100 watt amps. Do you really need that much power?
- Thread starter Mike M.
- Start date
That90'sGuy
DyzaBoyzologist
Re: 100 watt amps. Do you really need that much power?
Future amps should definitely have more power options. I mentioned this with the Satriani thread, but would it kill companies to make amps that can be 100, but can also be adjustable with a knob to 50 , 30 etc? 50w is all you need for any gig, even unmic'd.
Future amps should definitely have more power options. I mentioned this with the Satriani thread, but would it kill companies to make amps that can be 100, but can also be adjustable with a knob to 50 , 30 etc? 50w is all you need for any gig, even unmic'd.
kmcguitars
GuitarArtologist
Re: 100 watt amps. Do you really need that much power?
that hade a 1/2 power switch. ( I should have held onto that amp) The
Fender red knob 'The Twin' from the 80's had a 100w to 25w switch. Your
right thought, EVERY amp should come with that STD.
Yeah ,That Idea has been around for a while. I had a 70's Musicman headthe_Chris said:
that hade a 1/2 power switch. ( I should have held onto that amp) The
Fender red knob 'The Twin' from the 80's had a 100w to 25w switch. Your
right thought, EVERY amp should come with that STD.
strat_master
New member
Re: 100 watt amps. Do you really need that much power?
HOORAY! if get a mesa boogie single recto head thats all ill ever need! I wont have to shag out another 500 for a 100 watt cuz thats too much! even 50 would be alot! WHOOO HOOO!!!!!
HOORAY! if get a mesa boogie single recto head thats all ill ever need! I wont have to shag out another 500 for a 100 watt cuz thats too much! even 50 would be alot! WHOOO HOOO!!!!!
strat_master
New member
Re: 100 watt amps. Do you really need that much power?
one more thing, how about the triple rectifier heads??!??!~ i know tom delonge uses one into 2 mesa 4 x 12 recto cabs! How the hell does he not kill anyone with that thing??!?!?!?!??!?!?!!??!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!?...WHO CAN USE 150 watts of high gain recto power??!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!??!?!?!??!?
one more thing, how about the triple rectifier heads??!??!~ i know tom delonge uses one into 2 mesa 4 x 12 recto cabs! How the hell does he not kill anyone with that thing??!?!?!?!??!?!?!!??!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!?...WHO CAN USE 150 watts of high gain recto power??!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!??!?!?!??!?
strat_master
New member
Re: 100 watt amps. Do you really need that much power?
PLus he uses VERY hot pick ups...liek the invader or the dirty fingers! WOW
PLus he uses VERY hot pick ups...liek the invader or the dirty fingers! WOW
Norman_T
New member
Re: 100 watt amps. Do you really need that much power?
Its all about image and the very clever marketing ploy by all the big boys - Marshall, Mesa etc to have you buy amps that you really cannot use until such time as the power tubes are starting to glow hot and then comes the sweet tones. In my early days I have had Marshall, Hiwatt, Soundcity stacks and although nice to be honest you played so loud that it was difficult to get a good tone acroos the whole band because of the imbalance. This was at a time when PA systems were frankly crap!!
You really don't need 100w amps unless you are gigging in stadiums, large stages - most of the "stage gear" that you find are actually dummies - and no sound is coming at all, just there to say oh how impressive!! Most of the time I use Blues Junior linked upped and off the floor on stands, other times I will use my Nomad 55 and ext speakers but again these are off the floor (see the picture below for an example of what I use).
Its all about image and the very clever marketing ploy by all the big boys - Marshall, Mesa etc to have you buy amps that you really cannot use until such time as the power tubes are starting to glow hot and then comes the sweet tones. In my early days I have had Marshall, Hiwatt, Soundcity stacks and although nice to be honest you played so loud that it was difficult to get a good tone acroos the whole band because of the imbalance. This was at a time when PA systems were frankly crap!!
You really don't need 100w amps unless you are gigging in stadiums, large stages - most of the "stage gear" that you find are actually dummies - and no sound is coming at all, just there to say oh how impressive!! Most of the time I use Blues Junior linked upped and off the floor on stands, other times I will use my Nomad 55 and ext speakers but again these are off the floor (see the picture below for an example of what I use).
PUCKBOY99
Irish Flagologist
Re: 100 watt amps. Do you really need that much power?
Tech21 Trademark 60 (60watts)....Power Engine 60 adds 60 more watts, if EVER needed.
SansAmp PSA-1...lotsa different amps in one package & you choose the output.
THD UniValve........15 LOUD watts of completely saturated tube tone.
Any of that can be miked or run to a P.A. if needed...........
I'm not gigging...mainly play at home or jamming with friends, occassionally out somewhere...so I don't have the obstacles some of you have. But for what it's worth, I'd rather hear every note being played with beautiful tone than something cranked out so loud that all you hear is noise.
I think 100 watts is a marketing ploy that hinges on young guys...it buys into the myth & makes them believe that "Bigger is Better". It's not the size of the toys boys....it's all in how you use that thang!!! :wink:
Tech21 Trademark 60 (60watts)....Power Engine 60 adds 60 more watts, if EVER needed.
SansAmp PSA-1...lotsa different amps in one package & you choose the output.
THD UniValve........15 LOUD watts of completely saturated tube tone.
Any of that can be miked or run to a P.A. if needed...........
I'm not gigging...mainly play at home or jamming with friends, occassionally out somewhere...so I don't have the obstacles some of you have. But for what it's worth, I'd rather hear every note being played with beautiful tone than something cranked out so loud that all you hear is noise.
I think 100 watts is a marketing ploy that hinges on young guys...it buys into the myth & makes them believe that "Bigger is Better". It's not the size of the toys boys....it's all in how you use that thang!!! :wink:
garublador
New member
Re: 100 watt amps. Do you really need that much power?
Some people "need" a 100 watt amp in the same way some people "need" tubes. Tube amps sound different than SS amps and 100 watt amps sound different than 30 watt amps.
Some people "need" a 100 watt amp in the same way some people "need" tubes. Tube amps sound different than SS amps and 100 watt amps sound different than 30 watt amps.
L
Lewguitar
Guest
Re: 100 watt amps. Do you really need that much power?
Nice Hamer Artist you have there Norman...that's a beaut! ( BTW, Did you try the new pickguard yet? ) Lew
Norman_T said:Its all about image and the very clever marketing ploy by all the big boys - Marshall, Mesa etc to have you buy amps that you really cannot use until such time as the power tubes are starting to glow hot and then comes the sweet tones. In my early days I have had Marshall, Hiwatt, Soundcity stacks and although nice to be honest you played so loud that it was difficult to get a good tone acroos the whole band because of the imbalance. This was at a time when PA systems were frankly crap!!
You really don't need 100w amps unless you are gigging in stadiums, large stages - most of the "stage gear" that you find are actually dummies - and no sound is coming at all, just there to say oh how impressive!! Most of the time I use Blues Junior linked upped and off the floor on stands, other times I will use my Nomad 55 and ext speakers but again these are off the floor (see the picture below for an example of what I use).
Nice Hamer Artist you have there Norman...that's a beaut! ( BTW, Did you try the new pickguard yet? ) Lew
Vasshu the humanoid typhoon
Unseen
Re: 100 watt amps. Do you really need that much power?
That is why I have several different amps.
And 100 watters have their very own sound that the smaller amps never will get.
The headroom is nice to have
That is why I have several different amps.
And 100 watters have their very own sound that the smaller amps never will get.
The headroom is nice to have
dystrust
Well-known member
Re: 100 watt amps. Do you really need that much power?
I agree that in most cases a 100W head is overkill, however I play Marshalls and the 50W and 100W heads sound different event when comparing the same type of head (2550 vs. 2555 for example). I also prefer the headroom and thickness of a 100 watter, and the overall volume difference between 50W and 100W is much smaller than you'd think. Lastly, I have a very loud drummer and I usually have the output master on my 2555 at 4-5 at rehearsal. That level can only be described as wicked loud, so I always wear plugs when playing.
I agree that in most cases a 100W head is overkill, however I play Marshalls and the 50W and 100W heads sound different event when comparing the same type of head (2550 vs. 2555 for example). I also prefer the headroom and thickness of a 100 watter, and the overall volume difference between 50W and 100W is much smaller than you'd think. Lastly, I have a very loud drummer and I usually have the output master on my 2555 at 4-5 at rehearsal. That level can only be described as wicked loud, so I always wear plugs when playing.
Robert S.
Super Moderator
Re: 100 watt amps. Do you really need that much power?
I have 2 main amps that I play out of. One is a 100 watt Marshall JCM 800 2203 and the other is a Mesa Stereo Simul-Class 2:Ninety. The Marshall is my small amp for the moment and the Mesa is what I use to check my houses structural integrety.
Both amps can be run at reasonable levels and it really depends alot on how you dial them in. The Marshall tends to need to be run on the low sensitivity input and then front ended with something to keep it reasonable and to allow for something that resembles a clean channel, but it is possible. The Mesa rack has a few points in the signal chain where I can pad the signal and allow for the 2:90 to be opened up enough to get a nice vocal quality from the eight 6L6s that power the output section.
It's really all in how you run and manage all that power. I tend to need a lot of flexability on stage and the extra headroom available from bigger power sections
often comes in handy.
Part of it is marketing, part of it really is nessessity. If you are running a vintage style MV amp like a JCM 800 straight out it will be deafening. Thats when an OD or Distortion pedal can come in handy to make your rig more manageable. With modern amps that have cascading gain stages and derive their tone from a combination of preamp and poweramp distortion it's very likely that your hotter tones will allow backing off the poweramp for optimal tone. Running the master at 7-8 on a 120 watt amp is likely to drop your output 3-6 db which puts you solidly in the 50-60 watt range. there just isn't that much difference in volume between a 50 watt and a 100 watt amp. The biggest diference is headroom on the clean channels and the tone difference as you roll your power amp levels around.
My Marshall in particular sounds much darker with the preamp on 10 than it does on 8. Rolling the master and preamp levels around not only changes the amount of volume and gain, but it chamges the tone of the amp as well.
If you are running a 100 watt amp dimed, you are probably too loud but chances are a 50 watt amp dimes is also too darn loud for most situations. But if you want/need flexability and extra headroom 100 watt amps can give you that if you run them properly. I play out regularily on a tube amp that is conservatively rated at 180 watts and I rarely get told I am too loud and I always get killer tone.
It's all in how you use it. 100 watts is just a number, it has nothing to do with tone or volume once you figure out exactly why they put all those pesky knobs on the front of your amp and what those knobs actually do.
That being said, I still want an 18 watt Marshall clone.
I have 2 main amps that I play out of. One is a 100 watt Marshall JCM 800 2203 and the other is a Mesa Stereo Simul-Class 2:Ninety. The Marshall is my small amp for the moment and the Mesa is what I use to check my houses structural integrety.
Both amps can be run at reasonable levels and it really depends alot on how you dial them in. The Marshall tends to need to be run on the low sensitivity input and then front ended with something to keep it reasonable and to allow for something that resembles a clean channel, but it is possible. The Mesa rack has a few points in the signal chain where I can pad the signal and allow for the 2:90 to be opened up enough to get a nice vocal quality from the eight 6L6s that power the output section.
It's really all in how you run and manage all that power. I tend to need a lot of flexability on stage and the extra headroom available from bigger power sections
often comes in handy.
Part of it is marketing, part of it really is nessessity. If you are running a vintage style MV amp like a JCM 800 straight out it will be deafening. Thats when an OD or Distortion pedal can come in handy to make your rig more manageable. With modern amps that have cascading gain stages and derive their tone from a combination of preamp and poweramp distortion it's very likely that your hotter tones will allow backing off the poweramp for optimal tone. Running the master at 7-8 on a 120 watt amp is likely to drop your output 3-6 db which puts you solidly in the 50-60 watt range. there just isn't that much difference in volume between a 50 watt and a 100 watt amp. The biggest diference is headroom on the clean channels and the tone difference as you roll your power amp levels around.
My Marshall in particular sounds much darker with the preamp on 10 than it does on 8. Rolling the master and preamp levels around not only changes the amount of volume and gain, but it chamges the tone of the amp as well.
If you are running a 100 watt amp dimed, you are probably too loud but chances are a 50 watt amp dimes is also too darn loud for most situations. But if you want/need flexability and extra headroom 100 watt amps can give you that if you run them properly. I play out regularily on a tube amp that is conservatively rated at 180 watts and I rarely get told I am too loud and I always get killer tone.
It's all in how you use it. 100 watts is just a number, it has nothing to do with tone or volume once you figure out exactly why they put all those pesky knobs on the front of your amp and what those knobs actually do.
That being said, I still want an 18 watt Marshall clone.
L
Lewguitar
Guest
Re: 100 watt amps. Do you really need that much power?
Me too!
I think 100 watts is useful for clean tones...but for distorted tones a smaller amp will do. Wes Montgomery used a 80 watt Twin Reverb, but it was to get a strong, clear, clean tone. Jeff Beck uses a 50 watt Marshall, so does Yngwie. I think the tendency IS to go with smaller amps these days. Eric Johnson has turned down...he's losing his hearing...like all of us older players who played loudly for long.
But some things you just have to learn for yourself, unfortunately, sometimes after it's to late.
I have heard that many concert violinists suffer from ear damage too! You wouldn't think so, but it's true.
Lew
Robert S. said:
Me too!
I think 100 watts is useful for clean tones...but for distorted tones a smaller amp will do. Wes Montgomery used a 80 watt Twin Reverb, but it was to get a strong, clear, clean tone. Jeff Beck uses a 50 watt Marshall, so does Yngwie. I think the tendency IS to go with smaller amps these days. Eric Johnson has turned down...he's losing his hearing...like all of us older players who played loudly for long.But some things you just have to learn for yourself, unfortunately, sometimes after it's to late.
I have heard that many concert violinists suffer from ear damage too! You wouldn't think so, but it's true.
Lew
JfromHouston
New member
Re: 100 watt amps. Do you really need that much power?
I would love to see a 10-20 watt hi-gain head. 1 Power tube and 4 12AX7s. Problem with that (I think) would be that it wouldn't have enough bottom end. It seems like the majoruty of low wattage amps don't have to much grunt, and theres nothing I love more than palm mutes rattling the walls.
And yes, I agree with you guys. 100 watts is a huge over kill.
J
I would love to see a 10-20 watt hi-gain head. 1 Power tube and 4 12AX7s. Problem with that (I think) would be that it wouldn't have enough bottom end. It seems like the majoruty of low wattage amps don't have to much grunt, and theres nothing I love more than palm mutes rattling the walls.
And yes, I agree with you guys. 100 watts is a huge over kill.
J
mr breaker
New member
Re: 100 watt amps. Do you really need that much power?
I love all 100 watts of my DSL....volume and gain cranked to 7. (with ear plugs of course)
I love all 100 watts of my DSL....volume and gain cranked to 7. (with ear plugs of course)
Lee_M.
Brockburst Toneologist
Re: 100 watt amps. Do you really need that much power?
Very true. I agree that you don't need bigger amps these days, but some of the best high-end amps are not made in 30W-50W versions. Take my SLO-100 for example. It only comes in a 100W. Now, you can have it modded for 50W, but that's not the point. I'm sure the Bogner's and Diezels are just the same. Sometimes you are just at the mercy of the manufacturer.
Falstaff said:
Very true. I agree that you don't need bigger amps these days, but some of the best high-end amps are not made in 30W-50W versions. Take my SLO-100 for example. It only comes in a 100W. Now, you can have it modded for 50W, but that's not the point. I'm sure the Bogner's and Diezels are just the same. Sometimes you are just at the mercy of the manufacturer.
TwilightOdyssey
Darkness on the edge of Tone
Re: 100 watt amps. Do you really need that much power?
I have to have my 50w JCM800 on 9 to be at the same volume as my Rivera at 3 .... in my experience, I love the tone of the 50 watter, but it runs out of steam real fast; I'd much rather use it for recording, and use the Rivera for gigging.
I have to have my 50w JCM800 on 9 to be at the same volume as my Rivera at 3 .... in my experience, I love the tone of the 50 watter, but it runs out of steam real fast; I'd much rather use it for recording, and use the Rivera for gigging.
