50w Head Versus 100w head

[ttosh]

So when you are purchasing an amp that has this option which do you choose and why?

I have always leaned towards 100w for headroom when rolling back the volume knob. I have never really noticed that much volume difference in the 2 overall. I think the 50w heads may hit the sweet spot a bit sooner.

Thoughts? Let's Discuss!

 

[sebby123]

So when you are purchasing an amp that has this option which do you choose and why?

I have always leaned towards 100w for headroom when rolling back the volume knob. I have never really noticed that much volume difference in the 2 overall. I think the 50w heads may hit the sweet spot a bit sooner.

Thoughts? Let's Discuss!

Google and search bars are you best friend

Your right about the headroom, Also 100W have a better bass response to my ears.

 

[ttosh]

So when you are purchasing an amp that has this option which do you choose and why?

I have always leaned towards 100w for headroom when rolling back the volume knob. I have never really noticed that much volume difference in the 2 overall. I think the 50w heads may hit the sweet spot a bit sooner.

Thoughts? Let's Discuss!

Google and search bars are you best friend

Your right about the headroom, Also 100W have a better bass response to my ears.

I guess I could have searched the forum for opinions. Really wanted to start a conversation though. And Google is not where I wanted to go with this. There are people on this forum I respect when it comes to opinions, Google and random opinions do not really go far for me.

I do understand your statement though! Thanks!

 

[RockNRun]

Good topic.

I'd get torched for this over on the Splawn forum (by some, a few others would agree w/me and do run at 50w)...but I like my Quick Rod in 50 watt mode better, its just as you say, gets "there" sooner, sounds a bit spongier. Also as you mentioned, I hear minimal volume difference from 50 to 100 with an amp as loud as these muthas are to start with, I mean regardless of full or half power, I can't get past 10 o'clock on that dial anyway and it sounds the same (to me) so why not run it at half power. Maybe the low end is better @ 100w with most amps, dunno, but with thses amps plus the speaker I like to mic (G12H), the low end is already massive enuff. I'm also only using a 2x12 with lower rated speakers (G12H30+EL80) so full power and major vol is a no no anyway, lol!

Again, thats just ME and my particular QRod, many owners swear they MUST be on FULL power and NOTHING in the loop to sound best.

 

[ttosh]

Good topic.

I'd get torched for this over on the Splawn forum (by some, a few others would agree w/me and do run at 50w)...but I like my Quick Rod in 50 watt mode better, its just as you say, gets "there" sooner, sounds a bit spongier. Also as you mentioned, I hear minimal volume difference from 50 to 100 with an amp as loud as these muthas are to start with, I mean regardless of full or half power, I can't get past 10 o'clock on that dial anyway and it sounds the same (to me) so why not run it at half power. Maybe the low end is better @ 100w with most amps, dunno, but with thses amps plus the speaker I like to mic (G12H), the low end is already massive enuff. I'm also only using a 2x12 with lower rated speakers (G12H30+EL80) so full power and major vol is a no no anyway, lol!

Again, thats just ME and my particular QRod, many owners swear they MUST be on FULL power and NOTHING in the loop to sound best.

+1 I agree with your assessment. Low end is for bass players anyway LOL.

 

[Audioholic]

I think you really only gain like 3db volume when going from 50 to 100 watts. I had an amp that had the option of running both. slight differences. The 100 watt mode just seemed to tighten things up a tad, tighter bottom, while the 50 watt mode was slightly looser. Both usable and good.

 

[fearhk213]

Good topic.

I'd get torched for this over on the Splawn forum (by some, a few others would agree w/me and do run at 50w)...but I like my Quick Rod in 50 watt mode better, its just as you say, gets "there" sooner, sounds a bit spongier. Also as you mentioned, I hear minimal volume difference from 50 to 100 with an amp as loud as these muthas are to start with, I mean regardless of full or half power, I can't get past 10 o'clock on that dial anyway and it sounds the same (to me) so why not run it at half power. Maybe the low end is better @ 100w with most amps, dunno, but with thses amps plus the speaker I like to mic (G12H), the low end is already massive enuff. I'm also only using a 2x12 with lower rated speakers (G12H30+EL80) so full power and major vol is a no no anyway, lol!

Again, thats just ME and my particular QRod, many owners swear they MUST be on FULL power and NOTHING in the loop to sound best.

9 times out of 10 I prefer 100w because of the low end response; It tends to be more powerful & tighter feeling. However, I could not agree more with your findings with the Splawn. The other guitarist in my band has a Nitro and it just sounds better at 50w. It just seems to be a little anemic at 100w until you get the tubes really cooking. I'm sure if all bets were off & volume wasn't an issue I'd prefer the 100w mode, but the volume would be too high to be usable in most situations. Even tried the loop volume trick, but we found the best tone was at 50w

 

[Chubtone]

I prefer 100w amps. WIth Marshalls I have found that the 100w amps are just thumpier in just the right way. The 50's can sound great and some of my favorite tones are by guys who prefer 50w but for me the 100's just are more what I'm looking for. However due to this thread I am going to try my Quick Rod in 50w mode.

 

[ke2]

I had a JCM 800 2203 that I ran with two EL34s for a while.
It seemed to be a little warmer/soggier/easier to play. I`m aware that there are probably other factors as well, for the amp to be a "true" 50-watter, but I noticed a big difference when I put 4 tubes in it again. I liked it better as a 50-watt amp. I also used it as a bass amp, so I needed it back to 100

 

[RockNRun]

Supposedly its onlt like a 3-5 db diff anyway between the two, but who knows. I guess if some hear it, more power to them, wish I had their ears then!!!! All I know is when I A/B my amps 50 and 100 watt modes, the 50 just has a wee bit more sag, gets to that brown sound earlier. I also have to run my bass knob fairly low because of my speaker choice. I do have the vol loop master dimed though and 50 watts with these is still L-O-U-D as any present Splawn owners know well!

 

[Digital Jams]

In my limited experience I perfer 100 watt heads as they seem to add more thump to the equation.

 

[blackba]

I am in the 50Watt camp. I don't really need the headroom of the 100Watt head. I find the 50Watt is slightly easier to control at lower volume too. 50Watts are cheaper to retube and give you more options for speakers when going through 112, 212, and 412 cabs.

My one head over 50Watts is my mesa mark IV and I run it in half power mode 90% of the time.

Since I am not in a band currently, I have been really debating if I need even my 30-50Watt heads. The problem is that when I have my Fender Champ, I really didn't practice any softer, it was just easier to keep the volume in check....

 

[fuzzyguitars]

count me in for 100watters

just feel right for me.

dont seem to wheeze out when you want more!

50 watters do record better though!

 

[Strat+Marshall]

I like 50 watt Marshalls more. I understand why people dig the 100w more but a good 50w seems to have a little something extra in the midrange.

Fender types, 50 if I want to drive them hard and 100 if I want clean.

High gain amps, I would probably side towards 100 but I have had some cool high gain 50 watters. I have never really cared for 1/2 power mode on any amp.

 

[eternal_idol]

I tend to go for 100 watt heads, mostly for feel.
I can't get a 50watt as loud without feeling or sounding
more spongie, in some cases this is great but in general not what i am looking for.


theorectically speaking, 100watt heads should have a wider freq spectrum, weather they do or not.
I do not know.(explaination: the lower the freq the more power it takes to reproduce)


there are also other things to think about., tube types, configureation(2 x 6L6 vs. 2 x EL34 vs. 4x 6V6 vs. 4x EL84), and circuit design.

 

[johnnyjellybean]

In the old marshalls and wizards for example, the trannies specs are different between the 50s and 100s and they make the amps sound different. I would sooner buy a 100w and pull 2 tubes before I would buy a 50w. It's not just low end thump. There's a difference in the lower mids too. The 100s sound larger even at 50w. That's why you guys are liking the Splawns set at 1/2 power. If you compare a 50w Splawn to a 100w set at 1/2 power, I'll bet you like the 100w better.

 

[johnnyjellybean]

50 watters do record better though!

Tell that to my 2 MC100s They'll

 

[MrDan666]

I have tried every way possible and i can't make 50w work for me in a band situation, not with a loud drummer anyway. 100watts just work much better for what i need and i never have any worries about cutting through in the mix with 100watts I prefer the feel too, a bit more articulate overall with more headroom!

 

[locoed]

I go with 100 watt heads,seems like a richer sound,and if i need to push 50 watts i can
always pull 2 power tubes out.I wish all amps came with a 10 watt pushed switch though.
Like a simul class switch,pushing 100 watts but coming out 10.

 

[thegame]

I quite enjoy my Mesa Strategy 400 @ 200 w/side driving a few cabs. The sheer depth of tone (more than just low end) is addicting.