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400+ VOLUME

#21
TONYTHOMAS1956 said:
So we played last night and the results werent great. The amp sounded like it was wounded! Dirty sound no matter what setting I used (high master, low input and vise-versa). Im using channel 2 which is made more for passive (using Fender 5 string Jazz w/Barts Non Active). It was a dirty, distorded sound. So Im thinking I may have gotton a bad preamp tube (new doesnt always mean good). Start checking all the normal things like input, speaker cables take tuner out of line, nothing changed so I get my standby amp (SVT pro III) and it sounds almost the same way. Now Im wondering if I have a cab issue. Never had any issues with the Avatar 410 Neo's before. Had an instance 2 weeks ago with the SVT 3 when I had a real high pitch feedback. Could this have done something to the crossover in the cab?
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bad sounding distortion is normally the power supply / phase splitter
 
#22
So I just returned from our outside gig so heres my report.
I changed the v4 tube with the12ax7 replacing the 12au7 and the volume was a lot more than needed.:eek:
And I still have the somewhat distorded soung while playing(just on the initial pluck of the string) now granted this is my first tube amp so Im somewhat of a virgin with tubes. The tone is awesome when the distortion fades out(real quick fade). I must also mention that I added a 115 Avatar cab with the 410 neo and both cabs have the same distortion so Im back to thinking the problem is in the head.
Now about the bass its self, Its a Fender Am jazz 5 string that has a set of Barts(passive) that I have been using for about 6 years and when I first installed them, there was a big difference in volume with the Ampeg Pro III that ive been using for 8 years.
So here's my question: Could the output of the barts be so hot that the distortion is comming from them?

So here I am, Headed down that experimental highway.:eyebrow:
 
#23
TONYTHOMAS1956 said:
So I just returned from our outside gig so heres my report.
I changed the v4 tube with the12ax7 replacing the 12au7 and the volume was a lot more than needed.:eek:
And I still have the somewhat distorded soung while playing(just on the initial pluck of the string) now granted this is my first tube amp so Im somewhat of a virgin with tubes. The tone is awesome when the distortion fades out(real quick fade). I must also mention that I added a 115 Avatar cab with the 410 neo and both cabs have the same distortion so Im back to thinking the problem is in the head.
Now about the bass its self, Its a Fender Am jazz 5 string that has a set of Barts(passive) that I have been using for about 6 years and when I first installed them, there was a big difference in volume with the Ampeg Pro III that ive been using for 8 years.
So here's my question: Could the output of the barts be so hot that the distortion is comming from them?

So here I am, Headed down that experimental highway.:eyebrow:
Click to expand...

I guess it's possible. You could of course, turn your bass down a bit and see if it cleans up.
 
#27
and out of curiousity, are there any recording A/B'ing the pre and post mod 400+? I'm curious to know what the difference is exactly tonally...as I will put up with the massive volume changes if it means I loose some of the aggressive nature of the amp.
 
#29
You will be able to crank the master volume to 5 more often and the input gain on channel two to about 5 or 6. At least that's how it is for me. Before the mod, a knob setting of three was way crazy and dirty sounding on the master and input volume knobs.

I think you lose a little bit of the crazy nature, but I feel the tube mod allowed the amp to react to the entire sound of my bass more evenly with the tube growl. It's a bit hard to explain, but I liked so much more because I had better definition overall. It's like the amp was supposed to run this way. You can still get the crazy dirt and it will only involve more of an increase in the input controls and the master volume.
 
#30
l_4ba396afddbb44089dd7a6671733ca2a.png
lorenk said:
sorry for this bit of OT-ness, but does Avatar make (or made) a 15 cab?
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They did make them for a while.I'd love to have anotherone tho.
 
#31
Talked to Marcus (seems to be very knowledgeable and eager to answer any question I had) at Mesa today about my distortion problem.
He said I may be running the master volume to high overdriving the power section. Granted I did have it pretty high(7-8) with channel volume low (1-1.5) and it made sense. So has anybody run into this problem. He also said the ideal setting is no more than 5-6 on channel and master to taste.
 
#32
From my reading of the mesa 400+ manual, you want the Master at around 5 (or lower) and to dial in volume at the preamp level. This is how I did it and it sounded great. With the 12au7 mod, it felt like it stayed cleanish up to 6-7 on the Master.
 
#33
Played fri and sat night, Took both 410's this time and the sound was a little cleaner with settings lowered on master and increases on inputs. Still had some distortion but very faint, had to put up with bad overall tones from the room tho(weird layout, p.a. nightmare). So now I'll be changing the pre tubes back to the mesa's just to see what difference that will make. On another note, seems to me that I read somewhere that the 400+'s were more suited for 2-15 cabs. Is the true?
 

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