What’s the feeblest amp you’ve got away with at a gig?

pintspiller · October 2018

I rehearse with a HT1 but wouldn't consider using at gigs

DrBob · October 2018

AlexHunter said:

An iPad Air with AmpliTube and the £2.50 SLO model, running directly into the PA obviously.....

The load out must’ve been dreamy !

Keefy · October 2018

darthed1981 said:

...
So would you trust say a 15w valve amp to always do a small venue, or do you need to always have something bigger?

I never use anything bigger than a 15W valve amp for any venue!

I have played a couple of gigs with a 5W Swart STR, but I wouldn't describe that amp as 'feeble'.

ICBM · October 2018

darthed1981 said:

So I'll probably never become a proper gigging musician, but I've always sort of wanted an AC30.

Would it be fair to say an AC30 would do for any venue?

Yes, although if you're relying on the amp for power-stage overdrive it will be too much for small ones, at least without an attenuator. Many modern AC30s have master volumes though.

If you get to the point where it's not enough, everything else will be mic'ed up anyway.

Gulliver · October 2018

None. I've gigged with a Boss ME-50 using the headphones output direct into a PA.

Bridgehouse · October 2018

ICBM said:

darthed1981 said:

So I'll probably never become a proper gigging musician, but I've always sort of wanted an AC30.

Would it be fair to say an AC30 would do for any venue?

Yes, although if you're relying on the amp for power-stage overdrive it will be too much for small ones, at least without an attenuator. Many modern AC30s have master volumes though.

If you get to the point where it's not enough, everything else will be mic'ed up anyway.

Our guitarist uses an AC30 for any gig. It’s always mic’d but we tend to play bigger music venues and festivals. He uses a board with a few drives on it though so doesn’t rely on it for power stage overdrive.

It’s always sounded spot on. His has a master volume and actually it’s more important for us that he can control his on-stage volume level otherwise it would be far too loud for the overall stage level.

DulcetJones · October 2018

I had an opposite problem during a period in my life when I was playing bass in a rock trio and doing solo guitar gigs as a classical guitarist. Due to gear in transit and location issues etc, I found myself playing a classical guitar gig in full suit and tie using a 200 watt Yorkville bass amp to amplify my Takemine electric classical guitar.

mbe · October 2018

5 watts Ibanez Tubescreamer amp not mic'ed in a small bar.

p90fool said:

We're playing in a tiny pub tonight where where we have a good following of crazy drunk girls and I'll need to push everything to the limit, because the room is packed with bodies.

We need to know more about those crazy drunk girls who follow ye.

Bridgehouse · October 2018

DulcetJones said:

I had an opposite problem during a period in my life when I was playing bass in a rock trio and doing solo guitar gigs as a classical guitarist. Due to gear in transit and location issues etc, I found myself playing a classical guitar gig in full suit and tie using a 200 watt Yorkville bass amp to amplify my Takemine electric classical guitar.

Did the purists try to beat you with genuine baroque horsehair bows?

Bridgehouse · October 2018

darthed1981 said:

So I'll probably never become a proper gigging musician, but I've always sort of wanted an AC30.

Would it be fair to say an AC30 would do for any venue?

Actually, I’m surprised you’d plum for an AC30. I had you down as more of a Mesa combo man tbh

Voxman · October 2018

Probably not what you'd call a feeble amp, but a few years ago I was caught short when I took my Marshall DSL401 to a gig that I was using with a conventional pedalboard. We were playing at an open air gig at East Barnet Music Festival, playing at the Builders Arms. We were supposed to be mic'd up through PA but there were problems and PA couldn't cope so had to use the 401 as pure backline. If I'd have known I'd have taken my 2x12 AD120VTX with 2x12 extn cab.

But as it happened the 401 performed admirably and even at half volume with its stock 1x12 speaker, totally punched through the mix. I was pleasantly surprised to say the least!

Keefy · October 2018

Voxman said:

Probably not what you'd call a feeble amp, but a few years ago I was caught short when I took my Marshall DSL401 to a gig that I was using with a conventional pedalboard. We were playing at an open air gig at East Barnet Music Festival, playing at the Builders Arms. We were supposed to be mic'd up through PA but there were problems and PA couldn't cope so had to use the 401 as pure backline. If I'd have known I'd have taken my 2x12 AD120VTX with 2x12 extn cab.

But as it happened the 401 performed admirably and even at half volume with its stock 1x12 speaker, totally punched through the mix. I was pleasantly surprised to say the least!

That's frickin' ragin' mate!

kt66 · October 2018

Ac4 with 10" speaker, mic'd up of course

darthed1981 · October 2018

Bridgehouse said:

darthed1981 said:

So I'll probably never become a proper gigging musician, but I've always sort of wanted an AC30.

Would it be fair to say an AC30 would do for any venue?

Actually, I’m surprised you’d plum for an AC30. I had you down as more of a Mesa combo man tbh

Well you've got me thinking now... I love Tim Wheeler's sound and he is a Mesa man

I've never really considered dropping north of 2k on an amp if I'm honest!

Bridgehouse · October 2018

darthed1981 said:

Bridgehouse said:

darthed1981 said:

So I'll probably never become a proper gigging musician, but I've always sort of wanted an AC30.

Would it be fair to say an AC30 would do for any venue?

Actually, I’m surprised you’d plum for an AC30. I had you down as more of a Mesa combo man tbh

Well you've got me thinking now... I love Tim Wheeler's sound and he is a Mesa man

I've never really considered dropping north of 2k on an amp if I'm honest!

I’ve had one. You can’t beat a Mesa if you are after *that* sound. They are really rather divine (IMHO)

So much so that I’m now lusting after the Mesa M6 Carbine combo I’ve just seen for sale.. which is silly money used but it’s still my dream bass amp combo.

Lestratcaster · October 2018

Some kind of Peavey combo with no dirty channel at a share backline gig somewhere when I was first starting out in bands. I had a DS-1 which sounded terrible but was all I had. Played through a few DSL's as well with blown speakers.

Phil_aka_Pip · October 2018

Harley-Benton 5W GA5 combo (Epiphone Valve Junior knockoff) did me for two pantos at the Stowmarket Regal (1 week each in successive years). The vol pot was on 2/3 of its travel and the amp was unmiked.

@darthed1981 I'd say a chinese AC30 (with master volume) should be able to do any size gig so long as there's a place to put it.

p90fool · October 2018

mbe said:

5 watts Ibanez Tubescreamer amp not mic'ed in a small bar.

p90fool said:

We're playing in a tiny pub tonight where where we have a good following of crazy drunk girls and I'll need to push everything to the limit, because the room is packed with bodies.

We need to know more about those crazy drunk girls who follow ye.

This lot come to all our gigs, but there are many more...

http://i68.tinypic.com/30mvbdg.jpg

darthed1981 · October 2018

^^^ Nice

Cirrus · October 2018

darthed1981 said:

So I'll probably never become a proper gigging musician, but I've always sort of wanted an AC30.

Would it be fair to say an AC30 would do for any venue?

They pretty much will. The only time I've ever struggled gigging one has been outdoor gigs - but that's more to do with open backed cabs not projecting low end very well, so that the sound gets a bit scratchy and thin. This would be a problem with any open backed cab, so it's not really an AC30-specific issue.

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What’s the feeblest amp you’ve got away with at a gig?

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