EmptinesOf Youth Posted May 24, 2004 Share Posted May 24, 2004 k, right now i really wanna get a sovtek head, heard nothing but good things about them...so heres my question, they come in 50, 60, and 100 watts....i play live shows but nothing huge(usually around 100 people), obviously the 100watt head would cover that..easily, but which of the three would have the best tone? ive heard if you turn a 50watt amp all the way up and then a 100watt to the same level, the 50 would have better tone...im a little confused so what would you all suggest? also the 100 watt, although easier to find on ebay, is more expensive... thanks ryan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueZet Posted May 24, 2004 Share Posted May 24, 2004 if you do't do HUGE outdoor gigs without PA, you will never need more than 50 Watts - less even. the lower power the amp, the sooner you'll be able to turn it up and get tube distortion without getting thrown out of the club. If you play anything bigger than a club, just mike it and send it through the PA I am using a Fender HotRod Deluxe (40W) right now and am looking for ways to get the power DOWN - actually I got my eye on a 15W Laney amp, but my girlfriend doesn't know that yet - due to recent cutbacks, the light at the end of the tunnel has been SWITCHED OFF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gabriel E. Posted May 24, 2004 Share Posted May 24, 2004 Get the 50 watt. A 100 watt amp is only marginally louder but will not distort as easily - it will sound cleaner. In order for it to distort you have to turn it up to a deafening volume. The 50 will distort at a lower volume giving you a more creamy lead sound. For an example of this, listen to a classic Allmann Bros. recording ("Live at the Fillmore East" is a good one). Dickey Betts used 100 watt Marshalls and Duane Allmann used 50 watt models. Both played dual-humbucker Gibson guitars. You'll hear that Dickey's sound is a lot cleaner wheras Duane's is heavily overdriven. "You never can vouch for your own consciousness." - Norman Mailer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmptinesOf Youth Posted May 24, 2004 Author Share Posted May 24, 2004 k i guess the 50 it is..itll be awhile before i find a good one on ebay, if anyone has one they want to get rid of thatd be cool too...otherwise ill let yall know when i get it thanks for the help ryan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gabriel E. Posted May 24, 2004 Share Posted May 24, 2004 Make sure its a Mig-50 and not a Mig-50H Midget. The Midgets are more recent amps that aren't as good IMHO. They're master volume amps that are not as closely modeled on plexi Marshalls. Mig-50: http://www.websmith1.com/gear/mig50.jpg Mig-50H: http://www.betterguitar.com/Equipment/Amplifiers/AmpPlayerOpinions/Sovtek/MIG50.jpg There were two Mig-50s on ebay last week. They show up pretty regularly. "You never can vouch for your own consciousness." - Norman Mailer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madgrinder Posted May 24, 2004 Share Posted May 24, 2004 I have a Mig 50 that I play through a 4 x 12 that I built. I used two greenbacks on the bottom and two Vintage 30's on top. The 50 is enough to push the cab, but it is weak enough to be cranked without deafening everyone. The tone really gets sweet when the output tubes are humming. ...it's Mr Stabby, da da da da da daaaah, da da da da da da daaaah... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmptinesOf Youth Posted May 25, 2004 Author Share Posted May 25, 2004 sounds great and thanks again for all the help...ooohh i cant wait to get one! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chipotle Posted May 25, 2004 Share Posted May 25, 2004 It seems to me that the 100 watt amp would distort far earler than the 50 watt because of the preamp design of the two amps. The 50 watter would have to be turned up extremely loud to get any distortion whereas the two master volume amps with the four stage preamp would distort at many different volume levels. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gabriel E. Posted May 25, 2004 Share Posted May 25, 2004 Originally posted by Chipotle: It seems to me that the 100 watt amp would distort far earler than the 50 watt because of the preamp design of the two amps. The 50 watter would have to be turned up extremely loud to get any distortion whereas the two master volume amps with the four stage preamp would distort at many different volume levels.Correct except that preamp distortion is very different than power amp distortion. Thin and buzzy and not very dynamic. Very popular sound back in the 80s. The key to a great tube sound is distorting power tubes. If it's too loud you can use a speaker attenuator. "You never can vouch for your own consciousness." - Norman Mailer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chipotle Posted May 25, 2004 Share Posted May 25, 2004 Yes, but how can you assume that of those three amplifiers the mig 50 is the only one set up to clip its output stage? It may or it may not. Just because it's a non master volume amp does not guarantee you're going to get power tube distortion. Only your oscilloscope knows for sure. There are lots of great amps that sound good with preamp distortion. I don't know if the Sovtek is one of them, but from the schematics, I think they'd be very different sounding/feeling amps. It's probably best to try them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmptinesOf Youth Posted May 26, 2004 Author Share Posted May 26, 2004 the only real place to get them is ebay so i dont think im gonna have any luck trying it first, ive only read good things about them...out of dozens of articles not one negative on any of the three...so i dont think its a bad choice, if it ends up i dont like it for some ungodly reason back to ebay to sell it i guess Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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