Understanding Guitar Amp OHMS And Watts With Scott Grove

[@XMetalChefX]

I clicked on this link, thinking you were crazy for making an hour long video for OHMS, yet I stayed RIVETED on every word. You sir, are a man who knows his shit....

[@groovydjs]

Thank you my friend! I have total respect for you for actually sticking around and absorbing all of the information. Some folks just don't CARE enough to learn about what they love. lol I truly appreciate you putting in the time and dedication! Cheers

[@XMetalChefX]

I ma 27, and I love to learn from people who now more than me. It helps that I do not assume I know everything.

[@tonygrimsley]

You know, I have been looking on the internet for something that really explained ohms in a way I could understand. This was an hour very well spent. You are a great teacher.

[@aaa7man1]

Listening to you is very easy You seem so at ease in front of your cam. I've taken in two really long segments one on amp controls this one on the Ohms and Watts. Both were very instructional and neither was in the least bit preachy, or conceited. You have an innate natural talent.

[@groovydjs]

You are way too kind. Many thanks. I'm glad you are enjoying the stuff I toss out there!

[@groovydjs]

I'm glad that it helped out, if only a little. There is a lot of "Poindexter" stuff that could be explained, but it takes away from playing time. Most want to know what they NEED to know and then get back to playing. So, general conversations and trying to hit on the key points and time to actually plug back in and have some fun! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@ozzycisneros7061]

Thank you so much for making life easier with these videos, your time and effort is appreciated.

[@timothymoran11]

Hey man, I am an electrician and have had many guitar players ask me questions about ohm ratings and wattage of amps. I think you described it in the easiest put terms I have ever heard. Great video. Very informative. By the way, my favorite head ever was the first series of the Marshall 8100 valve state head. I primarily played death metal in my younger days and that solid state head was a beast! I think it did have AX7 pre amp tubed though. Other than that, when I first started I inherited my older brothers Kramer(silver and black Eddie Van Halen looking thing, bought a single hum buckler Peavey Predator(loved it), and my Peavey Bandit amp. I could have ruled the world(in my room)!

[@ronws2007]

I also are an electrician and started studying electronics and radio stuff in 1975, thanks to a family member. The reason a person can have a 4 speaker cab driven by a 4 ohm head is if you have 4 of the 16 ohm speakers in parallel, the equivalent is 4 ohms. In series, resistance is directly additive. In parallel, it is inverse. So, in parallel, 1/Rt = 1/R1 + 1/R2 + 1/R3 + 1/R4. Well, those add up to .25. And 1/.24 = 4 ohms. So, the real trick is impedance matching and if you have a set of speakers not equal to the output of the amp head, you need an impedance matcher to translate, as it were;

[@KernRamsdell]

I enjoy your talks. When my son is old enough, he, too, will listen to you, and learn from you. I will make him. Thanks so much!!!!

[@groovydjs]

Thanks so much my friend!

[@ernestoalmeida7797]

Well, he's not Jesus...

[@user-qm7nw7vd5s]

Spot on, about the sound and dependability of tubes vs solid state. Crazy to get tubes today, unless you’re building a museum. I beg to differ on the watts issue, however. 100 watts RMS, perfectly matched to its speakers, will produce the same kick, tubes or solid state. The key is, that it’s RMS (Root Mean Square). If it only says 100 watts, then it’s probably based on “Peak Power Output” which means in a small band width, it could surge to peak at 100 watts, but under continuous usage across the full audio spectrum, it’s likely only 20 watts RMS. Bear in mind, however, 100 watts RMS paired with the wrong speakers (mismatched impedance) can sound like 20 watts as well. The correct impedance assures the highest efficiency. I have compared a 100 watt RMS vintage Silvertone tube amp (four 6L6) matched to six 10 inch speakers, to a Hartke solid state 100 watt RMS matched to two 12 inch speakers, and the solid state Hartke is actually louder than the tube amp (probably because the tubes are old). But of course the issue is mute, since today it makes no sense for a professional musician to go on the road with a tube amp, unless you’re independently wealthy, or as I say, starting a museum collection.

[@christopherbrooks2948]

Thanks for all your Utubes. All very informative and very welcome. im 75 and only took up guitar 4 yrs back. I have fun but love your broad knowledge and talent. i must admit to getting lost a little on this one but perhaps watching it a couple of times more will help. even though most is not going to be used by me i just love the knowledge and techniques and your no frills approach. thank you so much. I do have your 200 lessons great deal thanks again.

[@TimmyTSkins03]

I knew nothing about anything about half stacks and ohms and watts and i owned one back in the day. Now that i bought my old amp back, Crate GT3500H Shockwave 350 Watt Head, I know what the 220W@4ohm and 350W@2ohm means. I walked into guitar center out here in vegas and told a guy what setup for cabs i want. i want a 4x12 4ohm cab with any celest/sheff speaker and i want a 2x12 for my topper at 4 ohms as well. and i told him why he was very impressed. thats because of this video giving me the knowledge. thanks brother.

[@TimmyTSkins03]

solid state for life lol. and i literally just found my baby. Crate GT412SL with celst!!!!!!! 16, 8, 4ohm switch. thanks for the explenation. i have the knowledge. and knowledge is power, in ohms and RMS of course! lol

[@1972myc]

Scott, I appreciate ypur honesty. Even when one has a difference of opinion, your information is appreciated and worth a listen. Thank you.

[@groovydjs]

Thanks so much. I'm so glad that you stay tuned. Your word of mouth will help plenty and gives me hope for the future and I know that you all won't blow up your stuff. lol Happy playing and I'll always be happy to make any videos that I can to help you with any questions you may have.

[@charlesreohr6236]

I learned most of this stuff back when I was putting together the Heathkit stereo amps. back in the mid 60s. My dad bought me two of these kits to teach me about electronics.I made one into a mono 100 watt tube amp for my guitar (a 64 casino I found in the garbage) with one 8 ohm 12" mid range speaker hooked to it. I made the other into a tubed 50 watt per channel stereo with a built in preamp that I hooked up a Heathkit FM tuner my dad built and two 16 ohm 12" full range speakers to it.

[@pittsburghrocker77]

Hey scott, im only 15 and i understood the things you were saying. I really enjoy all your videos, especially ones like this that are really useful and teach you something. your videos have saved me alot of time and money by not falling into the webs that many other people do because the so called experts at guitar center told them to lol. i also pass along this info with my friends and help them out too. again i cant thank you enough for all the help you have given me, keep on rockin!

[@DetroitWrecker666]

I REALLY dig these old videos you used to do. They are so very informative.

[@timothymoran11]

As I got older, I bought a 4-12 cabinet with vintage 30 Celestions in it and a Marshall JCM900 SLX Superled Head. Traded it less than 6 months later for a Sovetek 100 Watt Tube head. Still,loved my valve state!

[@sheshoobs2081]

Hi Scott, Thankyou so much for that lamens terms of understanding Ohms. Really gave me a logical non bullshit way of understanding it all. Definitely learnt something new as well.

[@RajagopalaRaoS]

I learn so much from your videos...the best tjing about them, they are long and elaborate. You take your time and it feels good listening to stuff you say. Nowadays its rare to find people having opinions, you people sort of consider everything as this is good that is also good and blah.. I mean there is a good and a bad and bad doesnt mean it sucks it just means its not in your taste. You are someone I look up to and learn from. Just wanted to thank u man. Keep rocking!\m/

[@groovydjs]

Many thanks my friend! I'm glad that you appreciate the LONG TIME that I put into these instead of yelling at me that it's TOO LONG. lol All my best to you. Scott

[@CJ-rf9jm]

groovydjs Me, I like it that way. You could go into ohms law (calculations are actually easy on a calculator) but if you explained it in the way I learned in college (the complicated detailed technical picking nits way) it'd be a 20 hour video.

[@stevehurd6708]

Great explanation of a complex topic! It definitely cleared up a lot of confusion I had concerning Wattage & Ohms.

[@EvanJordon]

You're one of the most informative people I've ever come across on the Internet when it comes to guitars. Good stuff man!

[@wjs569]

Thanks... a wealth of information for me. Just picked up my first head/cabinet and was confused by the ohm info on the back. Not that I fully absorbed all that you explained, but I am getting it. Going to watch it again lol

[@groovydjs]

Thanks my friend. Yep, exactly the same for everything including bass rigs, car audio, sound systems and everything relating to amps and speakers all the way across the board.

[@groovydjs]

I wish it was that easy. You can take a Fender Twin Reverb with 85 watts of massively loud tube power, turn it on 10 and it will remain crystal clear and 100% clean with zero breakup. It's designed to be the cleanest amp around at full power and ear shattering volume. So, that is out the window.

[@maxpuppy96]

Wow great info, Solid State amps interesting, I own all tube amps and when I plug into a solid state amp I always say why am I not playing a solid state amp. Its great to hear you say that what a breath of fresh air.

[@groovydjs]

Hi my friend. Nope, the Johnson sounds the same on 1 as it does on 9. It's a beautiful thing. Another MAJOR reason I love it. It fits the bill for all gigs big and small. The sound is always the same. A true blessing for sure.

[@PBTazo]

As always: funny remarks, a lot of controversy and great info (from experience)! Thanks again man!

[@groovydjs]

My pleasure and I'm glad that you "get it" when it comes to my "humor". lol

[@suniasenirosi986]

Scott , thanks so much...I truly learned a lot from you my friend , really appreciated.

[@groovydjs]

100%. Of course bass rigs will sometimes use 2 different sized speakers in different cabinets since they are basically using a PA system (as they should) for an amp. So, you have the great amps that have built in crossovers, a couple of power amps, a sub (Usually a 15" or 2 in a cabinet) then their mids and highs in the form of a 4X10 and horn cabinet on top. So, since you are using 2 totally separate amps in the head, they bottom cabinet can be 4 Ohms and Tops be 4 ohms, since separate amps.

[@treborkciddur]

nice to have it spelled out. most of it is common sense, and you filled in the blanks with the important stuff. Still enjoy learning the mechanics of what I've been doing forever.

[@brianmckenzie1318]

Mr. Scott Grove, thank you!! I learned a lot! All the best!

[@BloodySoup74]

So correct! As a kid back in the day building stereo systems in cars and we do look at watts but it's the rms that matters.

[@jimcatmandude9316]

It's always good to hear someone else's point of view, even if you disagree and in this case I do. Like it or not a tube amp has a different sound quality than a solid state. Solid state amps produce some harmonics that sound harsh to the ear of someone who is used to tube amps. I f you can't hear that a Marshall amp has a unique and identifiable tone that's too bad. For me it's one of the sweetest sounds in music, almost an acoustic tone like a cello as ridiculous as that sounds. It's all subjective and I have heard great sounds come from solid state amps but there is a real reason some people prefer tube amps.

[@DaveyMulholland]

Prescriptivist claptrap. Are you one of those guys who tries to belittle pedal users with your ¡gnorant dogma and misconceptions?

[@teamshady04]

You are the best guitar player and informational giving guy I have ever seen. . . you sir are a genius.

[@MrAlcatrazDick]

I've always understood this subject well just from going to a vocational/trade school, but back when I was first learning about this and the whole guitar amp subject this video would have helped a lot. Very well done Scott.

[@SquierStrat72]

Yet another great and informative video. I'm slowly making my way through your whole channel. Some of this I already knew, some not, so it's always good to keep learning. Especially from someone who actually cares about what they're teaching.

[@DetroitWrecker666]

I learned about all this stuff not in my music but, when I started fooling with car stereos. You did a decent job explaining this. It's hard to explain it to most people. Mostly because they just don't want to hear it. Even the RMS ratings are bullshit with some manufacturers these days. Thanks for taking the time to try and explain this. If there is ONE THING I know about its this stuff. You did a good job here. If they listen.....

[@tjport1980]

I wish I could have seen a video like this in the 70's. It took me years to learn this

[@Ashbasali]

I really learned something from this video, thanks scott.

[@groovydjs]

Yeah, it's a great tune. It sounds like the good, old stuff! I got to hear them do it live on the 11th of August. They did it very well. It wasn't over produced on the album, so they could cover it with no problems live. It's always great with a classic band like them, to have them go back to what it was that attracted everybody to them in the first place. Sure, it's not going to make any big waves on the radio, but it sure does sit well with the die hard fans!

[@CookieRoger1]

Thank you for the good information and have a nice day .

[@groovydjs]

Many thanks to you!!!

[@effzee]

Thank you so much once again, Scott. You're really a fount of knowledge and I appreciate your generosity with your time. I'm becomming sort of addicted to watching Scott Grove vids now. No matter the subject, you're an interesting speaker (yeah, that was a pun, sorry). So... is there anyone making new solid state amps today that you could get behind and endorse, so to speak? Btw, your vid about your health problems was very touching - wishing you all the best in that battle!!!

[@emach07]

I've always loved solid state but had to go with a tube amp when I joined a band because the other guy had a tube amp and it ate up my solid state amp as far as cutting through. Now I'm back in love with tube amps but I still love solid state. Just doesn't seem to cut through the drums, bass, other guitar, etc. as much as my tube amp but they are making them incredibly better these days

[@thepartimemusician65]

Great upload mr groovy.Helped me a lot,I stayed with you until the end,thanks dude.

[@hempopotamusloudspeakershe9793]

Scottie- have a fun conversation about how impedance, m DCR ohms are inner-related, and don't forget damping factors and back EMF of loudspeaker coils, and all of the variables there... Love your videos Scott...

[@Gearrig1]

Finally someone explained this and made it easy to understand. I agree the SS is very reliable and sound very good but tubes seem to be the standard. Even the new and boutique makers are going tubes. Lets just be thankful audio/video equipment evolved beyond the tube, those flat screens wouldn't be so flat...lol

[@quinineblue6127]

Great info learnt alot about my amps thank you for this.also nice to hear im not the only one who prefers solid state to valve state amps to many times have i been bashed for loving solid state amps thanks again .

[@Rifftheraff]

I watch your videos all day man. keep it going !!!!!

[@groovydjs]

Very well said and dead on for sure! I agree 10000%

[@richardm1862]

The exact way to calculate equivalent resistance in parallel is as follows: 1/Req=1/R1+1/R2+1/R3+1/R4+.... ohms.1/Rn. So four 16 ohm speakers in parallel would be and equivalent resistance of 1/16 + 1/16 + 1/16 +1/16 =.0625 +.0625 + .0626 +.0625 = 0.25. Now we have 1/Req=0.25. So Req = 1/.025 =4. For just two in parallel the formula reduces to {(R1) (R2)}/R1 +R2. So two 16 ohm speakers in parallel 16x16 would be an equivalent resistance of {(16)(16)}/16+16 = 256/32=8 ohms.

[@AmpsforBuddha]

Makes sense. The first amp I ever owned was an old (80's) Solid State Randall Amp at 300 watts. …Great video!

[@BramClaes]

that's hard to tell for any amp. The problem is that the human ear itself perceives a certain sound differently when it is played at different volumes.

[@groovydjs]

Miking will always sound best on a guitar amp. For bass guitar, the direct box is usually the best way to go and should be from the instrument to the D.I. and not from the amp to the PA. I use a direct box at most of my gigs with my guitar since I rarely bring an amp anymore. So, if you are using some sort of a rig that doesn't use an amp at all, then of course, the Direct Box is a must since you'll almost always need to lift the ground on the box or it will be a Buzz Fest! lol

[@stewtel]

As usual, you are correct,informative,and a very funny man. Cheers

[@michaelmendillo4614]

Groovy,,,, as allways !!!! TY Scott,,, digging the new cave !!!! 😁🖒✌🇺🇸

[@davidjorgenpedersen8010]

Very Useful Information, I enjoyed that Scott!

[@cozmic2498]

Scott I'm sure you are technically insane which is cool because it's what makes you special. As much as you go against the grain, you somehow make things make sense to someone who's been a audiophile for 30 years. This tutorial answered all my questions about mixing cabs/speakers that no one else I've seen or read could properly explain. I done learnt somethn

[@ErikInto]

You're videos always help me out. Thanks Scott. :D

[@sixtofive]

The problem with the advertised power numbers isn't that they are actually incorrect or lies. The problem is that most power amps these days advertise output based on a 2 ohm load which very few setups actually use. If people pay attention, as you have recommended, they should usually list the outputs at 4 8 and sometimes 16 ohms in the manuals. I wish it was easier to find 4 ohm guitar cabs so you can really take advantage of a rack preamp into a reference power amp setup.

[@scottgrove4416]

Very cool my friend. I'm a bag of wind for sure. lol I hope it got you guys all situated. Cheers, Scott

[@groovydjs]

I've never found a need for an effects loop, but is it noisy when you simply connect a guitar cable from the out to the in, but without any effects in the effects loop chain?

[@philippeasnell4890]

I totally agree about what you are talking about, Yes it can be very complex at times. Me being deaf and playing the bass i rather stick to stock standard and let the PA or the MIXERS do the rest.. I love your vids...

[@sacredoriginofficial]

2020 and still the best video out there explaining all of this. One thing I'd like to ask is do 2 cabs rated at the same IMPENDENCE need to be set to the same setting (Stereo or Mono)? I currently have 2 cabinets, one 2x12 and one 4x12 both with the ohm switchable options of 4, 8, 16.

[@Lespaul13100]

Hey Scott, nice vid! So, quick question, I have a Marshall JCM DSL 2000 100 watt head that I just got and I want to hook it up to my Peavey 4x12 cab which is rated @ 16 ohms. I'm assuming that I set the switch on the back of the head to 8 and run the speaker cable from the 16 ohm input on the head to the cab. The switch on the back can be set to 4 or 8. The inputs are 16, 4 and 8 on the back of the head.Please let me know. Thanks!

[@wesmatron]

Yea, sisters aren't usually rated in RMS, they are usually rated in PMS or PMT

[@michelberube458]

You are the Best Scott. and always right!

[@Roby727]

Thanks man...I love your video and find it very informative and entertaining.

[@groovydjs]

Only if you play amazingly and are at a worthwhile and prominent venue.

[@madDadMusic]

Thanks Scott, this was very informative.

[@chriswhitton1636]

Hey Scott, you make sense man,thanks for your input.or output!don't stop your shit please!confusing stuff but you know by doing it.I electrical engineer and can't get it like you!thanks,English chris

[@robertclarkguitar]

Mentioned your channel on my last upload. Seems I've a couple that know and love your real truths as well. Hahaha. Keep on swinging at the fads buddy. Love it. Facts

[@bsquare6809]

Scott, Ive watched this video twice and i feel i have comprehended every word you've said. I would love to pick your brain on a few subjects. I have a Boss Katana Artist MK2. Im trying to learn what this amp is truly putting out, and at what ohms, and how they're divided between taps.

[@groovydjs]

Howdy, your amp is already at its max with the 8 ohm speaker in it. You COULD run 2 16 ohm cabinets together, that would bring you back to 8 ohms (the amp's lowest recommended resistance), but you would have to unplug the internal speaker...or 1 8 ohm cabinet and again, disconnect the internal speaker. They do make the Katana powered 1X12" extension speaker cabinet that you can run so that the rig is in stereo mode. There is a special jack made to do just that. That is the way to get the most that it is capable of.

[@garyeggleton1142]

I think that if you ran your rig through a 1965 twin reverb you would love the sound better than your line 6 , but you may be as stubborn as us tube snobs. nothing wrong with that. As far as explaining the ohms and watts thing, this was a great explanation for those who dont understand electronics. I dig all your videos alot, im still watching all the old ones tryin to catch up

[@groovydjs]

Hey there Gary. I'm glad you are still watching my "antics" on here. lol I don't have any Line 6 stuff at all. I've had a few Twins and a couple of the reissues and they are just so nasty. They just don't trip my trigger at all. I think the worst thing about most amps (especially tube amps) is the crazy amount of noise. My rig is dead quiet. Not even an audible hiss when it's wide open. The Twin also never did break up at all. I had to put so many pedals in front of it to make it do what I like that it was always right back to these Johnson things. I really can't imagine finding an amp that suits my needs better. Keep on watching and I hope you find a nugget here and there that you can use. Cheers.

[@sav7152]

Scott, what are your thoughts on the PRS Amps? I just picked one up with a 12" Celestion Super Lead Speaker. I think it sounds great for club settings.

[@dougthetechguy5005]

This is a great video with lot's of good info but one thing that's not mentioned is that in order to make your amp twice as loud you need to increase the power by 10, a 200 watt amp is not twice as loud as a 100 watt amp kids!

[@groovydjs]

No shit, this video is about OHMS! My WATTS video mentions it 37 times for those who feel that such things should be included in videos that have nothing to about that.

[@ciashill9799]

So many amps are quoting x number of watts, but it should be rated in RMS only. Peak power is RMS x 2 as a rule of thumb to get your speaker ratings on the safe side. That is always how i have done things and then you rate your speakers for peak output. Just a suggestion. Make sure your cables are heavy too as the currents can get quite high and you don't want to loose power in them. Tube amps should be phased out, as modeling amps are now so good you simply cant tell the difference anymore. My Vampire LX 112 sounds better than my old Marshall head (which went up to '11' by the way), and 4 x12.

[@wesmatron]

ppps running the wrong speakers on an amp can cause it to overheat so severely it causes a fire....so this is pretty seriously useful help here :)

[@oliverbauer6304]

I have a Tonetubby Cabinet(2x12) with 1 8ohm input and another input for stereo use. My Hiwatt can be switched to 4,8,16 ohms. if i wanna run the cab stereo with lets say a micro terror(8ohm), how do I set the Ohm-selector on the Hiwatt? Awesome channel, you bring a lot of info and clarity to the people, thanks for that

[@therealrobstark2916]

No way I found you again! I used to watch your videos when I was in Highschool I forgot the name of your channel after all that time! Having trouble running my boogie into a 16 ohm cab. The manual says it should work through the 8 ohm Jack as a safe miss match but I’m getting no signal

[@brandonhupp464]

Always educational. . I have one question if you had to pick a Brand new guitar amp what would you pick?

[@PompeyMatt17]

Why have I just thought of Eugene from The Walking Dead.... great vid and good advice.... that is affirmative

[@tritowns]

my understanding is solid state amps are easier to match cabs to... because of impedence differences tube amps have to be matched to speakers or you can have some drive tube problems... I always liked how my digitec processor sounded through my garnet minibass tube amp... funny how our ears work... again, lots of very useful info... really enjoy your vids... i watch them at work.

[@groovydjs]

Many thanks my friend! The info on this video is 100% the same for tube amps as well. Bass, guitar amps, PA systems, the whole 9 yards. So, feel VERY safe to apply it to ALL amplifiers. Cheers.

[@sam_klotz]

hey question for anyone who knows. I have an old peavey bandit 112 combo and a peavey 2x12 cab that i want to pair together for larger stages. Unfortunately the bandit does not have an external speaker out; how simple would it be to add one? I've used the cab with my bass combo (8 ohm 100w ext spk) for a few big shows, and it's sounded awesome. is this an easy and cheap DIY project?

[@hocman1952]

I just listened to this post, and i know NOTHING about oms/watts,ect but i have an old "40 plus years" CRATE G10Xl amp 1 8" speaker, with a Max of 30 watts, and an OLM rating of 3.2... you said here that they NEVER go below a 4.0 rating, so now i don't know if i can safely hook up another amp to this one or not.

[@jspop9633]

Thanks man - awesomely done

[@wesmatron]

May I suggest an alternative to Watts could be 'Decibels' and maybe Signal to Noise ratio? That should indicate not just how loud it is but whether is't good-quality loud?

[@johnmcclinton9124]

I like the way all this was explained So people without knowkedge of electronics get some basics. There are reasons why wattage of tube amps is lower than solid state wattage. Watts is measured by voltage times current. Tube amps run on very high voltage (over 500 volts) and very little currant. Solid state amps operate at at lower voltages (like 24-48) and higher amps (current). All this gets changed on tube amps going thru the output transformers. Another factor is tube amps reach near peak power they dont break up with that nasty sounding distortion, but they just kind of stop or compress. So a lit of peaks or spikes in the the sound hit a ceiling. They do distort when the ceiling is reached. Buts its an even order harmonic distortion that isnt so painful, and actually is kind of pleasing. Some solid state amps (those using BI-FET transistor circuits) act similar to tubes. In todays world, digital electronics can reproduce tube sounds so well its hard or even impossible to tell the differece. In the digital world, your amp hasnt hit its overload threshold , but the digital process has recreated that tube overdrive sound. I have a small tube amp that the preamp and piwer amp are 100% tubes, but in the middle is a digital proceessor that blows me away. With the turn of a knob I go from a marshall tube amp with closed cabinets to a fender open back twin reverb. This new digital age is amazing. And yes, when emulating a marshal in overdrvive, and then pushing my amp into saturation too, the sound is so lush and fat it nearly gives me goosebumps. I run this into the board direct.

[@silasfatchett5693]

Inside a tube amp the signal is high voltage but low current. The output transformer converts this to low voltage high current, which is what you get from a solid state amp. To get 25W from an 8 ohm speaker requires 14.14V at 1.77A from a tube or solid state amp.

[@AnyTechReviews]

Yup, it is. Thanks for your help!

[@sulutkin]

Thank you so much Scott, this opened my eyes and ears too. I' m so sorry that I couldn't understand every word of this or how on earth can those 8ohms comes back as a 4ohms because I´m Finnish and I don't understand electricity so much about those not even basics. And same thing with that PA-system when your amp is 8 ohms and you bring them to PA by 4 ohms, you get more power. There´s beeen so much misleading information about watts and peak power that doesn't mean a thing on continuing playing. It looks good if you have 800watts but actually you might have 100 or 200 watts maximum, right? It´s just the power that your amp takes from your house electricity line? Same thing with vacuum cleaners, they might have 1200watts but actual suction power is about 100watts and here they are not allowed to advertise with those arguments.

[@groovydjs]

Hi my friend. Yes, you are correct. I want ALL PEOPLE who REALLY want to understand this to be able to. So, yes...many companies are advertising the PEAK watts (it's a horrible thing to do to people). The RMS power rating is the one and only power rating to go by. You understand it perfectly! You'll also see that people (who simply don't know any better) will advertise used gear as the wattage being what it says next to the power cord. So, a 100 watt RMS little PA head.....they will advertise it as 480 watts because that's how much power it draws from the electrical outlet on the wall. lol But, that's listed on the back.....so, they print it because they simply don't know where to find the correct answer. Feel free to ask questions at any time and I'll do my best to help you out. Cheers, Scott

[@elfhermie]

Thanks again, Scott! I know you're a KISS fan like me, so in case you haven't heard it yet, you can hear a new song on youtube from their upcoming album by typing in: KISS - Hell or Halleluja [Single] 2012 LYCRIS. I personally think it rocks! Have a good one!

[@wesmatron]

Superb info as usual, Scott. I vote the title of this vid should be: "Show me the way to go Ohm" ;)

[@Lord_Danicus]

Very helpful video. Thanks

[@Themarksound]

You called out that 800 watt trickster hype!! Good going! You also Schooled up some peeps me for one with the amp fluctuating when the ohms drop way to go that's what people need to know is how shit works!! A+ KEEP ON TRUCKIN!

[@Witig]

Outstanding Scott. Thanx

[@TheGreatWhite20XX]

Me and my dad were working on a Marshall 1974, 18 watt tube amplifier and the tubes were running at 24 watts at low volume. We simply put a larger resister into the circuit and fixed the problem. If we left the amp like it was, the tubes would probably burn out in few months. In the state its in now, the tubes should last practically forever. I'm just trying to say that if you think tubes just arent reliable, its just because amplifiers are designed by corporations to fuck the consumer over and make more money. Tubes rule, solid state drools lol. jk, solid state rocks too and your videos are bad ass. Just my TWO CENTS. PS... to anyone reading, your tubes should feel slightly hotter than room temperature if your hand is 2 inches away. Anymore, than call your local electrical engineer lol.

[@groovydjs]

You are actually dead on correct. All manufacturers build gear to fail. No money to be made in stuff that lasts forever. lol So sad, but true. Great comment!

[@tannersmith4111]

Friend of ThaFarm3r here. I've got a JCM 2000 that I run through a 1960 vintage cab. For years I ran the 16ohm output to the 16ohm on the cab. Then one day it started blowing fuses so I now run 4ohm Out to 4ohm on the cab. However now I've noticed only my left 2 speakers are working. Any idea why this might be?

[@tannersmith4111]

Nevermind I figured it out. Shitty plastic switch was shorted out. Idk if I can get a new one but I don't really need to switch it anyway. Thanks.

[@superman1478]

Very informative. Thanks for the video.

[@Koryuhoka]

Someone may have asked before and I'm too lazy to look... but what is your opinion on hybrid amps? I am considering this option and they have a VOX VT120 in a local pawnshop for $200. I would buy a small 15 or 20 watt tube amp head too, for variety. Just bought a MIM Strat.. just starting - old fart here. I know about guitars because I'm a percussionist who's played with many Latin Rock groups - most my friends and my son are guitarists. So I'm familiar.

[@wade4025]

wattage = V x A, If the volume placement is before the preamp it will cause distortion or what I call gain. If the volume is placed after the preamp (master volume) it should only increase the decibel of the preamp without distortion until the speaker starts to break up.

[@michaelornelas1897]

Hey Scott! Just watched your whole vid. You're our down-to-earth kind of guy, thanks for your own personal insight! I just picked up my amp, the Fender MH-500 and found it's spec PDF online (you're right, this stuff is so easily accessible these days.) At the end of your video you were talking about the RMS rating. Mine reads: 500w + RMS into 2 OHMS @ 1%thd 400w + RMS into 4 OHMS @ 5%thd I know it's differentiating between if I'm using two speakers or not. There's a little switch on the back that you hit to tell the head whether it's running into 2 or 1 4x12 cabinet. Long story short, I heard you say they don't make speakers at 2 OHMS and I read 2 OHMS in my manual. I was just curious, wanted to pick your brain and hear your thoughts? Thanks again for your videos, they're great.