Loud enough?

[firemedic]

I've started building a bass head w/ 4-output tubes, powered by a Twin PT. I'm estimating 80-120w depending on the tubes (EL34/KT88). The OT will be a Marshall-style 100w.

But my old bass player broke my heart the other night when he told me it would be a practice amp at most.

Somebody who knows, please tell me I'm not wasting my time!

[bingy]

I would say it all depends on what kind of music you are making and where.

[SamClemons]

I played a 100 watt bassman for years and it was never, never not loud enough and we were a teenage hard rock trio. Tube watts are a lot louder than ss watts (opinion) anyway. I have know a lot of bass player gig a Ampeg B-15, it is only 30 watts. I am using a 50 watt Bassman now, plenty loud for me. Tell your bass player I said he does not know what he is talking about. Sure, if you are playing stadiums without a PA for 50,000 people, it might, might not be loud enough...

[firemedic]

My man, that's what I wanted to hear....

[Old Cane]

You are old enough to know by now that that's all old bass players are good for; breaking your heart. I worked 20 years full time with a 100 watt head and a 210 cabinet, playing 200-20,000 people. Out of work bass players just have a lot of time on their hands.

[Telesavalis]

100 tube watts will be perfect. If you need more just DI or Mic it.

[Dave W]

All depends on the situation. If you want your miked amp to be the sound source, then it depends on the venue and how loud your band is. If you don't mind going direct, and you have enough stage volume to hear yourself over the guitars, 100 watts will do you.

[firemedic]

Well for now it really is going to be just a practice amp.
But amp-building is expensive, so I want it gig-worthy for when my drummer & I have time to gig.
There is something fundamentally wrong with spending all that money & time on doing it yerself, then having to pick up a $300 SS head when your creation can't be heard over the drums.
KnowhutImean?

[losergeek]

My wife and I both use her Ampeg BA115 in 3 different bands right now and at 100 SS watts it's loud enough for all the bands. She used to use it in our 7 piece punk band and then sometimes it didn't quite cut through sometimes, but that's an extreme situation. I'm also assuming that 100 tube watts is going to be plenty and that like guitar amps, bass amps run 'louder' in tube form.

Even if it doesn't quite cut it for practice, it will probably be loud enough for shows if mic'd (don't let the soundguy DI the bass if you're putting all this effort into a nice tube amp) and also for recording.

[psychetelec]

Doesn't everyone link to the PA? I mean, that's how its done! I can't remember the last gig that I didn't. I've used a 100watt Ampeg for years, no problemo.

[TeleTim911]

Bass player is wrong, build it and show him simple as that.

[bingy]

Originally Posted by TeleTim911

Bass player is wrong, build it and show him simple as that.

Hey, come on! Some guys need to compensate.

[TeleTim911]

bingy you're right, but why cut him any slack?

[losergeek]

Originally Posted by psychetelec

Doesn't everyone link to the PA? I mean, that's how its done! I can't remember the last gig that I didn't. I've used a 100watt Ampeg for years, no problemo.

Shows are never the issue for me - practices are where things get trickier.

[Old Cane]

Originally Posted by TeleTim911

Bass player is wrong, build it and show him simple as that.

You had me at Bass player is wrong.

[bingy]

When you have been a performing musician a long time, one mans "headroom" turns into another mans industrial noise. (even at rehearsal).

If the people you are playing with need to wind-out full-tilt, at rehearsal, that, for me, would be a bigger problem than whether or not I had the Watts to keep up with them.

[bingy]

Originally Posted by Old Cane

You had me at Bass player is wrong.

Funny!

[paratus]

Depends on where you are playing and practicing. Even if you are DI'd you need to get what you need on stage, most wedge monitors will not give you any bottom.

When I was playing bass I liked SVTs and 370s, because to me, headroom is not industrial noise. That power allowed me to use less sensitive speakers that had deeper bass extension and could actually get down to 40z. That takes power, plain and simple. You are not gonna move a lot of LF air with 100 watts.

[psychetelec]

IYE.

[gypsymoth]

if I were building one, I'd get a 200 watt trannie so the 4 kt88's could do what they do best, with adjustable impedance so if the need for less power existed, two tubes could be pulled.

or a half power switch if you are clever.