Newb questions about 50 watters

[Devon8822]

Hey, Im going to choose between a 50 watt and a 100 watt and I dont know much about 50 watts. Alot of my favoritebands tones are from 50 watts. What unique sound does the 50 what make. Is it more distorted, mellower, punchy? how does it sound compared to a 100 watt. thanks

[Flames1950]

It distorts more quickly, and compresses more than the 100 watt will. Since the 50 can't keep the lows as clear it may give the impression of distorting more although I don't really think it does. The 100 kicks the seat of your pants more since the extra power keeps things punchier.

[rockstah]

my take - 50watts will rip your face off but nothing moves the earth like a 100w

[raul]

yes, this is a question i have been working out in me head as well. whether or not to go for a 100 watt or 50 watt head. tough call as i can only afford one.
i love the sound of both!

rockstah! a 50 watt head will rip yer face off. i want big rock and roll tone! i love your sound clips! i live in austin, tx. i would love to see you play one day! my playing is no where near as stellar as yours and damn do you have some mean tones! and they are from your 100 watt heads!
have you ever built a head for anyone? just curious...

[Devon8822]

I think i like the sound of a 100 watt, but so many of my favorite bands used 50s and i liek their tones so i need more to figure out which i pprefer. Anymore info of the differences frm some guys with 50 watts? thanks

[sweetwilliam]

100's are definitely tighter, but the 50's have more raunch, for lack of a better word. I have a 1987 and 2204 and they're both mean as crap. Compared with a friends 1959, I personally prefer the 50's. But like everyone says, if you want to move some serious air, you need the extra power of the 100's.

[Devon8822]

Flames what do you mean by "compresses" more than a 100 watt? not familiar with the word when talkign about amps. Thanks

[awangotango]

a 50w is like a 100w with a mild compression pedal or a treble boost, but not drastic change, just a little more 'give' to the feel,----and to the tone, it fattens and evens out the e/q a little, reduces the clean headroom available, but will still have plenty of raunch and attitude. It's still a non-master marshall after all, let's not forget the obvious.

[guitronics]

I have a very old 50 watt,it's so old that the output tubes are held down with what I believe to be Asbestos "Hats". That is, there's the two metal springs up the sides, a thermoplastic ring, then strands of threads encircling the tops of the power output tubes, tied to the ring.

Mine has a solid state rectifier, but I believe it's an early one, as asbestos is today, a big no-no.As it was in the late 60's!

If I were you, I'd go with the small - cabinet 50 watt.The small cabs were only made for a short time, which makes them easily recognizeable as the older models.

If you need more power, you can always mike it, or use a Groove Tubes "Brick" and add as much solid-state amp to the output as you want...just making the tube amp louder.

With the price of tubes continuing to escalate, two less output tubes leaves more $ to keep up your other tubes,etc.

If you were a professional player, making big bucks,you would probably have both...but most of those guys just use one head, and the others on stage are just for show.

[robert]

Hi guitronics,

IMHO one should be not too "oversenstive" for the asbestos thing on old Marhalls. Of course, one shouldn't eat this Hats - not only because they are very rare & too expensive todays.

Regards

Robert

[guitronics]

Yeah,I'm gonna keep mine, no matter what.

I'd like to know: On the extreme right and left of the gold front, mine has no "JMI or JTM", nor does it say "MKII".

I've been looking online at the 50 watter's, but am confused about that.

[novosibir]

Of course, one shouldn't eat this Hats

And don't sniff it and don't smoke it

There's better stuff to smoke these days...









... said Mr. Churchill

Larry

[zaphod777]

There's better stuff to smoke these days...

Cough..

[guitronics]

My younger brother plays semi-professionally in a Florida band called "Redeye Express".

He has a JCM 800 full stack (covered with a tarp in his garage).

He has a Mesa V-Twin preamp,custom - wired A/B/Y switch,a Mesa 50Watt per side power amp, an old ART 2000 Preamp/FX rackmount,plus a bunch of Rackmount FX in a Custom - Built Multi-ply Birch Rack....It's covered with a tarp.

Then he bought a Line 6 Flextone II....he uses that now, but wants a Fender Cybertwin SE next.

I can't talk him into selling me ANY of his stuff....he hoards it all,never sells, much less trades.

Oh,yeah...almost forgot: He has a Japanese 'Strat, and a Mexican 'Strat that I worked on ('tronix,pickups)....and got his first ever new electric, (last summer) a Fender "American Series" HSS Strat with the Sunburst Sienna Finish (which gets you a Swamp Ash ,instead of Alder body).

Oh, he has a '58 Les Paul,too.

His thing is carrying everything : Drums, PA,and amps; in his mini-van.

So he's gone from Stadium levels of sound to small club's.

He's played some big venues,they're a Blues/Rock outfit.

He's saving all this stuff 'cause"I'm gonna make a home studio someday".

[stoo]

I may out in left feild here but this is how I compare the 50 vs 100 watt heads.......The Old Allman Brothers Live at the Fillmore stuff
Dickey's on a 100
Duanes on a 50.
Stew