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Fassa's not the only one with a new amp...

Korladis

Korladis

Inactive
Apr 9, 2009
23,161
14,855
San Francisco Bay Area, CA
#1
FedEx just delivered to my a door a very splendid looking MESA/Boogie D-180. I bought it on ebay from another TBer, CrUiSeR, who, by the way, is a very cool guy who I would highly recommend doing business with if he's selling anything in the future.

Immediately I noted the substantial weight. But that's okay, it's sort of comforting that it's kinda heavy. It makes it feel... important. Like a cannon. My basses are heavy, too, so it's no big deal. I'm 22, so maybe my opinion about weight will change in a couple decades.

Also included with the amp was a CD of the schematic and owner's manual, which I read a few times over. It has a very weird EQ and volume system, I've never heard of anything like it before. I suppose it will take some time to fiddle with the knobs (a process that I am thoroughly looking forward to).

I find it kinda funny that I've bought a rackmount type head despite not owning a rack. To be honest, I've never thought of anything to put in a rack besides an amp. Maybe I should get one eventually just to protect it?

I'm fairly confident that my cabs will do fine. After all, the Mesa is less watts than my current (solid state) amp, and both cabs can handle 200 watts (supposedly). I like that the fuse is in an easy-to-get-to location.

As you can probably tell, I'm pretty excited :bassist:

This thread will have pics as soon as I take some. Which will be next week at latest. :hyper:
 
#2
As promised, here are some pictures.

Just the head:
n787433533_1959469_83162.gif


The whole rig (and the guitarist in my band):
n787433533_1959468_4046900.gif


As you can see, it has the mids set to 10 and the bass and treble down to 0, because that seems to be flat. Haven't really used the graphic EQ yet, as I haven't needed it. I turned it all the way up last practice just to hear what it sounds like, and wow, it roars! Very weird but cool amp, it's the sound I've been looking for.

:bassist:
 
#6
ErebusBass said:
Why are you playing a guitar through it when there's a Rickenbacker sitting right there?

That's blasphemy.
Click to expand...

That's the guitarist in my band, as Pitbull Growl pointed out. He's playing through an old Peavey Mace something or other and this enormous old cab.

If you can see, my bass is sitting on the stand, still plugged into the Mesa (which is on standby, as you can see in the first pic).

This amp is making me very happy.
 
#9
Used one of them for about a year. I was in this band where the guitarist was a nut about Mesa and had lots of money so he bought one as soon as they came out for me to play. Ran it through a big homemade 215 cab. Couldn't say no to it even though I had a V4B/810. It worked great in that band. Wish I could have kept it all when I quit.
 
#13
bassteban said:
You know these amps were made for guitar or bass, right? Running into channel 1 gives you two gain stages, IIRC. You just might want to keep the guitar player away from your rig...
:ninja:/:D
Click to expand...

I don't think I'll have any trouble keeping him away from it. He's pretty happy with his old Peavey rig.

I haven't tried channel 1 yet, I only ran through channel 2. Maybe next time we rehearse.
 
#14
hbarcat said:
Congratulations. I hope you enjoy it for many years to come.



Please buy a rack for it so it doesn't get broken.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, I have no money right now (at least none after I account for textbooks, rent and food), so a rack will have to wait. Also, I'd feel so silly having a rack and only one thing to put in it. I doubt it's going to get broken, as it's not like we're going on tour anytime soon. I'm thinking about just building a case for it myself, actually, as I'm decent enough at basic carpentry stuff.
 
#18
Yes, it's a very strange EQ and volume control/gain system. Mid 10, Bass 0 and Treble 0-2 gives me a pretty good sound. On my old amp I used to play with the lows flat and the mids and treble boosted slightly, and the sound was comparable, but with the Mesa there's that tube warmth and I have a much easier time getting good sounding bite. Took me a bit to wrap my head around that concept, too. The graphic EQ I tried turning on, but I liked the tone better without it. I think I'll probably only use it if I need further mid-boosting.

One of the reasons I'm not too worried about it getting broken, at least not in the near future, is that the entire thing is made of metal, and from the thickness of it, the amps seems more than durable enough on its own to handle sitting at my band's rehearsal spot and the occasional gig.
 
#19
Sartori said:
Yes, it's a very strange EQ and volume control/gain system. Mid 10, Bass 0 and Treble 0-2 gives me a pretty good sound. On my old amp I used to play with the lows flat and the mids and treble boosted slightly, and the sound was comparable, but with the Mesa there's that tube warmth and I have a much easier time getting good sounding bite. Took me a bit to wrap my head around that concept, too. The graphic EQ I tried turning on, but I liked the tone better without it. I think I'll probably only use it if I need further mid-boosting.

One of the reasons I'm not too worried about it getting broken, at least not in the near future, is that the entire thing is made of metal, and from the thickness of it, the amps seems more than durable enough on its own to handle sitting at my band's rehearsal spot and the occasional gig.
Click to expand...
i'd build a box for it and rack rails that size are cheap ........ before someone sets/spills a beer on it
 

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