AD50 and OR80's

[bclaire]

What determines the designations? I have two older OR80's- they're 2 X EL34's and are rated at 80 watts while the new AD50's have two EL34's and are a 50 watt amp. I don't know why but I DO know that AD80 sounds cooler rolling off the tongue...... just a thought. Billy

[spoonman]

I'm pretty old school and find that non master volume
amps still sound better. Similar to your OR80, I own
an OR120 and also had an Overdrive 120. Although it's
nice to have the master volume, the pure, straight tone
of the OR120 was superior. Something suffered in the
sound by adding the master. I don't know if this is the
case with the AD30, but I'd be inclined to say that your
OR80 is better and more versitile. I almost sold my OR120,
thinking I needed a master volume. I'm glad I didn't,
because the amp sounded killer in the studio by simply
using a Boss DS-1 Distorion. And I got the best clean
tone I've ever put to "tape" in over twenty years of
recording.