Help people to decide. Really, it's not easy... 50 Watts? 100 Watts? Which Marshall does it for you?





(originally posted to old forum at an earlier date)

Regarding the 50/100w topic, without really being able to answer specifically about marshall amps, I find that with the current trend towards lower stage volume most gigging musicians hardly need more than 20-30 watts going through an efficient speaker(s).

In my limited gigging experience, whereever I played I was too loud for the soundman. I was using a BF bassman with a 2X12. I was just cranking it enough to get to the "sweet" spot.

So, how do you guys get that "Marshall tone" from a 100w half stack in smaller venues?



(originally posted to old forum at an earlier date)

Now that's the key question; just how does one get to play a 100 watt amp in a small venue? I asked that question a long time ago and decided to start modifying my amps so that I could play the way that I wanted to.

Obviously, you can't crank a 100 watt amp open in the same way as you would a small Deluxe Fender Amp. At least not often.

It's not a question of volume, really. It's the texture of the sound. A Deluxe Reverb Amp with a Tube Screamer will sound great for blues soloing but won't be all that great for say rock power chords or for Hendrix etc.

All amps above 20 watts can be quite loud, that is true, and I have been too loud even with a Deluxe. I have also been in rooms where I barely made it with my 50 watt combo.

But, let me tell you that on a big stage, there is nothing like a 100 watt Head!




(originally posted to old forum at an earlier date)

Yeah, Marshall heads a multiple 4x12 cabs sure pushes some air...

I remember going to a Big Sugar show here in Montreal (2 times in fact) and Gordie Johnson had double stacks on stage in relatively small venues. It was brutal. I don't think he had dummies up there for the looks.

Sheer power aside, speaker config surely makes a difference. I'm not sure that a 100watt head through a single 12 would make the same effect. There's something about that closed-back, 4x12 design that gives magic.

So, without gving out your trade secrets, how does one go about modding a 100 watter for more versatility? Is there a better MV design? Do you use attenuators?




(originally posted to old forum at an earlier date)

That's way too big a question to answer in just one Forum post but it sounds like a really good subect for a series of blog articles. First installment: Using an attenuation device (Power Soak, Juice Extractor, Power Break etc).



(originally posted to old forum at an earlier date)