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Dual Rectifier VS Titan V12

Best Mesa power maker

  • Titan v12

    Votes: 3 33.3%

  • Bass 400+

    Votes: 6 66.7%
  • Total voters
    9
#21
808State said:
There is older Versions with 2 channels and Newer With 3 channels.
Either would work for high distortion.

The Newer 3 channel would have more possibilities of getting cleaner.
Since it was the intent of the design to have 2 traditional channels for high gain.
And a new 3rd channel for less gain and cover a broader range.

I used the old 2 channel with stereo Rickenbacker, Modified to not go to separate pickups.
It worked for distortion. I thought the whole clean bass amp, distorted guitar amp would be cool.
Its better to have everything distorted. Sounds funny hard to balance with clean/dirty.
Was told Billy Sheehan uses dirty and clean, and uses different compression levels to make it work.
Special Pre with 2 separate effects loops. Makes sense. But I hate compression and dont want to deal with 2 different heads.



For all tube Mesa Bass Amp I prefer the 400 not the 400+
400 is 6 tubes
400+ is 12 tubes

For a rackmount tube Amp its pretty much trouble free.
Only thing that hurts, is the 400+ is way to Hot in a Rack and Way to many Tubes.
Very Costly for re tube and not fun to current match
Compared to the Ampeg type Rackmount tube amps, Mesa is way better. Ampeg Lots random problems
and the power transformers get very very hot in a rack

Its what is great about the old 400, trouble free in a rack.

Only good Ampeg Rack Tube Amp is very very Old SVT-II
They spaced out the tubes better towards the back.
And being racked the Fan hits directly on the power transformer.
Which is the bad thing about the later models, tubes are tightly spaced near
the transformer, and everything cooks in a rack.
Click to expand...


I generally don't like too much compression with bass either, but it's a natural artifact of distortion. So the idea of adding compression to the clean channel is an effective way to help the clean and distorted signals integrate better when you mix them back together. I am a fan of dual channel processing, although I don't use it frequently.

I totally agree that carrying around two amps is too much hassle. I have pretty much done it all to include Ric-O-Sound, Multi-Amping, and Biamping. It was fun, I learned a lot, and I don't generally use any of these approaches any more. But hey if you're young, strong, and motivated, go for it!

Regarding cost to retube 400+ VS 400, the difference is probably not as big as most people think it is.
6550 cost about $42. 6x42=$252
6L6GC cost about $23. 12x23=$276
The difference is ~$24.​

IMHO choose based on the sound you want. Some like the 400 better and some like the 400+ better. The 400+ is said to have a bit more headroom, a bit solider lows, and has more of an effortless feel to it...like it has massive headroom. Regardless, many people prefer the 400 and there is nothing wrong with that. Given a choice, I would pass on both and get a D180 :woot:.
 
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#22
Wasnex said:
I generally don't like too much compression with bass either, but it's a natural artifact of distortion. So the idea of adding compression to the clean channel is an effective way to help the clean and distorted signals integrate better when you mix them back together. I am a fan of dual channel processing, although I don't use it frequently.

I totally agree that carrying around two amps is too much hassle.. I have pretty much done it all to include Ric-O-Sound, Multi-Amping, and Biamping. It was fun, I learned a lot, and I don't generally use any of these approaches any more. But hey if you're young, strong, and motivated, go for it!

Regarding cost to retube 400+ VS 400, it's probably not as both as most people think it is..
6550 cost about $42. 6x42=$252
6L6GC cost about $23. 12x23=$276
The difference is ~$24.​

IMHO choose based on the sound you want. Some like the 400 better and some like the 400+ better. The 400+ is said to have a bit more headroom, a bit solider lows, and has more of an effortless feel to it...like it has massive headroom. Regardless, many people prefer the 400 and there is nothing wrong with that. Given a choice, I would pass on both and get a D180 :woot:.
Click to expand...

I guess the meaning was lost a little since I hear it in my head still.
Using 2 heads isn't to bad, I have done it. I prefer same 2 amps
Since I usually can slave with the effect loop and not have to change 2 volume knobs.

More what I mean is using Clean Amp / Dirty Amp
Sounds weird, can have phase problems, and adjusting 2 volumes is annoying.
And sound is much better with distortion on both amps.

I want a D180 too actually. You use to see them used, broken all the time.
Broken as in tube fryers. But I had plenty luck with Traynors, MusicMan and Fender UL amps that are known killers too. I should have just bought one long long time ago. Money gone to Microphones and Studio Equipment
 
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#23
abarson said:
Mesa Boogie tube bass amps (that I know about). @agedhorse for accuracy.
  • Bass 400+
    • 500 Watts @ 2 Ohms, All Tube, Class A/B Power
    • 12x6L6, 4x12AX7
  • Bass Strategy Eight:88
    • 465 watts RMS @ 4 ohms
    • 8 KT-88 power tubes and a combination of 2x Mesa 12AX7 and 1x Mesa 12AT7 preamp tubes
  • Bass Prodigy Four:88
    • 250 watts RMS @ 4 ohms
    • 4xKT-88 Power Tubes & 3x12AX7 Preamp Tubes
  • Buster Bass 200
    • 200 Watts @ 4 ohms, All Tube, Class A/B Power
    • 6x6L6-427, 3x12AX7
  • D-180
    • 180W amp
    • 6 6L6 tubes in the power section
The Titan V12 only has tubes in the preamp section, the power section being MOFSET.
  • 1200 Watts @ 4 Ohms (840 Watts @ 2 Ohms, 650 Watts @ 8 Ohms), Simul-State™ Power w/ 4 or 2 Ohm Impedance Select Switch for optimum Power/Load Performance / 22 Tube driven Power MOSFET’s, 4x12AX7
Click to expand...
As a former Titan owner.
The Titan is A KIller amp.
1425613908608.jpg
 
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#24
808State said:
I guess the meaning was lost a little since I hear it in my head still.
Using 2 heads isn't to bad, I have done it. I prefer same 2 amps
Since I usually can slave with the effect loop and not have to change 2 volume knobs.

More what I mean is using Clean Amp / Dirty Amp
Sounds weird, can have phase problems, and adjusting 2 volumes is annoying.
And sound is much better with distortion on both amps.
Click to expand...

With modern light weight gear running two amps is probably not too bad. My first biamp rig was an Ampeg SVT and 810, with a Fender Twin loaded with JBL E120s stacked on top. That was a heavy rig my friend. I did my Ric-O-Sound and Multi-Amping experiments with a Yamaha B100 combo and the Twin before I bought the SVT.
During most of my pro years I typically made due with a 210 and about 250W. I did biamp a GK 800RB for awhile, but I used small cabs. That was the clearest and most articulate bass rig I have ever used.

I don't generally use pedals or effects to perform with bass.. It's fun to fuss with pedals occasionally in my basement though. I have a big pedal board that I built for guitar, but I chose many of the pedals because the work fairly well with bass also.

If you have pedals or an amp that sound great, then parallel processing is not required. My Matamp GT120 sound absolutely fabulous pushed into heavy output drive, but it's only about 100W clean. IMHO SVTs sound great pushed into light output drive, but I don't think they sound great when pushed really hard. I suspect the SVT pushed into light grind, with the Matamp high passed and pushed into oblivion would sound pretty awesome.

A lot of people seem to have a problem with the lows washing out and getting too mushy with heavier sounds. This is where I think parallel processing, or running both a clean and distorted amp can offer some improvements. But if you think it sucks or is too much of a hassle, I don't have an argument. It's something I would do for the fun of it, but probably not something I would tour with, unless setup crew and roadies are provided. Then I could show up late and hassle the guitar tech because the strings on my backup bass are too dead :roflmao:.
 
#25
el murdoque said:
Yes, but when we're talking about making bass VERY loud, the Dual Rectifier would not really cut anything against the other two.
As soon as we start talking about distorting a rock guitar, both bass heads lose.
Click to expand...

Wasnex said:
The Titan is also way louder than any of my tube amps.
----------------
The Titan is pretty much the perfect amp for the toxic narcissist bass player. With the right cabs you could probably clear any club and/or anger everyone in the band. I think it really can be that overbearing and obnoxious in the wrong hands. As the saying goes, with great power comes great responsibility.
Click to expand...

All this ^.
The Titan is powerful and extremely loud. I owned it and the Mesa 810 cab and there wasn't a guitar rig to keep up. My old drummer would complain if the cab pointed at him, the bass vibrated his body to the point he'd drop his sticks. :roflmao:

I sold it to buy a Strategy 8:88, and this sucker is extremely loud as well. I dont have enough cab to find its limitation.
 
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#27
I think both the Titan and the 400+ qualify for
"All the power you might ever need, plus some to spare".
Unless you're running something extremely extreme in the cabinet department, you're well set with either of these. Both are capable of running a 2 ohm load, which means dual 810's.
Anything exceeding this and you're better set up with a good preamp and as many PA power amps as you need.
 
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#28
Titan v 12: If you get creative you can mix n match the channels very well as each channel has an output from the tube section feeding the power amp, this can also have the assignable , adjustable over drive to each channel separately (no you cant stack them both to one channel) :-0 and a footswitchable "solo boost". External switching options .
** Rack friendly front AND rear inputs for each channel Front AND back tuner out (which carries straight input signal, could be useful)
Good DI, Hard hitting Mosfet power section. This slams, hard and fast.
It also ticks more flexibility boxes than anything previous or since.

These are monster amps, BUT there were some design updates along the way. Get the serial # and hit up Mesa support.
They could have records if it was updated by them. If not, find out where they stand on these, and see about having them performed :)
They had some overheating problems. Mine was fully up to date, Granted it never got to really open her up more than a handful of times for a annual "backyard" BBQ (3 Acres 3 stages pegged it on helter skelter)
BUT
it
was
GLORIOUS !

Pushing the EA CX310 Concert (6 Ohms @ 900 watts)

cx310front-jpg.jpg




FEATURES
  • Handcrafted in Petaluma, California
  • 1200 Watts @ 4 Ohms (840 Watts @ 2 Ohms, 650 Watts @ 8 Ohms), Simul-State™ Power w/ 4 or 2 Ohm Impedance Select Switch for optimum Power/Load Performance / 22 Tube driven Power MOSFET’s, 4x12AX7
  • Active/Passive Input Switch
  • 2 Fully Independent Footswitchable Channels featuring Gain, Active Bass, Passive Mid, Active Mid w/Mid Frequency Control (adjustable from 200 Hz to 2 kHz), Active Treble, Master Volume, Footswitchable Tube Over Drive & Over Drive Level Controls
  • Two Instrument Inputs (A or B) with Input Selector Switch (A, B or Footswitch), which allows you to plug 1 instrument into Input 1 and footswitch between the 2 Channels or plug 2 separate instruments into Inputs 1 & 2 and route them to their own corresponding, optimized preamp channel for seamless live transitions
  • Output Level Control (over all channels)
  • Footswitchable Solo Level Control – Patent 6,724,897 (over all channels)
  • FX Loop w/True “Hard” Bypass Switch (over all channels when activated)
  • Front & Rear Panel Tuner Outputs with Footswitchable or Front Panel Amplifier Mute/Standby Control
  • Balanced XLR Line Out with Pre/Post Switch, Level Control & Ground Lift
  • External Switching
    Jacks for Channels 1 & 2, Over Drive Channels 1 & 2, Input Select A & B, Solo & Mute
  • 2 – Speakon - 1/4” Combination Speaker Output Jacks
  • Slave Out w/Level Control
  • Fan Cooled
  • 5-Button Footswitch (Channel 1, Channel 2, Channel 1 Over Drive, Channel 2 Over Drive, Input


Still running Mesa though!

Subway WD800 into an Audiokinesis Thunderchild 115 :)
 
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#32
Funny enuff, I use a Mesa Dual Rectifier for rehearsals on occasion. Thru an old Orange 212 guitar cab. It is loud enuff to gig with, it sounds fantastic. And remember, Steve Harris, and others, used Marshall 100 watt guitar heads for bass in some pretty stellar bands. This rig even handles my low B well, tho if I HAD to use it at gigs, I'd prolly stick with a 4 string, to preserve the guitar speakers. But if I put the Rectifier on one of my bass cabs, I bet it would be great!

I've also used both the V12 and 400+ a lot. The 400+ is more apparently powerful, to me. It is the only amp I have ever been afraid of. But both could be used equally well to cover any gig I've ever had.
 
#35
baxter_x said:
Really??You still have your Titan? When you play the TT-800, you feel like you're playing the Titan?
Click to expand...
I dont have the Titan any more, first the D800 replaced it. New flavor of awesome (smaller stages and less weight Titan / EA - Head / Cab combo was more than 200 Lbs)
The WD I have currently has some of the character of the Titan (the D800 was quicker and hit nearly as hard as the Titan)
the WD800 has the parametric section and an overarching passive mid (the titan had an active mid and was only semi-Para)
The TT brings to the table some of the flexibility aspects of the Titan (not all obviously) and an overdrive-able pre , with the ability to mix (but not to the degree of the Titan) nor does it have the Rack friendly options, but it does tick a lot of boxes.

NOTHING sounds like the tones you can squeeze out of a Titan :)
But
Andy Field's preamps sound great, are very flexible the poweramp section is quick and wide
 
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