Gen Alpha “no one uses big amps any more!”

[MarcB]

Sunn o)) amps “hold my beer”

Sunn Amplification — DoomBox

Sunn o)) Amplifiers: Home of the legendary brand

sunnamps.com

 

[Xpensive Wino]

I keep hearing about "clean stages"; meaning using pedals direct or amp sims in conjunction with in-ear monitors.

 

[MarcB]

I keep hearing about "clean stages"; meaning using pedals direct or amp sims in conjunction with in-ear monitors.

Indeed.. it’s all about amp sims and in ears.. and there was always gonna be a backlash against it at some point.. and I’m all for a damn good lashing from an amp on stage.

 

[Vics53]

Indeed.. it’s all about amp sims and in ears.. and there was always gonna be a backlash against it at some point.. and I’m all for a damn good lashing from an amp on stage.

Amp sims and in ears. Yup, that's what we use at church. Not that I couldn't use an amp, but my days of carrying an amp, cab and pedal board up the basement stairs, into the car, unload at church then back home are gone due to my back and knee's. Mind you I'm 71 with a long history of hard labor jobs. I get around okay but I know my limits.

If I did use an amp at church it would have to be under the stage and mic'd up. Which means I'd still have to go through the "moving it all" routine. Been using a Pod Go for about 3 years now and it's been a life and back saver for me. I'll admit that it took me a while to find an amp/cab combination that worked for me and that's the Twin Reverb and a 2X12 cab. Got it dialed in to where I like it and I get compliments all the time on how good it sounds.

Besides, my ears can't deal with loud stage volumes anymore. Or any loud noises for that matter.

It's amazing to think that my "amp, cab and effects" all fit in a suitcase! Unreal!

 

[MarcB]

“Horses for courses” as they say..
but you’re doing mighty fine at your age and still playing.. plus using a twin reverb and cab.. is still a heavy lug up and down stairs for sure..
I wish you and your back all the strength

 

[jb_abides]

I've never used anything larger than a 50-watt Marshall half-stack or an Ampeg VT-40.

I must be missing out...

 

[Vics53]

“Horses for courses” as they say..
but you’re doing mighty fine at your age and still playing.. plus using a twin reverb and cab.. is still a heavy lug up and down stairs for sure..
I wish you and your back all the strength

Thanks for the well wishes. I think you missread me. I'm not using an actual, physical Twin Reverb and 2X12 cab. I'm using an amp model of the Twin and the 2X12 is an IR, both of which are within the Pod Go. There's no way I could carry the actual amp and cab up the stairs and to and from. Those days are gone my friend!

 

[MarcB]

I've never used anything larger than a 50-watt Marshall half-stack or an Ampeg VT-40.

I must be missing out...

tbf I think I maxed out in the past (and currently) around 75w..

1000w is hilarious

 

[MarcB]

Thanks for the well wishes. I think you missread me. I'm not using an actual, physical Twin Reverb and 2X12 cab. I'm using an amp model of the Twin and the 2X12 is an IR, both of which are within the Pod Go. There's no way I could carry the actual amp and cab up the stairs and to and from. Those days are gone my friend!

Ah I did miss read you.. but I still wish you all the strength.. those inears must still weigh some lol

 

[jb_abides]

1000w is hilarious

WHATDIDYOUSAY?! IAMNOTALIPREADERYOUKNOW!

 

[MarcB]

WHATDIDYOUSAY?! IAMNOTALIPREADERYOUKNOW!

 

[J T]

There's more silent stage nowadays. Small amps mic'd. Some really good pedals do what those big amps do without causing deafness. Lots of folks just carry a pedal train and a guitar case. Just an observation.

 

[Bob Womack]

There's just something about that wall or jumble of amps across the backline that says "rock." My first big concert was Jim Croce, the Doobie Brothers, and Loggins and Messina on April 5th, 1973. There were two lines of amps across the stage. After Croce and before the Doobies they had the amps on standby and right in front of me was an Ampeg B-15 with its lighted plexi logo and I was enchanted. Those black boxes meant something.

A clean stage looks... empty.. boring... give me the jumble any day. Now, I've been doing modelers and silent stage (when asked) since the early 2000s so I'm not a luddite, but darn. i also can't irradiate my (professional) ears with high SPLs anymore, either. But then there is the smell of a well-seasoned tube amp: Glue, fabric, push back wire, caps, cigarette smoke,. Each brand of amp has its own bouquet.

I truly live in two worlds.

Bob

 

[jb_abides]

I see more stacks in people's amp rooms, home studios, etc. than on stage nowadays.

That's how things roll.

 

[mikeslub]

Big backline amps were needed when PA systems were underpowered and sucked. No need any more if you can mic the amp and do a good mix. I'm using two vintage Princeton Reverb lately, and when mic'd thru the PA they are perfect. That said, the big backline Marshall stacks always looked so cool!

 

[Midnight Blues]

I see more stacks in people's amp rooms, home studios, etc. than on stage nowadays.

That's how things roll.

I resemble that remark.

 

[Vics53]

Big backline amps were needed when PA systems were underpowered and sucked. No need any more if you can mic the amp and do a good mix. I'm using two vintage Princeton Reverb lately, and when mic'd thru the PA they are perfect.

If modelers like my Pod Go didn't excist, I'd probably be using something like a Princeton Reverb or something size equivalent at church. I think my back and knees could handle something like that. I've never actually played through one but I've pretty much liked the demo's I've heard on YouTube.

 

[MarcB]

The optics of an amp wall is embedded in rock culture..

 

[jb_abides]

Sometimes... things get out of hand

 

[jb_abides]

Not strictly just amps, but kinda ...