Do we have different perceptions of loud compared to Americans?

shaunm

I have been looking at some reviews of amps and on TGP, the Marshall forum and some others I keep coming across the statement "it's only 50 watts turn it right up" (in relation to the 2204 JCM 800). 

Am I a little soft because tonight when I was practicing with my band I had the amp on 2/3 and it was loud, really loud. Surely the majority of players don't get to turn a 50 watt amp up full? 

newi123

Ah - TGP......................

Modulus_Amps

Depends on the speaker cab you are playing into, 50w into a greenback loaded cab is not that* loud, into a vintage 30 loaded cab and it is a bit more brutal.

*Still loud enough to piss the pundits off though

Saying that allot of gig venues here can't cope with a 15w amp cranked up.

I find the more often you play loud the less loud it seems.... that is also called hearing loss

FelineGuitars

 Maybe some of them have much bigger rooms or rehearsal spaces so the SPLs aren't as high.
Also beyond a certain point the amp won't really get louder but it will get more saturated and clip differently in the power section.

shaunm

Even so, it is really very loud by the time it will get to that point. I can't believe that there are sound men that let you get away with turning all the way up. I must have played 1000's of gigs and have never been able to run a 100 watt amp or 50 watt amp up full.

digitalscream

Sorry, couldn't resist.

thermionic

shaunm said:

I have been looking at some reviews of amps and on TGP, the Marshall forum and some others I keep coming across the statement "it's only 50 watts turn it right up" (in relation to the 2204 JCM 800). 

Have you seen the size of some of these American churches?

shaunm

thermionic said:

shaunm said:

I have been looking at some reviews of amps and on TGP, the Marshall forum and some others I keep coming across the statement "it's only 50 watts turn it right up" (in relation to the 2204 JCM 800). 

Have you seen the size of some of these American churches?

They can't all be playing in those things surely? 

Ive seen a couple say that a 1959 slp "isn't that loud" compared to what? An earthquake? Which church would be ok with you running a plexi at full tilt?

professorben

shaunm said:

thermionic said:

shaunm said:

I have been looking at some reviews of amps and on TGP, the Marshall forum and some others I keep coming across the statement "it's only 50 watts turn it right up" (in relation to the 2204 JCM 800). 

Have you seen the size of some of these American churches?

They can't all be playing in those things surely? 

Ive seen a couple say that a 1959 slp "isn't that loud" compared to what? An earthquake? Which church would be ok with you running a plexi at full tilt?

I think their definition of church is unlike anything we have seen over here. 

professorben

Obviously the average American is somewhat more 'acoustically absorbant' than their European counterpart. 

shaunm

professorben said:

Obviously the average American is somewhat more 'acoustically absorbant' than their European counterpart. 

Must be haha. 

Yes they have big churches. Jimi used an SLP at Woodstock, just how big are these churches?

shaunm

Actually that's a bad example as CSNY used acoustics.

professorben

I think the big rooms, timber framed plasterboard buildings carpets etc. 
A far cry from the stone echo chambers of our churches.

but realistically a 25w amp at full tilt is not hugely quieter than a 50w or a 100w for that matter, I think those guys are running clean with pedals for drive, rather than cranking the amp for drive. 

Obviously that's a gross generalisation.

Jesus must make it quieter.  

Moe_Zambeek

There are probably just as many on TGP who find 5-15 watts too loud. 

shaunm

Moe_Zambeek said:

There are probably just as many on TGP who find 5-15 watts too loud. 

No doubt, it's just strange as we don't seem to ever discuss the fact someone has just played a gig with their amps up full. It seems to be much more common place on American tinged forums where it's discussed that they have had their amp "dimed"

Moe_Zambeek

I believe there are sub genres where that is normal - stoner / doom / punk / garage, same in the uk but on a limited scale. Plus they still have the odd 200 + cap hard rock pub/ venue over there. 

Moe_Zambeek

I also once did a (miced) gig with a 100 watt Matamp and it wasn't loud enough, in the uk, at Tramway in Glasgow. Big room (practically empty too, alas!), 1x12 cab, not enough air moving...

Gassage

It is very obvious.

Our mains electric is 240v.
Theirs is 110v.

So our therefore our amps sound 2.2 times louder when on the same settings.

Why others can't see this is beyond me.

sgosden

my neighbours have a different perception of loud to me

EricTheWeary

Ooh, you need to be pretty loud to put on your cargo shorts and play Mustang Sally at the annual church jamboree and picnic.

professorben

shaunm said:

Moe_Zambeek said:

There are probably just as many on TGP who find 5-15 watts too loud. 

No doubt, it's just strange as we don't seem to ever discuss the fact someone has just played a gig with their amps up full. It seems to be much more common place on American tinged forums where it's discussed that they have had their amp "dimed"

Doing  bit of research I've discovered a Dime is 1/10 of a dollar, I therefore assume running your amp dimed means it's at 10% if it's capacity.