Mesa-Boogie 50/50 powerful enough for steel?

Gerald Menke · Post by **Gerald Menke** » 12 Oct 2002 9:36 pm

Hey all,
I'm building a rack system, and have two power amps in mind, a MB 50/50 and the Simulclass 2:90. I think Bruce Kaphan uses a 2:90 in his ambient rig. The research I've done suggests that the 50/50 is really loud, but will it have enough headroom for steel? I am used to the crystal-clear (if a bit flat) sound of my SE200s, and would like to keep things clean but want the complex harmonics that only tube amps can really produce.

I gather the 2:90 weighs a ton, but so what else is new? Seems the 50/50 should be powerful enough (it's essentially a Twin in a box (4 6l6's)). Anbody have any experience using Boogie rack gear of this sort for steel? I loved their products for hard guitar music when I was doing that sort of thing, have heard VHT amps are a bit unreliable, Marshalls not clean enough and I have an ugly bias against Peavey gear. Thanks for considering my question!!

Gerald

Bob Hoffnar · Post by **Bob Hoffnar** » 12 Oct 2002 11:52 pm

Gerald,

Where in the heck did you hear VHT amps are in any way unreliable ? Was it from the guy who has a wall of amps in his basement that plays that open D major chord for half an hour, then has you come up with a melodic figure and says he wrote a song ?

The 2/90/2 is built like a tank and is the best sounding power amp I ever used.

The Boogie stuff uses 6L6 power tubes and the VHT 2/90/2 uses KT88's. I like KT88's way better for all sorts of reasons. Come over and I'll show the difference between tubes by popping them into my Bi Valve.

Bob

Steve Stallings · Post by **Steve Stallings** » 13 Oct 2002 3:44 am

VHT unreliable? Mine works great. I've never heard anything bad about VHT. My VHT 2/90/2 is the bet amp I've ever owned period.....

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Steve Stallings
Bremond, Texas

Steve Feldman · Post by **Steve Feldman** » 13 Oct 2002 7:23 am

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'66 Emmons D10, Franklin D10, Fessenden (Giles) D10 lacquer, '36 Gibson EH-150 lap , ~'54 Rick Bakelite lap, Tube amps

[This message was edited by Steve Feldman on 13 October 2002 at 08:24 AM.]

Dan Tyack · Post by **Dan Tyack** » 14 Oct 2002 9:30 am

If you want really clean and loud, the VHT 2/90/2 is the way to go. It is extremely reliable, imho.

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 14 Oct 2002 8:26 pm

I'm very happy with my Mesa 50/50. I've never encountered a venue where I didn't have enough clean power. It does weigh a lot, though.

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<img align=right src="http://b0b.com/b0b.gif" width="64" height="64">Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs
Sierra Session 12 (E9), Williams 400X (Emaj9, D6), Sierra Olympic 12 (F Diatonic), Sierra Laptop 8 (D13), Fender Stringmaster (E13, A6), Roland Handsonic

Michael Holland · Post by **Michael Holland** » 15 Oct 2002 5:55 am

I'd say you can trust the advice of every one of these guys, Gerald. The VHT amps might be a little harder to come by, but they are highly recommended; there are a couple of good deals on eBay on the Mesa amps. Here's a 50/50currently at only $320, ending tonight. And here's a Simul-Class 2:90 at an opening bid of $500, with no bids and ending tomorrow.

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Fessenden SD10 - Mesa/Boogie amps[This message was edited by Michael Holland on 15 October 2002 at 06:59 AM.]

Len Amaral · Post by **Len Amaral** » 15 Oct 2002 3:20 pm

I agree with bOb as I have a Mesa 50/50 power amp and it does have considerable weight. It does sound nice but carrying it in a rack with effects and preamp is a bit heavy.

*sigh* Where is my hernia truss!....

Gerald Menke · Post by **Gerald Menke** » 22 Oct 2002 10:14 am

hello,

I would like to RETRACT my statement about VHT gear being unreliable. It was made in error, and I regret making it. Thanks to all for the input.

Gerald

Steve Feldman · Post by **Steve Feldman** » 22 Oct 2002 4:17 pm