50w or 100w

[supersonic]

It's getting close to picking up my 100w Marsha (or should I say Brown Eye). After playing a gig last weekend (XTC) I'm begining to doubt if I realy need 100w. To those who have a 50w BE how is it? Any input would be appreciated.

 

[ericsabbath]

I would rather run a 50 watt head on 6 or 7 than a 100 watt head on 3 or 4.

I think the difference would be more like going from 4 on 100w to 5.5 on 50w

 

[se7en]

The difference between 50 and 100 watts is only about 3 decibels (and 1 decibel is the smallest perceptible volume difference)...I prefer 100 watt heads because they sound beefier than 50 watt heads...fuller and more depth...the volume difference isn't that big.

 

[Jay Strange]

The difference between 50 and 100 watts is only about 3 decibels (and 1 decibel is the smallest perceptible volume difference)...I prefer 100 watt heads because they sound beefier than 50 watt heads...fuller and more depth...the volume difference isn't that big.

+1

 

[ericsabbath]

I would rather run a 50 watt head on 6 or 7 than a 100 watt head on 3 or 4.

I think the difference would be more like going from 4 on 100w to 5.5 on 50w

Whatever... You get the point...

Really? You're going to worry about .5? Look at my numbers and look what you posted... Seriously...

from 3 to 7 there's an enormous difference
that could be close to reality if you were comparing completely diferent amps, as some are no near as efficient as others
most 50 watters with equivalent specs on 7 would be A LOT louder than a 100w on 3

what I'm saying is that the volume difference is not that big to get a relevant amount of extra power amp distortion
as others said, a 100w sounds beefier

I have two LOUD AS HELL 50w amps and I'm happy with them, but side by side, a 100w will eat them, but not exactly in volume
one of them is probably louder than some 100w I had and others I've played, but I'll never find out (if I did, I'd be deaf)

 

[steve_k]

One thing to consider for gigging is the possibility of dropping a tube one day. Has happened to me before. At least with 4 of them sitting back there, a pair will still be good to finish up on. With a 50 watt, you lose one, you are proper phukt.

Steve

 

[supersonic]

One thing to consider for gigging is the possibility of dropping a tube one day. Has happened to me before. At least with 4 of them sitting back there, a pair will still be good to finish up on. With a 50 watt, you lose one, you are proper phukt.

Steve

This is a good point.

 

[Nico]

Well it really depends on the amp. I actually hate non MV 100W Marshall heads. I think they are completely unplayable! Even with a MV they need super high volumes to sound the best, which in my case exceeded gigging volumes

On the other hand I have a 50W Einstein that sounds superb on all volume levels, and I bought it specifically for this purpose. It really doesn't break up on the clean channel. And it is loud as hell too...

I really did not compare it to the 100W version though....


In all honesty I prefer lower wattage amps, and the sound difference that everybody states is minimal... So is the volume difference! 3db is nothing...

 

[James Lugo]

100 all the way.

 

[LP Freak]

100 all the way.

Yea, what James said

 

[James Lugo]

100 all the way.

Yea, what James said

Yup that's not even a question in my heart. A 100 kills a 50 on all level and at all volumes.

 

[LP Freak]

100 all the way.

Yea, what James said

Yup that's not even a question in my heart. A 100 kills a 50 on all level and at all volumes.

No doubt bro.

 

[hunter]

I hate it when I have to shell out the big $$ for a quad of tubes. Pairs are much more affordable, or even better: get a quad and use one pair as a backup and to replace the other when they're played down.

I have mostly 100W amps, but I really like the recently acquired 2554 Combo. I can actually turn it on 5 with the band and it sounds great! I never had my Steavens or XTC even beyond 10 o'clock.

 

[LP Freak]

The difference is tone, not so much in volume.

 

[guitarmike]

Here is the beauty of a 100 watt amp: you can always pull 2 tubes and run it on 50 watts if you want. The amp I got from LP Freak that Dave modded is the most usable 100watt amp I have ever had. I do not need a power attenuator or anything in the effects loop to quiet it down when playing at home at night. Yet, I can turn it up and it will crack the walls at the school auditorium my church uses.

That said, I have a 1981 jcm 800 50 watt at Dave's right now getting modded.

I live in Milwaukee and have never played a venue that 50 watts wasn't enough juice, especially if you use a pa.

 

[supersonic]

I hate it when I have to shell out the big $$ for a quad of tubes. Pairs are much more affordable, or even better: get a quad and use one pair as a backup and to replace the other when they're played down.

I have mostly 100W amps, but I really like the recently acquired 2554 Combo. I can actually turn it on 5 with the band and it sounds great! I never had my Steavens or XTC even beyond 10 o'clock.

My main amp is a 100B (same as yours) I like it at 10:00 but it's just too loud, 9:00 is where I set it live, otherwise I drown out the band (it's putting out 120w BTW). I've always liked the authority of 100w.

On another note, if you pull 2 tubes on 100w head is it going to sound the same as a 50w head? Given the different transformers?

 

[hunter]

I hate it when I have to shell out the big $$ for a quad of tubes. Pairs are much more affordable, or even better: get a quad and use one pair as a backup and to replace the other when they're played down.

I have mostly 100W amps, but I really like the recently acquired 2554 Combo. I can actually turn it on 5 with the band and it sounds great! I never had my Steavens or XTC even beyond 10 o'clock.

My main amp is a 100B (same as yours) I like it at 10:00 but it's just too loud, 9:00 is where I set it live, otherwise I drown out the band (it's putting out 120w BTW). I've always liked the authority of 100w.

On another note, if you pull 2 tubes on 100w head is it going to sound the same as a 50w head? Given the different transformers?

You can pull either of the fuses on the 100B, half the impedance of the connected speaker, then you'll see. I talked to Jorg and he said it's Ok. You can bring the massiveness down without losing the clean headroom as much as with the VariAC.

I played with the VariAC yesterday in rehearsal and they were all happy, then later I switched on full power and while I was glad about the increased dynamics and punch, they were all screaming at me

 

[supersonic]

I hate it when I have to shell out the big $$ for a quad of tubes. Pairs are much more affordable, or even better: get a quad and use one pair as a backup and to replace the other when they're played down.

I have mostly 100W amps, but I really like the recently acquired 2554 Combo. I can actually turn it on 5 with the band and it sounds great! I never had my Steavens or XTC even beyond 10 o'clock.

My main amp is a 100B (same as yours) I like it at 10:00 but it's just too loud, 9:00 is where I set it live, otherwise I drown out the band (it's putting out 120w BTW). I've always liked the authority of 100w.

On another note, if you pull 2 tubes on 100w head is it going to sound the same as a 50w head? Given the different transformers?

You can pull either of the fuses on the 100B, half the impedance of the connected speaker, then you'll see. I talked to Jorg and he said it's Ok. You can bring the massiveness down without losing the clean headroom as much as with the VariAC.

I played with the VariAC yesterday in rehearsal and they were all happy, then later I switched on full power and while I was glad about the increased dynamics and punch, they were all screaming at me

I tried pulling a fuse and running my XTC at 50w, I didn't like it as much as 100w. I'm running the "Sound Style" on "Old" which brings down the output.

 

[paulscape]

For me there are two parts to this equation 1) volume in watts and 2) how does a 50w and 100w actually sound.

As far as volume, there's not a lot of difference between a 50w marshall and a 100w. They are both underated and extremely loud. In this sense it makes no difference which one you get.

The 'sound' between the two is more noticeable with 100w tending to have a fuller ballsy sound - a tighter bassier bottom end with more overall headroom - and 50w sounding a little sweeter, perhaps litlle more bark and compression. To me the difference is between 2 and 4 power tubes and differences in transformers not so much what the amp is actually rated in watts.

Both my marshalls are 50w and Ive never needed more volume and in my circumstances the lack of extra headroom of bass fullness is not as important as getting a sweet midrange tone that fits into the mix. Plus the 50w are smaller and lighter to carry (well my plexi at least).

 

[Nico]

For me there are two parts to this equation 1) volume in watts and 2) how does a 50w and 100w actually sound.

As far as volume, there's not a lot of difference between a 50w marshall and a 100w. They are both underated and extremely loud. In this sense it makes no difference which one you get.

The 'sound' between the two is more noticeable with 100w tending to have a fuller ballsy sound - a tighter bassier bottom end with more overall headroom - and 50w sounding a little sweeter, perhaps litlle more bark and compression. To me the difference is between 2 and 4 power tubes and differences in transformers not so much what the amp is actually rated in watts.

Both my marshalls are 50w and Ive never needed more volume and in my circumstances the lack of extra headroom of bass fullness is not as important as getting a sweet midrange tone that fits into the mix. Plus the 50w are smaller and lighter to carry (well my plexi at least).

I agree, and in fact prefer the 50W, with the only downside being that if you blow a fuse you can't continue playing.
Aside from all the sound issues it has the advantage that its cheaper in price and also in tube changing.