• From: York, PA
  • Registered: 2010-08-27
  • Posts: 1,749

Topic: Anybody currently Gigging with LOW Wattage Amps?

I have a gig this Sat and have been considering using 2 of my smaller watt amp heads in place of the big ones.  (2: 15w heads, & 2: 2x12 cabs)

As a band, we do play loud, and have a rather high stage volume.  I'm very guilty of playing loud and have always used 100w heads and a 50w sometimes.  However, we don't play extremely large rooms.  I have never used anything small, i.e 15w, though I do mic my cabinets so that won't be an issue.  I'm just curious what people have experienced using smaller amps for gigs and how the overall sound has turned out.  We have a heck of a PA system that really sounds good, but I'm still a little undecided as to actually using a smaller setup.  Any advice would be fantastic.  I've come to realize that whether I have 2 Marshall stacks or a small head and 2x12 cab, people don't know the difference and wouldn't notice anyway.  ..Now seeing Yngwie without his rows of Marshalls is another story!  Then, I'd be disappointed!  -Seth

2 Reply by jgalvan8804 (edited by jgalvan8804 2010-11-08 08:11:09)

  • Registered: 2007-11-04
  • Posts: 404

Re: Anybody currently Gigging with LOW Wattage Amps?

I use a 15 watt Vox AC15 that is off stage and mic'd  I only hear my amp thru the monitors and it sounds fine. I've played shows where I get to have it on stage and it sounds fine.

If you are micing it you can play with a 1 watt amp and it doesn't matter. But for the sake of tone I've really never played an amp less that 15 watts that sounded good.  If you need clean head room you wont have much.

I read an interview with Mike Cambell of Tome Petty and the Heartbreakers.  He said he has a Princeton on stage that he can hear.  Thats it.  So consider that.  I love my AC15 and have a Underground 30 for outdoor gigs.  Although I got an attenuator so I can start using it inside too.

I say do it.. Bring a 50 or 100 watt head as a backup.

  • From: Burlington, Ont Canada
  • Registered: 2010-04-01
  • Posts: 365

Re: Anybody currently Gigging with LOW Wattage Amps?

I played a new Blues Jr 3 at a recent jazz gig and it was great. I guess you need to decide how big the venue is, etc. I know nothing about micing amps however so I couldn't comment on that...

Gits: '03 Gibson Historic R7 Goldtop, '06 Gibson R8 Plaintop, MIJ '62 RI Strat,  and others...
Amps: '99 Marshall 1987x Plexi RI, 1969 Fender Super Reverb

My band: www.meanbones.com
  • Registered: 2008-10-02
  • Posts: 373

Re: Anybody currently Gigging with LOW Wattage Amps?

As long as your miced and can hear yourself you shouldn't have any problems and it doesn't sound like you need a lot of clean head room so you should get some nice tube break up cranking the little guys.

  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: Anybody currently Gigging with LOW Wattage Amps?

I do open jams with hot rodded BILL M MODS Fender Blues JR.

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool
  • From: Farmington, CT
  • Registered: 2010-04-23
  • Posts: 64

Re: Anybody currently Gigging with LOW Wattage Amps?

As I mentioned in another thread, I recently gigged with my new Vox Night Train head through a Marshall 1x12 cab. I had the Night Train on the 15w setting and I thought it sounded great. Threw a bit of reverb on it through the PA and no problems whatsoever. I found it to be much more manageable volume wise than my bigger amp.

"Another song, another mile." - The Black Crowes

JPrzech's Website

  • From: York, PA
  • Registered: 2010-08-27
  • Posts: 1,749

Re: Anybody currently Gigging with LOW Wattage Amps?

Thanks for ALL the help, and advice.  I mostly run my OD over 2 amps at same time, all the time and use volume control like its going out of style.  Though I never have an ultra clean sound..  I'm really getting some fantastic tones out of my Egnater Tweaker, it seems to have a nice sound with the master at half way, or just past.  Any more and it's too noisy, and loses that smoothness.  I will of course pair it with another smaller head, I'm just nervous that I'll get there and realize in a live setting, things won't sound as smooth and focussed as I get them to sound at practice.  Since I would not then be using a tested and true Marshall that is guaranteed to give me results.  I think I'll give it a whirl anyway, what the heck!  I don't need a big amp with tons of volume and distortion to hide behind, plus they are getting too heavy to lug around!  -Seth

  • From: East Midlands, UK
  • Registered: 2008-06-30
  • Posts: 164

Re: Anybody currently Gigging with LOW Wattage Amps?

I've recently changed from a fender blues deluxe to an orange dual terror head and a 2x10 cabinet. i can switch from 7 to 15 to 30 watts. 15 watts has plenty of volume and headroom for clean sounds and lets it break up if i play harder. so far i'm yet to play anywhere we've had to fully mic up, but it's fine on it's own for small gigs in 15 watt mode. i like it, because i can get a bit of that compression you get from a lower wattage amp cooking a little.

plus one for smaller gear that's eaiser load in and out. all i have to take now is head/cab and my guitar. cabs really light and open back, so i can fit my pedalboard in the bottom of it with my power strip.

Fender 60's Strat>Fulltone OCD V4>>TC Electronics Polytune>Orange Dual Terror>Torres 2x10 Cab(with a vintage 30 and a greenback)
  • Registered: 2008-07-23
  • Posts: 27

Re: Anybody currently Gigging with LOW Wattage Amps?

I use an 18watt Cornell Plexi into a 2x12. We always mic it...not for the volume but just to give the guitar some extra spread. Were a guitar/bass/drums trio doing Hendrix, cream, bit of Joe etc and I find that even at the smallest gigs you need a bit of help to throw the guitar to the back of the room.
But the low wattage amp thing has definite advantages.
1..you can always run your amp hot. when was the last time you got a Marshall 100watt stack over about 3 on the volume in a pub?
2..it encourages the bass player and drummer to keep their volume down.
3..Most pubs/clubs have terrible acoustics. Loads of glass to bounce back off, hollow wooden floors that make everything sound like its played in a large metal dustbin. The louder your amp is, the worse this problem gets.
4..I can actually hear my vocals thru the monitor.

IMHO it would have to be a pretty big room and a truly terrible PA for me to have to go back to a 100watter.

  • From: Burlington, Ont Canada
  • Registered: 2010-04-01
  • Posts: 365

Re: Anybody currently Gigging with LOW Wattage Amps?

Interesting post and a great reply. I play a 150w Mesa Stiletto Trident (switchable to 50w) through a 4X12 Marshall TV cab. This thing has 6 EL-34's in it. I use it on the clean channel and use pedals for the dirt.  It's not about volume - it's about clean headroom and girth. I get a gorgeous clean tone and use a Fulldrive 2 for leads. Bar owners raise their eyebrows when they see me wheeling in the monster rig but I have never head a problem with one telling us to turn down. Our drummer is great and plays lightly - I can't stand bands that are too loud and I turn down slightly during the singing parts. I have never been able to get the clean tones I need out of smaller amps at a volume loud enough for the places I play. The volume I play at in a small bar would be exactly the volume you would nrob1982. It just that your amp is sagging and "caving in" when mine has a world of headroom left over - a depth and balls you just can't get out of a lower wattage amp.  But I always prefer at least 100w. They just sound better to me IMHO. I'm lucky though, this Mesa is so versaltile - if I want power tube distortion I can switch to 50w, hit the "Spongy" switch which limits the voltage to the plates causing a "brown sound" type of thing and using the great MV I could easily get a beautiful natural distortion at bedroom volumes. I can also switch from solid state to tube rectification to get that saggy sound if I wanted it. That being said - I am considering changing the cab to a 2X12 to "lighten the load" so too speak.

nrob1982 wrote:

I use an 18watt Cornell Plexi into a 2x12. We always mic it...not for the volume but just to give the guitar some extra spread. Were a guitar/bass/drums trio doing Hendrix, cream, bit of Joe etc and I find that even at the smallest gigs you need a bit of help to throw the guitar to the back of the room.
But the low wattage amp thing has definite advantages.
1..you can always run your amp hot. when was the last time you got a Marshall 100watt stack over about 3 on the volume in a pub?
2..it encourages the bass player and drummer to keep their volume down.
3..Most pubs/clubs have terrible acoustics. Loads of glass to bounce back off, hollow wooden floors that make everything sound like its played in a large metal dustbin. The louder your amp is, the worse this problem gets.
4..I can actually hear my vocals thru the monitor.

IMHO it would have to be a pretty big room and a truly terrible PA for me to have to go back to a 100watter.

Gits: '03 Gibson Historic R7 Goldtop, '06 Gibson R8 Plaintop, MIJ '62 RI Strat,  and others...
Amps: '99 Marshall 1987x Plexi RI, 1969 Fender Super Reverb

My band: www.meanbones.com
  • From: Belfast
  • Registered: 2010-02-01
  • Posts: 110

Re: Anybody currently Gigging with LOW Wattage Amps?

In an emergency one time I used a 5 watt Valve Junior Head and the little cab that comes with it. Mic'd and fed back to me through the monitors it sounded massive. However, that was a night we had the luxury of monitors, some dives we play you have to rely on the amp as your monitor because even if the amp is mic'd the PA speakers are in front of you and you can't hear jack over a loud drummer. I personally wouldn't go below 30 watts in case the equipment at the gig wasn't good enough. But if you have a good PA and good monitors I say go for it. There is something really cool about a player have a tiny amp anyway. It's like the prick posing about in his Ferrari while I pull up cool as a cucumber in my Smart car.  big_smile

Guitars: 95 Les Paul Standard, Relic Strat,
Amps: 1973 Marshall JMP 50 head and Vintage Modern Cab. I use no effects other than a Cry Baby on occasions.
  • From: York, PA
  • Registered: 2010-08-27
  • Posts: 1,749

Re: Anybody currently Gigging with LOW Wattage Amps?

chooseyourblues wrote:

In an emergency one time I used a 5 watt Valve Junior Head and the little cab that comes with it. Mic'd and fed back to me through the monitors it sounded massive. However, that was a night we had the luxury of monitors, some dives we play you have to rely on the amp as your monitor because even if the amp is mic'd the PA speakers are in front of you and you can't hear jack over a loud drummer. I personally wouldn't go below 30 watts in case the equipment at the gig wasn't good enough. But if you have a good PA and good monitors I say go for it. There is something really cool about a player have a tiny amp anyway. It's like the prick posing about in his Ferrari while I pull up cool as a cucumber in my Smart car.  big_smile

We use monitors, but only vocals run through them.  Yeah, my concerns were hearing myself over our loud drummer, he claims he plays loud to hear himself over ME!, and having that "big sound" I get from using bigger amps.  As I've stated, I will be using 2 amps, always do.  So I'm confident I'll be alright on volume. ...hopefully! -S

  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: Anybody currently Gigging with LOW Wattage Amps?

chooseyourblues wrote:

In an emergency one time I used a 5 watt Valve Junior Head and the little cab that comes with it. Mic'd and fed back to me through the monitors it sounded massive. However, that was a night we had the luxury of monitors, some dives we play you have to rely on the amp as your monitor because even if the amp is mic'd the PA speakers are in front of you and you can't hear jack over a loud drummer.

I had a Valve Jr. I was going to mod. GREAT sounding amp for only 1 knob... and highly modifyable.

I had it going through a 4x12, and when I would play by myself, I figured it was plenty loud for practice and small gigs. Then I had band practice.  I couldn't hear myself at all.  Didn't try mic'ing it... I sure that would have done a little bit. But I got rid of it in favor of the Blues JR.

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool

14 Reply by MickeyFinn (edited by MickeyFinn 2010-11-07 18:43:41)

  • Registered: 2008-08-24
  • Posts: 181

Re: Anybody currently Gigging with LOW Wattage Amps?

I've been using a duo of small 15 watters for a while, an Orange Tiny Terror and a Blackheart Handsome Devil.  With a few pedals here and there as well.  Both of these go into 4x12's and will get you plenty loud.  I've got a Carvin X100B and a Gallien Krueger 250 RL for a bit more swat with the same pedals and cabinets, too.   The only thing that changes are the amps, same set-up, otherwise.  You lose a lot of headroom with the small amps, but the little buggers sound so sweet when you rev the berries off of 'em! cool  I should note that I dont use clean tones much.  Nothing I can't get with guitar volume adjustments, anyway.

  • Registered: 2008-07-23
  • Posts: 27

Re: Anybody currently Gigging with LOW Wattage Amps?

Like MickeyFinn I don't use too many clean tones . . . Must have listened to too much Motorhead in my youth smile

But I can see my set up would not work if you do need those shimmering cleans. I think the small amp running hot thing does mean you have to use the guitar volume control to regulate gain. For me it's a system that makes sense if you are in a single guitar band and you are also doing vocals. Dialling down the gain with your little finger while desperately lunging at the mic for the next verse is much easier than trying to locate the right pedal to stomp on out of the corner of your eye.
Interestingly, it always seems much easier with a strat than a LP. I watch Joe and Gary Moore effortlessly adjusting their volume and tone controls without looking with some admiration. I inevitably find I'm fiddling with the controls of wrong pickup when I try it.

  • Registered: 2007-11-04
  • Posts: 404

Re: Anybody currently Gigging with LOW Wattage Amps?

I brought my Bruno to the church last Sunday just to see how it did in the Theater.  We play to a 500+ theater every Sunday. I had the amp on 1 and the Attenuator on 1/4 volume.  I had almost too much volume.  And the amp was off the stage pointed away from the crowd and the stage. 

36 watts...  I'm just saying.

I can appreciate the 100 watts amps if you want to hit a Les Paul as hard as you can at volume level 5 and not get any break up at all.  But if you are looking to get some lower volume tone I can say that 30 watts is plenty loud.  I usually use 15 watts in a Vox AC15 and that is plenty for a Theater. 

But every situation is different and if you mic the amp or not plays a huge importance.

  • Registered: 2008-08-24
  • Posts: 181

Re: Anybody currently Gigging with LOW Wattage Amps?

Yep.  Lead singer in a power trio. Original blues, Rory Gallagher kinda stuff.  Volume knob is everything.

  • Registered: 2010-05-06
  • Posts: 60

Re: Anybody currently Gigging with LOW Wattage Amps?

helrazr84 wrote:

I have a gig this Sat and have been considering using 2 of my smaller watt amp heads in place of the big ones.  (2: 15w heads, & 2: 2x12 cabs)

As a band, we do play loud, and have a rather high stage volume.  I'm very guilty of playing loud and have always used 100w heads and a 50w sometimes.  However, we don't play extremely large rooms.  I have never used anything small, i.e 15w, though I do mic my cabinets so that won't be an issue.  I'm just curious what people have experienced using smaller amps for gigs and how the overall sound has turned out.  We have a heck of a PA system that really sounds good, but I'm still a little undecided as to actually using a smaller setup.  Any advice would be fantastic.  I've come to realize that whether I have 2 Marshall stacks or a small head and 2x12 cab, people don't know the difference and wouldn't notice anyway.  ..Now seeing Yngwie without his rows of Marshalls is another story!  Then, I'd be disappointed!  -Seth

I have been gigging 3 times a week for the past 3years and have never used anything high wattage.  I play in smaller venues (bar/club circuit)  All I have is a Fender Blues Jr. reissue with a Jensen green back speaker in it.  Its only 30W.  Although it is only 30W it can really produce some volume.  I turn the amp backwards on a tilted amp stand and sometimes even put plexiglass in front of the back of the amp.  Sometimes high notes can be painful to hear through a Fender tube amp.  This way the tone reverberates off of the back walls and which I think helps weaken the stage volume but pushes the note out to the rest of the room.  Still get the same notes just at a more reasonable volume. It has a nice natura reverb/delay to it.  Warren Haynes also will use a piece of plywood.  He says it doesn't look as nice and professional as plexi, but it works better and gives a natural slap back effect. 

Also, playing with lower wattage amps lets you crank them up to push those tubes.  This can result in some really smooth/crunchy/beautiful sounds.  I don't mic mine that often and even play with a horn player often.  I am no problem to hear over the mix.  That is also because the drummer and horn player are real pros!  I lucked out!
Good luck with everything