Who Still Uses A 100W Amplifer?

[ItsaBass]

Re: Who Still Uses A 100W Amplifer?

Putting a flat boost into a 15W amp is going to create problems with most of the amp designs in that region of power. With today’s music, you primary use a 15W amp for its inherently dirty/distorted qualities and for deliberate oversaturation at moderately loud rock band volumes. They aren’t the best “pedal platforms.” You want an inherently cleaner amp if you’re using drive pedals.

With amps that are run saturated, you [generally] want to use e.q.-based pedals to achieve your different stompable tones, not drive-based pedals. E.g. instead of a flat booster, you want a treble booster (which is basically just a pre-set, mid-anchored, upward-ramped e.q. – adds top end while cutting low end to reduce muddiness). And with these small amps, you get your added volume and girth by adding speakers, and/or using more efficient speakers, and/or miking, not by increasing the input to the amp or cranking the volume knob up more. Hit a lower wattage amp with more input, and you don’t get more volume. You just block up your low end and reduce clarity and cut-through.

 

[JamesPaul]

Re: Who Still Uses A 100W Amplifer?

Honestly, I feel *most* 15-20W lunchbox amps are way overhyped. Every time I'd bring my EVH LBX 1 or 2 or my Krank Rev Jr. to a full-band jam, I've have problems. Are they loud enough? Yes. Are they good enough? Err... only if you don mind farty low-end and fuzzy poweramp overdrive.

I say *most* because I've obviously not tried every lunchbox amp out there.

I find this true for jams, block parties and small bars.

However, 20W has worked for me at larger bars and venues with a good PA and sound guy.

I still have 4 100W+ heads if needed, but I'm not actually planning to take them out again.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Who Still Uses A 100W Amplifer?

I have said this before, I'll say it again - there is no reason you NEED a 100 watt amp. That said - there are a lot of reasons you may choose to use one.

 

[Demanic]

Re: Who Still Uses A 100W Amplifer?

I have said this before, I'll say it again - there is no reason you NEED a 100 watt amp. That said - there are a lot of reasons you may choose to use one.

Yeah, like having enjoy low end chunk to rattle your cojones.

Sent from my Alcatel_5044C using Tapatalk

 

[esandes]

Re: Who Still Uses A 100W Amplifer?

The muscle car guys know there's no replacement for displacement. It's the same with amps.

I have played all kinds of different amps. From a Sears $59.99 open back 1x6" combo to a Peavey Rage 158 to a Marshall 1959 cranked through a 4x12.

Everything sounds how it should. There's a myth out there that a head/cab is too loud. It's not true.

The power bill goes up but so does my sonic satisfaction.

I jam with a guy who uses a lunch box amp and it sounds like ****. Like hot, stewing garbage. I use a studio dsl 2000 with 15 year old tubes and a marshall g12t75 4x12 which is nothing compared to my rig.

 

[NegativeEase]

Re: Who Still Uses A 100W Amplifer?

I have said this before, I'll say it again - there is no reason you NEED a 100 watt amp. That said - there are a lot of reasons you may choose to use one.

Damn, that's a great way to sum it up.

 

[NegativeEase]

Re: Who Still Uses A 100W Amplifer?

The muscle car guys know there's no replacement for displacement.

I know you're just typing a simple retort into an oversimplification, but really, I must remind you, just like the amp argument -this is not actually correct.

Weight, Aerodynamics, and the ability to effectively transfer the power produced from the displacement to the wheels can all replace increased displacement to improve performance.

amongst several other factors I could list

 

[NegativeEase]

Re: Who Still Uses A 100W Amplifer?

My JVM210 is so beaten to hell the tolex is all ripped up and it's only gonna get worse cause I'll play that amp until I die. It still delivers the best tone I've ever heard , for any genre. It's not specifically because it's 100W but I just love the tone, although I like being able to get that loud when I need too. Feels like swinging a 10 ton sledgehammer when you play power chords at 100W cranked. Although I definitely love my newest amp, a Traynor 50 watt with about the most gorgeous distortion I've ever heard.

Sent from my SM-G965W using Tapatalk

Traynors give me Tone boners..... especially the YBAs and Guitarmates.

 

[SlyFoxx]

Re: Who Still Uses A 100W Amplifer?

Weight, Aerodynamics, and the ability to effectively transfer the power produced from the displacement to the wheels can all replace increased displacement to improve performance.

amongst several other factors I could list

Yes but all 1/2 stacks perform terribly in a wind-tunnel due to their boxy construction. Their wheels (if present at all) are tiny with horrible bearings that offer awful dismal rolling resistance that can be foiled by a small rock resulting in a loss of stability. As a result four big bottles in a push/pull configuration and a massive chunk of real OT iron are necessary for optimum performance and if you want to look cool and get all the chicks. (And leave off the four point safety harness while you're at it. Only sissies roll like that!)

 

[BeKindRewind]

Re: Who Still Uses A 100W Amplifer?

Traynors give me Tone boners..... especially the YBAs and Guitarmates.

Yeah man they sound incredible. Mine is the YCV50B, with the celestion V30 speaker - the distortion and clean both sound SO good. The distortion is very Marshall, very crunchy and satisfying, definitely something special about it. If it was a head, had the flexible switching options my Marshall had, and was 100 watts I'd use it forever. But the Marshall wins as far as a live amp goes because the 4 button footswitch and channel switching options ars so flexible.

Sent from my SM-G965W using Tapatalk

 

[Ayrton]

Re: Who Still Uses A 100W Amplifer?

I have several 100w Marshalls, but if I were playing out, an AFX to FOH is the way to go

 

[wmachine]

Re: Who Still Uses A 100W Amplifer?

If you do not, and you owned one in the past, where do they go to die?

Okay Chicken Little, why do you assume because something is now being used less and you don't use it, that it is dead? What makes people think that? That's where all the stories that the guitar is dead come from. Because less are sold new now than before. Well guess what? New guitar sales could be cut off entirely and it wouldn't be the end.
Better make plans on how you're going to get around in the future, but the car will soon be gone. It is dying. They sold 1% less new cars last year, so say goodbye.
Now do we have that all out of our system?

My 3 main amps are 100 watt amps. They are not going anywhere.

 

[assquatch20]

Re: Who Still Uses A 100W Amplifer?

The muscle car guys know there's no replacement for displacement. It's the same with amps.

I know you're just typing a simple retort into an oversimplification, but really, I must remind you, just like the amp argument -this is not actually correct.

Weight, Aerodynamics, and the ability to effectively transfer the power produced from the displacement to the wheels can all replace increased displacement to improve performance.

amongst several other factors I could list

I had this all typed out over at TGP a couple days ago when the metaphor came up, then the thread got deleted but I said something like this, mixed in with a lot of other crap:

There's no replacement for displacement, sure, but there are some tricks to even up the odds or do things differently. My favorite is cylinder arrangement (a little V12 vs a big V8 is a bit like a 2x10 vs a 1x12), then better alloys (speaker or tranny efficiency?), forced induction (a supercharger technically increases displacement, kinda like a Fryette Power Station), EFI (SS vs tube rectifier maybe), and now electric assists (digital & SS, IR's, DI's and emulated outs.. tubes can kinda go out the window here or you can hybridize) I mean look at Group B or Formula 1.

That's just a quick and dirty interpretation.

 

[wmachine]

Re: Who Still Uses A 100W Amplifer?

The muscle car guys know there's no replacement for displacement...... .

I am also a musclecar guy (and owner). And that was true in the day. But not any more. Modern muscle will blow the doors of vintage muscle. Period. I love the vintage iron. But I'm not blindly stuck in the past.
Regardless, just as I like my vintage musclecars, I like my 100 watt amps. But modern amps, though a lot closer than before, cannot 100% replicate them.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Who Still Uses A 100W Amplifer?

Yeah, like having enjoy low end chunk to rattle your cojones.

Sent from my Alcatel_5044C using Tapatalk

Stimulating and invigorating, isn't it?

 

[JamesPaul]

Re: Who Still Uses A 100W Amplifer?

Okay Chicken Little, why do you assume because something is now being used less and you don't use it, that it is dead? What makes people think that? That's where all the stories that the guitar is dead come from. Because less are sold new now than before. Well guess what? New guitar sales could be cut off entirely and it wouldn't be the end.
Better make plans on how you're going to get around in the future, but the car will soon be gone. It is dying. They sold 1% less new cars last year, so say goodbye.
Now do we have that all out of our system?

My 3 main amps are 100 watt amps. They are not going anywhere.

I was not asserting the 100W amp is dead.

I figured there are three groups; 1) those who have always used 100W, 2) those who used to use 100W but now use less power and 3) those who never used a 100W. I was thinking replies from the first group might alert me to any potential use I am missing. Replies from the second group might provide some ideas about what to do with 100W amps I am not actively using. Possibly some replies from the third group just on why they never wanted/needed 100W.

I will consider you in the first group, exclusive using NMV 100 watters! :kidding: Any replies are great!!!

I currently see myself in the second group. In the past 3 years I have not taken more than a 50W amp out of the house. I have sold one 100W head, but I still have two 100W heads, one 120W head, one 120W combo and one 140W head not getting a lot of use.

 

[Chris Pile]

Re: Who Still Uses A 100W Amplifer?

I never wanted big stuff, but in the 70's I had to keep up with 2 guitarists who each ran 100 watt Ampeg VT-22 heads into 4 speaker cabs. After blowing up several rigs, I finally had 2 custom folded W cabinets built for me loaded with 18" Gauss speakers and an Ampeg V6-B head with 350 watts of power. The first night with those the drummer said he nearly took a dump when I whacked the E playing Godzilla, and engaged my Mutron Phaser. It really fricking rumbled. The dancers stopped and looked around to see if a car had driven into the club. Fun, but I had to borrow a truck before and after every gig.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Who Still Uses A 100W Amplifer?

I never wanted big stuff, but in the 70's I had to keep up with 2 guitarists who each ran 100 watt Ampeg VT-22 heads into 4 speaker cabs. After blowing up several rigs, I finally had 2 custom folded W cabinets built for me loaded with 18" Gauss speakers and an Ampeg V6-B head with 350 watts of power. The first night with those the drummer said he nearly took a dump when I whacked the E playing Godzilla, and engaged my Mutron Phaser. It really fricking rumbled. The dancers stopped and looked around to see if a car had driven into the club. Fun, but I had to borrow a truck before and after every gig.

The VT-22 was the 2x12 combo version of the V-4, not a head. And the V-6B was a 240 W solid state amp. The V-9 was the 350 W beast – basically a guitar version of the SVT, with a special nine speaker cab.

V-4s, VT-22s, V-2s, and VT-40s = best sounding amps of all time, IMO. No contest.

 

[LLL]

Re: Who Still Uses A 100W Amplifer?

I use a 100W rack setup, a 50W Marshall (modded to) Plexi, a 22W (or whatever the wattage is) '66 Deluxe.

I have no volume or tone issues because I know how to tame any cranked beast no matter the wattage.

I've had a few 100W Marshalls in the past.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Who Still Uses A 100W Amplifer?

I just picked up a Line6 Duoverb 2x12 that is 100 watts. It sounds killer good cranked and really nice on low volume. It’s solid state—never used a 100 Watt tune amp before, mainly stuck with 40 watt Fenders Deluxes.