Low watt tube amp vs high watt tube amp attenuater
Hey guys just posting this because I'm really at a crossroads here.
The Rundown:
I gig for a living, so need an amp that is sufficient for live. I typically play small clubs, a few open air outdoor gigs but mostly indoors/small at this point. I have been using a Fender Supersonic 60w (I've heard so many people have bad reviews or trash this amp, mine has been absolutely great for five years and no technical issues whatsoever, it's a champ but maybe I just got lucky) and I like the amp but 60 watts is frankly way too loud. I turn my amp up to maybe 2, probably even just 1.5 for most gigs and don't get to experience the real tube breakup and saturated tone.
I've been looking at a Fender 68' DRRI or a Princeton Reverb but was wondering if 15 watts would be loud enough. I like the 22 watts of the DRRI and feel like it could carry most of my gigs and for the ones it doesn't I could just mic it up.
My question would be is it worth buying a whole other amp and mic it up at the gigs I need more volume or would it be better to just buy an attenuator for an amp I'm already more of less happy with.
And following this question - Is there an amp over these that you'd recommend? Is there an attenuator or mod you'd recommend? Was also thinking of a Supersonic 22 but I've heard great things about DRRI and even better about Princeton Reverb (but also that it's more of a home amp)
68 deluxe reverb is bang on. Great tone at low volume, loud enough to play any venue... by the time you get to 1000 cap plus there’ll be amp mics and monitors, so doubt you’d ever want another amp!!!
If you want that slammed power amp tone at lower levels, an attenuator is the best way to get it. Using an amp with less power or tube adapters with lower power tubes only offers one other ideal volume.
All your options sound like they could work. Attenuators would be cheapest to try since you already dig your amp. I’m using a couple of Bugera’s in studio and I’m getting great results from my tube amps.