Guys, I really need some help...

[discofudge]

Ok, so I'm running a 100w JVM head through a marshall cab at the mo, but it's just too loud for the gigs we are doing, and I'm never getting past 3 on the volume.

Seems like a waste for me to have all that power, and not use it, so i think i'm gonna exchange it for a smaller tube amp, and some drive pedals instead.

Trouble is, outside of marshall 100w heads, I don't know a lot.

My sound is pure marshall, Hendrix, Zep, ACDC etc. I don't really use a clean channel, it's crunch and drive all the way. Tone is my main concern, as any tube amp through a cab will be loud enough.

So, I've a budget of about £1000, i need a head, crunch, drive and a solo boost. Please provide links to ideas, so I can have a browse myself.

[Copperhead]

Don't abandon your first love! Get a THD Hotplate.

[Adam.M]

Don't think of it as wasted power, think of it as more headroom?

Yeah, at a lot of gigs you aren't going to get passed 2-3 on the volume, but there will come a time when you need to and you'll be glad of it.

You're not a lone, many many people are using 100 watt heads at between 2-5. You don't want to go all the way up anyway, cause once your there it's giving all it's got to give and it's got no where else to go... if you get what I mean.

Stick with it.

[discofudge]

I hadn't even considered a hotplate.

I've had a look around and people seem to really dig them.

[hamfist]

I hadn't even considered a hotplate.

I've had a look around and people seem to really dig them.

Don't buy one until you've actually tried one out with your amp. You may be gaining nothing. The JVM actually has a very decent master volume, and should be singing very nicely at 2-5.

If you do decide to go the route of pedals, then (again) there's nothing wrong with your JVM as a loud, clean base for pedals.

Sounds like you may be getting the "itch" for something new just for the sake of it (which is not wrong in itself).

You could also try running your JVM on 50W by removing two EL34's (the two middle OR two outer ones is fine). If you do this then remember to have the impedance output of the amp at HALF of what the cab is. (ie. amp set at 8 ohms into a 16 ohm cab).  If you did this then you would be pushing the amp just a little more at gigs although to be honest, 50W is not much quieter at all tan 100W.

[tomjackson]

Get an 18 watter, set it on full, you will sound great.

Keep you JVM and cabinet for the stadium gigs :D

[Matt77]

You could get Martin W to build you exactly what you want.
Just do a search for Martamp or MJW amplification and you should see a lot of ground covered on this forum
The bands you mention are right in the middle of the tone range of the amps he builds
   
http://www.martamp.com/amps.html

[Bradock PI]

Get a low efficiency CAB or swap the speakers out to less sensitive ones, keep the others so you can always go back. Speaker efficiency = loudness for a particular amp so max volumes of :- 103 dB speakers at 10W = 97 dB speakers at 40W = 94 dB speakers at 80W

[Will]

Get a low efficiency CAB or swap the speakers out to less sensitive ones, keep the others so you can always go back. Speaker efficiency = loudness for a particular amp so max volumes of :- 103 dB speakers at 10W = 97 dB speakers at 40W = 94 dB speakers at 80W

Good suggestion. There aren't many 94db speakers about though are there?

[hamfist]

Get a low efficiency CAB or swap the speakers out to less sensitive ones, keep the others so you can always go back. Speaker efficiency = loudness for a particular amp so max volumes of :- 103 dB speakers at 10W = 97 dB speakers at 40W = 94 dB speakers at 80W

A reasonable suggestion. I recently changed from H's (100dB) to M's (97dB) and it made a very considerable differnece in my overall volume. However, the lowest efficiency, generally available, speakers out there are greenbacks (in which case you'd need at least 4 to be safe with a 100W amp). Also might not like the greenback sound.

  What other lower efficiency speaker are there out there ?

[discofudge]

Sounds like you may be getting the "itch" for something new just for the sake of it (which is not wrong in itself).

 :oops:

[Will]

Are there any low efficiency AlNiCo speakers out there? But you would then have to get something special to have the required wattage

[HTH AMPS]

Are there any low efficiency AlNiCo speakers out there? But you would then have to get something special to have the required wattage

the Eminence alnico 12s (Redfangs I think they call them) have less efficiency than Celestion blues - worth a shot. 

[Dmoney]

jensen P12Q?
http://jensentone.com/p12q.php

95db 40watts?

[ailean]

I'd try an attenuator first, much easier, plus it means you keep your current tone (if you are happy with it). See if you can try one before you buy, not everyone like the Hotplate (I like mine), and there is no denying that with the attenuation cranked up it does change your tone. The Ultimate Attenuator is supposed to be very good, but very expensive at current exchange rates.

On the plus side, at a gig you can crank the amp, put just one or two stages of attenuation on which shouldn't colour your tone at all, and get your amp working hard.

Just my 2p  :)