Rack amp guys help please!

[pinto79]

I have a Marshall JMP-1 Preamp and I'm looking to buy a tube power amp for it. The two that I have narrowed it down to are the Carvin TS100 and the Peavey Classic 50/50.

Both are all tube and 50 watts per side.

The Carvin uses EL34 Tubes and the Peavey Uses EL84.

Does anyone know which tube type would in essence "hit the speakers" harder? My thinking leans me toward the EL34's being the more aggressive tube which is the situtaion I would prefer.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,


Trevor

 

[dd12939]

Re: Rack amp guys help please!

I have a Peavey 50/50 (I use it to power a Boss GT-6) and FWIW, it doesn't seem to hit the speakers too hard. It's plenty loud, mind you, but it doesn't seem to be terribly aggressive, if that's what you're looking for.
Also I should note that the tubes are pretty old. I need to replace them.

 

[V!N]

Re: Rack amp guys help please!

Not sure if you're going to want to bust my nut for this, but you really ought to think of the Mesa 20/20.

I've borrowed a couple of racks this year, both with the JMP-1. Amazing sound in there. One was hooked to a Marshall 50/50 with EL34's and I had to put it at 1/2 to about 3/4 of its full capacity.
The Other had the Mesa 20/20 with EL84's and it ran on 1/4 to 1/2 of its full capacity ! It's way more efficient than the Marshall. On top of that, the Mesa had way more punch, harmonics, cut better through the mix and made the JMP sound more raw.

If you have eliminated the Mesa already when you narrowed things down, ignore me. If it never was on your list to begin with, put it on there right now.

 

[pinto79]

Re: Rack amp guys help please!

Part of the deal tho is the cost factor. I haven't priced the 20/20... I'll have to do that. My experience with Mesa has generally been that they are huge money. I will definately take a look.

Thanks.

 

[AdmiralB]

Re: Rack amp guys help please!

The Marshall 20/20 is an excellent amp also.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Rack amp guys help please!

I got my Mesa 50:50 for $700USD used. It killed the Peavey when I tried them back to back with my GT-8.

The Carvin does interest me though, seeing as how you can run different power tube on each side.

 

[walt]

Re: Rack amp guys help please!

I have a older TS100 from Carvin. It seems to work pretty well and will work the speakers hard if you flood it with preamp. I also run it with 5881 tubes and get great tone out of it. see pic below

 

[myxolidian]

Re: Rack amp guys help please!

+1 for the Mesa 20/20. It sounds fantastic. And don't be fooled by it's 20 watt rating. The thing is loud.