Author Topic: SF2 with Mesa Boogie 400+ (Read 240 times)

kol · « **on:** September 15, 2003, 12:27:35 PM »

Hi friends?
I have recently got hold of an MesaBoogie 400+amp.
Do anyone have experience in using it with the SF2?How to conect it and so on.Interesting to see what you comes up with.

palembic · « **Reply #1 on:** September 15, 2003, 12:50:59 PM »

Hi Kolbj?rn,

An SF-2 in Norway?? Yipieyayee!
How's Norway these days?
I'm a recent SF-2 user so I have just some idea's.
Put your guitar in the Mesa input front.
See if your Mesa ha an effect send/return (or effect loop) device on the back. Take the effect send to the channel A in on the back of the SF-2, put the beast in mono and take the Channle B out to the return of your Mesa. I don't know the tone controls on a Mesa but You better start flat or on the setting you usually set on.
It' s the way I know brothers do it with their SWR SM400.
If there is no such thing as a send/return you can better use the SF-2 as a pre-amp: litterally: before your amp.
Go from your guitar to the input in front of the SF-2. Channel A. Keep Mono swithed in the back. Take the out of channel B to the input in front of your Mesa.
Voil?.

Paul the bad one

alembic76407 · « **Reply #2 on:** September 15, 2003, 01:26:27 PM »

Kol, there two effects loops on the 400+, the one on the back of the amp has a blend knob in the rear thats not the one I would use, it's more for blending effects, you should use on the front of the amp, but I don't know why, the Boogie 400+ is the best amp I've ever used

David T

kol · « **Reply #3 on:** September 15, 2003, 01:39:57 PM »

Thanks to both of you!Looking forward to try it out.Oh,yes The SF-2 has been in Norway at least for 5-6 years.It really gives you a personal sound.
We are soon facing winter now.So I have to keep the Rogue warm.
Kolbj?rn

alembic76407 · « **Reply #4 on:** September 16, 2003, 08:56:45 PM »

kol
how is the amp working out, did you get the SF2 working with the 400+?, let us know

kol · « **Reply #5 on:** September 17, 2003, 01:44:15 PM »

David T
Yes,it is working!I used the send/return on the front.Need some time to find out how to find my sound on it.So my first gigs will be straight into the Mesa till i find my favourite settings on the SF-2.The thing is not to put on too much gain on the SF-2.Do you use both channels or just the right one?
I am just curious.There is not many to ask around here in Norway.
Kolbj?rn

palembic · « **Reply #6 on:** September 17, 2003, 02:46:06 PM »

Kol,

if you ask nice ( I know you can) to the people at Alembicians they may e-mail you (or even send you) a copy of the SF-2 manual. It really helps.

Paul the bad one

alembic76407 · « **Reply #7 on:** September 17, 2003, 06:02:01 PM »

Kol,
I do not have a SF2 I can't help you with the one channel or two channel question, but my guess would be one channel (mono), but here is some stuff on the Boogie ,If you didn't know,
channel one on the 400+ is for passive basses and channel two is for active basses, you can plug your bass in to either channel (and should) it wont hurt anything but the gain structure will be different. What speakers are you using, I find the Boogie really kicks at 4 ohms. let me know if you need any help with the Boogie.

David T

peter_jonas · « **Reply #8 on:** September 19, 2003, 05:09:08 AM »

Hi Kol,

You can use both channels in mono mode. This is the mode I prefer.

First, connect the effects loop send on your amp to Channel A input on the back of th SF-2, and Channel B output to your the loop return. Then flick the mode switch on the back, between the input and output jacks to Mono mode (down).

In this setup the SF-2 is a three channel mixer:

channel 1 is the signal routed through Channel A filter. Adjust the volume of this channel by using the knob marked Filter Gain for Channel A.

channel 2 is the signal routed through Channel B filter. Adjust the volume of this channel by using the knob marked Filter Gain for Channel B.

channel 3 is the original unfiltered signal. Adjust the volume of of this channel by using the knob marked Direct Gain for Channel B.

Overall volume control is adjusted by using the knob marked Direct Gain for Channel A.

There are many advantages in using the SF-2 this way. Firstly you can blend different sounds and get new sounds that you could otherwise not have. Also, you can dial in two distinctly different sounds on each filter channel, and say a third on on your bass, and then easily switch from one sound to the other by turning the volumes of the channels up or down.

You'll soon get the hang of it.

The manual is worth getting. It describes all above in detail, plus it has block diagrams and some useful sample settings for the filters.

By the way, you can also use the SF-2 to feed a stereo (2 channel) amp from a mono source. Just connect the source to either the front instrument input (the gain of which is internally adjustable) or Channel A input on the back, then connect channel A and channel B outputs to the respective inputs of your stereo amp. Flick the mode switch up to stereo mode. Then you can control the sound of each channel via the SF-2 filters (you can be Jaco on the left and Stanley on the right [just kidding, but you could try]).

Enjoy

Peter

kol · « **Reply #9 on:** September 20, 2003, 02:07:31 PM »

David T
Thank you for help.With your advice in the back of my head I will spend more time with my amp and SF2.By the way,I have 410 and 115 cabs.I will come back to you later and give you feedback.
Kolbj?rn

kol · « **Reply #10 on:** September 20, 2003, 02:21:16 PM »

Peter!
This was really great stuff.Easy to understand for a viking from Norway.
You see,one of my problems have been to avoid changes in the volume when using the filter.You know if I change the output everybody else in the band gets more bass in their monitor.So I will spend more time to figure out the best way to get the SF2 to do what I want it to.
Besides I must tell you that I have been to Alembic for a factory tour lately.Very inspiring.
Mica gave us a fantastic ride!
Kolbj?rn