Members C-4 Posted July 16, 2008 Members Share Posted July 16, 2008 I apologize if this has been recently posted, as I haven't seen it. I was wondering who has played on higher wattage amps, say 50 watts and up, and has changed their tonal preference and wattage preference for a lower wattage amp, say 35 watts and less for live work? For as long as I can remember, I have used 50 and 100 watt amps, but always used the lower wattage settings if the amps had them. However, I began to realize that I was not using the full potential of what those amps offered in terms of power at the work I was being offered. It was always overkill by way too much wattage available. Then over the last couple of years, I have been getting smaller amps, or reducing the power in my current Diezels by using less powerful tubes. I am now at a point where I am using tube amps that are 20 watts and less, and plan on getting my next Diezel with the lowest wattage they offer.I miss the options that some of the larger amps had, that are sometimes missing on the lower wattage amps, but have noticed that now, amp makers are putting the same options into their lower wattage amps. These are things as a tube driven effects loop, parallel effects loop, multiple channels, or other power-related options, power scaling, and the list goes on. I have found that when I use lower wattage power tubes, I am able to turn the dials on the amp up higher and get from the amp more tone out of it, and more versatility from any given dial on the amp. I am using less distortion, getting more sustain and clarity while still distorting the amp, yet more aggressive tones from these lower wattage amps. Has anyone else been doing this? Thank you.Stephen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members curseoftruth Posted July 16, 2008 Members Share Posted July 16, 2008 Tried it and while sounding OK, lost the headroom I needed. Went back to the big boys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Cliff Fiscal Posted July 16, 2008 Members Share Posted July 16, 2008 Just buy one of each..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members A3C Posted July 16, 2008 Members Share Posted July 16, 2008 I recently picked up an Epi VJ which I'm really getting along well with, and also just sold my 60-watt Fender Deville. I'll be replacing it with an AC15, so yeah, I have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ibenhad Posted July 16, 2008 Members Share Posted July 16, 2008 Have several high gain 50, 120 and such tube amps. For band practice I bring a Fender blues JR (15 watts) and everyone comments on the sound. I use a Mosferatu and a AC booster in front and a Les Paul. I also have a Dr. Z Maz JR NR that is 18 watts and that sounds amazing. I don't know anywhere except the Garden that you would really need a 100 watt amp and then you mic them up anyway. Love my 3-5 watt Blackheart but haven't tried it at practice yet... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members A3C Posted July 16, 2008 Members Share Posted July 16, 2008 Have several high gain 50, 120 and such tube amps. For band practice I bring a Fender blues JR (15 watts) and everyone comments on the sound. I use a Mosferatu and a AC booster in front and a Les Paul. I also have a Dr. Z Maz JR NR that is 18 watts and that sounds amazing. I don't know anywhere except the Garden that you would really need a 100 watt amp and then you mic them up anyway. Love my 3-5 watt Blackheart but haven't tried it at practice yet... I took my VJ to rehearsal the other night and it kept up well with the drummer and the rest of the band. I need to get a larger cab for it at some point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members 59humbucker Posted July 16, 2008 Members Share Posted July 16, 2008 I really like my 40 watt DSL, but do find you loose some headroom for cleans, though this can be got around by running the amp a bit quieter and miking Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Chairborne Posted July 16, 2008 Members Share Posted July 16, 2008 I have found that the need for power is driven by what the other guys in the band do. I have been running an Epi Jr. at practice through a 4x12 and it is damn loud, as in loud enough. But if the bass player were to suddenly show up with an SVT and start turning things up (as bass players sometimes do), I would get blown out of the water pretty fast and need something bigger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members adlo76 Posted July 16, 2008 Members Share Posted July 16, 2008 i mainly gig with a 15w Fender Pro Jr. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Help!I'maRock! Posted July 16, 2008 Members Share Posted July 16, 2008 all of my amps are 40 watts or less. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members BootRoots Posted July 16, 2008 Members Share Posted July 16, 2008 I don't use much more on stage than the 12 or 15 watts that my Princeton Reverb puts out these days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members guitarman3001 Posted July 16, 2008 Members Share Posted July 16, 2008 currently have a 100 watt B52 AT100. I'm looking for a lower wattage amp. See my sig. As for clean headroom, I can live without it. I actually like a slightly broken up clean anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members theManfromAlabam Posted July 16, 2008 Members Share Posted July 16, 2008 I have an old 70's silverface twin reverb in my best friends basement, I should probably go clean off the cobwebs and fire it up for an hour or so...this is my loudest amp. I use my Rocktron Egnater TOL50 head and a 2X12 cab to keep up with the louder people. Bedroom amps I've decided to sell Epi valve jr, Blackheart BH5112 combo and an old MIA blues junior...My Egnaters 10 watt mode blows these amps away. Getting a 65 Princeton reissue today 15watts with a 1X10 Jensen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Burgess Posted July 16, 2008 Members Share Posted July 16, 2008 I'm playing through a 45W Rivera combo these days. It's plenty for what we do but I'm not sure I'd be comfortable with anything smaller. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JC777 Posted July 16, 2008 Members Share Posted July 16, 2008 The Highest wattage amp that I have now is a 45 watt Fender Bassman. Everything else is 35 watts or less. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members newmaxnew Posted July 16, 2008 Members Share Posted July 16, 2008 I am currently using a Fender Super-Sonic. I think it puts out 65 watts. The volume is usually on about 2 1/2 to 3. I bought the Super-Sonic because of the great Fender clean tone it provides. That amp is a 1 X 12 combo, I used to play with a head and 4 X 12 speaker, so I guess I have been scaling down a bit. Max Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members seblo_15 Posted July 16, 2008 Members Share Posted July 16, 2008 I have a YCS 50 that I am getting rid of due to my recently modded Gibson GA5 that just sounds so much better Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members metallica_00 Posted July 16, 2008 Members Share Posted July 16, 2008 I went from a 50W Mesa Single Rec to a 22W Deluxe Reverb RI with an overdrive pedal out front. Much happier. You never have to worry about being too loud, and you can set the amp right on the edge of clean and breakup and control it with your volume knob. Then slam it with an overdrive pedal for a lead tone. For most of the smallish places I play this works very well. Occasionally I might want a bit more headroom - a 4x6V6 Deluxe would be cool if it existed. But this setup is working very well for me. Also much easier to carry around! I generally do not like modern channel switching amps. They always feel too stiff and overly saturated, not sweet. I tend to like things like old Fenders or Vox AC30s. One channel, simple controls, well voiced - add a couple pedals out front and I'm good to go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members stormin1155 Posted July 16, 2008 Members Share Posted July 16, 2008 I'm getting too old to lug around an 80 pound combo amp or big cabnets. My Blues Jr. is the biggest amp I currently own (also have a '64 Princeton and a 5-watt home-made amp), and it does everything I need. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members theboywho Posted July 16, 2008 Members Share Posted July 16, 2008 I play a Epi Valve Jr through a self built 1x12 and it keep up with the rest of the band, including a damn loud drummer. I'm thinking of getting a second one to run in stereo, but I have no problems gigging it, don't think I've ever had to fully push the volume control yet either. Although I never need a fully clean sound so I guess that suits me a bit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Matter-Eater Lad Posted July 16, 2008 Members Share Posted July 16, 2008 I'd be fine with my Crate V58 5 watt but the band had a cow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members smorgdonkey Posted July 16, 2008 Members Share Posted July 16, 2008 I recently picked up an Epi VJ which I'm really getting along well with, They're cool!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members A3C Posted July 16, 2008 Members Share Posted July 16, 2008 They're cool!! Sure are. I'd like to have a Blackheart to go with it, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members rscornutt Posted July 16, 2008 Members Share Posted July 16, 2008 99% of the time I use my Crate V33H, which is a 30 watt head over a 2x12 cab. I have used amps with 100 watts and more, and I currently own a 120 watt 2x12 combo, but I rarely gig with it. I use it when I really need the volume. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members book_of_lies777 Posted July 16, 2008 Members Share Posted July 16, 2008 I don't gig my amps:Line6 Flextone II XL 2x12 100 watt comboCrate V18 1x12 18 watt tube comboOrange Crush 15 practice amp(my recliner amp )and my POD X3, which is the greatest thing since sliced freakin' breadall bases more than covered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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