GuitarBizarre

Wattage is not the same as volume.

Sensitivity of the speaker cone makes the difference.

Dr_Rez

Check this link out.
Class-A Amplifiers explained

No but it is a good gauge of how loud the amp will "sound" to you. While it may barely be louder 100 vs 15 watts yours ears will hear the extra frequencies being pushed through giving it a fuller sound tricking your ears into thinking its actually louder.

That is why bands with lower mids/bass heavy music use such high wattage amps. (besides just looking cool) While using a miced/unmiced 30 or even 50 watter you will get just as loud but wont have nearly the same full sound when the lower notes are being played. Now this is assuming of coarse all the amps have the same speaker rating and speaker size.

__________________
*Best chance of losing virginity is in prison crew*
*Always Checks Credentials Crew*
*nba > nfl crew*
*Shave one of my legs to pretend its a girl in my bed crew*

GuitarBizarre

Thats bull****. Wattage only, 100% ONLY affects the amount of clean headroom you have before your amplifier starts to distort. Your frequency response will be exactly the same as long as you're matching up the cabinets correctly.

Metal bands use high wattage heads becase

1 - They don't know any better
2 - They're usually driving a 4x12 cab. THAT is where your extra bass and tonal range is coming from, the 4x12 cab.

And you can drive a 4x12 cab with lots of low wattage heads. There's people out there driving 4x12 cabs with 15 watt class 5 marshalls.

rnrloser_IX

Yeah. If I'm not mistaken, I read somewhere that to double the total decibels output of an amp, you need something in the ballpark of quadruple the wattage. Like I said, if you're amp can put you to par with your drummer and everyone else, than thats as loud as you need. Then, instead of sinking your money into getting the "loudest amp," try and put it toward sound quality.

Hey GB, I have a Valveking 212 and I like it an all, but there are a few tonal things that I'm not overly satisfied with. For some reason, at distance my amp gains a lot of highs and the lows start to choke out a bit. I've noticed this with my friends amp too. Also, the sound is very linear,not so much expansive. Is this just an anomaly with guitar amps or is this my amp? If it is, then is there a way I could fix that? I've played with the tones until I've gotten good balance and cut, but that trend is always there.

__________________
-IX

Dr_Rez

Again while the loudness is not really the issue when people get high attage stacks and such, it is the amount of frequencies needed. A small amp can not push enough air to get those mammoth bass/mid heavy tones some bands need. If you go in a room and put the nicest most expensive low wattage combo next to a Jcm 800 or other 100 watter of similar quality you will quickly hear the tonal diffidence. The JCm will appear louder because of the fuller sound. (keep in mind also they would both be running into the same cab.

Smaller amps let you carry them around easily, overdrive much sooner, and many other great qualities but for live playing and recording the bigger amps will always be preferred for any bass/mid intensive music.

__________________
*Best chance of losing virginity is in prison crew*
*Always Checks Credentials Crew*
*nba > nfl crew*
*Shave one of my legs to pretend its a girl in my bed crew*