18 watt vs. SuperLead 50/100

W

Wheelbarrow

New member
Aren't the 18 watts supposed to be a scaled down version of the plexi superleads? Or are they totally different?

Can I run an 18 watt amp in an EVH type amp-variac-dummy load-power amp setup and get a similar sound to the 100 watt plexi in that setup?

What are the similarities and differences between these types of amps?
 
Re: 18 watt vs. SuperLead 50/100

they aren't worlds apart but they aren't exactly the same either. The 18's are more Bluesbreaker than Plexi IMHO

I personally wouldn't run a variac with any amp I didn't want to repair/replace soon
 
Re: 18 watt vs. SuperLead 50/100

Totally different animals. I think there are some good recent threads on 18watt.com about the differences and similarities.

If you want a Plexi, buy a Plexi (or a good clone). If volume is an issue, well, 100 watts isn't much louder than 18 watts, so I wouldn't be looking at an 18 watter for volume reasons. Instead, I'd power scale the plexi.
 
Re: 18 watt vs. SuperLead 50/100

I was under the impression that the 18 watters were scaled-down student version of the "BluesBreaker" amps.
 
Re: 18 watt vs. SuperLead 50/100

the jtm45 and the 18w dont sound any more similar than the 18w and a plexi. they are different beast and all have some of that marshall character but in different flavors
 
Re: 18 watt vs. SuperLead 50/100

el84 which is part of the reason why it doesnt sound like the others
 
Re: 18 watt vs. SuperLead 50/100

jeremy said:
the jtm45 and the 18w dont sound any more similar than the 18w and a plexi. they are different beast and all have some of that marshall character but in different flavors
Click to expand...

That is the perfect answer! However, that is the joy of having the 18 watt vintage Marshall tone in a lower volume package. I have to disagree with MattPete on that the volume isn't that much different between 18w and 100w, there is....not by as much as one would think but they are not comparable. For example my 18watter which is quite loud through a 2x12 was drowned out by a '68 Bassman head also through a 2x12. Some of it was in the eq'ing but most was in increased volume.
 
Re: 18 watt vs. SuperLead 50/100

JumpMarine, you have to remember though that the EL34s break up quicker in the Plexi than the 18w'ers EL84's so it becomes sort of a wash in terms of overall volume for most users needs as you might be able to get your tone from a Plexi thats not cranked sooner that you could on a 18w head.

I've had some smaller EL84 heads and to get the tones I wanted always had to really crank them.

I'm personally looking for a low wattage EL34 type of clone which is a bit harder to find.

Having an EL34 based Plexi clone running at low wattage such as maybe 7 watts is what I'm still trying to find.
 
Re: 18 watt vs. SuperLead 50/100

el34's break up earlier than el84's? that has not been my experience.

the only way you will get 7w out of an el34 amp is if its single ended and running pretty low voltage. with a pair of tubes youll be lucky to get less than 30w with el34's. that 30w amp would probably break up pretty early but im not sure what it would sound like.

to my ears 6V6 tubes sound more like el34's than el84's, so maybe a dual 6V6 plexi style amp would be worth tracking down. it still wont be 7w but 20 is much more manageable
 
Re: 18 watt vs. SuperLead 50/100

Just for fun - if you click on the link in the first post of this thread, you'll hear a 7 watt push-pull amp using a pair of 6BM8 tubes for both the phase inverter and power tubes. (each 6BM8 is like a half-power EL-84 plus half a 12AT7 in one bottle)

Not bad for 7 watts, eh?

Chip
 
Re: 18 watt vs. SuperLead 50/100

Well I guess it wouldn't be technically called breakup your right, but given the more, umm, glassy I guess you could say ?, quality of the EL84 verses the EL34 which is a little fuller and saturated has always led me to find that I can get the tone I want out of an EL34 amp sooner than a EL84. It just really depends on what your after and what you consider good tone since its so subjective.

I prefer a cranked EL34 tone the most but they don't sound too bad with a MV so that can still keep you somewhat happy at home
 
Re: 18 watt vs. SuperLead 50/100

jeremy said:
to my ears 6V6 tubes sound more like el34's than el84's, so maybe a dual 6V6 plexi style amp would be worth tracking down. it still wont be 7w but 20 is much more manageable
Click to expand...


If you don't mind doing it yourself, Trinity sells a kit that can switch on the fly between 6v6 and El84. Also, Kevin O'Conner has released some schematics for power scaling the 18 watt.
 
Re: 18 watt vs. SuperLead 50/100

First you have to decide what you mean when you say Plexi...if you get down to it early JTM-45's, 1962's (the 1962 is the amp everyone calles the Bluesbreaker) 1959's, 1987's 1986's, Super Bass, and some of the early 18 and20 watters are ALL Plexi amps!

Now, I think they question is do the 18 watters sound like the 50 and 100 watters and the answer is NO!

They sound similar but not the same, not at all...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top