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Base theme by DesignModo & ported to Powered by Vanilla by Chris Ireland, modified by the "theFB" team.
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In the 90s I ran early 60s ac30s, two of them but not flat out. I ran them at a volume that crated those lovely harmonics but was a fairly clean sound and then used a booster to drive them harder. Indie style Brit pop and all that. And we were too loud.
Yes amps have volume controls but 1) not all of them work terribly well (hot rod deluxe for example and 2) IMHO very few high powered amps sound great at lower power levels, as the power valves are not influencing the harmonic content as much as they do when the volume is up. And therefore most if what you are hearing is pre amp distortion - which is where fizz comes in or boom in the case of boogies/Mesas (sorry I don't like guitar tones that interfere with the bass player's frequencies).
Modern PAs mean that you can bring on stage volumes down, yet still keep the energy. This gives far better front of house sounds AND you get to keep you hearing - very important to me.
So I really, really can't see the point of big high powered valve amps any more. The only reason they existed was because of poor PAs and the need for a blasting back line. The world has changed since then, for the better IMHO.
Agreed. But so many people who don't seem to want the 'authority' have a real blind spot about understanding why some people do, which seems to be much less true the other way round. I use and like small amps too, and I would never say someone is doing anything wrong if they get the sound they want that way... but you very often hear things like "no-one ever needs more than 20W these days, because it's easily loud enough for any gig - if not you just mic up". Totally missing the point. It's about tone, not volume.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
No low wattage amps have anywhere near the features of my Mesa Roadster, and more to the point none of them that I've heard sound as good. As far as I'm concerned it is that halfstack or an Axe/Kemper rig modelling the same.
To me the low wattage amps are false economy - less options, possibly not enough clean headroom for unmic'd rehearsals (where the drummer plays at full effort level) and often a smaller sound when recorded (which I don't want). But those are just my needs. To me a high wattage multi channel amp does it all - all the options I want at any volume I could possibly need.
So to me, it is high wattage or direct. Low wattage valve amps are poorer value for me because there just aren't the options available for what I want in one package.
Oh sometimes some people think only a big can do it as it's',,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, bigger ! When you mic up on stage you mic a speaker, note, A speaker, does it matter if it's a 10w amp driving it or a 100w, the design is what's important not the size.
Obviously this cleans the sound up a bit but I'm getting a good sound and can adjust as I need to. Works for me at least.
I would agree with this. I think running the amp fairly loud and backing off at the guitar sounds much better to my ears than turning down at the amp.
The tone just seems to "breathe" a bit more that way.
And this idea of 'authority' - erm, well, if the engineer can't give your tone 'authority' out front with 4k of power, then they aren't much cop! And in that scenario, truly a 100w amp blazing away is a waste of time in a pub. All you'll do is have a great personal tone on stage that the engineer cannot control - and no matter how good you *think* you are at controlling your sound/volume a good engineer will do it better for everyone. And remember that it isn't all about your guitar... ;-)
But as has been said - if you like that sound and no-one is complaining to you, then all is well. Either that or they are too scared of the argument if they do challenge you! Frankly, I've given up arguing with one of these guys - and so I mix the band and he doesn't come through FOH. The band know this but are too scared of broaching it with the guitarist...
So if you *think* this issue doesn't affect you, it may be because no-one wants to have the row with you.... :-)
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
Excellent Impmann.
I did a club gig years ago to about 600 people rammed right up towards band.
I was mic`d up with a 40 sf Vibrolux, every time I brought guitar volume up for a solo, engineer dropped me out of mix, didn`t seem loud where I was.
Another classic example was me using a Marshall 25/50 1x12" combo, at an open air festival, Sound engineer was directly in front of band about 100` away. we have a recording straight off the desk, and apart from first 30 seconds or so, there is no electric guitar in the mix at all.
Since then I have started to use smaller amps and have better results than with big amps, even though a part of me still wants that big tone onstage, its out front that counts.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
Sometimes people do think you are loud due to gear you have, I turn up with a small amp, no on says a thing, I turn up with a marshall half stack, and they are tutting as I get it out of van ! and as ICBM says you can play louder with a small amp than with a large amp, Context is key.
What`s out front counts most though, if its too loud for audience then you are too loud
%-(
I once depped with a band in a small pub, 100w HH pa, and 50w type backline unmic`d, told to turn down all evening as sound quality was crap and even though it didn`t sound distorted it was, and very harsh.
Following week I played same venue with my band at the time, and we walked in with a 1500w Pa and small backline mic`d, because sound quality was good, no one mentioned volume. Context of the volume in the venue with gear used.