What you look for in a club amp...

[skunkyfunk]

So when we play gigs, we normally want killer amps.  But that can only happen if Exile is the sound system provider.  (And in some cases, even their tube amps get busted.  Tolits has a plethora of them for servicing.)

So what amps do you prefer in a club/bar gig?  Of course, assuming the club cannot afford maintaining a tube amp, what amp model/s would you prefer?

I see that most clubs have a Transtube Bandit.  Anything else you would prefer?  What Fender amps do you like to hook your effects chain to?  I sold my SS Fender Stage 185 a couple of years back and it had a very tube-like feel.  Diba ser tolits?

[stratman1]

Dito depende sa promoter. Most of the time kanya kanyang amp nalang dahil usually particular ang mga musikero dito. Problema lang yong buhatan.

[markflo]

the peavey bandit is a good choice

also, fender stage 100

[jack in a vox]

this is a difficult situation in the philippines i think.. not all venues can provide a great set-up, and not all musicians can bring their own set-up.

IMO, a good SS amp should do, they are very reliable.. right on top of my list would be the peavey bandit II, never lets me down, i have complete trust in it.

the porblem i see is, when you're in practice and you have your own rig going.. its difficult to translate that to a venue with a different setup.. unless swerte na pareho yung amps nyo.. or if you can bring your own amp.

so my vote for the peavey bandit II.

[tolits]

I literally look for the club amp, minsan wala e.

[skunkyfunk]

I literally look for the club amp, minsan wala e.

Gweilos Palanca?  Freedom Bar?  Hehehe...

[sonnyrayvaughn]

Peavey Bandit lang ok na...
o kaya reasonable PA system tsaka DI box pwede na rin.

[abyssinianson]

i always bring my own. in gigging, i've never heard of a promoter providing gear. usually musicians bring and setup their own gear.

[skunkyfunk]

i always bring my own. in gigging, i've never heard of a promoter providing gear. usually musicians bring and setup their own gear.

Not here man.  One time there was this huge music event here, and there was a multitude of artists in the lineup who had about 15mins each INCLUDING SET-UP TIME.  So what happened?  Some folks who brought their own amps were NOT allowed to set them up onstage because it would take them longer to get them performing.  Great...  

[vaisteen2003]

after ko ma experience laney sa 6UG un palagi gusto ko pero a decent amp with a decent clean sound will do. basta kapag nag dis na hindi sumasabog ung bass fewq

[abyssinianson]

i always bring my own. in gigging, i've never heard of a promoter providing gear. usually musicians bring and setup their own gear.

Not here man.  One time there was this huge music event here, and there was a multitude of artists in the lineup who had about 15mins each INCLUDING SET-UP TIME.  So what happened?  Some folks who brought their own amps were NOT allowed to set them up onstage because it would take them longer to get them performing.  Great...  

Wow. Different pala...even festivals here require bands to setup in 10-15 minutes afterwards. Usually, bands up next setup in advance behind the band currently playing to cut down on setup time and maximize sound check time.

[sonnyrayvaughn]

i always bring my own. in gigging, i've never heard of a promoter providing gear. usually musicians bring and setup their own gear.

Not here man.  One time there was this huge music event here, and there was a multitude of artists in the lineup who had about 15mins each INCLUDING SET-UP TIME.  So what happened?  Some folks who brought their own amps were NOT allowed to set them up onstage because it would take them longer to get them performing.  Great...  

Wow. Different pala...even festivals here require bands to setup in 10-15 minutes afterwards. Usually, bands up next setup in advance behind the band currently playing to cut down on setup time and maximize sound check time.

dito bring your own din..swerte nga kung me PA system yung club kaya pati PA system baon namin...

[jack in a vox]

depends on where we play.. but yes usually dala ko amp ko.. minsan yung bassist dala sya ng bass amp nya, sometimes direct sya sa PA.
the drummer brings his cymbals.. we only do this if we're playing in a gig with more than one band..

but if its just us.. we bring everything..

[pallas]

the peavey bandit is a good choice

also, fender stage 100

i used fender100s when i was playing at church, i used to have a shredmaster back then and i felt guilty playing on stage . But it sounded sweet and holy to me

[deltaslim]

i always bring my own. in gigging, i've never heard of a promoter providing gear. usually musicians bring and setup their own gear.

Not here man.  One time there was this huge music event here, and there was a multitude of artists in the lineup who had about 15mins each INCLUDING SET-UP TIME.  So what happened?  Some folks who brought their own amps were NOT allowed to set them up onstage because it would take them longer to get them performing.  Great...  

+1 sa UP fairs back in the day ganyan na e....  Another reason why the practicalities of a regular gig in manila is far removed from the ideal situation for ultimate tonal bliss, both of which we enjoy for their own merits but we know are not the same thing.

if they happen to have a bandit or marshall transtube, happy na ako dun because it can be a LOT worse. otoh, i've used many tube fenders in-house sa club.  pero pag nagkasarapan, kahit Roto lang ang amps ok lang e.  

but due to the small size and audiences of clubs in manila, and many of them not providing good equipment, i think it's a good idea to bring your own amp na talaga if you don't know what to expect.

nice useful thread, btw.

[glassjaw_jc]

i just want a clear sounding amp. kahit di masyado malakas, kelangan lang marinig ako.

[nathanmanansala]

i prefer the newer red panel peaveys to the older blue panel ones. the old ones are pretty loud but sound like a$$. marshall valvestates are ok too. if the parking lot isnt too far from the venue and konti lang bands sa lineup i think i'd lug along my amp.

hmmmm... san ba nakakabili ng trolley?

[deltaslim]

i prefer the newer red panel peaveys to the older blue panel ones. the old ones are pretty loud but sound like a$$. marshall valvestates are ok too. if the parking lot isnt too far from the venue and konti lang bands sa lineup i think i'd lug along my amp.

hmmmm... san ba nakakabili ng trolley?

Ace hardware or if you want a pink one, National Bookstore.

[jack in a vox]

i used a plywould board.. covered it in vinyl.. put 4 heavy duty amp wheets on it.. bam!!.. amp trolley!  

[polarized06]

the best ive used so far was a marshall halfstack....the worse was the PA system...i hate it....i prefer clubs with two amps!

[nathanmanansala]

the best ive used so far was a marshall halfstack....the worse was the PA system...i hate it....i prefer clubs with two amps!

i hate when they ask you to plug into the PA system! kaya pag di ko dala yung amp ko i bring my v-amp. still doesnt sound like a real amp pero much better than going straight into the PA.

[polarized06]

i hate PA's share ko lng ha....nung tumugtog kami sa vega J cafe....isa lng amp so the other guitarist shoud plug into the pa system...samin pa nagagalit ung techie kuno.....dahil 2 kami gitarista "sakit daw kami sa ulo" "ang ingay ingay blah blah" bastusin tlga! man! sana pla di sya tumanggap ng production na puro metal bands tutugtog....usually 2 gitarista nun...he can only provide one amp and yet he's complaining about bands having 2 guitars....tapos lahat ng banda pinagsasabihan nya....sorry OT lng....hahaha  

[jeba_03]

the best ive used so far was a marshall halfstack....the worse was the PA system...i hate it....i prefer clubs with two amps!

nye, baliktad tayo.

sa akin the best kapag PA system or amp na may fx loop or preamp in or keyboard amp (basta full-range ang speakers).

pinakaayaw ko na amps marshall. lalo na yung valvestate series.

mapili kasi ang podxtl. yun ang downside niya.

[Tarkuz Toccata]

So what amps do you prefer in a club/bar gig?  Of course, assuming the club cannot afford maintaining a tube amp, what amp model/s would you prefer?

I see that most clubs have a Transtube Bandit.  Anything else you would prefer?

I think amps with at least 12" speaker are good enough for most musicians performing close to each other onstage, however, many sound technicians in Philippines don't know how to mic guitar amps properly.

They usually sling the mic cable around the amp's top handle and let a handheld cardioid mic dangle or hang upside down infront of the amp's speaker cabinet. A good way is to use a boom mic stand.

Another no-no is connecting the amp's line out to the mixer with extra-long (more than 20') unbalanced guitar cable. The right way is by using mic cable for balanced line out, and with direct box for unbalanced line out.

Another mistake is using guitar cables as speaker cables. Also, using speaker cables as guitar cables is wrong. I've seen this a hundred times done by bands and music store sales people too.

 

[Tarkuz Toccata]

i hate PA's share ko lng ha....nung tumugtog kami sa vega J cafe....isa lng amp so the other guitarist shoud plug into the pa system...samin pa nagagalit ung techie kuno.....dahil 2 kami gitarista "sakit daw kami sa ulo" "ang ingay ingay blah blah" bastusin tlga! man! sana pla di sya tumanggap ng production na puro metal bands tutugtog....usually 2 gitarista nun...he can only provide one amp and yet he's complaining about bands having 2 guitars....tapos lahat ng banda pinagsasabihan nya....sorry OT lng....hahaha  

I think bands with two guitarists should always bring an extra amp. Opinyon lang ito ha...