Guitar Amp Headroom

Vox AC15C1 Custom Series 15 Watt 1 x 12" Combo Guitar Amp
First introduced in 1958, the AC15 combo has been the amp of choice for countless guitar players throughout the world. Drawing on more than 50 years of amp-building expertise, the AC15C1 Custom Series offers maximum tonal dexterity. VOX Custom Series amps offer two channels: Normal and Top-Boost. Each channel is equipped with its own Volume control, and the Top Boost channel offers highly interactive Treble and Bass tone controls. This powerful channel pairing provides an abundance of tone-crafting control, letting you dial in a classic sound that is all your own. Both channels rely on the Tone Cut and Volume controls in the Master section. The Tone Cut control operates in the power stage rather than the preamp stage, allowing an additional degree of tone-shaping. The Master Volume control works in conjunction with the individual volumes of each channel to create just the right degree of gain-staging.

Price: $599.00 | Learn more

Guitar power amp question?
I'm doing some research for my next amp purchase right now. Currently I use a Jet City JCA20H (20 watt tube amp) with two 112 speaker cabinets. I play through a Boss GT-8. The amp head just doesn't have the headroom that I need, and I'm sick of having to be mic'd up because I come to a lot of gigs with morons in charge of the mixer. Since the GT-8 is a preamp, I am planning on getting the Electro-Harmonix 44 Magnum power amp: http://www.musiciansfriend.com/guitars/electro-harmonix-44-magnum-44w-guitar-power-amplifier/430882000000000 I need something loud and clean, and for cheap, and I think this is a good solution. I've read reviews, and for the price and function it's just what I need. However, I'm a bit concerned. I have two 112 (16 ohm each, safe to play at 2x8ohm) cabinets and the power amp has only one output. Is it safe for me to get a 1/4 inch signal splitter so that I can use both cabinets? What will be the ohm rating if I use the two cabinets this way? As for volume, will this be loud enough with the two 112 cabinets that I won't need to be mic'd up? I don't play with a particularly loud band. I would stick with my tube amp, but like I said it doesn't cut it for me anymore. Thanks in advance.

Depends on the cable you use to connect the cabinets. If you get a PARALLEL cable, the amp "sees" an 8 ohm load. (Wired in parallel, the load the amp sees = 1 / ((1/cab1 ohms) + (1/cab2 ohms)) = 1 / (0.0625 + 0.0625) = 1 / 0.125 = 8.) You don't want to connect them in series - that's when the load simply adds up - and I don't think there are any amps that want to deal with a 32 ohm load. :) Regarding your stage volume - if you're turning your amp up louder than you need to hear yourself play - attempting to provide all the volume the audience needs to hear you, well - that's great if you're in grade school I suppose. The RIGHT way to go about it is to have one of your cabinets mic'd through the PA and get your amp just loud enough that you can get the tone you want, can hear yourself and NOT make your bandmates or the people right in front of the band deaf. If the sound guy isn't doing his job, smack him on the head or get a different sound guy, but don't be selfish and try to work around the PA - that's neither cool nor professional.
Chip  |  Read more

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Looking for a new guitar amp?
I currently have a Line 6 Spider IV. I'ts great for practicing at low volumes but I need an upgrade. I'm a big Pink Floyd fan so I was looking at this > http://www.gilmourish.com/?page_id=36 < trying to find something around 30-50 watts. The one amp that really stands out is the Peavey Classic 30 watt combo amp. So before I buy it, could you guys think of any other amps with a lot of headroom and a vintage scooped mids tone? I'm looking for a TUBE amp for around 600 dollars. Is there anything similar to this Peavey Classic?

I know it's not a tube, but the Fender Frontman 212r is an amazing all-around amp. It's $300, loud as anything, and, even for being a solid-state, gives AMAZING tone. Seriously, demo it and see for yourself. If you like it, you've just saved 300 bucks.
David Greenburg  |  Read more

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Lookin for new guitar amp.?
right now im playing a fender Super Champ with a 2004 les paul standard, and a USA standard stratocaster. its got good enough tone, but my band is starting to play shows in bigger venues and at the volumes i need to be playing, it just hasn't got the headroom anymore. I play blues rock, think Cream, Jimi Hendrix Experience, Led Zeppelin, plus some heavier blues rock, think GNR. in an amp im looking for something that can keep a good clean tone, and have a really nice overdrive once its been pushed past breakup point. im lookin for a lot of sustain as well. so far my choices have been, Marshall Vintage Modern, Marshall 1987x ( i cant justify the volume of the 100 watt 1959slp, its just TOO loud) Vox AC30 reissue, Fender Twin Reverb, or the Fender Deluxe Reverb. all suggestions are openly welcomed (please provide the reason why youre suggesting it though) and any OTHER suggestions for makes and models are openly welcomed to! (Tube amps only please, also try and keep the price under $4000 for the amp head, ive got good enough cabinets) Thanks very much. Edit: in response to the last comment, lets say i were to go with a fender twin reverb, and stick an attenuator on it such as the Marshall Power Brake to cut wattage down to 25, im assuming it would break up earlier giving a better overdrive and sustain without overpowering my drummer, and if just outboard effects on the twin reverb, what could you recommend? ive always liked the Fuzz Face, and the ibanez tube screamer. any other overdrive pedals that suit themselves to the amp? i try and stay away from pedals generally because i find them to be too compressed, ive always loved just the natural overdrive of an amp, but itd be great to find one that achieves that sort of open, raw, sustainy tone without having my neighbours call the police. EDIT: did you not hear i said valve/tube only. not solid state, im lookin for a creamy overdrive not a harsh rasp. im playin blues here not Pantera.

The Fender Twin-Verb is what your looking for. It has the tone you need for the music you play and the volume you need for larger venues. You can mic it through your board for any size venue. The Twin has 85 watts of tube power and sounds great through a Ibanez TS-808 tube screamer. Good enough for Stevie Ray, good enough for me.
CrossTwnTraffic  |  Read more

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Choosing a guitar amp?
I'm in a big rut, alright I'm a very diverse gigging player. I play every week in a small venue, I play maybe 5 or 6 medium gigs a year and 2 or 3 large gigs per year. Now my problem is I want the Marshall Vintage Modern. For those of you who don't know what it is, you should check it out. I love the vintage tone, the playing characterstics, and the fact that your guitar's tone truly comes out. Now I'm trying to choose between a 50 watt head and a 100 watt head, I researched a lot and I found out that the 100 watt head is only slightly louder but it gives much more headroom, so I'm leaning toward the 100 watt. I'm just wondering because I play every week is it hard to move a half-stack around, even with wheels? Also is a 100 watt half-stack too much, for a small venue? I'm still open to going for the 50 watt head, but I don't think it'll make much of a difference I also have another major question but is it difficult to carry a 4x12 up a bunch of stairs?

well, as a musician myself headroom is definatly something that you cant have to much of, a 4x12 cab with casters is simple to move with 2 people, its not even that bad by yourself. you really cant go wrong with a halfstack at a small venue unless its like a coffee shop or something really small where a halfstack is unneccesarry you might as well cart around the 4x12 because if you only bring say a 2x12 cab you run a very high risk of getting lost in the mix and a direct out to a p.a. just doesnt bring out the nuances of your sound as well as your rig will. i believe it takes three times the amount of wattage to make an increase in volume audible to the human ear so 50 watts isnt going to be that much quiter than 100 watts, the only real differance is headroom if you ever want or think you might want to add another cab go with the 100 watter. edit: put a skidplate on the side of it or the bottom or whatever and it makes it alot easier to manage its easy with 2 people though, i wouldnt recommend carrying it up the stairs by yourself
TokeSomeBud  |  Read more

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