What cab do you use? Don't most 2 10"s weigh in around 50-60lbs? All of my cabs weigh more than the 400+. Most are twice as much. That Mesa is not bad at all. Any of you older cats remember B-3's?
B-3's & trap cases & stairs.
Therein Hell lies...
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Just bought this Mesa 400+ beast...!!!
- Thread starter stingray56funk
- Start date
B-3's & trap cases & stairs.
Therein Hell lies...
Mucho grats! I love the sound of Boogies but the weight of the 400+ put me off.[/QUOTE]
That is one thing that I am super happy about. The weight doesn't bother me a bit...about 45lbs. Not bad for all-tube! I had a Mesa/Boogie Buster 200 and that thing weighed in at 70lbs and didn't sound half as good to my ears. Sold the Mesa Buster 200 to Jorge Shroeder and he in turn sold it a few months after that. The 400+ kicks the SVT in the pants, IMO, and is half the weight. Just my .02.
That is one thing that I am super happy about. The weight doesn't bother me a bit...about 45lbs. Not bad for all-tube! I had a Mesa/Boogie Buster 200 and that thing weighed in at 70lbs and didn't sound half as good to my ears. Sold the Mesa Buster 200 to Jorge Shroeder and he in turn sold it a few months after that. The 400+ kicks the SVT in the pants, IMO, and is half the weight. Just my .02.
I had a Boogie Buster, modified with a trimmer to set the BIAS, and with a new full set of sovteks... it sounded amazing!
Very MEAN!!!
so much better than my Boogie 400+ with original mesa tubes inside... I've already modified it with the trimmer to set the BIAS...
Now it's the time to change tubes!
Congradulations! I'm still holding on to mine for dear life- I love this amp. The only other thing on my list now- nv610! oh, I can feel the gas growing...
I've already modified it with the trimmer to set the BIAS...
Now it's the time to change tubes!
Hey Vanni, I'm thinking about having adjustable Bias pots instaled in my 400+ too.
After you did this mod, (with your old tubes) did it change your amps sound in any way?
Do it!!!
It didn't change the sound of my 400+, but, even with mesa tubes, it seems louder, with more headroom.
The technician who have modified my amp, checked the full power after the mod: he told me my head have 320-325W RMS.
I have a friend who had the same head without any mod, but mine blows away his 400+.
I can't wait to change all the tubes...
Vanni
After racking my brain, and reading MANY TB threads on tubes for the 400+, I decided to get a full retube kit from eurotubes.com..$228 for all 12 power tubes and 4 preamp tubes. From the site..."Includes a set of 12 matched JJ 6L6GC's in a hotter grade to get that cold factory bias up a little, two standard ECC83S's for V1 and V2 and two balanced ECC83S's for V3 and V4 gets you a thunderous sound." I can't wait! I think I'll like these tubes alot for my style, which would be LOUD and CLEAR, with that tubey warmth/tone. If I get some grit with these tubes, that would also be a plus.
COngtrats on your purchase. Great amps. I've had mine for almost a year and it has proved to be a beast. I don't think the master volume ever gets up to 3. Ive tried it through a variety of cabs, it always sounds good. Its got a lovely gritty sound with my p-bass. Also, the 2 different inputs are preamps that are voiced slightly differently....
I guess the weight thing is subjective - compared to a SS head, its heavy. Its not as bad as some, but I admit I don't look forward to lugging this amp in a sturdy rackcase up 4 flights of steps at 2 am on a Sunday night... apart from that, its great!
I guess the weight thing is subjective - compared to a SS head, its heavy. Its not as bad as some, but I admit I don't look forward to lugging this amp in a sturdy rackcase up 4 flights of steps at 2 am on a Sunday night... apart from that, its great!
Thanks for the comments guys! I'm going to be buying a rack for this sometime this week or next...got to...got to protect the tone! What do you all recommend? I was thinking along the lines of a regular SKB or Gator rack...I don't tour and if I do go on the road for a few gigs it is usually with a small trailor and not much else.
Just put mine up for sale last night 
I was going to get a Gator 4 space shallow for mine so it sits on the cab nicely.
I was going to get a Gator 4 space shallow for mine so it sits on the cab nicely.
I read somewhere in the forums of somebody using a regular 4 space SKB case and having insufficient cooling issues. They even went as far as to drill holes in the case, but it didn't help. I have a 4 space SKB that I was going to use up until I read that thread. If I were you, I'd make sure the case you choose would allow the amp to cool off sufficiently and also not block the fan on the side of the amp. I'd also look into the shock mounts, but they are pricey. I think I'm going to use a regular 6 space SKB that I have my Crest CA9 housed in at the moment. Leave one space below, and one space above the amp.
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I use this and gives some nice clearance at the top. I haven't had any problems with it overheating. I suppose you could drill a few holes by the fan, but I haven't found it necessary. It's fairly expensive, but it's pretty solid.
I use this and gives some nice clearance at the top. I haven't had any problems with it overheating. I suppose you could drill a few holes by the fan, but I haven't found it necessary. It's fairly expensive, but it's pretty solid.
There are quite a few threads on this. After advice from a fellow TBer I purchased a four space Gator rack case and drilled holes under the handles for the cross flow ventilation.While the Gator is not the sturdiest case it has some advantages for the 400+: 1) It provides some space around the sides 2) The handle indents match the vents for the fan and the air flow and can be easily drilled 3) It is a light case and therefore adds little to the overall weight. I have used it on hot, loud outdoor events with no overheating problems, and it also once took a very heavy fall and protected the amp perfectly. Either way you have a great amp.
Thanks Tim1 for the advice...as well as everyone else! I think that a 30lbs rack is a bit too much...but the standard SKB and Gator racks will do me just fine because of the little bit of touring/gigging a long way from home I do. I will look into getting a 5 or 6 space rack though for more top and bottom ventilation...and I'll drill some holes in the rack as well! Sounds like a plan...now I need to sell a compressor pedal so I can afford a new rack after my $ drop on the amp.
