Orange Thunderverb 50 vs. 200

[TerrorRhythm]

I'm looking to purchase one of these fine head units this week. I'm currently playing a 200w (solid state) acoustic rig that's plenty loud enough for my band as is. Do I need to drop the extra thousand on the 200? Or will the 50 be loud enough? I'm not quite sure how the loudness level compares from solid state to tube amps.

Want an opinion here before I go to the store, since the only retailer of orange gear I found is almost an hour away from me.

 

[username1]

I have found that higher wattage doesnt always mean higher volume but just better bottom end. I have an ampeg V4B "100 watts"that is always loud enough but i prefer to use my SVT"300 watts" because it has a much more authorative bottom end running at the same volume levels. Higher power is needed to reproduce a solid bottom end and i would defenetly try both in a band setting, not in a music store, to see what is appropriate for you.

 

[RickenBoogie]

"Always by as much power as you can afford".

 

[Jazzman]

I wouldn't consider the 50W head for bass. There is no way you will get any clean tone out of it at volume.

 

[Nightlyraider]

How different is a "Clean" guitar channel and a traditionally designed Bass channel?

The OD or Hi Gain channel would be way too much signal distortion for a low end right?

 

[TerrorRhythm]

"Always by as much power as you can afford".

Makes sense

 

[Spinal Tapper]

I've thought about this - I've also toyed with the idea of getting the AD140...140 watts at a reasonably cheaper price than the Thunderverb 200...or a used OR 120 - that might suffice too...

If I was gonna splurge the 2k, I'd get an AD200 probably though.

 

[TerrorRhythm]

I like the sound of the AD, but I also like the idea that I could use the Thunderverb for guitar as well, which while I don't play with my band, you never know what the future holds.

There are a couple of good deals on ebay right now for the Thunderverb 200.

 

[Willem]

If it helps, I read several times that the clean channel of the thunderverb sounds really weak for bass compared to the AD200B.
And I bet the AD sounds great on guitar with some pedals too.

 

[RickenBoogie]

+1, if it's for dual purpose, go with the bass head.