Tonal differences between Mesa 20/20 vs. 50/50

[jgk723]

I guess I'm trying to have my cake and eat it too. I mainly bought the Studio Pre for a creamy jazz fusion lead sound, but at the same time I'd still like to please my soft spot for chugging a few power chords when I get home from work...and do it all with the same amp!

By the way, I've been through the 100 watt thing again and again and I have had enough. I am never going to be in a band where I need 100 watts of tube power. From here on out I plan to not exceed 50 watts, but I am wondering if even that is too much. I am not in any way worried about volume, as I know even a 20/20 amp will be plenty loud enough for what I do live.

My question is, will the 20/20 come up short tonally in any way because it uses EL84's? I am planning on reaping the high-gain benefits of the Studio Pre to get some 80's Mesa Mark chunk, but would I be better off with 6L6's for this sound? The 20/20 does look mighty tasty because I've always wanted a low-wattage tube power amp, but I'm not sure if it will sound too "small" for chunky power chords because of the EL84's.

 

[FastRedPonyCar]

as I said in the other guy's thread about his studio pre, despite using about half a dozen different power amps or slave amps to bring my studio pre to life, the tone is the same. It's the FEEL that changes. The low end tightness and power primarily.

I've not used either of those mesa amps but I'm willing to bet that the 20/20 will have a thicker and chewier low end when pushed hard than the 50/50. I'd think the 50/50 just from the fact that it uses different tubes will have a tighter overall sound but not as much low end thickness and body.

Again though, I could be wrong as I've never played either of those power amps but just about all the class A and 50 watt amps I have played have all shared the same overall FEEL and the differences are pretty much in the low end.

I'm willing to bet that for creamy thick fusion lead work, the 20/20 would offer the best response

 

[ToneAddictJon]

I don't own either, but after playing plenty of el84 vs 6l6 power amps, I would say the 20/20 probably has more chime to it and playful cleans with plenty of bottom end where the 50/50 is going to be more of a clean power amp, not as playful or chimey, but will have a little more bottem end. el84's have plenty of kick to them though, and you will be able to get huge metal sounds out of the 20/20.

 

[jgk723]

Thanks for the replies.

When I have the money it looks like I'm going to hunt down either a 20/20 or an old 50/50 with the low power switch. I'd love to have the ability to switch between 50 watts and 15 watts, and it looks like the old 50/50's go for a bit less than the 20/20's because they're older.

 

[Paul Secondino]

The 20/20 is cool but the 50/50 is just magical with the quad and studio pres.I have been messing around over here running preamps into different power amps and heads. I ran one of my quads into my Mark 4 power section.

So in this case, the Mark 4 power section is sounding pretty even and round where as my 50/50 power amp sounds punchier, a bit more EQ'd (little less mids and some extra treble)

I also have a vht 2502 which is more flat compared to the Mesa 50/50 . Also, the VHT has EL34's so there's a tube characteristic difference as well.

The result is that the quad sounds perfect with the 50/50 .Even better than the quad into my mark 3 power section .I'd recommend it over the 20/20 but there is noting wrong with the 20/20 .

 

[reo73]

I've owned both. The only difference that I felt was noticible was the ooomph that the 50/50 gives over the 20/20 at louder volumes. It just felt thicker in the gut. And if you pushed it on clean tones the 50/50 would have more headroom.

 

[MetalMatt]

I'm going through the same thing, I can't decide 20/20 or 50/50. But I'm leaning towards the 50/50. You could get some yellow jackets and throw in EL84s...bingo! Might work well with half power?