Big Amps are Dead - Long Live Small Amps? Even Robben Ford Knows It...

[@BeefNEggs057]

Tomorrow. “Why I sold all my modelers and went with big amps.”

[@luisfguitar]

HHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH SO TRUE

[@luisfguitar]

But i agree with him... Nowadays i only roll with 1x12 amps. Bigger things only rented ones for big festivals.

[@CharlesStratton-oi8ef]

Wait…JNC has modelers? Which ones?

[@KozmykJ]

M .m.. Maybe ... LOL

[@jammer777]

🤣🤣🤣

[@julesleyhe]

Man, this is such a huge thing for me.... I was at a guitar camp Robben hosted back in 2015, long story short - Robben was way too loud the entire week with his Dumble, he only played through the Dumble while the rest of us mere mortals were left to play a hot rod deluxe. I always thought a little less of Robben for this, until he acknowledged it here in this video. Robben has a really, really huge ego. He's a nice guy but his ego will fill the room that's for sure. Finally nice to hear him admit that his Dumble was way too loud. This actually provided some closure for me as silly as it sounds.

[@MarkStearle]

Saw him a few times in Vegas,he was so loud my ears were ringing the next day.

[@Superman-pn1rx]

I’m a bedroom player, for me the guitar is a hobby and since I installed some plugins into my computer my fender deluxe is collecting dust, yep I’m sure that not compares to a full stack of 4*12 with the volume in 11, the the air moving your guts and all your neighbors listen your power chords 200 meters away, but for my needs and possibilities digital is the way, that permits me practice in the night for hours, keeping improving and enjoying the music like never before

[@Lonnie-B1]

John- Robben plays loud enough to get the speaker interacting with the guitar- and I think this is one of the main issues that come up. I'm from NorCal where he started and I've seen him alot of times indoors and outdoors- he plays loud. As to bigger amps- my experience is that amps with enough pre-amp gain can get you pretty far, but a good master volume also important. I have had a MEsa Mark IIB/C since it was new (1983) as well as 3 dumble style amps. I still have the Boogie, and two Glaswerks ODS amps. I do use a UA OX box for convenience when micing is not possible, but the best combination was to use the OX as an attenuator, and with a relatively clean effected sound when recording. I mic the attenuated speaker to get the center sound and take the steroo spread from the OX box. THis way I don't lose the solid sound of the amp gained up.

[@dannyllerenatv8635]

Small amps are a lot louder than people realize. The biggest difference you see and feel with a larger amp besides a minimal at best volume jump is headroom. I still love big amps, but nowadays I do prefer smaller 2x12 and 1x12 small cabs. What does help bring big amps back to relevance to some extent are new attenuators and load boxes. However, small amps do their own thing that is special as well

[@dannyllerenatv8635]

@user-ri3gh6yb5k the matchless lightning is incredible

[@dannyllerenatv8635]

@user-ri3gh6yb5k The Matchless Lightning is a fantastic amp. Essentially the sound of chon.

[@johnelcanrab2114]

And next year they'll be the new big thing to own! I went down to 5 boutique Watts (😂), thought it was amazing. Then played thorough 20 Watt. Oh yea that's what's missing. 100 watt head. Joy. Pure joy. I'm sticking here thanks ✌️

[@mikeblue385]

robben's small amp is 50 watts.

[@neildenman1776]

Lol exactly

[@adamfstewart81]

Tiny little thing

[@christianlassen3948]

I've left one of his shows because I need to protect my hearing ....

[@mikeblue385]

@@christianlassen3948 i've been playing loud amps for 50 years. no point in stopping now.

[@adamfstewart81]

@@mikeblue385 what? I can’t hear you - speak up pls

[@Dan-of-NJ]

Attenuators are your best friend if you have an older 50/100 amp that you love.

[@donaldrowe8460]

in the old days, we used 4x12s as a standard. now 1x12 combos and cabs are the thing. The Freytte Power Station is great for attenuation and silence if you want. The UA Ox Box and the Tube Amp Expander by Boss can be used to do a silent stage situation with a loud amp too. There are so many choices. You don't need to ditch your big amps if you don't want to. Me I'm lazy LOL

[@jupitermoongauge4055]

In the nineties and early 2000's I used to buy Silver Face Twin Reverbs for no more than 300 quid. I still have one of those in a head cab and it is still a very practical amp, especially as I can pair it with many different cabs or pull a couple of valves and run at 40 watts. It still sounds as good as or far superior to pretty much anything else as ong as that's the kind of sound you want.

[@LRHutch]

I'm 70 tears old and have been playing for 65 years. I started with a small combo then I used the big stacks for years but now I use a 30 watt combo with 1 12" speaker. It's all the tone and volume I need and much lighter and only 1 trip to pack it in or out.

[@srubel59]

@LRHutch 30 Watts? That's way too loud!! lol.

[@swardmusic]

Not with a proper rock drummer and smaller stage. I say 30-40w is ideal​@@srubel59

[@nekkon1989]

30? Bassbreaker 30r?

[@chrisgmurray3622]

I'm 70 also, and have been playing for 62 years( if you count two years playing ukulele). I still would bring a fair load in for a simple gig if I felt like it. I'd sometimes take a rack box with a 50 watt a side stereo valve power amp. Another smaller rack box holds a valve preamp, and one rack space of effects, and all this powers two 2x12 closed back cabs. I still happily use all this for my own amusement, and don't find the extra work setting up is a problem, just exercise some would pay for in a gym, and no back problems happen unless you are stupid and try and lift things the wrong way. There's an easy way to do anything, and you can have your favourite sound to inspire you and comfort you so your improvisation is better, for your own sake, and for the better enjoyment of all present. Any time you get a chance to play should be seen as a privilege, essentially if you're actually getting paid for it as well, it seems crazy to me to compromise your sound to avoid the minor bother of carrying some gear from vehicle to venue and back. Unless you're actually disabled in some way, it shouldn't be a problem to take the gear that makes the best onstage sound for you, and take advantage of a chance to play music to others and get paid, and enjoy your best sounds. People are just lazy now days for some reason. In the early 80's, I used to lug a Marshsll100 plexi a quad, an Echoplex, a tube screamer and a chirus pedal in Taxis just for a small wedding, or a Lady Anglers club championship annual cup awards, and without winding the amp up at all I'd have a smooth full soft puffy sound which mist people don't find too loud. Mostly people think things are too loud if the tone is harsh or piercing, even if it's relatively quiet, and though you may be visually "psychoacoustically" loud, because of the iconic look of a half stack, you can cover all the sounds you need with beaucoup headroom and good soundfield coverage in a small three piece band. You may as well enjoy yourself on a gig and not regard it as a miserable chore that causes you extra work.

[@LRHutch]

@@chrisgmurray3622 My health is a lot of my problem. Bad hip and rotator cuffs, 4 bad disks in my back, OA , COPD and now a pacemaker. But I still put on a darn good show with excellent sound quality. I never show the audience my pain. But I do make some weird faces from time to time lol.

[@studio-d943]

Fryette PS-2A!… For your attenuation or to power any modeler, preamp pedal or small wattage amp (reamplify) and more!

[@lescaster2179]

Love my Tone King Imperial MkII with the built -in Ironman II attenuator. It sounds (to me, and for my ears) fantastic at all attenuator settings. Entirely bedroom friendly at 2pm with everything dimed and the attenuator in play, a little less so at 2 a.m. until you shed some volume.

[@OilCanHarry2U]

Love my Imperial MkII as well… same reasons as you…plus it sounds divine.

[@chrisgmurray3622]

If big amps are dead it's only because PA's now do most of the heavy lifting in sound reinforcement. Big amps proliferated in times where nothing but vocals and perhaps a bit of kick and snare from the kit was put through the front of house sound. 100 watt Marshalls in the plexi era were driving two quads and throwing the sound of guitar in a straight line for about twenty feet, before the sound would spread laterally and fill the venue, and that's why they weren't put into PA. Obviously with a twenty watt amp, at the very least, you can concievably gig with a simple low level close mic or direct feed to front of house and foldback, any size gig required. That's the only reason bigger amps are not as popular.

[@Johnny-oy9fh]

Modern pa systems sound terrible

[@donaldrowe8460]

It also has to do with "sound-persons" thinking they are running a stereo system and not a live sound system LOL They would make all the horn players silent if they could ;)

[@MotownGuitarJoe]

4x12. My back is killing me just writing it.... 😂

[@grahamcoxon]

Haha! It’s a funny thing really- with the big band I still use a 100w plexi and 3(??!!) 4x12 cabinets… for those big shows. I do jump the channels together in the old classic way but my volumes are between 1 and 2 on the bright volume and just under 3 on the normal volume… plus I use a marshal power brake which is around 4 clicks down from the amps natural volume so yes it seems a bit mad to he carrying all that stuff around when I could probably use something smaller but that’s how it’s been for 30 odd years and that set up makes that sound.. With my smaller band I’m still looking for the most appropriate “rig” but I guess that’s a search that goes on and on forever..brrr!

[@grahamcoxon]

I just might..

[@alexmbrenner]

Most clubs hate big stacks now. You are actually better off cranking a 20 watt head than a 100 watt Marshall stack. I saw a guy cranking a Fender Princeton the other week and it was incredible so.

[@derekhenderson1730]

I've been using the Hughes & Kettner Tubemeister 18 for the last 9 years with a 1x12 that has a Celestion G12 Century Neodymium 80 watt speaker I loaded in the late 90s (not the inferior Century Vintage) and it is just great. The EL84s in the H&K give me a very Vox like clean tone, but the real beauty is the H&K has a built in attenuator and Red Box di. It goes from 18 to 0 watts if you plug it directly into a desk and use it for tone shaping. All these inclusions give me and the soundman total control without any debilitating compromise in my tone. H&K were ahead of the game and more amp companies need to incorporate this kind of flexability. The H&K also self biases the valves when they get replaced AND tells you which valves are faulty. H&K was pointing the way and not a lot of people noticed. 18 watts maybe does not sound like much, but I've pitted it against 50 and 100 watts on stage and it holds up very well when opened up. . it's loud when it needs to be !. I've been using Rivera amps for nearly 30 years and use a 2x12 cab with them when the environment is right, but that is occasional. The small wattage amps are incredibly efficient now and super light and portable, so they are a "no brainer" for me.

[@michaelegan3522]

I have a fender twin reverb but it was too loud. Even for band practice with a drummer I could only turn the volume up to about 3 before I'd be bothering the neighbors. Eventually one of the power tubes went bad and instead of buying a new one I found a mod where you pull out two of the four power tubes and disconnect one of the two 12" speakers. Now it's running on half the wattage with half the speakers and it sounds better than before when it's set at a reasonable volume.

[@pauljcat1]

Picked up a vintage 68 Super Reverb recently for $800 and at the low volume with a transparent OD pedal it can’t be beat. I use it for at home. 3-d sound is an understatement . A small amp is still too loud and needs a pedal also to get edge of breakup , The larger amp retains so much more detail and feel that a small amp can never get. Just get a cool little hand cart to move it around. Anything Deluxe or bigger needs one anyway…….

[@drewskyjones]

I have read that to get 2x louder, you need approximately 10x wattage...so a 100W amp would be roughly 2x as loud as a 10W amp. And you are correct even amps under 5w are incredibly loud in a home situation.

[@phildohogne1970]

Little Walter amps are real point to point. It is a totally different sound fidelity wise. Tons of companies say they are point to point but they don't seem to know what point to point is. There is no board. Everything is soldered directly to the next component. Whole different builders skill and much better sound. Remember, the man that is the reason the Overdrive Special exists male a comment on That Pedal Show how good the Little Walter sounded. Point to point.

[@tdunster2011]

Point to point makes component level repairs more feasible. it makes zero improvement to the sound alone. Sound is determined by design topology and components, Not trashing point to point either - I use a Carr Rambler 1x12. every day.

[@fixedgear37]

Coming next week “why I was wrong about small amps”.. extolls virtues of 2 4x12s and a 100w head

[@jimmiksche1527]

I think I already mentioned in a previous video that I have a small, custom-made Mojotone 1x10" cab w/ 60-watt celestion, and an aging Marshall 2061x head. I don't need to turn it up much, can create good sounds with my pedals & keep the volume pretty low. For bigger gigs, I can mic it, sounds amazing (so I've been told). Super easy to lug about. To go even smaller I use a 100-watt ZT amp, face it towards me, use a line out to the PA, and get my "signature" sounds from my pedals. ZT Amps don't sound that great on their own, but they come in handy for small clubs, etc. The trouble with my rig is my huge ass pedalboard (gotta do something about that!).

[@Eric-dd8bk]

Some people are ganna sware by high watt tube amps because they like being loud and they like hearing loud guitar tones, they seek attention, they don't want to hear any other people, they don't care whether they are overwhelming their audience or the sound booth, and so on. And they think that's the only way. they have no idea that some people like me just hate loud anything. I hate having my ears ring after the gig, I hate that chest thumping lowend, I hate that feeling of the walls shaking and collapsing, I hate the fact that I'm causing damage to my own ear drums as well as my audience's, and so on. Hence a modeler with either an inear or a small floor PA monitor for me.

[@sammyrothrock6981]

Nice playing at the end of the video

[@JDStone20]

Glad I got a Boss Katana Air, hard to get smaller than that, LOL!

[@musiccreation1198]

John, best attenuator = Freyette Power Stations. Tim Pierce video: "Tube Amps Have a BIG Problem. This Device SOLVES It." Have you reviewed the Quilter Tone Blocks with a modeler?? Please consider a review.

[@TeleCaster66]

Ad a Quilter, sounded really flat next to any tube amp, no punch at all. Wanted to like it but it sucked.

[@musiccreation1198]

Quite the outlier opinion, but thanks for sharing. Good to know. @@TeleCaster66

[@szabowabo91]

I had the EXACT same experience with the 100 watt Rectifier vs the 25 watt Rectoverb. The taper on the master in the smaller amp was way less usable. It went from a kazoo-like sound to way too loud in a fraction of a millimeter. The 100-watt version had a smoother taper, could get quieter, and sounded a lot better at lower volume than the 25-watt amp.

[@ChrisMartinsMusician]

I'm saving some cash to buy some of these classic amps for the studio because they're going to bounce back in price in a couple of years. 25 years ago, the vintage market was full of great opportunities, these days not so much... yet... it's all a cycle.

[@peteolinski7471]

Got a SF Champ and a Deluxe Reverb and you’re right there isn’t much difference in volume unless you really crank the DR. I actually enjoy both at bedroom levels

[@zenlandzipline]

Yeah, those 4-12 cabs are overkill. I dropped down from one stereo 4-12 cab to two 2-12 cabs in stereo.

[@1man1guitarletsgo]

You could go further, and use four 1-12 cabs in surround sound!

[@zenlandzipline]

@@1man1guitarletsgohmmm…..🤔

[@thehappyheretic2136]

the last few years im sold on solid state clean amps.they have plenty of warmth punch and volume for way less money and less costly all way around. they take pedals well and are very versatile.

[@AlecBourneMidiMadScientist]

Playing down the end with those humbuckers, you gotta do some more of that stuff. Really fills up the freq space.

[@CraigFlowersMusic]

I use a vertical 2x12 on top of a horizontal 2x12, because I have different speakers in each place and a microphone on each one. All three Mojotone British Vintage speakers and a Celestion G12M-65 Creamback. Powered by a 20-watt Plexi.

[@BrizzleRocker]

Headroom is what you need. I use 100w Diamond Spec Op head (previously favoured by Tim Pierce) and for live a Port City 2x12. At home the amp is plugged into a Torpedo Captor X or occasionally the Audiostorm HotBox 120 attenuator (best by far imho having tried THD Hotplate and Palmers, the Torpedo Reload isn’t bad either)

[@2ndshooter688]

I have one of those Marshall 50th 1w heads (JMP). Theres a switch on the back to take it down to 1/10th of a watt and thats still too loud for home.

[@MorGuitarz]

Although I use modelers for effects...I've tried their simulators and they just disappear in a mix, or sound totally flat. They may "pass" live...but to folks who say they sound or feel the same as a tube amp...there's just no way. Last couple gigs I've used the Soldano Astro 20 with a matching 1x12, with a Clearsonic shield in front, which I use for my stage signal...then feed its direct IR signal to FOH...it sounds incredible. Also in my stable are various Friedman & Bogner amps, which I've also used live...they're higher wattage...all sound great due to their great master volumes, but I'll be sticking with that Soldano this year...live I keep the channel volumes around half....and the master also half, so the tube's are cooking pretty well vs those bigger amps which might be on say 2 or 3. The smaller setup definitely does the trick without any drawbacks, if I'm being honest

[@srubel59]

A pair of 6V6s with about 350v on the plates into a Suhr IR Reactive load line out. That drives your modulation and delay/reverb effects, then either into your board or reamp it at any volume you need for the environment you're in.

[@RyanAmplification]

Boss Waza Tube Amp Expander is fantastic. I ran one through its paces with a Bad Cat Lynx at the Sweetwater store and it sounded and felt incredible. Plus it has useful effects. I use a Katana II head to amplify my Kemper Stage through an open back 1x12 which sounds really good but the TAE was really exciting to use with a good tube amp.

[@jonalexander8935]

Man that intro J.. Blows my mind!! Great job bro...Smokin!!!

[@savoirfaire8979]

Mesa Badlander 50 watt is perfect for my needs. Has an XLR out with IRs for silence but also regular speaker outs for playing loud. Headphone outs with IR too. I could use a Torpedo X attenuator, but I don’t need one any more.

[@KozmykJ]

Silent Stage Disease. I KNOW there's a medical argument for it, but it saddens me every time I encounter it. ⚰ Rock'n'Roll isn't quite Dead, it's just very very quiet now. 😢

[@KozmykJ]

In the house (flat) recording, I use a Captor X with my BassBreaker 15. 1 Watt is well loud in here with my old Blackstar 1H. Well loud enough to annoy the neighbours.

[@KozmykJ]

New just in - Aurora DSP have made, in conjunction with Laney, a Laney IRT plugin. It IS very good. I have an IRT Studio 15 and they're very close. Re Robben Ford - After hearing those Zen Drive tones I shopped for an affordable equivalent - Caline CP-502 Mellow Drive. Does a nice range of tones. 👍

[@Wingman52]

I have a DRRI (22 w) and a Supro Tremo-verb (25 w) both of which can get quite loud if you crank them, but when used for kind of clean, jazzy music or clean rhythm they sound very nice at living room volume. If I want them dirty I use a pedal. I think the DR is like a reasonable, practical version of a Twin, still has a nice full sound in a smaller lighter more controllable package. I really don't find them overly heavy, as a little more weight can mean a lot more tone. To me the smaller very low wattage amps sound like you're playing through a transistor radio, lots of distortion if that's what you want, but useless for a nice full clean sound.

[@ahmikjones]

Still using a 4x12 with a Mesa Mark V 25 head, but it doesn’t move from the basement. Like you said, I have to get the master volume just right for how volume.

[@mikeller]

I have a MB Electra Dyne (head) I pair with a Royal Atlantic Wide 1x12 cab. The head was always either loud or off until a handful of years ago it had to go back to the factory for a warranty repair. Not sure what they did, but when I got it back it had very usable master volume sweep and it does low volume remarkable well. I dare say better than my Fillmore 20 combo ??? Too bad they couldn't have also made it lighter and easier to carry, hahaha.

[@fronkthetooonk]

It all depends on what music you play. I play a 78 ultralinear twin reverb in a loud emo band and it works great. I actually traded a deluxe reverb reissue for it because I was wanting more authoritative/tight low end which the twin offered. Tbh, the value you get from a 70s silverface twin is absolutely insane. An american made handwired amp for the same price as the reissue amps without all the pesky issues that the reissue amps usually pose. On top of that, it sounds WAY better than a reissue. More clean headroom with a tight low end, making it a better pedal platform than a deluxe. If you are a young, strong guy that doesn't mind hauling around a heavy amp, I don't see why you wouldn't just get a 70s silverface twin.

[@worthmoremusic]

Many years ago, folks did not mic their amps...it was a "thing" to have a HUGE amp...a stacked Marshall or Peavey, or Ampeg or the like...and especially if you were a touring guitarist...but today it clearly makes no sense in my opinion...today a relatively small amp has 50/100 watts, many also with built in effects and so everybody is mic'ing them IF they're not using molders and or going direct.

[@scottmay1489]

I have a Rivera Jake studio, single 12. I’ve gigged with for 20 years. Recapped etc. it’s great. Has a 30 switch. But for home I use my ox box for bedroom volumes. The older I get the heavier the combo is getting. I’ve just started down the tonex path. Great for home studio stuff, but haven’t tried it live yet. I’m kinda old school tube nap and basic pedal board. Anyhow, love the channel John and your playing. Thanks again

[@rockinrob1378]

Im not sure I agree with John's thesis , Friedman sells alot of 100 watt heads.

[@jasondorsey7110]

One of my favorite cabs is a mid-80s mesa 1x12, I have both ev and celestion "black shadow" speakers to swap out depending on what I'm going for

[@RandalSmith]

I wish I’d discovered I didn’t need a Twin Reverb 50 years ago. I own a Little Walter Hipster (10 watt) and it is plenty loud for a trio. I’ve gigged with it with a fairly loud drummer and keyboard. Mic’d up, it’ll handle anything.

[@ulfskjol]

Fender Hot Rod Deluxe, everything beyond volume at 1,5 is super loud in a practice/small gig situation. "Sacrificed" my effect loop to put in a master volume there. Then it is manageable.

[@georged9615]

Amp wattage is power, which is measured in linear terms, 40 watts is twice as powerful as 20 watts. However, because of how our ears work, loudness is measured logarithmically, which means that to sense a sound as twice as loud as another, it needs to have ten times more power. So a 40 watt amp is only 3 decibels louder than a 20 watt amp. A 50 watt amp is only 3 decibels quieter than a 100 watt amp. A 10 watt amp is half as loud as a 100 watt amp.

[@trickfall8752]

I started gigging in the early 90's and there a few important differences from then and now. The size of venue that a local band could play and get people to was I think on average bigger than it is now. The tolerance for loud volumes was higher and what might be the biggest difference is that PA systems have gotten remarkably better. I will also say as unwieldy as a 4X12 is there is something about the sound of the four speakers that is bigger without necessarily having to be louder. If I had the space I'd get a 4X12.

[@RobertNolan]

I have mostly 1x12 and 2x10 options, but do have a 2x12 for when I need it. I'm preferring the 2x10 more because those tend to cut through a bit better in a band mix. I'm trying to keep to one Marshall, Vox, Fender right now and I use just a Captor X for slight attenuation or headphone use.

[@youKnowWho3311]

Two 2x12 cabs in my office. Do I turn them up loud? Rarely. But every once in a while, I like to try and blow my hair back. There's something about the two cabinets at a certain angle that I just can't quite describe. Only a 50W head powering both, that typically doesn't get turned up past 1-2. This is the part where I say, If I had a studio, etc... I am currently considering going to a tonex plus seymour duncan power stage. Still keeping the two 2x12 cabs though. That ought to ruffle some feathers.

[@griffsimcox9459]

I use 2x12s half celestion half wgs :) . My 100 watt amp does lower volume very well bluguitar amp1 has amazing lowend. I am really happy with it and it only weighs 3lbs.

[@robertfoster1339]

Small head and single 12 works pretty well. I have a boutique combo that is a loud 18 watts that a club can mic and a 60 watt hybrid head that fits in a gig bag with a couple pedals and a neodymium single 12 cabinet I can take on a train or bus.

[@muttonjeff105]

I own two Cornell combos. A plex 7 and a vintage brown. Both sound great attenuated but unattenuated they are still way too loud for the neighbours but sound killer. For high wattage amps I still own a rivera rockcrusher recording. It does a fine job and takes a 100w amp quieter than the Cornell amps.

[@timcat8382]

I have a '69 - '70 Silverface Fender Bandmaster 50w and it sounds good through any speaker really, 12, 2x12 etc. I can use it at very low volumes with no mid or bass dialed in and get nice clean low volume tone. I rarely use it though because of the lug. That said, it's there if I need serious torque. Otherwise I use a 5w Valvetone (Aussie boutique builder Darryl Hoy) or a Blues Jnr with a Weber alnico, which gives it a sweet, smooth break up but also less versatility at gig volumes.

[@scozz6139]

A 100 watt amp is only about 3db louder than a 50 watt amp, that formula follows throughout. A 20 watter is about 3db louder than a 10 watt amp, and on and on. For an amplifier to be twice as loud as another amplifier, it would be 10x the wattage. For an amp to be twice as loud as a 20 watt amp, that amp would be 200 watts. I'm strictly an at home player these days, and my main rig is a 20 watt Marshall head, (SC20h), through two 1-12 cabs. I used to play through a single 1-12 cab, but two of them sound sooo much bigger,.... not necessarily a lot louder but a lot BIGGER.

[@gretschfreak]

Agreed. My amp is switchable to 10 watts and I never swap to the 40 alternative.

[@Billywagner22]

I’m gigging a PR or a FM9 these days. I miss my big iron amps, but times are changing. My old BF Twin sounds great at all volumes, but I’m tired of catching sh@t from sound guys for bringing a big amp. I’m done fighting the good fight, now I just talk about the good old days. 😊

[@jasondorsey7110]

Yea it's pretty messed up, using big amps at home and grabbing small combos to jam, but I'm not getting rid of my big amps

[@cameronlesley2428]

so my uderstanding is yes there isnt much difference in overall volume when compaing a 25 watt to a 60 watt. (i use those numbers because they are the wattages ive used). the result is the 60 watt fender deville 2x12 stays cleaner right to 12 and the 25 wattr rivera pubster 1x10 starts to clip at 3. my amp choices are made based on the durmmer on the day some gigs ill run the deville and some gigs ill run the pubster and sometimes lll pair that with a peavey classsic 30 for exra colour and definition

[@glyman1212]

Trying a speaker with lower efficiency like 96 or 97 db can help get tone at lower volume compared with a 100db efficient speaker. I would be interested in videos on attenuators.

[@philbates7975]

Not just 100 watt amps. I use a 50 watt 2x12 Hughes & Kettner on stages of ALL sizes, from clubs to big festivals, and I never manage to use the volume knob beyond number 2, and maybe a bit. And it doesn’t sound at its best at that level. So maybe I have to do the same and go 20/30 watts.

[@mattfire83]

The big Amps and cabinets are fun but they were meant for a time when PAs could not do the heavy lifting. Big cabinets are also very directional and cause everyone to have to turn up, and the guitarist still complains they can't hear themselves lol. In ears and low wattage amps are the future even if they aren't as much fun

[@bradenrodriguez5183]

I'm mid 40's and play a Strat rig through a Deluxe Reverb and a JTM 45 wet dry combo from the back of my mother in laws Volkswagen Jetta from a 12v accessory plug every second Wednesday in a Walmart car park.

[@daviddalziel884]

Full on Robben Ford at the end with the Les Paul . What pedal there ? The OD3 . It’s been overdrive overload in the last week with Robben and his Zen Dive then the TPS guys with the TS9 and Blues Driver and now you come along talking about DS3 !! Which one do I buy ? Amps wise I’ve got an old Marshall AVT 100 I got second hand for £65. Too loud for the house but who cares . Have an MXR Badass which sounds better than the two distortion channels on the Marshall .

[@LB-qf3ef]

212 Fender guy here and i run a 210 bass cabinet coming out of the effects loop. I must have mental problems. When i play my modeler at night with my good headphones, it seems they are super loud, for my enjoyment, so my wife can sleep. I wanna be quieter, but i just dont have it in me. I dunno

[@davidkeller6156]

I just bought a Mesa Boogie Fillmore 25. I bought it for home use and am loving it.

[@tdunster2011]

Great amps. I used to demo guitars through one at a local shop. One of the most versatile amps I have ever played - possibly the most.

[@davidkeller6156]

@@tdunster2011 I was really surprised by just how much I can get out of it. I ordered it from Sweetwater based off of watching video reviews since there are no dealers where I live. It was between that and a Friedman.

[@sammyrothrock6981]

A single 12" is my main requirement always! No 8" for me a single 15" is good for some applications also

[@jaysmoreymusic]

I'm picturing a modern day Yngwie on stage with a wall of Helix modelers behind him that you can see from outer space.

[@MrJackrockerman]

Grosss 🤮🤣

[@MotownGuitarJoe]

Seriously thinking about getting a 4x8 sheet of plywood, no, make that balsa wood, covering it with "Marshall stack wallpaper" and still running my Pod Go direct. Best of both worlds 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@motorlibro]

I watched Robben on TPS and am a little confused as to why an ODS 100 doesn't work but a totally clean (non master volume) Little Walter 50 watt does?

[@johnelcanrab2114]

Yea that little Walter has more than just a little volume! He's just chatting shite to be honest, as much as I like him. My Dr z monza 20 Watt is louder than my 100 watt v140 super duchess. No exaggeration. Watts don't equal loudness. ✌️

[@motorlibro]

@@johnelcanrab2114 I played a buddy's 18 watt Marshall that was too loud!

[@DigiEvoluido]

Oh yeaah sell me your big amps... oh goodie... what a pain...

[@demodeiowa]

i have a 15 watt egnater amp and a single cab n it's been pretty sweet. really great pedal platform with really sweet tones

[@chrisdaviesguitar]

TBH, I have a 100w Blackstar HT Stage 100 mk 1. It's the best sound I've ever had. So I am sticking with it.

[@antoonhermans8953]

Thats what i like about my fender tm dr , loud enough for any gig and usable at home , lightweigth , good direct out , i put an jupiter 12 LC speaker in it wich made the amp come more "alive " . I used an mesa mark 3 with extra mesa 12" cab for a long time , but man , way to loud and way to heavy .

[@jonathanbaxter7509]

Revv D25 is great at low and high volumes with the 5 and 25 watt modes!

[@dutelatte2154]

I have a DT25 and it's always used with the low volume button, I wish Line 6 made a DT15 that would be perfect, would be awsome if they made it with more effects as well, the perfect amp would be a DT 15 with reverb and delay, that's already amazing.

[@tonystartup3817]

Interesting. I have a DT50 and never use it with the low volume switch. Find it's pretty good at just turning the volume down

[@dutelatte2154]

@@tonystartup3817 I like to push the master volume so I can control the channel volume better, I found it easier to match a clean and lead tone.

[@sammyrothrock6981]

I love my 20 and 50 watt tube amps keep them till the very end!

[@fixedgear37]

50 watts isn’t small.

[@dmac3316]

Cool video. Really good points 👍

[@TimMilliken]

I have a dual professional too! Awesome amp. Hard to find.

[@kyran4238]

You should try an Orange Pedal Baby into your Cab. I would be really interested in your thoughts.

[@willgoodchild4343]

I’m a huge fan of lower wattage amps, and I never buy a combo anymore either. I have Zilla 1 and 2x12 cabs which are really usable the 2x12 is a vertical cab and on wheels which makes it easier to move. At most gigs there’s a cab you can use so heads make more sense to me. I disagree on the 4x12s I think there’s something special about a 4x12 with a cranked amp but probably on certain stages.

[@RobertFisher1969]

I’m going to trade my 15 Watt tube amp + attenuator for a one or half Watt tube amp. If I ever wanted to gig with it instead of a modeler and it wasn’t loud enough, I’d just mic it.

[@boatfaceslim9005]

The only reason to use a higher wattage amp is for the increased headroom.

[@jackprice7828]

Man John those are really sweet tones coming from that LP. Just enough breakup.

[@lancenunez8252]

J Mascis still tours with three heads, a twin reverb and 6 4x12’s. In this day and age, some might call him a dinosaur…. But he’s really more of a Dinosaur Jr. 🤟😎

[@felipefarias7654]

Nah. I replace my 35 Bogner Ecstacy and bought the 120w version, the low end is so much better even tough half of the time I use a high quality attenuator.

[@phildohogne1970]

To be twice as loud as a 15wt amp it has to be 150wt. Check it out. It sounds crazy but when you see the math it is true. That is why AC 30s hold their own on stage with 100wit Marshalls.

[@Sam_Sparks144]

Tone king attenuators are great, or UA ox box is also amazing.

[@TeleCaster66]

You need at least 30 watts with a drummer in a live situation if you ask me. I don't play real loud but I like my 50 watt tube amp.

[@FamousByFriday]

I dunno. Seems like a mature musician take. I went to a young band local midwest emo show last night at a very small venue with a small pa. The first band used an ac30. Got drowned out. It cut through enough to be heard, but it felt like he was in another room. The last two bands used two 4/12 and sounded amazing.

[@anmolatwal]

Well, a small dumble style clean 50w amp turned up enough, there is not that big of a difference from a 100w one. I think this ia the time to actually have bigger amps consodering the abundance of reactive loads and powrr attenuators.

[@cliverkay]

Robben has gone from 100W to 50W , Volume wise not a load of difference. Should have gone down to 20W or less to get much change

[@BeefNEggs057]

You just lose the clean headroom. Same volume more or less.

[@DanielCrouch]

I think 4x12 cabs might only really persist as a (very long) cultural time lag from the days when PA systems were not as widely available (or good). Mic'd up combo amps and 4x12s sound pretty similar, so there's not really much reason to have a big cab for these reasons alone On the other hand, a purist might say it's not really a rock show if you don't have at least a decent proportion of the volume coming from the stage, so maybe that's what people are going for. When I used to gig with a marshall stack in the 2000s, I was still a gear novice, and was only really copying famous guitarists that did it (often 20 or 30 years earlier)

[@brianmiller3287]

Good point...