SkyhighRocks
New member
Looking for some feedback, good or bad, on these power amps. Are they loud enough for 2500 seat venues? Pros,cons? Not the 2/50/2...the older 50/50 model. Thanks!
jesserides2005
New member
I've had my 50/50 for around ten years and it still sounds awesome & has never failed me yet! 
I've mostly used it with a Triaxis, however, I have also used it for a W/D/W rig, and also with just stomp-boxes in front of it and it sounds great for every application! As far as volume goes, It's plenty loud for any venue regardless of size. I've alway's used it on the Half-Power setting and have never gotten the volume past 3 even at outdoor gigs.
I've also owned the 20/20, 2:90, Marshall EL34 100/100, a Carvin & the only one I've kept over the years is the 50/50 because it sounds great an is so "Useable" in any application!
Best part is you can pick 'em up for about $400.00 these days!
I've mostly used it with a Triaxis, however, I have also used it for a W/D/W rig, and also with just stomp-boxes in front of it and it sounds great for every application! As far as volume goes, It's plenty loud for any venue regardless of size. I've alway's used it on the Half-Power setting and have never gotten the volume past 3 even at outdoor gigs.
I've also owned the 20/20, 2:90, Marshall EL34 100/100, a Carvin & the only one I've kept over the years is the 50/50 because it sounds great an is so "Useable" in any application!
Best part is you can pick 'em up for about $400.00 these days!
photios
New member
SkyhighRocks":1xcgoiil said:
I havent tried the 50/50 but I can tell you the 2:90 is crazy beautiful loud...I have a new found respect for Mesa rack gear (never could gel with any of their heads)...this 2:90 with TriAxis is really cool.
Anyway, with the disclaimer outta the way, I wouldnt want a 50 watter unless it was a small club with 200 or less...I always want 100 watt amps and we play venues that are typically 300-2500. The 50 may or may not be loud enough for your stage volume, though you can have the sound guy run you to the monitors also...since you mic up (I presume you mic up thru a PA, yes?) a 50 watt is loud enough to get by, but I always feel a LOT better with 100 watts. I only own one 50 watter these days: a Wizard Vintage Classic...I have both a headshell and a combo cab for it...it rarely comes out...only for the really, really small shows >200.
SkyhighRocks
New member
can't it be bridged to 100 watts? Anyone know what speaker outs are in the back?
J
jasonP
Well-known member
I have a mesa 395 power amp and I really like the deep option. It's like turning the deep on with the DSL. Just adds a lot of depth. I know that there are 2 different older 50 watt power amps look for the one with the deep option. I also think this power amp sounds awesome. http://www.mesaboogie.com/manuals/50-50%20Stereo.pdf
SkyhighRocks
New member
how does it compare to the 2:50?
stratotone
Active member
SkyhighRocks":cz5qzhef said:
I'm just curious here... are you guys playing 2500 seat venues without a PA? All you need to hear is onstage, right? I don't see how your onstage volume will be higher at a 2500 seat venue vs the corner bar, unless you're playing on a ginormous stage, but even then there should be a good monitor system there.
Pete
SkyhighRocks
New member
stratotone":1gi4lm6f said:
We're a pretty loud band...good monitors or not. The bigger venues will have much bigger stages and alot more space. And yes, all venues we play have full pa systems...some bigger than others.
photios
New member
SkyhighRocks":1tmbxffa said:
+1
stratotone
Active member
SkyhighRocks":1jcrj4nm said:
I guess I always tried to run as little volume onstage as possible out my amp and then hear things thorugh the monitors... the less volume you have onstage the better your mix will be front of house.
I had my first gig with my Fractal Axe-FX last night, actually relied more on my PA monitor than the QSC HPR I bought for it. I may be able to go direct only and not even hassle with carrying about a speaker, now THAT would be cool IMHO. I did miss having my bogner and 4x12 behind me onstage, but load out was easier by far.
pete
SkyhighRocks
New member
I just like to feel that air moving behind me with a 4x12.
Can anyone compare the 2:50 to the 50/50?
Can anyone compare the 2:50 to the 50/50?
stratotone
Active member
BTW, I owned an older 50/50, it was ok but the Peavey Classic 60/60 I had at the same time ate it for lunch volume and tonewise. 
Personally, I'd spend a little more and get a VHT poweramp over any Mesas.
Pete
Personally, I'd spend a little more and get a VHT poweramp over any Mesas.
Pete
SkyhighRocks
New member
I used to have a peavey 60/60 but it didn't seem that loud to me. 
I keep reading that mesa wattage is rated lower than it actually is?
I keep reading that mesa wattage is rated lower than it actually is?
stratotone
Active member
SkyhighRocks":1hnlsr71 said:I used to have a peavey 60/60 but it didn't seem that loud to me.
I keep reading that mesa wattage is rated lower than it actually is?
Mesa says all sorts of stuff in their literature (dyna watts! etc) - but tubes are tubes - nobody is going to get a noticeable amount of output from say a pair of 6L6s than another amp manufacturer unless one is cathode biased and the other is fixed. Heck, you'd probably get much more output from any Mesa amp if the damned thing wasn't biased so cold!
I can tell you're serious about tone, since you went for the ultra vs the standard axe-fx. Spend a little more coin and get a VHT poweramp. You didn't cheap out on the preamp, why do it on the poweramp? Heck, if you still have your Tube amp, play with the axe-fx through the fx loop and see if you like it.
I prefer the sound of my axe-fx with a powered QSC monitor speaker than running it through the fx loop on my bogner ecstasy and a 4x12, and that's saying a lot.
Pete
SkyhighRocks
New member
stratotone":347x6oe7 said:Mesa says all sorts of stuff in their literature (dyna watts! etc) - but tubes are tubes - nobody is going to get a noticeable amount of output from say a pair of 6L6s than another amp manufacturer unless one is cathode biased and the other is fixed. Heck, you'd probably get much more output from any Mesa amp if the damned thing wasn't biased so cold!
I can tell you're serious about tone, since you went for the ultra vs the standard axe-fx. Spend a little more coin and get a VHT poweramp. You didn't cheap out on the preamp, why do it on the poweramp? Heck, if you still have your Tube amp, play with the axe-fx through the fx loop and see if you like it.
I prefer the sound of my axe-fx with a powered QSC monitor speaker than running it through the fx loop on my bogner ecstasy and a 4x12, and that's saying a lot.
Pete
I hear what you're saying...but I'm hearing this stuff from players...not mesa.
Most I can really go on a power amp would be $500 at this point. I'm still using it with my JVM but that's going once I test the axe out this weekend and it passes. I could use the extra money from that sale for some bills.
C
CaseyCor
New member
I've always been a huge fan of Mesa power amps
Robotechnology
Active member
Mesa 50/50 is the same as 2:50 except that the 2:50 doesn't have the 20 watt mode like the 50/50 does. I LOVE my 50/50 (and I have a 20/20 and a 2:90). I could get rid of my 2:90, if I needed to and just use my 50/50. Killer tones. Rather pay half for a used 50/50 over a used VHT 2/50/2. A VHT 2/90/2 price no object I'd rather have but, again a Mesa 50/50 is half the bones.