40w or 20w?

[MartinC]

I'm weighing up an amp, available as either 2xEL84 or 4xEL84 combo, giving 20w or 40w respectively.

I play mostly at home, occasional jams, occasional full band rehearsal and infrequently on stage. I'm aware that I would not be able to turn my amp up anywhere near full at home. I have a 30W EL84 combo currently. So either amp will have to sound good at lower volumes, otherwise I won't buy.

My thinking at this point is the 40W given the following:

• If I do end up playing in full band scenarios in the future, I don't want to buy another amp if 20W falls short
• 40W won't, in any case, be twice as loud.
• At lower volumes I can use always use pedals if I'm not quite getting what I'm after (I know that contradicts what I said earlier a bit ... I'm not expecting to get the same grin factor at lower volumes with the amp alone, but do expect to get good tones ... with possibly some pedal OD)

A penny for your thoughts ...

[rockon1]

I always go for more headroom-clean or distorted. I'd go 40. Bob

[Greggy]

Originally Posted by rockon1

I always go for more headroom-clean or distorted. I'd go 40. Bob

Big bingo there. I always opt for additional headroom up to around 60 watts in my home studio. Anything bigger is too much for my needs. I have a hard time getting good cleans at sufficient volumes with amps under 40 watts or thereabouts. AT the same time, crunch and distortion tones are available at volumes that don't raise the roof and piss off the neighbors. For my needs, 40 to 60 watts offers the best options. YMMV.

[MartinC]

2-nil at the moment to 40w then ... anyone else?

[7String Thing]

id go 40 because 20 just wont cut it sometimes in a jam. 35-40 watts is plenty headroom for small jams and gigging in small clubs. Plus more clean headroom. And more headroom...headroom

[Dana Olsen]

Originally Posted by 7String Thing

id go 40 because 20 just wont cut it sometimes in a jam. 35-40 watts is plenty headroom for small jams and gigging in small clubs. Plus more clean headroom. And more headroom...headroom

Me too - gotta love those volume knobs. Way easier to turn down a 40w amp than find more headroom in a 20w.

Dana O.

[MartinC]

4-nil to 40w ... thanks people ...

[rreiser]

Maybe find an amp that has four EL-84s or 6V6s and is switchable to half power for home use. XITS amps has a killer 4 El-84 amp and you can use either pair separately or all 4 at one time.

[Free]

It's simple as headroom. Do you want to CRANK the output stage at most shows = 20 watt. Do you want a lot of clean headroom and be getting overdrive with OD pedals at most shows = 40 watt.

[Sniper-V]

I have a thing for amps in the 30-watt range or so.

It seems to be the perfect power rating of balance for going both clean and wanting to drive the amp. It will have decent headroom for running clean comfortably with plenty of volume for most apps, especially if mic'd. When driven, its loud, but a good manageable loud.

So, I would go 40 in your case.

Of course, this is IMO.

[jcoggins7]

I'd go 40 as well for the headroom.

[localmotion411]

I have pretty much moved completely away from the low-wattage thing after much trial and error.

After not being satisfied with my drive pedals through lower wattage amps, I bit the bullet and got a Komet Concorde (50-watts clean, at least 75-watts cranked). My drive pedals have never sounded so good. At ALL volume levels. I attribute it to the bigger iron, increased wattage, and big tubes. Just more oomph across the entire volume range. My amps will be 40-watts and up from now on.

[trey85stang]

if you want power tube saturation... 20w. IF you can live without 40w.

[JimH]

Sod it - 20W!!!

...You've heard all the reasoning, but 20 is fine for me - in fact still too loud. All I can add to the discussion is that yes it's easier to turn down a bigger amp, but that;s the rationale that created the attenuator industry. Amps have an optimum 'sweet spot'. I think it's wise to have one that you can reach regularly rather than get an amp that will sound amazing at some imaginary gig you never end up playing. I know it's nice to be ready for the call, but realistically?

....And I play gigs with 20W.

[FFTT]

40 watts with a master volume or power scaling will allow you to
drive the amp harder at lower volumes or open it up for live band situations.

The ideal is to buy an amp that allows you to change out the power tubes
from 6L6's to 6V6's, or EL34's that would give you several power ranges.

Check out the Category 5 Andrew
also the VVT Amps Fralin