Valve 15w for gigging?

Grolschevik

Most of the venues I've played in Dublin recently have pretty good PA/sound reinforcement systems, with the guitar amps close-miked.

So do you reckon a valve 15-watter would cut it at such gigs? I haven't tried it yet, but my gut tells me it would.

I used to use a 30w head and cabs, but only one speaker would ever be miked up, and I don't need a huge on-stage sound as long as I can hear myself play (either through the monitors or the amp speakers). I never had to turn the 30 watter above 2 to achieve this.

My only concern would be my Laney VC15s 10" speaker, but surely close miking would take care of that?

So, any experience or opinion? Carrying in a 15 watt combo is a hell of a lot easier than lugging around my head and cabs...

Voodu Child

If you're playing through a PA, a 15 watt valve amp should be more than enough.

tibor

Have used a Blues Junior in a load of Dublin venues and never had it cranked more than half-way.

Beats lugging the Twin around.

Grolschevik

And I just remembered something: didn't Neil Young use a miked up Champ (or similar) for some live shows?

Voodu Child

Not just neil Young:
Dozens of big guys do the same, they might have a stage full of 4x12s, but hidden in the back is a mic'd 1x12, or an isolation cab.

Im really digging the look of the new Mesa Express 1x10. It's 25 watts and two fully separate channels, small, light(ish) and can be knocked down to 5 watts

Even though a 1x10 will never sound as good as a 1x12 (this is completely subjective, i'll even disagree with myself sometimes on that point), mic it into the PA and the average punter could'nt tell the difference. Looks really cool

Small amps are great, its just a pity most of them arent fully featured

colm_r

Did you give this a go Grolschevik?
I've been thinking of giving the same thing a go, with the same amp.
My only concern would be that I wouldn't be able to hear myself over drums.

Yakult

Fender Blues junior would be the one I might reccomend.

Saying that, we need a price range, and styles you wanna play!

I might as well give you a boutique style amp to even it out
Kock. They have some 18 watts and are super versitile!!

colm_r

R_H_C_P wrote:

Fender Blues junior would be the one I might reccomend.

Saying that, we need a price range, and styles you wanna play!

I might as well give you a boutique style amp to even it out
Kock. They have some 18 watts and are super versitile!!

I actually had a go of a few in Musician including the Blues Junior, but I liked the VC15 the best. Unfortunately I didn't have a drummer in my backpack so I was unable to see how loud I could be relative to him, which would be my main concern. I don't play anything too heavy & like to keep my amp fairly clean.

Savman

In theory, there is every reason to believe why it would work fine. The only reservation I'd have is stuff that's out of your control such as PA & monitor spec as well as getting an engineer you can trust to send you back enough of yourself in the wedge.
Remember when things get loud n dirty and the drummer starts pounding the kit on adrenalin, your fellow bandmates use their extra watts to do some audio damage, you'll be stood there with yer wee 15w combo turned up to 10.

The amp itself isn't the problem, it's the mitigating factors around you that will determine whether or not you can use such a small amp in a live band scenario, especially where you are not in control of your own sound.

For a long time I gigged using a Line 6 guitar head with no cab(!) DI'd but as I was also operating the PA I could send myself loads of volume back in the wedge so I never missed the cab. Now I'm back to the head + cab rig though, just cause it suits better.

-=al=-

15 wats is fine yup :9

^^^ and yeah i love my tsl100, its usualy on thr V.p.r setting so tis about 25 wats, but when it starts getin loud and wana be heard need a solo, switch it off and everyone can hear... bahahah, i love that amp

Yakult

colm_r wrote:

I actually had a go of a few in Musician including the Blues Junior, but I liked the VC15 the best. Unfortunately I didn't have a drummer in my backpack so I was unable to see how loud I could be relative to him, which would be my main concern. I don't play anything too heavy & like to keep my amp fairly clean.

If you wanna keep it clean, definly a Blues Junior and Pro junior. Fenders have great headroom thus suiting you! imo.

At around 4-5 the VC breaks up (Not the best headroom) but it is a beautiful amp no doubt. But if your looking for clean clean not the best for you. Unless you go 30. (Better head room)

Tho thats my opinion.

colm_r

Cheers for that R_H_C_P, I'll try give the amps another go at a louder volume.

Yakult

no probs man!

Johnny M

Or a nice vox AC15 with alnico blue speakers...mmm Voxy

colm_r

I went to try a Vox AC15 in Musicmaker but it was broken. They said it was the second one in a row they got that broke, which makes me suspicious of their reliability.