Amp head wattage vs. regular wattage?

Question

So by reading previous answers, I'm getting the idea that the wattage of an amp head is just how much wattage the amp head can send out. BUT, I was under the impression the head itself could send out a small amount of wattage, since most do still have the cabinet covers, but was I mistaken?

Answer 1

What?? Are you the guy that was building his own speaker cabs? If I understand your question, the amp head produces power (rated in amps) and sends it to the speaker. Generally the speaker is rated at 8 ohms. So, an 8 ohm speaker rated at 50 watts can handle that much power from the amp - or really about 1 1/2 the power so 50 to 80 watts or so.
It gets complicated when you use more than one speaker - 2 -8 ohm speakers in series (+ to +, - to -) makes a 4 ohm load for the amp ( as low as most amps can go). The specs on the amp will say how many amps into what load (4, 8, or 16 ohm.) Four speakers in a cab can be wired so they have 2 ohm or 8 ohm (the usual) so an 8ohm cab with 4 -50 watt speakers could handle an amp of 300 watts. Guitar heads usually are rated at 100 watts at 8 ohm and have a switch to keep that output at 4 or 16 ohm because the peaks can be so high.
Sooooo - a 100 watt head is a good match for an 8 ohm - 4 50 watt speaker cab. Some expensive cabs use lower watt speakers (like 30 watts) to get more "break up" at high volume or other tonal differences - but that's personal preference.

Answer 2

i'm going to easily be blunt: your guitarist has truthfully no choose for a 150W amp. there is not any excuse. it extremely is a thoroughly retarded quantity of means. No guitarist everywhere has or will ever choose that lots means. this is purely obscene. the only reason to get an amp that efficient is so as that individuals will think of you have a huge penis. something over 30W is purely overkill, and if we are speaking tube amps, this is purely a waste. Tube amps sound ultimate cranked. With a 150W amp, he won't in any respect bypass above 2 or 3 on the grasp quantity. So he's in fact paying two times as lots for an amp that he won't in any respect have the means to savor the comprehensive technique of. If he's intense approximately that amp, he's a fool. 200W is a lifelike quantity of means for a bass amp. 300W is a extra ordinary baseline, yet 200W is sufficient. maximum venues will pipe you promptly into the PA; they are going to probable mic your amp cabinet besides, so which you quite purely choose sufficient means to hearken to your self onstage. The aim marketplace generally hears you in the process the abode audio gadget, no longer your amp.