at home with 100 watt heads and kids. :D
 
Charvel1975":b1571iyg said:
yeti":b1571iyg said:
have you tried sidewashing your cab?
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What does that mean?
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instead of your cab facing the crowd from behind you, you put it to one side or the other (pending your location on stage) and it faces inside the stage, toward you and your band. less stage volume crushing straight out front.
 
I turn my cab backwards or put a rectangular guitar case in front of it.
Just be smart about the volume. You don't need a new amp.

On a side note I played through my 7 watt Blackheart in front of a 1,000 people last weekend with a 1x 12. The sound guys were shocked. Had my board with a Bogner Red and Keeley Baked TS-9.
Does everything but metal which I haven't played in 20 years.......but through the big pa it killed.
 
LP Freak":yx9h2131 said:
rp108":yx9h2131 said:
Sound guys are always bitching about it being loud. That's their job. I turn it down after they complain and then turn it back up after sound check. Sorry dude, that's my tone!

I have only tried the Orange Dark wholeTerror and it was a nice sounding head but I don't think the lower wattage heads have the same "feel" as a 100 watter or more. Even when I had my JCM 800 50 watter I felt the same way. My advice would be to just keep what you have if you like it.
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Fuck what the band sounds as a whole as long as you sound good to you on stage huh? :confused:
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Ah, I knew a sound guy would be around here. When I rehearse with a live drummer with my volume at around 4 - 5 and I get to a club and the sound dude is bitching when I am at 2, it has nothing to do with sound and all about control. When your entire band and crew is telling you and the other guitar player to turn up, it's more of fuck the sound guy.
 
Charvel1975":20y05wp0 said:
Buckeyedog":20y05wp0 said:
The Mesa Mini Rec is a really cool amp as well.
Click to expand...


Do you have one? If so are they loud enough for like a Modern Metal 5 piece band like I'm in with another guitarist and does the clean channel stay pretty clean? You can see in my sig what cabs I have, the mini rec has kinda peaked my interest too besides the Jet City JCA22H & 50H
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Ha Ha, yes I have one, but have no idea how loud you guys play. Clean does stay clean pretty long, but cranking the volume up does break up some. You'd just have to try it out if you can. I'm just pretty impressed at the versatility/tone of this little beast. It can get pretty darn loud too.
 
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