Is my amp loud enough?

Not sure if yer lookin for a combo amp or head and cab! 60 watts is a little underpowered if lookin to say jam with a drummer, but, on stage it would be fine as they r usually mic'd and run through the house pa! Some of these new heads from Line6 and Krank are puttin out anywhere from 300 to 500 watts, WoW, I know! But in your case I would look for sumthing thats say 100 or 80! There are some real nice 2/12 combo amps on the market today! But nothin beats a 100 watt head and 4/12 cab, in my opinion! Oh by the way I DO play metal with a lot of clean sections in my music, and its nice to have more power than u need sometimes! Your options are almost endless!, I'de go try a few out, or hit up Long and Mcquade for a weekly rental on something, I like to before I buy! Hope that helps a bit!

You should never feel stupid for asking an intelligent question many people fail to ask and should.

The qualities of tube amps has little to do with volume and everything to do with distortion characteristics. A 100-watt amp will only be about 10-15% louder than a 50-watt amp--a negligible difference as far as maximum volume goes. How loud is loud enough for playing with a drummer? A 10-watt head is half as loud as a 100-watt head, so once a 25-watt or larger amp is used volume is usually not an issue.

The sonic difference is that a 50-watt head will start overdriving the tubes and producing distortion before the 100-watt head will. Assuming a person wants to play pretty loud overall, the 50-watt head would be the choice for a rocker needing overdrive or distortion, and the 100-watt head a good choice for someone wanting loud clean tones.

If you want cranked powertube distortion, smaller amps are preferable, and clean tones usually sacrificed. A 50-watt head pushed to the point the powertubes are breaking up and distorting adequately will be so loud it can cause hearing damage in confined space. Most people these days are relegated to using overdrive or distortion units to keep volume at safe levels, an option every player needs to have available in the event turning up an amp is not feasible.

Solid state amps are all about volume. A 50-watt or larger solid state amp should be loud enough to jam with a drummer, but you might want to go to a music store and test a few amps turned up to get the needed perspective on volume.

When playing with a drummer and without a PA or monitors, a 2x12 speaker configuration is the minimum number of speakers needed to project the needed sound. A 4x12 speaker cab will produce considerably greater low end. If a PA and monitors are used, small amps can be miked and will be just as effective as larger ones.

Hey,
Thanks for your informative replies!

For the record, I'm looking to get a combo amp, probably solid state. It's a financial consideration more than anything.
While we're on the subject, I might as well take the time to ask for suggestions. I'm easily satisfied with a full-on distortion sound, and I'm not too picky about my clean sound. It's that in-the-middle, slightly distorted area that I'm most concerned with. I usually find that most amps (at least the limited ones I've tried) fail in this crucial area. I'm looking for warmth and clarity, not the harsh uneveness that I usually hear!!
Any takers?

To change your mind, go with tubes -- you won't regret it. A 50 watt 2 X 12 tube combo would suit you just fine. I use a Carvin Belair, and it's plenty loud. Fantastic gigging amp, and I usually only have it turned up to about 3 or 4. Great Fendery clean sounds, and awesome crunch tones for blues and classic rock. Might want to drive it with a stomp box to get heavier tones out of it. Very reasonably priced, too.

Make sure it goes to 11!

LOL
Oh yes, definetly 11!

Since you're already looking at a 60 watt combo amp I can highly recommend the Fender Hot Rod Deville. I've got the 4x10 cabinet but they make a 2x12 as well. It's tube driven and has got a great rock or blues sound.
Really like the reverb. It comes with a pedal that controls 2 distortion modes: normal and overdriven. Combined with some effect sends its a very versatile sound. From very clean to metal. Seriously this thing is loud enough on 2 and our drummer plays really LOUDLY.

Plus, ALL CONTROLS GO TO 12!

OK and I played solid state for 15 years and going to tubes made a huge difference to my sound and the dynamics of playing. George Benson doesn't need tube amps to sound good but I do!

As far as tubes go, here's a couple suggestions : Peavey Classic 30 maybe? A 50w marshall or Laney? a stereo Measa 20/20 into a 4-10 cab? a 15w Vox mic'ed? Fender's? JCM800 with a pwoer brake? There's a lot of possiblities.

If you want a modeling amp, there's a lot of options there too. I've got line6 for the versitility (I've also got a Laney AOR 50 w and a Marshall 50/50 so please don't flame me about the line6 stuff guys) of jammin' live in a garage and what not. Vox is supposed to be the shiznit these days though. I'm even thinking about picking up the 15w for grins and giggles. Go to a GC or Scam Ash and try a bunch of stuff out. 60w of power should keep you in the ball park for jammin' though. Just my .02

ORIGINAL: Monkey
It's that in-the-middle, slightly distorted area that I'm most concerned with. I usually find that most amps (at least the limited ones I've tried) fail in this crucial area. I'm looking for warmth and clarity, not the harsh uneveness that I usually hear!!
Any takers?

Well, I know what you want ... a Framus Dragon. The crunch on it is the best crunch I ever heard, the clean is just extremely clean with alot of dynamics, and the lead can be quite heavy. If you could buy a used one and a 2x12 cabinet (Framus makes some good ones for cheap), you'd never need another amp again.

Might be 'slightly' above your budget, but hey, a good amp is for life!

I agree with Mr. Yep. I had one group in which I used a Mesa Subway Blues amp. I think it was only about 20 watts through a 10 inch speaker. It was plenty loud enough for small clubs and broke up very nicely when cranked. On occassion, we would perform outdoors or in a larger club and I would patch it to a Fender Blues Deluxe which was about 45 watts I think. I also used a Tech 21 XXL distortion pedal for a little extra boost and sustain needed for my slide guitar work. My current amp is a Fender Vibrolux. All of the amps I mentioned have a nice warmth to their sound. I'm not sure how loud your drummer is or how loud you think you must play; however I recommend a good tube amp rated up to 50 watts RMS. You'll be sorry if you don't get a good amp now and settle for a more "affordable" one. You will end up buying what you really want later. If you're worried about the cost, buy a used one.

I'm just wondering ('cause I'm looking to buy an amp), what is the minimum amount of watts an amp should be to play comfortably with a set of drums and/or a live band

It should read..How many Watts can i get before I get Kicked out of the band for playing to loud?<G>

(in rehearsal anyway)? Is wattage even what I should be measuring by? I feel stupid asking considering I've been playing guitar for the last 17 years!! I've got my eye on this amp but it's 60 watts.

What Amp? 60 Watts amps can get pretty loud if it is Fender type. If they are a Marshall type...it's still loud, but not overwhelming.

All that said I now practice with a 3 Watt amp...and I am fine. Part of that when a drummer plays they either use brushes or some other method of quieting things down.

Since you're already looking at a 60 watt combo amp I can highly recommend the Fender Hot Rod Deville. I've got the 4x10 cabinet but they make a 2x12 as well. It's tube driven and has got a great rock or blues sound.

Agreed. I have the 4x10 and love it.