More dumb questions ...

[Osensei]

I know I should have answered these questions decades ago. But I periodically post dumb questions like this one in an ongoing effort to remedy my profound ignorance on the subject. So here goes:

Why would you buy a 50 watt amp when the same amp comes with a 100 watt. Case in point the Boogie Lone Star comes in a 50 watt combo but also comes as a 50/100. Why then would I want the 50? Pricing aside.

 

[SlyFoxx]

Re: More dumb questions ...

Amps generally sound best (for rock and blues especially) when driven hard. A 50 watt amp is not as powerful as a 100 watt amp so it will "give up the goods" at a lower volume. Granted it won't be very much lower but it will be lower. A good 50 watt tube amp like a Mesa will still be VERY loud when turned up.

I leave my Loanstar Special in 15 watt mode and have no trouble keeping up with the rest of the band.

 

[Mephis]

Re: More dumb questions ...

The question should be "why would you pay close to the same for an amp with cheaper transformers?"

I'd take a 100watter over a 50watter any day of the week.

 

[The Golden Boy]

Re: More dumb questions ...

When I was a kid, I really thought you NEEDED 100w for rock and roll. My first "real" amp was a 100w NMV Marshall- I traded that in for a 100w MV Marshall, and did that a few times until everybody and their mom kept telling me to try a 50w. I traded that 100w for the 50- and I didn't believe the difference. The 50 was bigger and fuller, and gave so much more than the 100w pulled back. Keep in mind the difference in percieved volume is only going to be something like 12%, it's not going to be "twice as loud" as a 50w.

Twice the power doesn't mean twice the goodness.

 

[Bludave]

Re: More dumb questions ...

The primary difference between a 50W and a 100W is headroom. A tube amp sounds best when the volume reaches a point to saturate the tubes. This will happen sooner on a 50W amp than on 100. SO with 50W amps will break up sooner and have a warmer tone at a slightly lower volume. If you want more clean headroom than a 100W amp will give you that. The transformers in a 50W will be of equal quality to a 100W. The 100's will be a little bigger.