What's the point in big 100 watt heads?

Re: What's the point in big 100 watt heads?

lederhosen are no where near as freeing as a kilt
 
Re: What's the point in big 100 watt heads?

6stringerguy said:
I've seen plenty of people using 100 watt heads at home for metal but you can barely get it cooking,
So what is the point of 100 watt head?
Click to expand...

As you probably well know, doubling of power gives you an additional 3-6db of volume (depending on if you are measuring air pressure or electric power.). I seem to recall my 100-watters coupled with matching cabs generate around 80-90db air pressure, which is about what an acoustic drum set generates if you’re banging the hell out of it. So for me, the point of 100-watt amps is to be heard clearly when playing with acoustic drums and other instruments that are playing at or about their peak volume and there’s no mic’ing or other sound reinforcement. Doesn’t matter whether it’s in your bedroom or not. If you can fit drums in there and don’t mind hearing in the future much, go for it.

As far as tone, the sound 100-watters make is unique and satisfying, but these days very similar and satisfying sound can be made at almost every wattage and volume level by choosing the right amps and other equipment that can do it; anything from tube amps to software emulation and in between.
 
Re: What's the point in big 100 watt heads?

Got a call for an audition today -

Me: How loud are you guys I have a Peavy Classic 20 I have been wanting to gig with.
Dude: I don't think that is going to work out
Me: It is all tube and a very loud 20 watts almost like a Fender Deluxe in volume
Dude: The bass player plays through a full-sized Ampeg SVT
Me: I think will bring my 100 watt Marshall
Dude: I think that will be your best idea.
 
Re: What's the point in big 100 watt heads?

good plan, theres a reason i keep a big four bottle head around
 
Re: What's the point in big 100 watt heads?

Still have 2 100W Guitar Heads and Cabs and the even louder 85W Fender Twin.

-but those damn modern sound reinforcement systems keep making me leave them home for 40W and 50w amps.
 
Re: What's the point in big 100 watt heads?

To me problematic thing with 100w amp, or even 50w is that very rarely you can actually hear it. At least to me when sound pressure reaches certain level everything just blur into white noise. ie. I can't hear what it really sounds like. And when you have ear protection it skews the perception as well.

Now if you have big outdoor gig (without PA) I can see them being useful. But how often is that?
 
Re: What's the point in big 100 watt heads?

Ima use der 50watters at home for da recordings.....
EL-34's and a nice old Fane speaker....sounds nice and clear...
It can play anything, low volume and loud....
My small amps are collecting dust.
 
Re: What's the point in big 100 watt heads?

I’ve got 2 100 watters, a 50w and a 20w. I’ve gigged with all (but one of them that I only recently got).
Typically the 20w is my at home practice amp that comes to gigs as my backup amp. The 100 and 50 just sound so much bigger and fuller.
 
Re: What's the point in big 100 watt heads?

Jacew said:
To me problematic thing with 100w amp, or even 50w is that very rarely you can actually hear it. At least to me when sound pressure reaches certain level everything just blur into white noise. ie. I can't hear what it really sounds like. And when you have ear protection it skews the perception as well.

Now if you have big outdoor gig (without PA) I can see them being useful. But how often is that?
Click to expand...

This is why I thought my 50W JCM I sold (which I regret -but in 1992 if you didnt have a 100W -you were nobody... lol ) always seemed a little more musical to me.

I still wish I had that amp.
 
Re: What's the point in big 100 watt heads?

On the two occasions that I've had them: they caused untold sh*t with the neighbors (on more than one occasion with the entire NEIGHBORHOOD) and got me on first name terms with the police!!! (Note: it was the JCM800's fault not mine!!! LOL!!!).

Sadly: I'm no better off re: the above with my CODE50 amps. i.e. cannot turn them up where I stay now (for a number of reasons) and it has affected my playing and mojo drastically. Quite depressing on a daily basis actually. But I'm working on it!!!

Point is (for me): doesn't matter whether it's 100W, 50W, or even these new 20W Marshall amps. there's a certain level at which things start to sound "fuc* yeh" so being able to push them at low levels is neither here nor there for me. And believe it or not: in spite of the CODE range not being valve amps. they sound VERY different at "bedroom levels" compared to (even half) dimed.
 
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Re: What's the point in big 100 watt heads?

tube amps usually sound better when they are turned up a bit, which usually means loud. neighbors dont like loud much
 
Re: What's the point in big 100 watt heads?

I was always told to turn down my 50W Marshall, usually just under the point where it sounded good. While I still miss amps, that is one of the nice things about modeling, I know what I'm sending to the board sounds good. Of course, then I am at the mercy of the sound guy.
 
Re: What's the point in big 100 watt heads?

I bought one of those plexiglass shields in the event I need to block the amp. I haven’t needed it yet but it’s nice to have just in case.
 
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