Can't decide... 100 or 50

[Stretchy]

Been looking here for awhile and set a longtime ago a moment in time when I'll made the purchase. That time being when Canadian $ and US $ are on par. Today it was 99.17... the moment is near!

Now, when I was setting the goal I said to myself that I'll have time deciding which kit. I pretty much took out of the equation the jtm45, but now can't decide between the 50w and the 100w.

I love playing vintage hard rock (AC/DC, Kiss, Led Zep ...) I once owned a 1987xl which was "ok", but I kept on tweaking it and trying to make it like the "real one", so I sell it in order to have the "real thing", which to me is a Metro.

Would this savvy crowd share their wisdom as what would be the "better" choice between the 50 and the 100 ?

[OnTheFritz]

Sounds to me like the 100 would be perfect.
I'd also recommend based on your music references, you stick with the stock Metro Xformers. They're truer to the originals than the *upgrade* Xformers. George's Dagnall clone OT kills.
Have fun!

[Stretchy]

Thanks for the transf info! I needed this kind of input. We tend to think that Mercury is "better"... but I guess "different" would be more adequate!

[Roe]

go with the 100w kit. forget MM

[FourT6and2]

To those saying not to go with the Mercury's, how are they different than the Metro/Dagnall ones? I keep seeing this sentiment popping up. But I've never seen anybody actually qualify this statement with anything besides, "they're (mercury) aren't the same as the 'period correct' ones." Well, what does that mean? How are they different sound-wise?

[Roe]

MMs typically sound more modern and have a modernized construction. unless you're playing metal or something, I'd go with heyboer/metro/marstran.

[demonufo]

My Mercury Magnetics output transformer is just too stiff sounding (compared to the original drake that got fitted to another amp). Must get round to swapping for the splendid Marstran that's sat staring at me on the bench. Any other MM I've tried in other peoples amps pretty much brought me round to the same conclusion too.

[Stretchy]

This info is nice. The 1987xl I had used MM xformer, you tell me that they colored the sound in a way that's easily perceptible ?

[Stretchy]

... and by the way, a canadian $ is now worth 99.67 US today... so near... Should I go the 100w way ? Let them coming in...

[demonufo]

This info is nice. The 1987xl I had used MM xformer, you tell me that they colored the sound in a way that's easily perceptible ?

Same sort of effect that tighter filtering had. Made the amp more difficult to play in a way. Less harmonics with the MM. The drake just sounded more "natural". I went from the more modern sounding (read - higher gain amp) O50JM-M which was REALLY stiff and bright, to the O50JM Plexi model, which was slightly less of the same. I initially thought a bit more "hi-fi" like extension would be useful, hence why I went for the O50JM-M, but I was wrong.

Nothing wrong with them mind, just not for me. I like a little more sponge.

[Stretchy]

Thanks!

[Roe]

I've had pretty much the same experience with jtm45s (comparring 2 metros and one ceriatone)

[Stretchy]

Thanks for the info.

Ok... now it's at 99.98... that's just 2% of a cent... partity is now rethorical. Whant should I order to get the sound I'm after ? 100 or 50 ?

Please help!

[toner]

Based on your "AC/DC, Kiss, Led Zep" list, I'd say 100w, especially for AC/DC. The other two could go either way. However, the differences between 50 and 100 can be somewhat subtle and are found mainly when pushing the amp hard (loud). In my opinion, the biggest differences have to do with the way they feel when you play, not so much the tone.

Here's how I would describe them but there is some overlap between the two and these are just subjective.

--- 50 ---
smooth
sweet
can be more "forgiving" to play
a little more compressed
feels more "loose" or "bouncy" when hitting chords hard
less clean headroom

--- 100 ---
bold
punchy
feels "tighter" when hitting chords hard
more clean headroom
stronger bass response

In other words, if I wanted to record a "smooth, buttery, soul-moving" blues solo, I'd choose a 50 (actually, I'd use a Marshall 18w, but...). If I wanted to record a "punchy, in-your-face, chest-thumping" AC/DC-like rhythm part, I'd use a 100. How's that for subjective?

You can't go too far wrong with either. It's not like they are totally different and exclusive. Hope this helps.

[Stretchy]

Great info. Now... that's getting technical!

I think I'll go with the 100w. You talked about the 18w, I saw a 18w kit at tubedepot and was wondering what is the tone of a el84 vs el34. Your thoughts on that would be nice!