Scott Henderson Discussion

[mikoo69]

Hey Scott,

I play small/medium sized clubs, and am debating which route to take

I am going to be getting a Komet amp and there are 2 options I am considering now. Wondering if you had any advice; while I know you aren't familiar with Komets, though this question has to do with wattage and speaker cabinet size in general for small/medium sized clubs

I am looking at their K60 head which is 2 EL34s rated at 60 watts (cranked apparently it puts out up to 100 watts).

Komet also makes a cabinet called an Ambikab which is a closed back 2x12 (w/ G1265s) and 2 10 inch speakers for Stereo (or mono) Wet signal (built in power amp for the wet effects).

Though I am considering a "Low Powered" custom version of the K60 custom as I don't play huge rooms, and would possibly have to attenuate the K60 down to get the sweet spot.

The Low Powered version is rated at 40 watts instead of 60, with 2 EL34s. This could be bought as a combo (semi open single G12 65) or head with a 1x12 closed back cabinet with a single G1265. I would then purchase their Ambikab Jr which is just the wet portion of the Ambikab - 2 10" speakers with power amp for Wet fx.

In your gigging experience, what would be your advice as far as my choice?

Louder amp with the larger cab with Wet/Dry built in, or the lower powered amp, with the wet section in a separate cab?

Also do you prefer head and cab to combo as far as tube life/rattle etc?

[Scott Henderson]

I'm not familiar with that wet/ dry cabinet, but I imagine that the dry speakers are on the floor. I haven't had much luck with combos and cabs where the speakers are so close to the floor. I have to sit to hear myself. I like the speakers in a 2x12 to be either diagonal or one on top of the other so I can hear better. Plus i've had it with open back cabinets - they sound very different depending on the sound of the room - closed backs are more consistent. Also it's true that tubes last longer in a head than a combo.

I'd probably buy a head and a vertical 2x12 cab, and use the Suhr line box and a really small combo for the wet amp like a HRD or a Blues Junior. If you're not playing that loud you don't need a big amp just for reverb.

I've never tried 10's for the wet sound and I'm wondering if they'd take too much bass out of the reverb.

[mikoo69]

[Scott Henderson]

If the amp has no master volume, then 60 watts is pretty loud and you might have to use an attenuator, but they seriously mess with the tone. 40 watts in a club is more reasonable. Maybe the amp is not available as a head at 40 watts, but if it is you could still use a 2x12 and get a bigger sound and hear yourself better - bigger doesn't mean louder.