This applies to most of us that gig in clubs or with a pa.

[guitarmike]

I bought my first two 20 watt amps, a Friedman Pink Taco and an Engl Ironball. I went to the smaller amp solely due to the lower weight, as many of you know my back is toasted and I am doing all I can to avoid back surgery #6. After playing with the amps for 2 weeks I honestly do not see myself ever bringing my 1/2 stack out of the house again.
My requirement for any amp is that it is usable at home and for late night/early morning practicing as well as at any gig I play.

These 2 20 watt heads are stupid loud, if you need more volume than these provide I'm impressed

Both of these amps sound killer at low volumes too. I have played some of the other lunch box amps out there and they do not compare to these two (for Marshall type tones). I am stunned at how good these amps sound.
If you want clean to crunch to molten metal, foot switchable, get the Engl. If you want the same but don't need them all at one time, the Pink Taco is your amp, it sounds just like the BE-100 on the BE channel.

 

[Badronald]

Cool. Glad it's working out.

For most things I prefer a 100wt head for headroom and feel. There's a stoutness that cannot be duplicated.
I do use my 30wt JTM45 for smaller gigs. I will not go lower than that for my rock stuff.
I've had quite a few low wattage amps and they leave quickly.

If I had back problems I'd do the same as you. Not worth hurting your back more. You can get good tone with little amps and a big pa.
I'd probably take an AxFX and a small midi board.

 

[ibenhad]

Couldn't agree more. Have the Roccaforte Custom 18 and the Marshall 2061x and they are both plenty loud for most anything and they are pretty versatile for basically single channel amps. Also have the Sommatone Slick 18 combo and that thing kills. Won't do metal but can go from clean to raunch and roll with just a turn of the guitars volume knob. The right pedal out front really gets them juiced too. I prefer the Mosferatu to get them into total dirt!

 

[tripstan]

Mike, What kind of cab are you using?

 

[racerevlon]

I've been gigging with a JCA22H and a JCA24S+ and demolishing the clubs, helping out the FOH guy by giving him an easy D.I., having an ultra-portable, easy-to-set-up/tear down rig that takes up 1/2 the space (vertical), and still get mad compliments on my tone. If memory serves, the 24S+ has either Splawn Big Blocks or Small Blocks on board.

 

[Heritage Softail]

Back issues suck

 

[xzyryabx]

CAn you give us a bit more about the ironball?
Which engl is it closest to tone wise?
I'm debating selling my savage and getting the ironball, just b/c I feel bad about having such a monster amp and only being able to get it to 2!

 

[KevHo]

^^^ - What he said. I am definitely interested in an Ironball.

On a similar note, I picked up an H&K Tubemeister 18W as part of a trade the other day and I was floored by the tones I could get out of that thing with the boost on through a Marshall 1936 2x12. I have found the perfect 'lunchbox' amp for toting to a friend's house to jam. In all honesty, I don't think I would have any problems using it in a full band setting either.

 

[guitarmike]

Mike, What kind of cab are you using?

At church I have a late 70's 1960b with greenbacks that I store there for use on the Sunday's I play. I also let anyone else use it too.

At home I use a Tonesonics Tonewedge which is a ported 1x12 with a Scumback M75 and a tubeworks verticle 2x12 with greenbacks. I have not played a bar gig yet with either amp.

CAn you give us a bit more about the ironball?
Which engl is it closest to tone wise?
I'm debating selling my savage and getting the ironball, just b/c I feel bad about having such a monster amp and only being able to get it to 2!

I have never played an Engl amp of any kind before nor have I heard one recently enough to be able to tell you what the Ironball sounds like. I wanted a small amp that sounded like the BE-100 which is the Pink Taco. I get the Ironball to sound pretty much the same. I promise I will make some clips tomorrow after church to show how close I have them set. The Ironball is a little better to use as a gigging amp if for no other reason than it has a foot switchable clean - dirty, boost on or off (either channel), solo boost, and reverb on/off. If the volume/gain taper on the Pink Taco was similar to the BE-100. I never would have looked at another amp. The Pink Taco is very touchy form 0 -.8 which is the range you have to work with if you want to play at low volume. 1 - 2 is close to if not at gig volume, anything above that adds intensity.

 

[fishyfishfish]

I 100% agree. I got hit by a car 6 years ago (while walking!)
And with L3-4-5 almost fused I am getting a big hint about
Slimming down . Right now looking at a Morgan dual20 and a couple other
Small box rigs.

 

[MajorTom]

I've played in small clubs. I used a 100 watt recto through a 4x12. While I agree that it was overkill for the volume needs, there's something to be said for stage volume. If you're not using in ears, not being able to hear yourself is an issue. Especially in small venues with lame PAs and monitors. So many sound guys are so jaded that they want you to turn down, but a little guitar volume can add energy.

While I agree that 20 watts is enough. It's so cliche to say that you don't need anything more than that. A lot of amps are rated higher for headroom.

 

[1big1]

since i'm the only guitar player in the band i'm currently in i need the larger footprint that a 4x12 provides. if we ever add another guitar player i would seriously consider adding the 1x12 extension cab (i think it's the 12S+) with the built in di to my jca 2112 and running an afterburner in front.