Done. Im tired of my 100 watters... time to move on

[Thames]

Well....

I used mostly 50-100w amps in the past 10 years.
I had a 1959 SLP and Superbass...
I now own a Vintage Modern 100w and a 6100 30th ann...

Im very tired of those monster amps, that I rarely set half way...

Id like to know more about those 15-30w amps. Im looking at an Orange AD30 (which is already a loud amp) or anything in the 15 w range. However I plan to keep my 4x12 cabs (I have 3 : G12M, G12C, G12H)...

For those who have passed thru the same "crisis", please share your input.

 

[jpage]

I play the same stuff you do--believe it or not, 50w makes a difference on stage. That being said, I've played a Dual Terror through a 2x12 cab and got nothing but compliments. As long as you stay with a closed back cab you'll be fine.

 

[8len8]

I used to use big 100W heads, but they were too heavy to lug around. Then the trick is to find a low power, small head that sounds close to a 100W. The small power heads tend to come with 6V6s, EL-84s, or 6L6's (not the big EL-34s used in many big heads).

Check http://www.grangeramp.com.

 

[ungarn]

Phaez or Wizard amps is in Canada?

Have you considered a higher end attenuator?

A 50 watt Marshall and an attenuator is not too bad.

 

[guitarjazz]

In what venues do people use a 100 watter? I can't imagine in this day and age.

 

[ledzep618]

In what venues do people use a 100 watter? I can't imagine in this day and age.

Seriously? I use a 100 watter at every venue I play from 50-5000 seats. They have master volumes and they sound and feel better than small amps at the same volume.

I can't imagine not using a high wattage amp.

 

[gigs]

Seriously? I use a 100 watter at every venue I play from 50-5000 seats. They have master volumes and they sound and feel better than small amps at the same volume.

I can't imagine not using a high wattage amp.

Exactly.

 

[Braunzo]

I don't know... I've used high wattage amps ever since I started playing. I now gig with a (modded) Deluxe Reverb and a Matchless Lightning 15. I can't say they sound or feel less adequate than my old larger amps. My back, ears and sound guy are much happier.

 

[Jason_77]

Seriously? I use a 100 watter at every venue I play from 50-5000 seats. They have master volumes and they sound and feel better than small amps at the same volume.

I can't imagine not using a high wattage amp.

Same here. For me, both my plexi with an attenuator and my DSL with its master sound better than any of the low-watt amps I've played.

 

[Peteyvee]

The devil you say... I have an 18 watter ('84 SC), 22 watter (DR), 30 watter (BBRI), a 45 watter (BFSR), a 50 watter (late '69 1987) and have owned many 100 watters. There is no substitute for big iron. I also have an attenuator, which you may want to try first...

 

[HoboMan]

I used 50 Watt Marshall JMPs & JCMs since 1985.

Got a Budda SD18 year ago and it's pretty much all I use now.
I A/B tested it with my JCM800 50 watter and found that the Budda could cover all the ground plus more than my JCM800 and believe it or not, got almost as loud.

Sold my last Marshall a few weeks ago and use my 40lb 1x12 Budda combo for gigs now.

 

[droptune]

Im in the same boat. I have several huge amps. 50 watts up to 300 watts. I mostly use my 1 watt JVM at home. I want to try an Engl Ironball 20 watt and see how that works with my band. My drummer is so loud though, I have a Mesa Triple Recto on five. I really think big amps are becoming obsolete though.

 

[guitarjazz]

Seriously? I use a 100 watter at every venue I play from 50-5000 seats. They have master volumes and they sound and feel better than small amps at the same volume.

I can't imagine not using a high wattage amp.

What kind of band ?

 

[Lucidology]

In what venues do people use a 100 watter? I can't imagine in this day and age.

I do quite a bit … especially at the lower volume gigs … say when playing background music for dinners …
At 'any' volume you just get a wider, bigger cleaner tone …
If that's what you want, that is …
Watts has a great deal to deal with the kind of tone ones looking for …
And help increase the immediacy of a notes attack …

 

[Cosmo-D]

Seriously? I use a 100 watter at every venue I play from 50-5000 seats. They have master volumes and they sound and feel better than small amps at the same volume.

I can't imagine not using a high wattage amp.

This. It's definitely a matter of feel. They make amps with great, usable master volumes these days! My #1 gig amp is 120 watts.

 

[sstweed]

This topic pops up regularly. There are lots of ways to skin a cat. Different ways to mix a band. Lately I haven't been in a playing situation where I was allowed to be as loud or louder than the drummer (acoustic). The audience hears the FOH not my amp. For that matter I hear about half and half amp and monitor. Keeps stages quieter, typically yields a better mix. Sometimes a MUCH better mix. Does it make for better guitar tone? I don't know, but I think most would prefer a better band mix to better guitar tone. (Everyone except the guitarist).

So lately I use a small 5e3 combo. I love tweed tone, and they were all small combos. I also love the Marshall thing though too. Owned lots of them through the years. I've used power scaling, attenuators, master volumes, etc. they work...ok. But to my ear, most of that 'big iron' tone comes from volume. Roll that volume down with any trick you want, and the difference the big iron and closed back speakers makes, especially in a mix, starts to vanish. If it's still better to you (and it probably will be), then that's what's important. You can bring the Back To The Future amp for all I care, so long as you fit into the mix. Again you have to put the mix first. After that what ever tone you can get is fair game. And in some loud mixes you can use all that power. Then you MUST have the bigger amp.

I am always on the look out for a small light amp that sounds BIG like big iron amps and close backed speakers. But big amps aren't for me much anymore. If still own one if I could use it more often. I love them. But I got burned out fast hauling big speakers and heavy amps places (usually with huge parking lots and lots of stairs) just to pump out about 3 watts of actual power. Even half way up on a 50 watter in most places around here and I'll get asked to no longer participate. I could haul a heavy big iron amp just for the tone, but it just feels like a lot of wasted energy and burning up a couple extra expensive tubes for nothing.

 

[Fulldrive-1]

Seriously? I use a 100 watter at every venue I play from 50-5000 seats. They have master volumes and they sound and feel better than small amps at the same volume.

I can't imagine not using a high wattage amp.

When I "downsized," I went from 100 watt JMPs to fifties.

Big amps are cool.

 

[Echoplexi]

When I "downsized," I went from 100 watt JMPs to fifties. Big amps are cool.

Me too. Superbass to 1987.

 

[Coldacre]

tired of 100 watters???


its time for a Marshall Major!

 

[la noise]

Well....

I used mostly 50-100w amps in the past 10 years.
I had a 1959 SLP and Superbass...
I now own a Vintage Modern 100w and a 6100 30th ann...

Im very tired of those monster amps, that I rarely set half way...

Id like to know more about those 15-30w amps. Im looking at an Orange AD30 (which is already a loud amp) or anything in the 15 w range. However I plan to keep my 4x12 cabs (I have 3 : G12M, G12C, G12H)...

For those who have passed thru the same "crisis", please share your input.

I have several big amps. My Orange AD30 and Winfield Cyclone get the most play time, though.