Author Topic: Mesa Boogie (Read 392 times)

Glynn · « **Reply #15 on:** April 04, 2012, 09:32:32 AM »

Another recommendation from me for the new Bergantino HD12 cabs with a small sized amp (mine is Genz Benz Sreamliner 900). Good on looking after your back.

Bradley Young · « **Reply #16 on:** April 05, 2012, 12:38:29 PM »

I've heard Brian's 2x15 cabs at war volume, and they are indeed impressive.

Bradley

jacko · « **Reply #17 on:** April 13, 2012, 07:49:49 AM »

Update.
A couple of weeks ago I ordered a pair of 300watt eminence deltas and managed to get hold of a gallien krueger 210 blx cab to put them in. At my last gig I used this cab and one of my EBS 212 neo cabs and I was very impressed with the range - loads of bottom but also plenty mid and top end and the deltas give a really solid punch. The really low end from the 212 still sounded a little flabby but so I'd really like to try the Gk with a ferrite equiped 212. As far as the Mesa cabs go, I'm still slightly concerned about weight.. the GK cab now weighs just slightly less than the equivalent Mesa 210 and I'm just about happy lifting that. The Mesa 212 has wheels so I'm not too worried about getting that one from the car to the stage so all in all I think weight may be a non issue.

This morning I asked my local guitar shop to try to get a 212 and a 210 powerhouse cabinet in for me to try out. If I like them enough they'll be my silver wedding anniversary present from my better half.
Watch this space.

Graeme

jacko · « **Reply #18 on:** April 25, 2012, 04:06:40 AM »

Strange how things pan out. I scored a Mesa Big block Titan v12 on ebay yesterday for around half the new price (means I'm no longer looking at the scorpion on the other thread). Hopefully that'll arrive by the weekend so I can give it a really good workout. Still waiting for GuitarGuitar to get the cabs in for me to try.

Graeme

jacko · « **Reply #19 on:** June 08, 2012, 04:46:05 AM »

Quick update.
here's a photo of the titan - can't get over how musical it sounds....

It did have a problem with the overheating cutout towards the end of a gig but that was with it set to a 2ohm load and having very limited ventilation - a known problem with this amp. To combat this I've rigged up a serial lead for my existing cabs to present an 8ohm load and I've also made a rather nifty external fan bracket for the back of the rack (photo later) and cut more slots in the top of the amp casing above the valves. Two wedding gigs later and no more problems.
Sometime this weekend I'm expecting a call to say I can collect a new Mesa powerhouse 210 and both a 212 and 115 to try out. I've opted for silver grilles and the 8ohm versions to pull the most power from the amp (1200watts @ 4ohms). I was surprised to see the power drops to 850 watts when it's switched to 2ohms.

Graeme

bassthang · « **Reply #20 on:** August 08, 2012, 05:50:59 PM »

Here is my Mesa rig, a M-190 tube power amp with 2 familiar units.

A Dual Showman on steroids!

jazzyvee · « **Reply #21 on:** August 09, 2012, 02:56:58 AM »

Wow that titan looks mighty Jacko. Makes my walkabout look like a toy.

Jazzyvee

jacko · « **Reply #22 on:** August 09, 2012, 04:50:01 AM »

I've just got the Titan back from Mesa. The overheating issue got to be too embarassing when it kept happening during long wedding gigs so I took it to the local distributer in Glasgow and they sent it off to Petaluma. They've dome some things to the circuits, replaced the transformer, added a second fan in the middle of the thing, moved some circuit boards around to improve airflow AND replaced the outer casing completely with one that looks like a collander. Looking forward to my gig next friday to really try it out.
I'm amazed at the customer service though. The amp is at least 5 years old and I'm either the second or third owner yet Mesa carried out the repairs under warranty AND covered the shipping costs. maybe it's a californian thing? After all, they're just down the road from Alembic who as we all know are also renowned for their customer care.

Graeme

jazzyvee · « **Reply #23 on:** August 09, 2012, 06:13:59 AM »

If they had to do all that work to get things working properly, they maybe should consider a recall as it could be a generic problem.

I hope it works properly now.
Jazzyvee

jacko · « **Reply #24 on:** August 09, 2012, 06:28:26 AM »

Mine is the first iteration. I think they were inundated with complaints about the thermal trip so they redesigned the internals and re-issued it with a black face after a couple of years then ceased production around 2010. Their work over the past couple few weeks probably brings it up to the later spec.

Graeme

terryc · « **Reply #25 on:** August 10, 2012, 07:33:26 AM »

Is that a PAT test sticker I see on your tuner jacko??

jacko · « **Reply #26 on:** August 13, 2012, 04:31:29 AM »

That's right Terry but it's out of date. A couple of years ago we were booked to play a wedding in Blair Atholl and the venue called to say we had to have a current PAT sticker on all our equipment and to prove we had damage liability. We got the guitarist's mate to test everything the band use - PA, amps and lights for a pretty good price and I waved my liability cover certificate from Musicguard at them. Turned out the venue just wanted to be happy we wouldn't start a fire and damge their priceless heirlooms. they had one chair that would cost as much as a fully specc'd series 2 to replace.
We haven't bothered to renew the PAT but I guess it owuldn't take much effort to get it all done again if needs be.

Graeme

p.s. For our transatlantic readers, Portable Appliance Testing is a health and Safety at work requirement to ensure the electrical safety of appliances. In our office, even desk fans have to display a sticker.

jazzyvee · « **Reply #27 on:** August 13, 2012, 04:57:28 AM »

Also some places require it if you bring your own electrical stuff into work too.
I remember a couple of years back when we had a gig at short notice for the city council and they wanted all our stuff to be pat tested. Well as fortune would have it, when we went to rehearsals just before the gig, we noticed that the equipment in there had recently been tested so we... those of use who's pat test sticker was overdue ahem borrowed their stickers and put them on our gear.

No-one knew, we did the gig and the following week at rehearsal we just put them all back.

Now theres a money saving tip. :-)
Jazzyvee