20w output preamp - new rack set-up

[Monkeychunki]

Hi, I'm looking at creating a rack that I can use for practising in the home. I need a power amp that can run at around 20w's, I know the mesa 50/50 can be wound back to 20w but they're quite hard to find in the UK, I've also looked at the Marshall 20/20 but reliability appears to be an issue- I'm looking at buying second hand.

Can anyone recommend a decent reliable p/amp that's not going to destroy my wallet

Cheers
Paul

[jgcable]

Hi, I'm looking at creating a rack that I can use for practising in the home. I need a power amp that can run at around 20w's, I know the mesa 50/50 can be wound back to 20w but they're quite hard to find in the UK, I've also looked at the Marshall 20/20 but reliability appears to be an issue- I'm looking at buying second hand.

Can anyone recommend a decent reliable p/amp that's not going to destroy my wallet

Cheers
Paul

Just keep in mind that a Mesa 50/50 or a Marshall 20/20 dialed back to 20 watts will be loud enough to play a large club. A good wattage for home use is around 5 watts.

[Nightbat]

Yup 5W will be enough for home use, but even that can get quite loud at bedtime
See if you can get something like a blackheart Killer Ant, 1 watt and enough to power a 4x12

[Radiohead]

I have a Mesa 20/20. It's totally awesome, rock solid & powered by EL84s'. I play it through a pair of 2 x12's and it is loud. It still sounds good a bedroom levels (way better than a 100W half stack chocked) but when I really open it up & let it breath I need to wear ear protection.

What preaamp are you going to be running?

[beachjammer]

I have a Rocktron Velocity 100 solidstate poweramp that works great for at home or a gig. I can dial it down way low for home use and not have to worry about tubes. It sounds really good with my POD Pro. I've also ran an ADA MP1 and Marshall JMP-1 with good results.

[Bert]

I also use the Mesa 20/20... works great, reliable, and plenty loud.

[Outlander]

Mesa 20/20 here as well

[Monkeychunki]

Thanks all, I'm gonna be using a jmp-1. Im probably going to move house shortly so ideally want something that I can use in the broom now however I can open it up when I get a sound proofed outbuilding. Does the rocktron sound good dialed right back?

[Frigo89]

I use the Rocktron Velocity 300, and it sounds deadly at any volume. I had a Mesa 2:90 for a while, and wound up giving it the boot because I preferred the Velocity, sounds the same at any volume because its SS, but on the Velocity 300 (I don't know if the smaller ones have it), the "reactance knobs" doing a good job doing the Marshall power tone as well as a more American (Peavey, Mesa, etc.) tone. I prefer the more American tone, but if you run it in stereo (150 watts/side), then you can adjust the reactance for each side, so you could have half your cabs running a British Marshall type sound and the others Sounding like "American metal".

Fuckin' Deadly

[Monkeychunki]

Thanks for the info on the 300, I've looked around and I could pick up a new one for £270 which is a great price. Iv never owned a SS so I'm interested I'm the fact that they sound the same at any volume. Cheers for the info!

[hippietim]

The Boogie 20/20 has a weak low-end. Check around the net - there is a mod to fix that.