DannySnyder
Joined: Mar 02, 2006
Posts: 11050
Berkeley, CA
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Posted on May 12 2007 05:57 PM
Hi all,
The Meshuggas have a gig playing the Bay to Breakers marathon again, perhaps you remember the photo from last year with the I Dream of Jeannie girls. Anyway, we need to use a generator to power our amps and gear, and are hoping the more electrically savvy amongst you can help determine our needs.
We have: 2 showmans, 1 twin reverb, 1 Bassman 100, Vox organ, small electric piano.
We've been offered a 1800 watt generator, will this do it?
Thanks,
— Danny Snyder
"With great reverb comes great responsibility" - Uncle Leo
Playing keys and guitar with Combo Tezeta
Formerly a guitarist in The TomorrowMen and Meshugga Beach Party
Latest surf project - Now That's What I Call SURF
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JakeDobner
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 12159
Seattle
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Posted on May 12 2007 07:02 PM
What is Karen playing through? I noticed in the POTD that she is using Ferenc's Vibroverb. I'd be worried about blowing out the speakers... but I don't know that much about playing keys through amps.
Generators huh? I'd worry about that. I know there was a thread a while back. I think it may have been on the Yahoo group. You may want to search that. I think Marty Tippens was the knowledgeable one.
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DannySnyder
Joined: Mar 02, 2006
Posts: 11050
Berkeley, CA
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Posted on May 12 2007 07:31 PM
Jake, Karen has played through both the VV and the TR with no problems, both amps were fitted 15" speakers I believe.
— Danny Snyder
"With great reverb comes great responsibility" - Uncle Leo
Playing keys and guitar with Combo Tezeta
Formerly a guitarist in The TomorrowMen and Meshugga Beach Party
Latest surf project - Now That's What I Call SURF
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eddiekatcher
Joined: Mar 14, 2006
Posts: 2775
Atlanta, GA
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Posted on May 12 2007 08:50 PM
Add up all the values of all the fuses in your equipment and multiply that total by 120 (volts). Your absolute minimum generator power would be the total watts you just calculated muliplied by 2. I would prefer a generator mean output of four times the maximum load as opposed to the absolute minimum (2x) Try to use the shortest- biggest wire size extension cords you can get away with. When you shower down on those big low notes you'll want the amps getting plenty of both voltage and current.......and don't play standing on the ground barefoot using a generator.......ed
— Traditional........speak softly and play through a big blonde amp. Did I mention that I still like big blonde amps?
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bigtikidude
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 25546
Anaheim(So.Cal.)U.S.A.
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Posted on May 12 2007 09:24 PM
Dave Wronski said to use some sort of Surge protector, line regulator.
no not a 15 dollar one either, I think he meant something like couple hundred dollars.
he said that Generator power is very dirty and has spikes and lulls and that can mess up tube equipment bad.
good luck,
Jeff(btd)
— Jeff(bigtikidude)
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eddiekatcher
Joined: Mar 14, 2006
Posts: 2775
Atlanta, GA
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Posted on May 12 2007 09:34 PM
I have played at several locations where they were using generators and had no problems. But these were commercial portable power units. In general, tube amps, (as in old Fender Tube amps) are not troubled by some fluctuations (sp?) in power. It certainly would not hurt to have a good surge protector along for the ride. A lot of modern amps (Mesa for one) use ziener diodes across the AC line to keep spikes from reaking havoc with the amp. A good unit could probably be rented at the local equipment rental dealer. Make sure you allow at least 2x on the mean current requirement.....ed
— Traditional........speak softly and play through a big blonde amp. Did I mention that I still like big blonde amps?
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MikeG
Joined: Mar 29, 2006
Posts: 309
Springfield, Oregon
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Posted on May 13 2007 11:46 AM
Make sure to drive a spike into the ground for the ground connection or you'll get hum.
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DannySnyder
Joined: Mar 02, 2006
Posts: 11050
Berkeley, CA
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Posted on May 13 2007 12:04 PM
Mike, is there a wire off the generator to attach to the ground rod typically?
— Danny Snyder
"With great reverb comes great responsibility" - Uncle Leo
Playing keys and guitar with Combo Tezeta
Formerly a guitarist in The TomorrowMen and Meshugga Beach Party
Latest surf project - Now That's What I Call SURF
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JakeDobner
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 12159
Seattle
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Posted on May 13 2007 01:30 PM
DannySnyder
Jake, Karen has played through both the VV and the TR with no problems, both amps were fitted 15" speakers I believe.
The 15" speaker makes me feel better for those speakers. I don't know the physics behind it but a keyboard vibrates the cone differently as a keyboard is made up of more tones.
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