Sovtek Mig 50 ? Carvin X100B??

BloodRose

Professional Scapegoat
How do these heads stack up?? (no pun intended) Trying to spend some of my buddies money on a new tube amp. (new for him, graduating from an old crate) He's a broke married guy like me so looking on the cheap. Got a line on an old model Carvin X100b for $399 and a Sovtek mig 50. Never played either. I think I heard where the Sovteks were kinda noisy. (?) Used to hear pretty good things about the carvin.. Any input??
 
Re: Sovtek Mig 50 ? Carvin X100B??

Every X100b I've ever heard (and it was only a few) sounded like utter crap. Flat, fizzy, lifeless, punchless. The Mig 50 is a better bet, I think.

First video I found on youtube, has decent quality sound, and nearly makes me want to go out and find one.
 
Re: Sovtek Mig 50 ? Carvin X100B??

If you/he does the x100b, don't pay over $350. The OD side isn't worth more (too farty/buzzy), but the clean channel and tube power are worth that.
 
Re: Sovtek Mig 50 ? Carvin X100B??

MIG 50!!! Go for it if you can find one. I had one, traded it off, regretted it, and fought to get another. I love it. I use it every Sunday at church and with OD pedals, it does anything I want it to do.
 
Re: Sovtek Mig 50 ? Carvin X100B??

Carvin is LOUD and clean on the clean channel. A good platform for pedals. I gigged with one for years

The dirt channel is nothing special but serviceable.

399 for a used one seems high to me. New ones run about 650.
 
Re: Sovtek Mig 50 ? Carvin X100B??

Hmm...I had a grey fuzzy EL-34 version X100B that sounded killer.
Once you find the right preamp tubes it was good to go, I miss it!!
 
Re: Sovtek Mig 50 ? Carvin X100B??

I've heard older versions of the X100 that were pretty bangin'.

The Mig60 kicks the 50's ass, in my opinion. Both are good amps though, cheap pots, but other than that pretty much tip top, the 60 does a pretty good 50w Marshall impersonation.

I've owned a 60, twice, btw.
 
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Re: Sovtek Mig 50 ? Carvin X100B??

Cab is TBD. He currently has a crate combo.. Looking at head and maybe 2x12
 
Re: Sovtek Mig 50 ? Carvin X100B??

I used to have a Mig 60 myself. Sure miss that little guy. Never had the pleasure of playing through a Mig 50. I remember liking the 60 better than a real 800.

A friend used to have a x100b back in the day I loved. Tried a couple others out just to find his may have sounded good but not necessarily all do. Maybe all the cigarette burns on top of it improved the tone? :smokin:

Just to clarify: I knew the Mig 60 was an 800 clone more or less. Wasn't the Mig 50 supposed to be a 50w Bassman clone?

If the x100b was 399 how much was the Mig 60? Like you and your friend price is always a decision point for me also.
 
Re: Sovtek Mig 50 ? Carvin X100B??

Wasn't the Mig 50 supposed to be a 50w Bassman clone?

Yep.


Bloodrose, my old 60 is still in a buddy's possession, I know he was trying to move it a while back, but stuff that doesn't say Marshall on it doesn't move around here. I'd like to see it stick around here (I might want it back someday, haha), but I might be able to swing you a good deal if you're interested.
 
Re: Sovtek Mig 50 ? Carvin X100B??

Pedals or Processor?

will use some of my discarded pedals. he has a ..........grunge pedal now..

Dont recall the price on the 50. will have to look it up.. I think the 60 would be more his cup o tea tho. Whats a good price for the 60s? they reliable?
 
Re: Sovtek Mig 50 ? Carvin X100B??

The 60 runs the 34's pretty hot. I was told to replace them every year or two under normal use, or use JJ 34L's, which is what I did. The pots are cheapo plastic shaft jobs, easy enough to replace, but since I originally bought the amp (used) in 1996 they've never been a problem. Last time I sold it was for $300, but I think he was willing to take less than that. A few years back they were going in the $500-600 range in some places, just not around here. It's all cock rock and country, and indie dorks that play old Musicman's and crap like that with $500 delay pedals.

If I didn't have the Butcher it would be mine again.
 
Re: Sovtek Mig 50 ? Carvin X100B??

Every X100b I've ever heard (and it was only a few) sounded like utter crap. Flat, fizzy, lifeless, punchless. The Mig 50 is a better bet, I think.

First video I found on youtube, has decent quality sound, and nearly makes me want to go out and find one.
Heard the wrong X100's bro.
I had a late 80's early Hot Rod Mod X100B with EL 34's and it was flat one of the best sounding heads I have ever heard. So good in fact a dude bought it from me after a show and paid me 4X what I had paid for the head!
Carvin went through several revisions with those and some series do sound like poo, however the right series of the X100's were pure magic!
Here is a live recording with mine.
http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=4453782

PS the new ones KILL!!
 
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