2204 vs 2203

  • Thread starter Thread starter Smash
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Smash

Smash

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I know that many of you are wondering why I am not just saying "100watts or go fuck your mother" like I always do. I want to, I really fucking do. But I have thought about it. I have had 50 watt iterations of the same amp that i had 100 watts with, and always thought they lacked punch and were too grindy in the upper mids. Bodyless, terrible, wimpy, and shit. But that was always 6L6 amps. However, I know a lot of people prefer the 2204 as opposed to the 2203 for modding platforms. Anyone know why? Does 50 watts not act the same with el34s?
 
Ive had both. Definitely prefer the 2203.
w/a 2203 you'll never get drowned out by a drummer. can't say that for a 2204/speaking from experience.
and .... i ruptured an ear drum w/a 2204 in da 80's, but i play even louder w/a 2203 and thats never happened.
 
Devin said:
I personally love the fuck out of both of them
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Aren't you into Deliverance amps also? I really want to try a deliverance 60 and 120 at the same time also. I think this is one time that i might prefer the 60. I want the old choke versions.
 
Smashedguitarist said:
Aren't you into Deliverance amps also? I really want to try a deliverance 60 and 120 at the same time also. I think this is one time that i might prefer the 60. I want the old choke versions.
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Yeah I used the D60 as my main amp for over a decade. Mine was the newer non-choke model. Still my favorite high gainer ever
 
Devin said:
Yeah I used the D60 as my main amp for over a decade. Mine was the newer non-choke model. Still my favorite high gainer ever
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yeah. I bet it is nice. I never have played one, always wanted to. You still prefer it over everything? I like single channel high gain amps.
 
Samhain said:
Ive had both. Definitely prefer the 2203.
w/a 2203 you'll never get drowned out by a drummer. can't say that for a 2204/speaking from experience.
and .... i ruptured an ear drum w/a 2204 in da 80's, but i play even louder w/a 2203 and thats never happened.
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That is strange, but one thing i can say is that i went to h30 speakers from k100s and I keep the master lower. The highs can definitely appear more loud.
 
Yeah I'm all about single channel amps. Currently I'm rocking the Sound City Master Lead 50 and the Peavey VTM 60 which are also amazing IMO

My D60 was magical though; selling it is easily my biggest gear regret
 
You can play a stadium with either one easily through a full stack. That said, each amp will have different characteristics. Some sound better than others, depends on the individual amp. There is very little volume difference between 50 and 100 watts when cranked.
 
They’re both loud. You’ll get more gain and breakup with a 50W before a 100W stock for stock.

I had a 50W and honestly I find them not as aggressive and sweeter - more of a soloist amp.

The 50W I had was all clean sounding though and needed modded in such a bad way to even be useful. Tube changing didn’t do anything. Definitely play the one you get before if you can, or intend on modding regardless.
 
cardinal said:
100 watt Marshall tend to feel a bit stiff to me and sound more strident. IMHO the 50 watters can be a bit more pleasant. Both can be loud, but a 100 watt Marshall at full tilt is just violent in a way the 50 watt isn't IMHO, which can be cool.
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No need for "full tilt".
4 to 6 on the master nothing else.
Ive never had a 2203 past 6 or 7 in 40 years but my 2204 i ran 6 to 10 and was still sometimes drowned out.
 
glpg80 said:
They’re both loud. You’ll get more gain and breakup with a 50W before a 100W stock for stock.

I had a 50W and honestly I find them not as aggressive and sweeter - more of a soloist amp.

The 50W I had was all clean sounding though and needed modded in such a bad way to even be useful. Tube changing didn’t do anything. Definitely play the one you get before if you can, or intend on modding regardless.
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I felt like this basically too
 
Well I seem to be getting mixed reviews here. I will say that there is only 3 decibels difference between the 50 and 100, but i played them both (soldano avengers 5881) at noon, as that was right before power saturation started having the mush effect. The 100 watt had absolute punch. And no need for the depth knob whatsoever. The 50 was just thinner, and quieter. 3 decibels matters to me, I guess. Both of them at that volume, I would keep the preamp gain at 11'oclockish because you don't really need preamp gain to be unruly at a high volume when an amp is breathing fire.
I have a 100 watt el34 amp now. and i can't make myself take it near the noon area, or haven't tried, because i am at 105-110 decibels depending on how hard i hit the strings at a little over 9:30-10 on the master . Power amp starts-i don't know if saturating is the right word here-getting involved pretty heavily in a bell-like quality way (best way to describe it) around 10:30 to 11.
Basically based on my experience, which to be fair never included a stock high gain el34 50 watt amp, I have not been impressed with the lower watt amps. Some of you have said that the 50 watt will play a stadium or tear your head off. That is fine, but will it still stand up next to the 100 watt version? That's kinda what I wonder.
 
Smashedguitarist said:
Well I seem to be getting mixed reviews here. I will say that there is only 3 decibels difference between the 50 and 100, but i played them both (soldano avengers 5881) at noon, as that was right before power saturation started having the mush effect. The 100 watt had absolute punch. And no need for the depth knob whatsoever. The 50 was just thinner, and quieter. 3 decibels matters to me, I guess. Both of them at that volume, I would keep the preamp gain at 11'oclockish because you don't really need preamp gain to be unruly at a high volume when an amp is breathing fire.
I have a 100 watt el34 amp now. and i can't make myself take it near the noon area, or haven't tried, because i am at 105-110 decibels depending on how hard i hit the strings at a little over 9:30-10 on the master . Power amp starts-i don't know if saturating is the right word here-getting involved pretty heavily in a bell-like quality way (best way to describe it) around 10:30 to 11.
Basically based on my experience, which to be fair never included a stock high gain el34 50 watt amp, I have not been impressed with the lower watt amps. Some of you have said that the 50 watt will play a stadium or tear your head off. That is fine, but will it still stand up next to the 100 watt version? That's kinda what I wonder.
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But you see, its all just EQ, so you can just dial back in the low end punch youre missing. I've written a retarded book about it.
 
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