DavidE Posted February 1, 2009 Posted February 1, 2009 Tonight I took my Matchless Lightning 15 head and a closed back 1x12 cab with a V30. This amp got plenty loud enough for the gig and remained clean. Frankly, I think it would be plenty loud for any club gig. Last night I used my Bogner Shiva and had to keep the master volume so low, the amp was barely working. There's a lot to be said about low wattage amps.
hamertek98 Posted February 1, 2009 Posted February 1, 2009 I need you to call the two tube half-stack players I'm with. I'm happy now. After adding another Eden 4/10 LOL.
JohnnyB Posted February 1, 2009 Posted February 1, 2009 Tonight I took my Matchless Lightning 15 head and a closed back 1x12 cab with a V30. This amp got plenty loud enough for the gig and remained clean. Frankly, I think it would be plenty loud for any club gig. Last night I used my Bogner Shiva and had to keep the master volume so low, the amp was barely working. There's a lot to be said about low wattage amps.At least that's true for a good boutique amp. A 15w Matchless or a 20w Top Hat Club Royale or Club Deluxe is loud enough for club venues that hold up to around 300. There are probably other 20w amps as well, but I know for sure with these.
DavidE Posted February 1, 2009 Author Posted February 1, 2009 I'm just thinking about stage volume. We mic the amps and I sidewashed last night. My amp was running clean and I still had tons of headroom from where I set it and I was very loud.
tomteriffic Posted February 1, 2009 Posted February 1, 2009 In a lot of the bars and furry animal clubs I used to play, a 30 watt EL84 combo, un-miked, was more than enough.
Thundernotes Posted February 1, 2009 Posted February 1, 2009 I've played a lot of blues gigs where the guitar player was using a Fender Blues Jr. and it was still too loud. Rock gigs are different, but even then my guitar player was using a Vibrolux with the volume on 4. By keeping the stage volume down, we could easily mix from the stage and save the cost of a soundman. Let the PA do the work.
DavidE Posted February 1, 2009 Author Posted February 1, 2009 I've played a lot of blues gigs where the guitar player was using a Fender Blues Jr. and it was still too loud. Rock gigs are different, but even then my guitar player was using a Vibrolux with the volume on 4. By keeping the stage volume down, we could easily mix from the stage and save the cost of a soundman. Let the PA do the work.Bingo. If the amp is so loud that it's louder than the p.a., the soundguy has to bring everything up to the guitar level. To me, the volume should be set for a stage and let the p.a fill the house.
Guest pirateflynn Posted February 1, 2009 Posted February 1, 2009 A Matchless Lightning was my favorite amp for a long long time. I played side by side with a 2nd guitarist who had a Fender Hot Rod ... something or other, 60 watts, 4x10. The small box 1x12 Lightning was not only louder but sounded incredible by comparison. That's an awesome amp!
mfreyer Posted February 1, 2009 Posted February 1, 2009 .... Last night I used my Bogner Shiva and had to keep the master volume so low, the amp was barely working.I concur. I have gigged my Shiva a bunch, and have never gotten past about 8 o'clock on the Master. I'd really like to hear this thing opened up properly, but I've never been in a situation to do that without removing some heads in the audience (or on stage). Of course, we run in-ear monitors with everything mic'd through the PA, so that would never be necessary. It sure would be fun to do, however.I'm going to give the VAC25 another go as soon as I get it out to Rob and back for the latest upgrades. That seems to be a more manageable beast for what we do.
backinit Posted February 1, 2009 Posted February 1, 2009 Last time I played out (long time ago)I was using a Fender Vibrolux Reverb (30 watt tube), It was just over 3 on the volume (1 control) and I had a DOD 250 OD on about 50% gain on a rock gig. There was a mic in front of the amp and I don't think they needed a lot more volume. I think it was more for control at the board. Sadly that gear is long gone.It's just so much easier to transport a smaller lighter amp and either going into the board or using a mic. That I do remember.
hardheartedbill Posted February 1, 2009 Posted February 1, 2009 I've gigged Pro Jrs, Deluxe reverbs and usually knock my MKI down to 22watts . The last 18 months or so I've been using a Tophat Club Royal exclusivly, 18 watts. Perfect for me , I dont ever look at FS amps anymore, I'm set w/ the 18 watt Tophat
harry65 Posted February 1, 2009 Posted February 1, 2009 used my crate vc20 last night (thru my mesa 2x12) since my bassman is under the weather, i love it, 2 el84's cranked all the way up is beautiful.......................
JohnnyB Posted February 1, 2009 Posted February 1, 2009 A Matchless Lightning was my favorite amp for a long long time. I played side by side with a 2nd guitarist who had a Fender Hot Rod ... something or other, 60 watts, 4x10. The small box 1x12 Lightning was not only louder but sounded incredible by comparison. That's an awesome amp!That's what I'm talking about. I went to a jam with my 20w Top Hat, another guy had a 15w Matchless 1x12. The others all had Hot Rod Deluxes in 2x12 or 4x10 configurations and I think one guy had an old Pro Reverb or something. When it came to volume and tone, the Matchless and the Top Hat owned the night. When I finally turned the Top Hat up to 6 to get some compression and sustain, it took over the room, especially when fed by a Hamer Anniversary.
harry65 Posted February 1, 2009 Posted February 1, 2009 A Matchless Lightning was my favorite amp for a long long time. I played side by side with a 2nd guitarist who had a Fender Hot Rod ... something or other, 60 watts, 4x10. The small box 1x12 Lightning was not only louder but sounded incredible by comparison. That's an awesome amp!That's what I'm talking about. I went to a jam with my 20w Top Hat, another guy had a 15w Matchless 1x12. The others all had Hot Rod Deluxes in 2x12 or 4x10 configurations and I think one guy had an old Pro Reverb or something. When it came to volume and tone, the Matchless and the Top Hat owned the night. When I finally turned the Top Hat up to 6 to get some compression and sustain, it took over the room, especially when fed by a Hamer Anniversary.i don't think i will ever use any high power amps again unless we go on tour and play large arenas, for club gigs of any size i love 15-20 watt tube amps, there is no subsistute for red hot glowing power tubes, the key for more headroom is using a multiple speaker cab(2x12,4x12)........................
Turdus Posted February 1, 2009 Posted February 1, 2009 Another TopHat owner here... 20 watt Club Royale. Does any sized gig... indoor or outdoor.Band mate uses 18 watt Marshall clone. I'm extremely pleased with the wall of guitar sound we produce, from these 2 small amps. I don't think either of us ever goes past 2 on the volume rotation.
bobbymack Posted February 1, 2009 Posted February 1, 2009 Matchless makes HUGE sounding amps, generally use my Clubman Reverb only at outside gigs in the summer.I gigged for the last 3 or 4 years with a Kingsley D30 4xEL84 on half power (2 tubes bypassed) about 90% of the time.These days I'm friggin slayed by the tone from my Goodsell Super17 MkIII (28 lbs of 1x12 2xEL84 tonal purity)...like the best sounding Deluxe Reverb you've ever heard but with a Gain control. I have a 17 head as well. These things are the best sounding amps out there right now as far as I'm concerned...just gorgeous tones. Kick it with an OCD or someting and you're all the way there. Very affordable too.
kevinbower1959 Posted February 1, 2009 Posted February 1, 2009 A small club gig requires at least three Marshall DSL50 heads and at least six Marshall 4 x 12's That's the dressing room tuneup rig. Then - out onstage.............
Brooks Posted February 1, 2009 Posted February 1, 2009 i've used my superpimp xd for gigs, mic'ed & unmic'ed. never got my carr rambler out of 1/2 power (14w).
cmatthes Posted February 1, 2009 Posted February 1, 2009 Another TopHat owner here... 20 watt Club Royale. Does any sized gig... indoor or outdoor. Band mate uses 18 watt Marshall clone. I'm extremely pleased with the wall of guitar sound we produce, from these 2 small amps. I don't think either of us ever goes past 2 on the volume rotation. I was actually going to comment on your two amps, but you beat me to the punch. Those work really well in the clubs I've seen TMOC play - not too loud, and they seem very manageable. I may have to have a chat with Steve about his Marshall clone...that was done locally, wasn't it?
Aceldama Posted February 2, 2009 Posted February 2, 2009 My favorite amp set-up was my '68 Princeton Reverb through a Jenkins closed back 2x10. That was loud enough for most of the places we played (200-300 person clubs). Most places larger than that had a PA and the PR was good enough for stage volume. Granted, my PR is an odd-ball and cranks out 18 watts.
slipbeer Posted February 2, 2009 Posted February 2, 2009 I've been using a 15 watt Bogner Metropolis in clubs and it's plenty of amp. I still don't get to wind it up all the way. I've had more sound guys compliment me on that amp than anything I've ever played before.
burningyen Posted February 2, 2009 Posted February 2, 2009 For gigs I have my Bruno CT45 at about noon on the volume knob. 20 watts doesn't cut it with my band.
Turdus Posted February 2, 2009 Posted February 2, 2009 I was actually going to comment on your two amps, but you beat me to the punch. Those work really well in the clubs I've seen TMOC play - not too loud, and they seem very manageable.I may have to have a chat with Steve about his Marshall clone...that was done locally, wasn't it?BTW... Thanks for coming out the other night Chris. Steve's clone was done by SDG, which is local. If I'd known you wanted one, I could've sold you mine last year. If you want more info on SDG, let me, or Steve, know.
Frank Posted February 2, 2009 Posted February 2, 2009 I use my Deluxe Reverb for most gigs, and it's almost too loud. For really small clubs I use my Blues Jr. If I ever get the Fender Concert out, I always bring a Hot Plate to bring the stage volume down. Let the PA do the work - both volume wise and heavy hauling wise!
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.