Is the G-DEC loud enough for band practice?

Donovan_45 · November 5th, 2007, 10:32 AM

Hey guys,

Now that the temp is getting cooler my band has decided to start practicing in the basement instead of the garage. For the garage practice and live playing I have a 57 tweed twin reissue and a large effects board. I totally love the sounds I get out of it, however, for practicing downstairs I do not want to lug that much gear up and down stairs every week. My solution is to get a G-DEC for downstairs practice. My only concern is that the 15 watt version isn't going to be loud enough. It is just a four piece band and I think we do a good job of controlling the overall volume downstairs. Does anyone who has experience with the G-DEC think I will have any problems being "heard" in the mix with the 15 watt version, or will I have to go with the 30 watt version?

Thanks,

Corey

tele12 · November 5th, 2007, 08:54 PM

If one of those four pieces is a drum kit I can't imagine either the GDEC 15 or the GDEC 30 being loud enough to be heard,

Dacious · November 5th, 2007, 09:14 PM

I've only heard the small G-DEC. It didn't impress me as anything more than a toy amplifier or beginner tool.

If you play in a trad country or swing jazz (with violin, mandolin, acoustic) I'd say 15 solid state watts might cut if you have a doghouse bass and drummer with a skat kit (snare with brushes). Otherwise, I doubt it. If you have a drummer with sticks and electric bass, forget it. Your need 10-15 tube watts or 30 solidstate minimum. Whether even that provides inspirational tones, is another matter. What are your vocals through?

aznrambo481 · November 5th, 2007, 09:17 PM

I'd say 30 SS watts would be sufficient for many styles. just my 2 cents.

scoots · November 5th, 2007, 10:13 PM

i was looking at the 15watt for my son at a pawn shop, cool little amp with the drums and the bass but it's not going to cut the mustard jamming with anyone else. definately made for playing by yourself...

imwjl · November 6th, 2007, 09:50 AM

I briefly owned one and will point out that there are more powerful amps for even less money. It's not a bad product, but all the time spent getting decent rather clean tone was a pain and all the built in tracks were too simple not having a whole I, IV, V progression for example so just an MP3 player or computer did more for me to have good stuff to jam with.

Again not a bad product, but a premium for the output and for me too much of a pain to get tone or jam tracks I liked.

mistermullens · November 6th, 2007, 09:54 AM

I have the G-Dec Jr, and I think its for practice, not Band Practice. Have you looked a the Pro Jr? I've got one, and it is crazy loud. I got mine off eBay for $175. It hisses like an angry cobra, but I don't really notice it when I'm playing.

Vol. Knob · November 6th, 2007, 11:02 AM

Sure it is! Provided you stick a mic in front of it and run it through the PA.

In fact, I once played in a band where the vocalist/rhythm guitarist used a 9volt powered mini marshall. He stuck it in a shoebox with a mic and ran it through the PA. He actually sounded raunchy and gritty in ways that would make Malcom Young proud.

OrovilleTim · November 6th, 2007, 01:45 PM

The 15 isn't even loud enough for non-drum practice if you have another guitarist. Speaking from experience. I was sonically lost. Not so bad with the bass alone, but when the other guitarist and a Peavey amp kicked in I couldn't hear myself even with it tilted straight at me.

The 30 is also going to be a strain I bet too. But, you could always go out the line out (the headphone jack is auto-sensing somehow, doing line level output) if you have a PA system, or even mic it.

November 5th, 2007, 10:32 AM	#1 (permalink)
Donovan_45 TDPRI Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 33	Is the G-DEC loud enough for band practice? Hey guys, Now that the temp is getting cooler my band has decided to start practicing in the basement instead of the garage. For the garage practice and live playing I have a 57 tweed twin reissue and a large effects board. I totally love the sounds I get out of it, however, for practicing downstairs I do not want to lug that much gear up and down stairs every week. My solution is to get a G-DEC for downstairs practice. My only concern is that the 15 watt version isn't going to be loud enough. It is just a four piece band and I think we do a good job of controlling the overall volume downstairs. Does anyone who has experience with the G-DEC think I will have any problems being "heard" in the mix with the 15 watt version, or will I have to go with the 30 watt version? Thanks, Corey

November 5th, 2007, 09:14 PM	#3 (permalink)
Dacious Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Godzone Posts: 2,612 35 Photos	I've only heard the small G-DEC. It didn't impress me as anything more than a toy amplifier or beginner tool. If you play in a trad country or swing jazz (with violin, mandolin, acoustic) I'd say 15 solid state watts might cut if you have a doghouse bass and drummer with a skat kit (snare with brushes). Otherwise, I doubt it. If you have a drummer with sticks and electric bass, forget it. Your need 10-15 tube watts or 30 solidstate minimum. Whether even that provides inspirational tones, is another matter. What are your vocals through? __________________ My other Telecaster is a Thinline The Tele Bible, Ch 1, v 10 Love thy Telecaster, covet not thy neighbour's Strat!

November 5th, 2007, 09:17 PM	#4 (permalink)
aznrambo481 Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: La Jolla, California Age: 17 Posts: 2,840 6 Photos	I'd say 30 SS watts would be sufficient for many styles. just my 2 cents. __________________ "Never age. Never die. Live forever in that one last white-hot moment, when the crowd screamed. When every note was a heartbeat. Burn across the sky."-Terry Pratchett, Soul Music.

November 6th, 2007, 09:54 AM	#7 (permalink)
mistermullens Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Atlanta Age: 31 Posts: 2,103 51 Photos	I have the G-Dec Jr, and I think its for practice, not Band Practice. Have you looked a the Pro Jr? I've got one, and it is crazy loud. I got mine off eBay for $175. It hisses like an angry cobra, but I don't really notice it when I'm playing. __________________ When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace. - Jimi Hendrix

November 6th, 2007, 11:02 AM	#8 (permalink)
Vol. Knob Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 562 77 Photos	Sure it is! Provided you stick a mic in front of it and run it through the PA. In fact, I once played in a band where the vocalist/rhythm guitarist used a 9volt powered mini marshall. He stuck it in a shoebox with a mic and ran it through the PA. He actually sounded raunchy and gritty in ways that would make Malcom Young proud. __________________ I have a few bands: 7 Mysteries Zerababyl Inflammatory Rhetoric

November 5th, 2007, 08:54 PM	#2 (permalink)
tele12 Tele-Holic Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: NY Posts: 526	If one of those four pieces is a drum kit I can't imagine either the GDEC 15 or the GDEC 30 being loud enough to be heard,

November 5th, 2007, 10:13 PM	#5 (permalink)
scoots Tele-Meister Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: sandstone,mn Posts: 247	i was looking at the 15watt for my son at a pawn shop, cool little amp with the drums and the bass but it's not going to cut the mustard jamming with anyone else. definately made for playing by yourself...

November 6th, 2007, 09:50 AM	#6 (permalink)
imwjl Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Wisconsin, USA Posts: 1,152	I briefly owned one and will point out that there are more powerful amps for even less money. It's not a bad product, but all the time spent getting decent rather clean tone was a pain and all the built in tracks were too simple not having a whole I, IV, V progression for example so just an MP3 player or computer did more for me to have good stuff to jam with. Again not a bad product, but a premium for the output and for me too much of a pain to get tone or jam tracks I liked.

November 6th, 2007, 01:45 PM	#9 (permalink)
OrovilleTim Tele-Holic Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Lake Oroville, CA Age: 37 Posts: 554 19 Photos	The 15 isn't even loud enough for non-drum practice if you have another guitarist. Speaking from experience. I was sonically lost. Not so bad with the bass alone, but when the other guitarist and a Peavey amp kicked in I couldn't hear myself even with it tilted straight at me. The 30 is also going to be a strain I bet too. But, you could always go out the line out (the headphone jack is auto-sensing somehow, doing line level output) if you have a PA system, or even mic it. __________________ Fender Special Edition Koa Tele / Fender Deluxe Series Powerhouse Strat Fender 65 Twin Reverb / Fender Blues Junior / Marshall DSL 50 & 1960AV Acoustic: Taylor K14CE / Fender Acoustasonic DSP Junior