guitargeek6298
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So, I was curious how loud my amps really are. Marshalls are notoriously loud, and the Carvin x100b reissue famously wasn't as loud as many expected a 100w amp to be.
I started by plugging in the x100b into a 2x12 cab loaded with ET-65's from WGS. The lead channel volume got rolled all the way up, gain all the way up, and the extra gain boost switch OFF. I used a nifty app on my phone, called Decibal 10th, placed very scientifically on the corner of my couch
The Carvin peaked at 111.9db, and averaged around 110-111 while playing chunky open and power chords.
Next, I plugged my 1980 Marshall 4010 combo into the same WGS loaded cab. Master rolled all the way up, preamp rolled up to 9.8, because the input isn't sheilded on this amp and if I roll it to 10, it sometimes oscillates. I played the same chunky power chords and open chords.
The Marshall peaked at 113.8db, but averaged around the same 110-111. The peak was when I was getting feedback (which, because of the unshielded input on this amp, is MUCH easier than the x100b).
I found this interesting, the Marshall is only 50w, ostensibly, but averaged the same volume and even peaked louder. Overall the Marshall feels louder too, if that makes any sense. The frequencies just sit in a range that really seems to cut through.
The Carvin, while obviously still loud, doesn't have that "about to explode" kind of feel at the same volume as the Marshall, and it's actually surprising how similar the Carvin sounds at full volume to when it's turned down. The Marshall of course, sounds almost completely different with the master cranked vs. playing down at "reasonable band levels".
But I was surprised that the Carvin wasn't louder, having an extra two power tubes and all. But Carvins seem to be biased pretty cold, while I know my Marshall I biased at around 62% disapation, considerably warmer than Carvin biases their amps from the factory. I did warm up the bias on the x100b slightly, but it's definitely not that warm. I don't know how much of that will translate into extra volume.
Anyways, I thought this was interesting so I thought I'd share.
I started by plugging in the x100b into a 2x12 cab loaded with ET-65's from WGS. The lead channel volume got rolled all the way up, gain all the way up, and the extra gain boost switch OFF. I used a nifty app on my phone, called Decibal 10th, placed very scientifically on the corner of my couch
The Carvin peaked at 111.9db, and averaged around 110-111 while playing chunky open and power chords.
Next, I plugged my 1980 Marshall 4010 combo into the same WGS loaded cab. Master rolled all the way up, preamp rolled up to 9.8, because the input isn't sheilded on this amp and if I roll it to 10, it sometimes oscillates. I played the same chunky power chords and open chords.
The Marshall peaked at 113.8db, but averaged around the same 110-111. The peak was when I was getting feedback (which, because of the unshielded input on this amp, is MUCH easier than the x100b).
I found this interesting, the Marshall is only 50w, ostensibly, but averaged the same volume and even peaked louder. Overall the Marshall feels louder too, if that makes any sense. The frequencies just sit in a range that really seems to cut through.
The Carvin, while obviously still loud, doesn't have that "about to explode" kind of feel at the same volume as the Marshall, and it's actually surprising how similar the Carvin sounds at full volume to when it's turned down. The Marshall of course, sounds almost completely different with the master cranked vs. playing down at "reasonable band levels".
But I was surprised that the Carvin wasn't louder, having an extra two power tubes and all. But Carvins seem to be biased pretty cold, while I know my Marshall I biased at around 62% disapation, considerably warmer than Carvin biases their amps from the factory. I did warm up the bias on the x100b slightly, but it's definitely not that warm. I don't know how much of that will translate into extra volume.
Anyways, I thought this was interesting so I thought I'd share.