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SurfGuitar101 Forums » Gear »

Permalink How Many Watts?

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Just curious as to what size amps you guys are usin'. I normally play in a hard rock/metal band and volumes can get kinda high even without meaning them to.
For surf and such it seems like overall, the level are lower if only because the amps are set much cleaner.
I ask cuz I was thinking of picking up a Bugera v5. I like the sound quite a but and it actually gets quite loud for 5 watts.

Whatcha think?

5 Watts is OK for bedroom practice, but there's not much clean headroom there. If you're wanting a gigging amp to play Surf, 30 watts is about the minimum.

Depends on the brand/model as well. Fender tends to be louder than some of its counterparts.

misterkarlov
For surf and such it seems like overall, the level are lower if only because the amps are set much cleaner.

You've never seen Dick Dale or The Madeira? Smile

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Brian

misterkarlov
For surf and such it seems like overall, the level are lower if only because the amps are set much cleaner.

You've never seen Dick Dale or The Madeira? Smile

Seen Dick Dale and his amp volume was insignificant compared to the audio pummelling we got from the house PA system...

That's one night I really wish I'd had my SPL meter with me...:D

Mel

Mel

Well, depends on your band and how dynamically they're able to perform.

Generally 15-30 watts is a plenty, but not all amps are created the same. Over the years I've personally tended to go down in output wattage. I sold a Fender Vibro King not too long ago because it got to where I hardly used it anymore. I'd rather run a lower-wattage amp wide open than a higher-wattage amp on 3.

Most tube amps sound best nearly dimed to my ears (ymmv).

I'd say a DRRI or the like should suffice for most venues. Perhaps run it through a 1x15 cab for a bigger sound? I like a big sound opposed to loud / high volume. Many patrons do to Wink

topsail
I'd say a DRRI or the like should suffice for most venues.

DRRI?

cband

topsail
I'd say a DRRI or the like should suffice for most venues.

DRRI?

Deluxe Reverb Reissue.

http://www.fender.com/products/search.php?partno=0217400000

Mike
http://www.youtube.com/morphballio

I'm running a Pro Reverb - 40 watts - and love it. Most of our venues I only crack 3 or 4 on the volume, but it's nice to be able to keep it clean and loud when I want to.

The 22 watts of the DRRI Topsail mentions is a nice range, as long as you're not running really hot pickups and can keep the amp from overdriving. But for the price of a DR, you could grab a Pro or Super and know you have the headroom on tap when you need it.

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Yeah, I run a Super Reverb and people are always telling me how loud it is, so I figure I'm doing something right.
Laughing

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Let me add my voice to those suggesting a DRRI. Unless you are playing large venues the DRRI should do the trick. I use my
Twin in those instances.

The artist formerly known as: Synchro

When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.

I guess I carry the flag for volume, so let me just say something here - unless you play really easy-going, soft type of surf music, you're going to have to crank a DR pretty high up in order to be even heard over a drummer, and it'll make the tone pretty distorted. Yeah, a bit of overdrive is good, but this isn't blues music. People get higher-wattage amps in order to have the clean headroom. I would say 40W is the minimum for playing with a surf band that plays with any kind of energy. As soon as you start playing with speed and gusto, the drummer will start hitting harder, and the guitarist will have to play louder.

For my purposes, unfortunately, even a 40W amp won't do the trick. Believe me, I've tried! We play very high-energy stuff, and in order to be heard (or at least to be able to hear MYSELF - closed-back cabs are louder 20 feet in front of them than 5 feet in front of them, unfortunately) over our drummer, I need an 85-100W amp.

But I have to say also that cranking a DR will give you a VERY different sound than cranking a Showman! It's not just the volume, it's the sound quality. the Showman gives you a clean and tight bass response, even at high volume, which a DR or even a Pro Reverb or Super Reverb, etc. can't touch. Those amps will have a good sound, but for the ultimate surf music experience, nothing beats standing in front a Dual Showman (or in my case the amazing Gomez Surfer) cranked to at least 6, and feeling its power reverberate throughout every part of your body. Good luck to your ears, though. Twisted Evil

Ivan
Lords of Atlantis on Facebook
The Madeira Official Website
The Madeira on Facebook
The Blair-Pongracic Band on Facebook
The Space Cossacks on Facebook
The Madeira Channel on YouTube

IvanP
nothing beats standing in front a Dual Showman (or in my case the amazing Gomez Surfer) cranked to at least 6, and feeling its power reverberate throughout every part of your body. Good luck to your ears, though. Twisted Evil

Speak up sonny! Why is it that everyone mumbles these days? Smile

The artist formerly known as: Synchro

When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.

synchro

IvanP
nothing beats standing in front a Dual Showman (or in my case the amazing Gomez Surfer) cranked to at least 6, and feeling its power reverberate throughout every part of your body. Good luck to your ears, though. Twisted Evil

Speak up sonny! Why is it that everyone mumbles these days? Smile

WHAT? Laughing

Hey, if the old man (DD, that is) is still at it at 70, and he doesn't seem to be deaf yet, I guess it can't be that bad! And look at Lemmy! Well, not literally, no need for that :), just think about the fact that at 65 HE is STILL not deaf!

Ivan
Lords of Atlantis on Facebook
The Madeira Official Website
The Madeira on Facebook
The Blair-Pongracic Band on Facebook
The Space Cossacks on Facebook
The Madeira Channel on YouTube

I use a 50 watt Bassman, and it works great for indoor gigs at about 5-6-7 on the volume...

but outdoors, with a cranking band, I'd go for the 85-100 watt Showman rig...

or two Bassman rigs run in parallel mode...you know add a Y-splitter box and run one amp super-treb on the bright channel and one more middle/bass on the deep channel...

IvanP
Hey, if the old man (DD, that is) is still at it at 70, and he doesn't seem to be deaf yet, I guess it can't be that bad! And look at Lemmy! Well, not literally, no need for that :), just think about the fact that at 65 HE is STILL not deaf!

Ah, but Lemmy's a bass player. Loud bass doesn't mess with your hearing; just with your vital organs Smile

Los Fantasticos

I'm not so sure lemmys not deaf... when hes asked questions he just mumbles answers.. i dont think he hears them:)

I wanna play just like him when i grow up...

I use 40 W - the modern version of Fender Vibrolux Reverb.

Volume has a lot to do with speaker sensibility too.

It's go-go, not cry-cry.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9C-ojWHp1ek

When I first started playing surf I used a 15 watt Savage (with a Vintage 30 speaker), and in practice I could dial in some good clean tones (we practice at about 85 decibals indoors, something I've measured out of concern for my hearing). Our first gig was an outdoor even and, in that venue with higher volume, those clean tones disappeared and turned into some amazing overdriven sounds - cool, but not what I expected or wanted for this style of music. Shortly after that I bought a Twin and have appreciated the clean tones at subsequent outdoor events.

Sonic Screwdriver
http://www.sonicscrewdriverband.com

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