Practice Amp Query(s)

[SPHDS]

Hi,
I was just wondering what sort of wattage I would need in an amp for band practice - we are a fairly loud rock covers band, with a rather enthusiastic drummer.....
I have a giggable amp in my Ashdown 210, but due to storage issues, having to manhandle that up two flights of stairs to my flat is getting tiring....so only want to do when I need to.....so smaller amp is needed for practices......
So,
- What number of Watts would work?
- Any ideas on what to get?

Cheers

Sam

[FuNkShUi]

There are a few factors to consider, but first we would need an idea of your budget...
You say your Ashdown 210 is giggable, what amp is used with that?

[SPHDS]

Hey FuNkShUi,
Budget, well, cheapish - scour Ebay for a deal on something reliable rather than buy boutique and ultra-light.....
Was more wondering about what sort of power to look for (obvs 10W is too Puny.......but would 50W cut it for example.....)
It is a MAG Combo, 250W, 2x102 (with additional 1x15" cab for gigs)

[Stylon Pilson]

If you're playing in a loud rock band with a loud drummer, then I wouldn't suggest anything smaller than the Ashdown combo that you've already got. If you're having difficulty carrying it up and down stairs then you should be considering lightweight alternatives with a similar output.

S.P.

[RickyV]

Do you practice at a rehearsal studio that offers storage? Thats where my gear stays during the week so I only need a little practice amp at home that never leaves the house.

[TheGreek]

I have a GK Backline 110 which weighs in at around 30lbs - easy one hand lift & carry and produces 70w - a friend of mine borrowed and gigged it before buying the 115 - good value for money too as you could probably pick one up for under £150.

[Naetharu]

I hope that this might be of some help: I play in a loud rock/metal band with two noisy guitar players (one using a Marshal JCM-2000 & 410 cab, the other a HiWatt valve head into a HiWatt 410). Add to that a noisy drummer. Yet in a small practice space I find that my MiBass 2.0 head with a 112 MiBass cab is able to cut through fine. I need to push the mids and I tend to pull back on the bass quite a bit and I can hear without issue.

For reference, the Mi-Bass 2.0 is running at around 270-watts into 8ohms. I've also tried using an Ampeg Porta-Flex and that seemed fine too again going into a 112. I have to crank things a bit more than I would into the 410/810 ampeg cabs that they offer in most of the rooms but it certainly works ok and makes for a very portable bit of kit.

[Phil Starr]

Get the drummer to carry the amp for you

Seriously, if he is going to go at gig levels then you are pretty much forced to play at gig levels. I rehearse with a 1x10 Hartke kickback with the bass rolled off and the mids forward, but unless you are going to go for something a lot higher in price than the Ashdown anything much smaller is going to struggle, unless you can get them to ease off on the volume. Which you should for all sorts of other reasons of course.

Edited November 25, 2015 by Phil Starr

[SPHDS]

Now...there's an idea.....! ;-)

Cheers for all the advice!
To be fair, we are making a point to try and play at as low a volume as possible in practice - small room, so trying to be able to 'hear' ourselves (Vocals and Axes) trying to minimise feedback through the PA etc....one of our guitarist's amp is being run at about 25W (Vox Valvetronix with some weird variable power jobbie on it......) so the Ashdown is hardly conscious, let alone breaking a sweat.....even when the drummer is 'on one......' (you try telling an Italian to calm down......)

So would something about 50W cope in the mix?

[Thunderpaws]

I had an Ampeg BA115 which handled a similar situation to yours with ease. It was 100 watts and a fairly easy carry. I would buy another. The tone cut well through three guitars and a hard hitting drummer.

[Dan Dare]

Get another drummer.

[SPHDS]

Has been mentioned, Mr Dare, more than once.......!

As for amps.......would a keyboard amp work......or am I yapping up the incorrect sapling......?

[Phil Starr]

[quote name='SPHDS' timestamp='1448478778' post='2915801']
Now...there's an idea.....! ;-)

Cheers for all the advice!
To be fair, we are making a point to try and play at as low a volume as possible in practice - small room, so trying to be able to 'hear' ourselves (Vocals and Axes) trying to minimise feedback through the PA etc....one of our guitarist's amp is being run at about 25W (Vox Valvetronix with some weird variable power jobbie on it......) so the Ashdown is hardly conscious, let alone breaking a sweat.....even when the drummer is 'on one......' (you try telling an Italian to calm down......)

So would something about 50W cope in the mix?
[/quote]
Well it depends upon just how low they turn down. You are going to lose 3dB, which is the equivalent of turning it down a notch. If you had super efficient speakers you'd get away with it but smaller speakers tend to be less efficient at bass. If you then went for a 1x10 you'd lose at least another 3dB. If you go that low what you gain in amplifier weight you'd lose in needing bigger speakers probably.

Coincidentally I'm looking for a lightweight, compact solution for the odd practice and open mic and semi acoustic gigs. It's the combination of wattage, speaker efficiency and tone that determine whether something cuts through or not. My single 12" cabs I use for gigs would go loud enough with 50W but you don't get speakers like that in most combo's. Another solution is to look for a lightweight cab and a lightweight amp. I'm looking at a Little Mark 111.

If you can spare £1000 then there's always the AER Amp One

[tonepolice]

Bass Amp Wattage = Guitar Amp Wattage X 10

So if,

Guitar Amp= 30 watts
Bass Amp= 30 watts X10 = 300 Watts.

So if your guitarist plays a Vox AC30 then you should get a 300 watt bass amp to equal the level. Not a strict rule of thumb per se, but it works!

[Norris]

Get your drummer to buy a cheap electronic kit for rehearsals and then turn him down