Mesa 200 Buster club

[bassinflorida]

It actually does very well with only 4 tubes. One of my concerns were which tubes were used as pairs. Not as I would have thought though.

 

[bassinflorida]

Just thought I would mention I did use the Buster head at a gig a couple of weeks ago with the full tube complement. It can still run with the big dogs.

 

[scotch]

My head version Buster is probably going up for sale after all. I just tend to use the 15" combo, or go with my full 300w Fender rig...

I will miss it, no doubt!

 

[bassinflorida]

I was considering one of the new Fender heads. Doubt I would have been happy with just the 100W but I had not found a new SB300 local yet.
The Buster head may have a few less features, but damn it sounds good.

 

[Classic69]

I have a Buster 210 Wedge. It sits sadly, mostly unused today, because I have some smaller, lighter, and excellent sounding rigs-
SMPS heads, liteweight neo-loaded cabs, etc.

But- Lemme tell ya- It is a GREAT amplifier. When the 6L6's get fired up, that combo sounds so beautiful and tight.
Very cumbersome, and hard to transport; that's the only "design flaw" Mesa made, other than that- It is a true classic, very under-appreciated for what it was/is!

 

[krispn]

I'll post pics in a few days of my Buster head/Apollo115 set up together. The head is recovered in cream tolex and with the Apollo 115 cab will look very tasty. Vintage vibe with what I consider to be a great sounding bass head. I like the clean power and I wasn't after a super dirty amp.

I'm running a custom dirt pedal (boost, OD and more OD) and looking to add the eq foot switch just for the added oomph now and again. Still discovering new tweaks and with a 5 string Lakland JO5 arriving this week can't wait to run it all together!

The cab has a Faital 15 which replaced the original driver.

 

[krispn]

Here's the whole gang Lester, Ruby and Boogie and my 65 Cab

 

[EduardoK]

Hi guys. I am looking forward to retube my Buster head but don't know much about tubes.
Saw this set @ eBay :
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mesa-Boogie...188?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c64abedec:
Mesa Boogie Buster Bass Primo Tube Set 6L6GC
Your advise please! Are these the right tubes to buy? Any specific brands you recommend? A dedicated trusty tube dealer perhaps? Amp and preamp tubes?

 

[monsterthompson]

just got the Barefaced cab. It's a stunning combo with the Buster.

 

[EduardoK]

Still no help....
I am looking forward to retube my Buster head but don't know much about tubes.
Saw this set @ eBay :
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mesa-Boogie...188?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c64abedec:
Mesa Boogie Buster Bass Primo Tube Set 6L6GC
Your advise please! Are these the right tubes to buy? Any specific brands you recommend? A dedicated trusty tube dealer perhaps? Amp and preamp tubes?

 

[monsterthompson]

Mesa Hollywood will sell you a set and tell you what to get. They will suggest their tubes, which are fine and dandy.


"Comparison is the thief of joy."
- Theodore Roosevelt

 

[RCCollins]

A reliable tube seller will know what you need and should supply you with a matched sextet. Nothing wrong with Mesa tubes but they're pricey and you can probably do better for less with a little research.

 

[scotch]

I've been getting tubes for my Buster from tubedepot.com for years. They present unbiased options (cough*eurojjtubes*cough), have good pricing and excellent service. I have had to contact them after-sale & they bent over backwards to help me!

 

[scotch]

I just sold my 'spare' Buster. (I miss it already), but still have and use my 15" Buster combo regularly.

I have used the following on tour and in the studio, often a/b'ing between the 2 amps side by side:

Sovtek 6L6wxt. Surprisingly my favorite. A little more rugged for touring, great lows and ready to break up at high volumes more readily than some of the more expensive tubes.

Sovtek 5881wxt. Essentially a mil-spec 6L6. Sounds good, takes a beating (Canadian winter touring in bus/trailer- ouch!), and lasts a long time. I never killed my 5881wxt's. Maybe less mid/high "detail", but plenty of grunt and bottom!

Svetlana Winged C 6L6. Pricey, but nice. They were a little too hi-fi for me, but if super clean is your game.

Tung Sol 6L6str. Really great! I go back and forth with the Sovtek wxt's as to which I prefer. The Tung Sol is probably cleaner & more booty, but I always wonder if it will take.as much of a beating.

JJ 6L6gc. Meh. Sounded good, nothing stood out from the pack. I had no trouble with them but I've seen half a dozen guitarists throw them in the trash mid-tour.

 

[EduardoK]

scotch, RCCollins, monsterthompson:
Thanks guys!!!

 

[hennessybass]

The Buster I owned for a while had a mod done so the amp had an adjustable bias. This way you could use any tubes (not just the Mesa tubes) and adjust the bias how you wanted for that particular set.

I never messed with it, but the guy I bought off of said it was a very simple mod, and could be easily reversed.

 

[Calexia13]

You could just tell the guys from Tube Depot, (or any other reseller that knows their stuff) that it's for a mesa amp, they will sell you a set that will work within the mesa set bias. I got a set from Tube Depot of SED 6l6GC a couple of years ago and they have worked out great.

 

[EduardoK]

Thanks Calexia13 and hennessybass...!

 

[higain617]

I briefly owned a Buster head. It sounded great but I only had an inefficient 4x10 cab at the time. It would get lost in the mix. Now I own three 1x15 cabs, so I kinda wish I kept it.

 

[apostrophe]

I just picked up the 210 wedge combo from a local Guitar Center as a trade. Sounds awesome and even better when I connect it to a Berg 212 cab. Very, very loud!