How many watts would you feel safe with for live gigs?

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maddnotez

maddnotez

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Small to Mid size Venues, 500-600 capacity.

I love my 100w amp but am tired of being the only one in the band with a good amp and overpowering everyone.

I do not usually have issues with any sound guys or do they have any with me, I actually get compliments on my amp from most of them and only 1 local guy asks me to turn down (pussy) lol...

Anyway I am looking to downsize, am probably going to get one of the new Randalls when they are available but have also been looking at HT-5 lol and snott watt.

So what is the minimum wattage you would feel safe with using in a lous metal band, 5 peice?
 
25 to 30.

Might not be able to keep your cleans super clean though.....
 
Usually the issue onstage is keeping up with the drummer, a lot is going to depend on the placement of your cabs. have a bottom cab aimed at your knees, you're going to need more volume. Could also use a speaker stand to get a cab up in the air so it's pointed at your head.

Having a good monitor system onstage where you don't need to rely on your cab for hearing yourself, is going to be the best for your band's sound. Quieter stage you can provide the sound guy, the better he should be able to make you sound as a band and the better your guitar should sound too.
 
I've used a Jet City JCA22H (20-watt) and a JCA24S (2 x 12) successfully for a while now. Twenty watts of tube power is still dang loud. I usually run the gain on the normal channel at or below one with the master up around 8 (to keep the cleans clean) and the gain on the OD channel around 4.5 with the master around 7. Works extremely well. Also, a Splawn Quick Rod set to half power (50W) with a Splawn 2 x 12 will own just about any venue.
 
Around 30 watts would be as low as I go. Have you thought about just getting an attenuator for your current amp?

I think if you go down too far in wattage you are going to miss the pump of a big amp.
 
I've played gigs in a 3 piece with just a Fender Blues Jr and an overdrive pedal for hard rock. My other guitarist uses a Mesa Maverick (30W) and competes very well with my 100+ watt rigs. I don't turn up too high though--I trust microphones.
 
For metal, since the drummers I've played with are almost always loud I like at lease 30-50 watts. Attenuator will work good but you can go the poor mans route and throw a volume pedal in the fx loop if your amp has a good one. Lowers the volume without changing the gain structure of the preamp, but it can affect the power amp section.
 
maddnotez":3stealzu said:
Small to Mid size Venues, 500-600 capacity.

I love my 100w amp but am tired of being the only one in the band with a good amp and overpowering everyone.

I do not usually have issues with any sound guys or do they have any with me, I actually get compliments on my amp from most of them and only 1 local guy asks me to turn down (pussy) lol...

Anyway I am looking to downsize, am probably going to get one of the new Randalls when they are available but have also been looking at HT-5 lol and snott watt.

So what is the minimum wattage you would feel safe with using in a lous metal band, 5 peice?
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I don't understand why you're downsizing. Is it to save your back? Seems to me that unless the guys in your band are complaining about something you may want to stick with "if it's not broken don't fix it."
 
Bob is a soothsayer. Listen to his logic. He already knows how this will all turn out.....
 
50watts. Instead of downgrading how about the other guys upgrade ;)
 
I'm in a band w/ 3 guitars (incl. me), and 25w is just right for most gigs, playing ac/dc, zep, zz top, etc.
 
Haha, well I wish they would upgrade but fat chance.

My back is still ok for now :)

I don't see this particular band ever playing anywhere else besides small venues and I am trying to sell my amp because I am hurting for $$$$$

I just figured better tone at lower volumes or "earlier breakup". Plus those RD 50's sound pretty nice for the Money.

Was just kinda feeling around and wanted to see what you guys thought, I have met alot of people who swear by lower watts and have also heard bands with mini amps or combo's that sound Alllmost as good as my amp...
 
Mic it up and give me a good monitor mix. I do fine with a Dr Z Carmen Ghia... 18 watts I think it is.
 
My modded JCA22H and modded DSL50 are more than loud enough with the volume under 3.
 
Personally i wouldn't feel comfortable gigging with anything less than 1.21 GigaWatts.... :D

1-21gigawatts.jpg
 
Bob Savage":1uwcpu8a said:
I don't understand why you're downsizing. Is it to save your back? Seems to me that unless the guys in your band are complaining about something you may want to stick with "if it's not broken don't fix it."
Click to expand...

+1

If you are in a metal band then why do you want early breakup? Headroom is king in metal. Except maybe doom/stoner/sludge/classic rock.


50w min

that said:
HT-5 is not what you want.
Snott Watt would kill tho.
 
I used to bring my Marshall 18 watt 1974x combo to small gigs occasionally and in a twin guitar band without being miked it is cutting it close. I would say 25 watt minimum with tube amps.
 
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