Members elchico04 Posted December 2, 2007 Members Share Posted December 2, 2007 I'm looking at starting up my own rack system. I am looking for around 50watts of tube power. My question is, is the mesa 20/20 as loud as a 20watt amp or a 40watt amp since you have to use both channels at once. The other amps I am looking at is the VHT 2/50/2 and the Mesa 2:50. Any other recommendations would be nice. p.s. do you use the same instrument cables to hook up rack gear as you would from your guitar to a traditional amp? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members TheGrooveking Posted December 2, 2007 Members Share Posted December 2, 2007 When you play out are you using two 412's? If not go with the 20/20, it's lighter and only one rack space. I have two of them and they are great sounding power amps. They do however do not equal the output of a VHT 2/50/2, but the 20/20 does get plenty loud. Typically I run the volume on 3 or 4 on each channel and can be easily heard over the drummer, even when he is pounding the skins. TheGrooveking Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members elchico04 Posted December 2, 2007 Author Members Share Posted December 2, 2007 Alright thanks, it sounds like the 20/20 is what i would want. I only plan on getting a 2x12 cab.So when a rack power amp is used you can add the wattage of each channel together to get an idea of how loud it will be? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members separanets Posted December 2, 2007 Members Share Posted December 2, 2007 Check if it is possible to use your future 2x12 cab as a stereo cab. If not, you can get only 20 whatt on output, unless the mesa 20/20 can bridge two channels to get one mono 40w channel. My cheapest Peavey 50/50 can. I love that peace of gear, despite I have a vht 2902 and a marshall el 84 20/20. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members elchico04 Posted December 2, 2007 Author Members Share Posted December 2, 2007 even if it was wired for mono. it wouldn't be that hard to wire it as stereo would it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members separanets Posted December 2, 2007 Members Share Posted December 2, 2007 I have a Marshall 2x12. There's only one connect for the cable in it. So if I wanted to make a stereo of my one, I would need to drill one more hole for a jack. Which could mean damaging the cab. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members grrrunge Posted December 3, 2007 Members Share Posted December 3, 2007 I have a Marshall 2x12. There's only one connect for the cable in it. So if I wanted to make a stereo of my one, I would need to drill one more hole for a jack. Which could mean damaging the cab. i'd see that as an improvement rather than damage...Anyways - isn't it possible to get those "rear-plates" for cab's, pre-drilled and everything, ready to install? If so, it would be possible to install one of those instead of the existing one, without making the cab look modified. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members elchico04 Posted December 3, 2007 Author Members Share Posted December 3, 2007 yeah I think it would be an improvement as well. it wouldn't be all that hard to do. just drill a new hole and as long as you are handy with a soldering iron it should be easy as cake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members sacredgroove Posted December 3, 2007 Members Share Posted December 3, 2007 yeah I think it would be an improvement as well. it wouldn't be all that hard to do. just drill a new hole and as long as you are handy with a soldering iron it should be easy as cake. You could use crimp-on disconnects. Find them cheap and Radio shack. Scott Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Hamer95USA Posted December 3, 2007 Members Share Posted December 3, 2007 Alright thanks, it sounds like the 20/20 is what i would want. I only plan on getting a 2x12 cab. So when a rack power amp is used you can add the wattage of each channel together to get an idea of how loud it will be? Hey elchico04, I own & use the Mesa Boogie Dynawatt 20/20 power amp and I use mine with a Peavey 2x12MS stereo guitar cabinet. It has an output of 22 watts per side. You can't sum the outputs to mono. The power amp is not designed for that. If you want to use just one side of the power amp, you'll have to turn the volume knob all the way down on the side you're not using. Guitar George Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members simeon Posted December 3, 2007 Members Share Posted December 3, 2007 i've used a 20/20 for years and its a great little poweramp - easily loud enough for gigs if your 2x12 only has one jack input, then just buy a new backplate for it with two inputs. if you want to run in stereo, then all you need to do is get rid of the wires bridging the two inputs so each speaker has it's own discrete signal path. i did this with the marshall 2x12 i have and it sounds great. sim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members dmtnt Posted December 3, 2007 Members Share Posted December 3, 2007 Great little power amp! Got one for sale, see my sig! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Elric Posted December 3, 2007 Members Share Posted December 3, 2007 If you know a little a electronics rewiring a 2x12 for stereo is trivial. I think it took about five minutes to do mine... Literally.... The 20/20 is not bridgeable and both sides must be loaded. So you need dual mono cabs or a stereo cab with the correct load for speakers. I dunno off hand what impedance cabs it drives, but since it's a mesa, I bet it has a switch for more than one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Pizza Combo Posted December 3, 2007 Members Share Posted December 3, 2007 If you know a little a electronics rewiring a 2x12 for stereo is trivial. I think it took about five minutes to do mine... Literally.... The 20/20 is not bridgeable and both sides must be loaded. So you need dual mono cabs or a stereo cab with the correct load for speakers. I dunno off hand what impedance cabs it drives, but since it's a mesa, I bet it has a switch for more than one. So...either you hook dual mono cabs or a single stereo? No way around this??? Cant you just load one side and leave the other one free? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members 1923ford Posted December 3, 2007 Members Share Posted December 3, 2007 according to Mesa Boogie...both sides are NOT required to be loaded...BUT, if I remember correctly you have to crank the unloaded side PRESENCE all the way UP and the VOLUME all the way DOWN. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members elchico04 Posted December 3, 2007 Author Members Share Posted December 3, 2007 i've heard that running a stereo amp that has to be stereo (like the mesa 20/20) in "mono" mode by turning the volume down on the channel not being used damages it. is there any truth to this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members 1923ford Posted December 3, 2007 Members Share Posted December 3, 2007 Mesa Boogie clarified it to me that as long as the "unused" channel is NOT receiving a signal, the PRESENCE was turned all the way UP, and the VOLUME all the way DOWN...then no harm would be done. If you are using the slave out, then the speaker jack needs to have a load on it. If you are using the amp in stereo with dual cabinets...then the loads should be similar...don't use one 16 ohm cabinet and one 4 ohm cabinet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Elric Posted December 3, 2007 Members Share Posted December 3, 2007 Mesa Boogie clarified it to me that as long as the "unused" channel is NOT receiving a signal, the PRESENCE was turned all the way UP, and the VOLUME all the way DOWN...then no harm would be done. Cool. Sounds like I was mistaken. I could have sworn that was the case based on the research I did when I was gonna buy one, but if you got it straight from the manufacturer, then I stand corrected. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members 1923ford Posted December 3, 2007 Members Share Posted December 3, 2007 i thought the same as you did until i called their service center and had them clarify it. the manual is a little misleading...it really depends on "if" you are sending signal to both sides or not. the statement about using similar loads for each side is what confused me...made me think each side HAD to be loaded regardless...which again they clarified...each side only needs to be loaded "IF" signal is being sent to both sides...then each side should have a similar load (16, 8, 4 ohm, etc). if i'm not mistaken, they worded it a little differently in the manual for the 2:90...so maybe check that out as well? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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