Re: 40 watts or two 20 watts?
- From: Squier <squier@xxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 28 May 2009 15:54:10 -0400
Renli <oliver.richman@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
If I discover my 20 watt amp is not loud enough for band practice or a
gig, what would the best solution be - trade in for a 40 watt version
of the exact same amp (say, a quad statesman vs. a dual statesman) or
pick up a second 20 watt amp of the exact same make and model?
I have a Fender Deluxe Reverb (22 watts) and it's a 1x12 open back combo.
I also have a more powerful Fender Prosonic head and 2x12 cab (8 ohm cab).
But here's what I do a lot -- I take the Deluxe Reverb to practice and
just bring a small pedal board and guitar. In a small to medium sized place the
cranked up Deluxe Reverb is plenty loud enough. In fact it can be too loud
sometimes and I have to turn it down. However in just about all the
places we play out (except for some private parties and some other venues)
there is a PA system/board/monitors and so the amp gets mic'd up anyways.
But the 22 watt Fender DR is more than enough for stage volume and serves
as my monitor. It doesn't have direct out to board but is easily mic'd up.
Anyways, 22 watts is really loud when cranked and since it's an open back
the sound swirls around all over the place so it's not directional like
a closed back cab would be,
When I need more 'punch' I just unhook the internal speaker and
plug in my 2x12 semi-open back cab (it is 3/4 closed with a slat
at the top that's open). It makes a big difference with 22 watts
playing through a 2x12. Lots bigger sound and push and punch.
It makes an already loud 22 watts a really loud 22 watts. With the 2x12 cab
I can easily keep up with louder drummers in small venues and like I said
it provides more than enough stage volume and the amp usually gets mic'd anyways.
Even if it doesn't get mic'd up it's still a lot of volume cranked up.
Here's the thing though -- 22 watts at rockin out volumes even with a 2x12
is not going to get you a lot of big clean headroom. But that's ok with me
since I like it cranked up and getting those tubes to start creaming out.
If you are looking for lots of squeaky clean headroom then 20 watts
is not going to be quite enough for larger places (sure you can mic
up the amp using it at lower clean volume but then it won't be loud enough
on its own for stage volume/your own monitor) So then it has to get patched
into a board and a separate monitor used.. ugh.. forget it. I like my
own amp to be my own monitor. Go ahead an mic it up for PA but I want
my amp to be heard on stage.
The beauty of 20 watt amps is that you get to really get the tubes cooking.
My Prosonic has various wattage settings and at 60 watts (dual 6L6 amp)
and going through a 2x12 it can be way too loud in small places when
it is cranked up. It's just too much amp for many styles -- but it will
get me a lot more clean headroom than the Deluxe Reverb. So if our songs
are mostly clean to slight grind rhythms then I use the Prosonic.
And if I'm playing with the heavier rock band then I use the Prosonic
because it just has a different sound than the Deluxe Reverb on the drive channel.
I would suggest you do NOT get the same amp. Keep the H&K Statesman.
If you like the tones then it's a keeper. In most working situations
all you'll need to have is a nice 1x12 and a nice separate 2x12 cab to
plug into when wanted or needed. That amp will cover a lot of situations
that way. Never get rid of an amp that has great tones you like.
It should be able to get you enough stage volume and then they can just mic
it out to PA if they want to.
So if I was you -- keep the amp. It's a keeper! You like it!
Now just get yourself a nice convertible back 2x12 speaker cab.
(Or some cab that lets you either close it up or take off a slat(s)
so you have the option of closed or semi-open or full open back cab)
You're all set to go.
And the human ear perceives 'distortion' as additional volume
so measurements alone really do not translate into what is actually
perceived. Example - you play squeaky clean at 106 db's and then
someone else plays through a raunchy overdriven amp at 103 db's.
The listener is going to say the distorted tones sound louder. Every time.
Don't worry about the quantitative measurements. Go with what your
ear likes to hear. All that matters.
And the speakers you choose for the additional 2x12 cab. Obviously
make sure you have the right ohm ratings for the speakers so that
the parallel or serial wiring of 2 speakers is what the H&K amp wants to see.
And don't worry about 'efficiency' ratings of the speakers.
Just pick what your ears like to hear. If the speakers you like
are rated at 96 db/1 watt then that's fine. You don't always need
to get some crazy efficient 100 db/1watt speakers. It's all about
the tone - not about the numbers.
The only difference between using a similar 40 watt amp versus
a 20 watt amp is clean headroom. Total loudness will hardly
be any different. The real thing is putting that amp through
a nice 2x12 cab rather than a 1x12. That is what is going to
make a really big difference in bigger sound and volume.
You'll find having a 1x12 rig (head/cab or 1x12 combo)
and having a 2x12 cab to plug into makes for a nice little
set of gear that should be able to handle most anything for you.
From basement practice to playing out.
that's my 2 cents of opinion.
.
Essentially, are two 20 watt amps louder than a 40 watt amp of the
exact same make and model? I suspect so, but would like opinions. And
Tony I am talking to you because I have the same amp you do. I'll look
up your old posts but - ever gig with it?
Given that a 20 watt amp is 76% as loud as a 50 watt amp*, I imagine
two 20 watt amps (say, with a stereo delay pedal) would be 152% as
loud as a 50 watt.
What is the difference (apart from having 1 amp or 2 amps) in trading
up for a 40 watt version of the same amp versus just adding a second
20 watt?
-
*http://www.amptone.com/g112.htm, of course.. and all the posts on
here linking to it
- References:
- 40 watts or two 20 watts?
- From: Renli
- 40 watts or two 20 watts?
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