how does the "18 watt" sound differ from the plexi sound?

[spookyelectric]

With Marshall amps, how does the sound of their 18 watt amp differ from the sound of a plexi amp, or a JTM45?

[texblooz]

All of my amps are 18 watts (or lower). But for overdriven sounds, I associate most 18-watters, including Marshall, with "crunch" and plexis with "roar" if that makes any sense.

[spookyelectric]

Not quite sure what you mean.

18 watter = more "pushed" sounding, plexi = bigger sounding? Is that about right?

[stvnscott]

Your question is akin to asking how a Tweed Deluxe differs from a Twin Reverb.

The 18W is modeled on an old vintage amp called the Watkins Dominator. It is cathode biased, has a very simple preamp, a tube rectifier, and lots of sag and natural compression when pushed. It is something like a Tweed Deluxe running on EL84s (except for the different PI configuration).

A Plexi is a very different animal. Fixed bias, SS rectifier, no sag, very little compression (except when dimed).

You can cop some Plexi like tones with an 18W, but side-by-side there aren't as many similarities as a lot of people like to believe.

[BBQLS1]

Originally Posted by s2amps

Your question is akin to asking how a Tweed Deluxe differs from a Twin Reverb.

The 18W is modeled on an old vintage amp called the Watkins Dominator. It is cathode biased, has a very simple preamp, a tube rectifier, and lots of sag and natural compression when pushed. It is something like a Tweed Deluxe running on EL84s (except for the different PI configuration).

A Plexi is a very different animal. Fixed bias, SS rectifier, no sag, very little compression (except when dimed).

You can cop some Plexi like tones with an 18W, but side-by-side there aren't as many similarities as a lot of people like to believe.

I agree, but I'd like to stress the the 18 does get you that great middy crunch that Marshall is known for. It's not exactly the same, but most couldn't tell you the difference.

[spookyelectric]

Originally Posted by s2amps

Your question is akin to asking how a Tweed Deluxe differs from a Twin Reverb.

The 18W is modeled on an old vintage amp called the Watkins Dominator. It is cathode biased, has a very simple preamp, a tube rectifier, and lots of sag and natural compression when pushed. It is something like a Tweed Deluxe running on EL84s (except for the different PI configuration).

A Plexi is a very different animal. Fixed bias, SS rectifier, no sag, very little compression (except when dimed).

You can cop some Plexi like tones with an 18W, but side-by-side there aren't as many similarities as a lot of people like to believe.

Ahhh, I think I get it now--- tweed deluxe but w/ EL84's.... that sort of sound. More "chewy", and less tight then?

[re-animator]

correctamundo.


to me, I associate the 18 watter as a more chill-axed version of a plexi, but definitely much squishier. Its like a tweed deluxe/champ with an english accent.