Single channel tube 50 watt heads?

[ErikH]

Re: Single channel tube 50 watt heads?

Marshall JCM 900 MkIII 2500. Pre-SLX model. Simple, sounds great, dual master volumes (footswitchable), effects loop. Just a no-frills amp. Sadly, they were made only from 1990-1992. They have EL-34's in them BUT, if you find a SLX 2500, there's a good chance that it'll have 5881's (same bottle as 6L6's). I'm an EL-34 guy and prefer the MkIII over the SLX (I own a MkIII 2100). Search the used market. You might find one at a good price.

 

[allbutromeo]

Re: Single channel tube 50 watt heads?

Unfortunately single channel amps have mostly been relegated to either affordable, low wattage (15w or less) lunch box heads, or higher end boutique heads at $2000+, bit there are some options out there. You might want to check out the Ibanez TSA30-H, 30w 6L6 powered single channel with a built in footswitchable TS9. Or, the Bugera V55HD, 55w 6L6 2-channel. or the Bugera 1960 plexi based amp, it's advertised @150 but more like 100w but the master volume and ability to pick either ch1 or 2, or both parallel, or both cascaded gives a lot of options, and if you still want to lower the wattage you can drop in a set of 6V6's and it wil auto bias them. All three of these amps are $400-$500.

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: Single channel tube 50 watt heads?

Another oldie from the past would be a Peavey VTM 60, and it also came as a 120. You can find them cheap, and they are virtually bulletproof. It's predecessor was the original Butcher amp. The Rock Master amp came before that, thought it was hybrid with a SS front-end.

And there are the original Music Man amps. They are similar to Leo's BF Fenders, but with a 6CA7 power section. Also hybrids, but they do a good job and sound great. Guys tend to hang onto them.

Doug Sewell made some PRS tube amps that would meet your criteria.

Fender Bassman, Bandmaster, Pro Reverb, Concert and 75. The last two will switch but I never used it.

I love the ElectraDyne, and nearly bought one. But you could probably find an old Mesa Mark I, Son Of Boogie, or reissue; or even a Mark IIB. The Mark I is very Fender-y, rich and warm. You have to use an external A/B box to switch inputs, but straight in it's glorious. Lot of jazz guys like them. The IIB and the the III start adding more and more features and options.

All I can think of at the moment.

Bill

 

[misterwhizzy]

Re: Single channel tube 50 watt heads?

I hear a lot of good things about used Laney GH50L's, but I've not played one myself.

 

[dystrust]

Re: Single channel tube 50 watt heads?

Like I said, the 2 channels are crunch and crunchier, not much head room. It's easy to mod the crunch channel to be a clean channel though, I put a toggle switch on one to switch between clean and stock on the crunch channel.

It's not a terribly complicated mod, and SLOs have the switch stock. It isn't really feasible to make it foot-switchable as there is a BIG volume difference between the clean and crunch modes.

How are the cleans on those Jet Citys?

I've never played a Jet City, but a Soldano Hot Rod 50+ will stay pretty clean if the gain on the 'crunch' channel is below 3 or so.

 

[Lampy H]

Re: Single channel tube 50 watt heads?

Those Bassbreaker amps are attractive.

 

[Rand-O-Monium]

Re: Single channel tube 50 watt heads?

Shame Peavey didn't make a 50-wt Windsor.
Maybe get one of those & pull 2 tubes,or 1/2 power switch it?

 

[NecroPolo]

Re: Single channel tube 50 watt heads?

If you're into reliability, a used Laney AOR50 Super Lead can't be beaten. I had one for over a decade. It was ridiculously durable.

I hear a lot of good things about used Laney GH50L's, but I've not played one myself.

Great stuff. A friend has one for a decade or so. The owner said it did not age at all. A cheaper and much more reliable alternative to the JCM800 IMO.

 

[hydro]

Re: Single channel tube 50 watt heads?

Well I ended up taking a shot at a Mig 50. What sold me was the simplicity and the reputation for great cleans. This is the no master volume version, the 50 not the 50H.

I'll post pics when it lands

 

[chadd]

Re: Single channel tube 50 watt heads?

Well I ended up taking a shot at a Mig 50. What sold me was the simplicity and the reputation for great cleans. This is the no master volume version, the 50 not the 50H.

I'll post pics when it lands

Great amps for what you want, most of the ones with problems are long since dead.

 

[hydro]

Re: Single channel tube 50 watt heads?

Well, my new Russian girlfriend Natasha showed up today:



So far I have only used her with a 1x12 cab, the real test comes at rehearsal tomorrow through a half stack. Tone wise, very nice. Cleans are great. Taming high end may be an issue, but I was sitting in front of it and maybe it was ear fatigue.

The other cool thing about this amp: run into the low output jack and crank: you get really nice, grimy overdrive.

The bass pot needs fixin' and the transformer hums, but so far so good. It seems bassman-like but maybe a little more shimmer and possibly more headroom.

 

[Demanic]

Re: Single channel tube 50 watt heads?

Looks nice. Nothing wrong with shimmer and headroom. You can always dial the top end back.

Sent from my MotoE2(4G-LTE) using Tapatalk

 

[cliffenstein]

Re: Single channel tube 50 watt heads?

Shame Peavey didn't make a 50-wt Windsor.
Maybe get one of those & pull 2 tubes,or 1/2 power switch it?

Indeed...pulling 2 tubes does make the Windsor a 50 watter, but I'd definitely have loved an authentic 50 watt version of it.

Still, the regular ones are fantastic if you know how to dial them in. Plus, they're so dang cheap and readily available still on the used market.

 

[allbutromeo]

Re: Single channel tube 50 watt heads?

Nice score, the Mig 50 NMV is very similar to a Bassman cicuit.

 

[hydro]

Re: Single channel tube 50 watt heads?

It's amazing how compact this thing is. I think it's even smaller than a bassman. It's fairly dense feeling but not actually nearly as heavy as my Mesa. And it has a BIG ass transformer in it.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Single channel tube 50 watt heads?

do you notice a big difference in the two channels? seems like one is gonna be much brighter than the other looking at the schematic

 

[hydro]

Re: Single channel tube 50 watt heads?

Yes the input 2 is brighter but also louder and more headroom.

Interestingly enough, changing the volume on the low input affects the sound even if nothing is plugged into that input. Makes me wonder if the amp was modded to jump the channels.

 

[hydro]

Re: Single channel tube 50 watt heads?



Used it with my Mesa 4x12 tonight at rehearsal. The funny thing is that I was actually worried it wouldn't be loud enough. I stand corrected.

It sounds amazing. Better than I thought it would, even.

 

[Rand-O-Monium]

Re: Single channel tube 50 watt heads?

Sweet!

Time to edit teh Sig!!!

 

[toneseeker74]

Re: Single channel tube 50 watt heads?

Congratulations on scoring a great amp! :dance::headbang::yourock: