Forums > Electric Guitar > Buying this amp thingy
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Original message:126 days 18 hours 38 minutes ago
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Member: Cargen
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well i am thinking about buying this...


http://sanantonio.craigslist.org/msg/711840275.html
4 channel Amp $175

but i dont know if its what we need, I will use it as a guitar and mic amp during practice and a guitar amp during shows. Is it powerful enough for shows? or is it too weak i dont know.
My music recommendations:
Reply:126 days 18 hours 27 minutes ago
Member: Xarkzila
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It's an all purpose amp. i.e. a P.A. If you're using an emulator, like a POD, JStation or VAmp, it should be OK.

As far as if it's big enough?

No wattage is listed so I can't say. Personally, I'd go for an actual guitar amp and leave the PA functions to a PA. This amp was probably designed for the solo acoustic guitarist or keyboard player, but was certainly never meant to be used as a guitar amp, though it COULD be.

The other drawback is that buying without hearing means you could be buying something that sounds like total crap, even though the seller thinks it sounds great. His ears are not YOUR ears. This is like buying a guitar, you need to hear it first.

There is also no make or model provided in the ad. That would make me a little leary of shelling out the cash.

Just my 2 cents.
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"The music industry is a cruel and shallow money trench. A long plastic hallway where theives and pimps run free and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side..."
http://www.cleargravy.com
Reply:126 days 15 hours 59 minutes ago
Member: eds1275
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From the looks of it, it's an old 4-channel Fender Keyboard amp - the addition of a phono [record player] input tells me it's most likely from the mid 70's to mid 80's, and is probably 200 or 400 watts.
Reply:126 days 15 hours 59 minutes ago
Member: eds1275
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Also, that speaker is probably a 15", and he can't use a tape measure.
Reply:126 days 15 hours 7 minutes ago
Member: Cargen
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Well i am playing a big show in October 15,000, i mean i have a half stack for my lead, but if i use there PA and that amp as a guitar amp, will the crowd be able to hear it?
My music recommendations:
Reply:125 days 14 hours 4 minutes ago
Member: pinsone
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where are you playing for 15'000 people
My music recommendations:
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“music is not the meaning of life life is the meaning of music”-Joshuah Pinson
Reply:126 days 13 hours 40 minutes ago
Member: Xarkzila
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Once again. IT'S NOT A GUITAR AMP! If you're playing a show that large, the venue should be providing a PA system. If you'd rather they mic that than your guitar cab, get it. BUT... Be aware that even with a half-stack, they're going to mic the cab, (if they're any good at what they do,) AND will provide a vocal mic input, if not the mic itself as well.

If you're determined to send both signals through that amp, you will most likely end up with a rather muddy sound on your vocals, your guitar, or more likely BOTH.

Volume? It's not really all that related to wattage, so if you were up there all by yourself, a crowd of 15,000 would be covered in the first couple rows. The volume will dissapate quickly, this is the reason large venues provide PA. The venue will still mic that thing so they can distribute the sound evenly.

Red Rocks, for example... I've known many players who show up with a 5-20 watt amp. They're going to mic it, so everyone will hear it. Those who show up with multiple 100 watt heads, quickly realize they've done it for show. (And drive the venue sound guy nuts. If he's smart, he disconnects all but ONE cab and mics that ONE ONLY!)

You just don't need anything that's going to be fighting with the venue's PA for frequency space.
My gear recommendations:
  
"The music industry is a cruel and shallow money trench. A long plastic hallway where theives and pimps run free and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side..."
http://www.cleargravy.com
Reply:126 days 13 hours 10 minutes ago
Member: duane
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:"15,000, i mean i have a half stack for my lead, but if i use there PA and that amp as a guitar amp, will the crowd be able to hear it?"

I'm so confused.. First of all where are you playing that is 15K strong? Second, If the show is that large you had BETTER be using their PA, Third, as Xark said..IF you want that amp then buy it. You are worrying WAAAY to much on "will it be loud enough".. STOP IT !!! Hell, Neil Young uses a 18 Watt Deluxe when he plays, As does a LOT of other guys.. those 10 HUGE Marshall cabs you see.. 90% of the time they are not even loaded with Speakers.. It's ALL show. In this day and age you DON'T need big amps. P.A's have evolved to the point of making them redundant or useless.

You're starting to fall into the "if you can't be good be loud" trap.
Reply:126 days 12 hours 55 minutes ago
Member: frumsapap
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I watched TOOL play an arena set up, with Adam Jones using 2 half stacks. ONe was his Diezel, the other a Marshall, Mesa Boogie looking thing. The Mesa being the head, and the bassist had a single Bass cab, with maybe 3 speakers. You don't need much these days at all.
My music recommendations:
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Time is a death-lock of the mind, a corporeal, linear insurrection of the spirit.
Reply:126 days 10 hours 22 minutes ago
Member: eds1275
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I did sound for Ill Scarlet the other day and the bass player wanted some seriously ridiculous volume - standing next to his amp [which was turned all the way up, a tube ampeg with 8 10's], his 2 wedge monitors cranked, and the side fills CRANKED with bass. He said he couldn't hear his bass.


No freakin wonder.

Anyway, to play a show you need an amp. Any amp. If I'm playing anywhere, even someplace small, I would rather play quiet and give the sound engineer the most control possible when giving the audience the FOH mix, because that's more important than what spews from my wedge. If there's a PA, I prefer to go through it.
Reply:126 days 9 hours 39 minutes ago
Member: The Rocker
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I did a gig once, and I didnt have a bass amp at the time, I asked the bass player in the other band if I could use his amp and he agreed. when I saw it my heart sank, it was a 10 watt practice amp, and I thought WTF!!!*@?, I remeber saying to the sound man do you think you can mic it up for me, he pissed himself and said it reminds me of the spinal tap stonehenge prop. so we miced it up to the 2K rig and hay presto, massive bass sounds. Some of the situations you find yourself in?...
My music recommendations:
Does Humour Belong in Music.
Reply:126 days 5 hours 26 minutes ago
Member: pickabass
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When i look for an amp, i look for a line out, that way, you don't have to worry about micing, and you don't have to kill your tone by blasting. They can treat me like a giant microphone.
My gear recommendations:
  
Capos are for weenies
Reply:126 days 5 hours ago
Member: The Rocker
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Some amps sound crap if they dont have compensated line out, but hey some people swear by it.
My music recommendations:
Does Humour Belong in Music.
Reply:126 days 2 hours 7 minutes ago
Member: Cargen
    0  
80
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Any suggestions on what amp i should get, They are suppling the PA, and the Half stack, and the drum set there, along with all the mixers and stage equipment.

But we need two guitars for most of our songs and they only supply one amp, and my lead is using his current amp as the effects. For practice i need to sing too, so i might need two amps. So is there anyway i could do this in my budget(now 150$) cause i really need this.
My music recommendations:
Reply:125 days 20 hours 57 minutes ago
Member: pickabass
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425
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If you had read the rest of the thread, you'd realize when micing, size does not matter. Get a 15watt that sounds good, and you will be fine.
My gear recommendations:
  
Capos are for weenies
Reply:125 days 19 hours 16 minutes ago
Member: Xarkzila
    + 2  
2675
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We LOVE the Epi Valve Junior in the studio. The combo will push 115db through a 4x12 or 110db through it's own 8" speaker. It's a full tube amp with a single control... Volume. We use it all the time for recording. We love it. Clients love it. It's also not a lot to carry around. You'd be really surprised what 5 watts can do.
My gear recommendations:
  
"The music industry is a cruel and shallow money trench. A long plastic hallway where theives and pimps run free and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side..."
http://www.cleargravy.com
Reply:125 days 18 hours 56 minutes ago
Member: duane
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1066
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"They are suppling the PA, and the Half stack, and the drum set there, along with all the mixers and stage equipment.

But we need two guitars for most of our songs and they only supply one amp, "

You really need to speak with the backline company or the promoter. For a show this large (15K) just explain that you need two amps. BTW, when dealing with backlines be sure you are VERY specific about your needs. Comments like "I need two guitar amps" could very well have you ending up with exactly that.. Two Line 6 amps (or worse) and NO bass amp because you didn't specify that. It should be all spelled out in the contract rider.
Good luck.