40-50w tube head suggestions for club gigs.

B

B2D

SDUGF Riffologist Supremö
I'm looking to add a second amp head or combo to my stable for a cover band/club gig setup. The 100w JVM I have can be a little much at times. I'd considered the 50w JVM but I always like other choices.

I'd like something with the following specs.

- 2 channels, 3 would be better.
- 40-50w, selectable power options for power reduction to 20-25w a plus.
- Tube amps preferred, though other options can be considered.
- Series effects loop

In the $1000 range used would be preferable.

I'd been looking at a few Boogies, Egnater Renegade, Marshall JVM205, and even a Roland Blues Cube amp with pedals driving it.

Suggestions?
 
Last edited:
Re: 40-50w tube head suggestions for club gigs.

Spend $100-200 more and get a Splawn Quick Rod. It has half power switch and slays all of those amps. I have one for sale on consignment at my local shop, but it's a halfstack, is $1450 and would cost a fortune to ship anywhere from here in the sticks of MT.

But you find them on gear forums in the range I listed from time to time. It's a very versatile head, and I would still have mine if I didn't already have a Friedman BE100 and Wildwood Pink Taco. Hell... I may just drag it back home soon if it doesn't sell. I love that amp and it stands with everything that I've ever owned. The Friedman stuff cleans up better when the guitar volume is rolled off. But outside of that, the Splawn can toe to toe with it.
 
Re: 40-50w tube head suggestions for club gigs.

Red_Label said:
Spend $100-200 more and get a Splawn Quick Rod. It has half power switch and slays all of those amps. I have one for sale on consignment at my local shop, but it's a halfstack, is $1450 and would cost a fortune to ship anywhere from here in the sticks of MT.

But you find them on gear forums in the range I listed from time to time. It's a very versatile head, and I would still have mine if I didn't already have a Friedman BE100 and Wildwood Pink Taco. Hell... I may just drag it back home soon if it doesn't sell. I love that amp and it stands with everything that I've ever owned. The Friedman stuff cleans up better when the guitar volume is rolled off. But outside of that, the Splawn can toe to toe with it.
Click to expand...

+1 on the Quickrod. In addition to the half power switch, most newer models have a loop volume control. I can get a killer tone at a reasonable volume with mine.

And yes, it absolutely slays....every time somebody hears it, they look at me and say, Dude,WTF.....that amp is a BEAST!!!
 
Re: 40-50w tube head suggestions for club gigs.

I'll look into that one. I've only ever played one Splawn head and I wasn't too thrilled with it. I don't remember the model it was though.

Is it possible to pull two power tubes and get a 50 watt amp that can be switched to 25? I'll ask the builder...
 
Re: 40-50w tube head suggestions for club gigs.

IMO 20-25W isn't quite enough horsepower to be versatile & fully capable at club volume. I'd suggest at least 40W for gigs. Assuming you have a drummer and a couple of other members in the band, you're going to want some headroom for halfway decent cleans.
 
Re: 40-50w tube head suggestions for club gigs.

eclecticsynergy said:
IMO 20-25W isn't quite enough horsepower to be versatile & fully capable at club volume. I'd suggest at least 40W for gigs. Assuming you have a drummer and a couple of other members in the band, you're going to want some headroom for halfway decent cleans.
Click to expand...

That's correct. Which is why I'd like 40-50w at full power, and less power available for smaller gigs or rooms where I'll need to control the volume.
 
Re: 40-50w tube head suggestions for club gigs.

Mesa Roadster
Four channels
Five different gain modes
Switch on the back allows you take any channel down to 50 watts
Spongy switch on the front will take the 50 down to 35 or so
EL34s will make them sound much more Marshall-y

Heads can be scored around $1000 if you are patient
 
Re: 40-50w tube head suggestions for club gigs.

There is the Peavey invective .120 Head, though it's North of your price range. It's flexible and has some nice features. It has three channels, a half-power switch, dual effects loops, a noise gate, can be MIDI controlled, and provides 9 volts for your pedals. Check out:

https://peavey.com/products/index.cfm/item/658/118955
 
Last edited:
Re: 40-50w tube head suggestions for club gigs.

rbc said:
There is the Peavey invective .120 Head, though it's North of your price range. It's flexible and has some nice features. It has three channels, a half-power switch, dual effects loops, a noise gate, can be MIDI controlled, and provides 9 volts for your pedals. Check out:

https://peavey.com/products/index.cfm/item/658/118955
Click to expand...

Speaking of Peavey, on the used market there's the XXX/3120 and JSX/XXX 2
 
Re: 40-50w tube head suggestions for club gigs.

I've heard the XXX/3120 crunch and lead channel are identical and both very high gain. I believe the JSX/XXX 2 crunch channel has more modest gain characteristics.
 
Re: 40-50w tube head suggestions for club gigs.

I've tried the 5150-based amps and I owned a XXX for a brief period a long time ago. The newer 5150 types are better for sure but overall I find them too gainy, compressed... not really my thing.
 
Re: 40-50w tube head suggestions for club gigs.

Id go for either the jvm or something from hughes & kettner. Laney irt 60 is badass as well. But if u buy a 5150, i will cry a considerable amount of tears
 
Re: 40-50w tube head suggestions for club gigs.

This is a hard one. In the Mesa line, I'd look at the Lonestars, both Classic and Special. A Simul-Class class Mark III, Mark IV or Mark V would work, but the Mark V would probably be out of your range. Take a hard look at the Electra-Dyne. Another one to look at would be the Express 5:50+. If you need that Recto tone...well...there you go.

And finally the Royal Atlantic, a 100-watt beast with built-in attenuators. I've got the Mark Series amps, but this is one I keep thinking about.

Bill
 
Re: 40-50w tube head suggestions for club gigs.

dxlxntxxlxr said:
Id go for either the jvm or something from hughes & kettner. Laney irt 60 is badass as well. But if u buy a 5150, i will cry a considerable amount of tears
Click to expand...

I haven't looked at Laney or H&K yet. I haven't ruled out a 50W JVM but I would like a better clean channel and lower noise under high gain. My 100w one is so noisy - I gotta find a way to tame that down.
 
Re: 40-50w tube head suggestions for club gigs.

Boogie Bill said:
This is a hard one. In the Mesa line, I'd look at the Lonestars, both Classic and Special. A Simul-Class class Mark III, Mark IV or Mark V would work, but the Mark V would probably be out of your range. Take a hard look at the Electra-Dyne. Another one to look at would be the Express 5:50+. If you need that Recto tone...well...there you go.

And finally the Royal Atlantic, a 100-watt beast with built-in attenuators. I've got the Mark Series amps, but this is one I keep thinking about.

Bill
Click to expand...

I find the Mark series to be complex to the point of annoying, and I don't really care for the tone. I'd been looking at the Express 550+ and the Triple Crown 50W.

I used to have a 50w Rectoverb head (the solo rectifier with reverb) and it was just OK. hit-or-miss. plus it had this weird thing going on with the effects loop that basically made me sell the amp.

The new 25 R-O-V head is a totally different amp. I love that thing.
 
Re: 40-50w tube head suggestions for club gigs.

B2D said:
I find the Mark series to be complex to the point of annoying, and I don't really care for the tone. I'd been looking at the Express 550+ and the Triple Crown 50W.

I used to have a 50w Rectoverb head (the solo rectifier with reverb) and it was just OK. hit-or-miss. plus it had this weird thing going on with the effects loop that basically made me sell the amp.

The new 25 R-O-V head is a totally different amp. I love that thing.
Click to expand...

Roadsters and Road Kings were voiced a lot better, much less harsh than the old 50 watt amps. I have an old single and it just won't sound like my road king, no matter what I do. Roadsters and RKs also have the lonestar clean channel and can cover just about anything.
 
Re: 40-50w tube head suggestions for club gigs.

Just looked at the Roadster... cool amp but again this is a 100w amp that goes down to 50. That's not what I want. I'm looking for a 50-watter that goes down to 25. I don't need the extra power and the weight of those Roadsters is considerable, even for someone that hauls a 4x12 around.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top