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Mesa 200 Buster club
- Thread starter Stevosimpson
- Start date
A few weeks ago I ordered a Buster 1x15 combo from the moderately bad empire that is Guitar Center, and it arrived yesterday after some delays in shipping. The exterior has taken some hits over the years but the electronics and speaker are good. The tone of the speaker is amazing--I think it's a bit better than my Powerhouse 15, and that's a really good cab. The Buster is just a bit punchier, but still retains low end very well. The sound is very close to the Buster I already have (rehoused head from a wedge combo), with the slight differences likely due to the tubes--the 1x15 Buster has older power tubes and a SPAX7 in the first preamp spot (just a prime Mesa 12AX7).
The design is definitely better than the 2x10 wedge. It's still a beast to move, but it's more stable, both when standing and when rolling with the built-in luggage handle.
I'll probably have to let one of the amp heads go (don't think I can justify keeping both of them, though I'm trying to find excuses), but the 1x15 cab is a keeper--it's a pity that so few of the matching extension cabs were made.
The design is definitely better than the 2x10 wedge. It's still a beast to move, but it's more stable, both when standing and when rolling with the built-in luggage handle.
I'll probably have to let one of the amp heads go (don't think I can justify keeping both of them, though I'm trying to find excuses), but the 1x15 cab is a keeper--it's a pity that so few of the matching extension cabs were made.
After some A/B playing, I've decided to sell the 2x10 cabinet from my Buster wedge. I think the 1x15 Buster combo cab and a PH15 are more than enough for me. If anyone wants to pick up a 2x10 Buster cab, you can take a look over here: For Sale - Mesa Boogie Buster 2x10 cab
The Buster 1x15 combo continues to amaze me with its tone. Incredible sound (and the size and weight to match). I'm keeping one head, which I'll move from the combo to a separate case as needed. The other is in the classifieds. If I could get a matching 1x15 Buster extension cab I think I'd have the perfect rig, at least until my back gave out.
I rocked a Buster 200 and 2 diesel 115s for a long time and still think it one of the best rigs used. I stopped using it because I got hernias from schlepping it.
Hi Guys, I have a question to ask, I am retooling my buster combo 15 and thought I might try another speaker in there. I really like the EVM15L with my D180 in the LT606 cab, but I don't think that it is the ideal speaker to put into this combo, I was thinking maybe a JBL E140 or a K140 Alnico, do you guys think the box is big enough to allow those speakers to develop good bass? Or what would you guys recommend, I was also considering a Faital 400.
What are you unhappy with regarding the current speaker? Or is this just an experiment to see what happens?
it is mainly an experimentation. I don't gig with this amp, but did take it to a rehearsal spree once and it didn't have as much bass as I wanted. Also, I don't think that the buster combo 15 enclosure is a Thiele 606 - the enclosure optimized for the EVM15L, I could be wrong but physically it doesn't resemble it.
Since I got no recommendations, I went on a limb and bought a faital 400pro 15 in 4 ohm for 150.00, at first I loaded it into a TL606 cab and when turned up to "jamming with a drummer" level, the cab began to resonate in a bad way when I hit any note on the E string. So I was starting to think I f'ed up getting the speaker, next I loaded it into my buster 15, and it sounds great in the combo, does not exhibit the same resonating issue as in the TL606 cab, maybe its the porting of the cab, its got 2 round ports on the back as opposed to the rectangular porting of the tl606 cab. Anyway, it sounds very good and I think it can pound out more bass than the evm15l and sounds sweeter/clearer to me. Only issue I forsee is that it is 4 ohm and I will not be able to hook up another cabinet.
"If it sounds good, it is good." Glad it is working for you; how often do you think you'll need an extension cab?
At this rate probably never, I haven't gigged in a while, and usually jam with friends at a studio we rent out here in Signal Hill, they provide the typical low end 1x15 or 4x10 cabs, but I usually bring the buster. It will be interesting to see how the fatal fills out the room as opposed to the EVM15L. On a side note, did you guys see a Buster for sale, which had a switch to go from 6L6GC tubes to 6550's? That sounds really cool, I was thinking that it might actually give more wattage, considering how big the transformers are, I mean why not go for KT88's since you can do 6550's. Anyone know what would be involved in doing such a mod?
Regards,
Ed
Regards,
Ed
[QUOTE="On a side note, did you guys see a Buster for sale, which had a switch to go from 6L6GC tubes to 6550's? That sounds really cool, I was thinking that it might actually give more wattage, considering how big the transformers are, I mean why not go for KT88's since you can do 6550's. Anyone know what would be involved in doing such a mod?
Regards,
Ed[/QUOTE]
Ed, that was my old amp that I sold to go a bit lighter (then I went heavy again...). The transformer in the Buster is more than enough to handle the extra watts. The choice of 6650s was a 'safe' decision as they are about 35w and KT88s are up to 50w. All that was required was the addition of some bias resistors tailored to the specific 6650s at the time. That lead to a legitimate 200+ watts instead of the 200 watts they are allegedly pulling out of 6 6L6s. I gigged that amp for 10 years and it was solid every time - it would get warm at times but never failed.
Regards,
Ed[/QUOTE]
Ed, that was my old amp that I sold to go a bit lighter (then I went heavy again...). The transformer in the Buster is more than enough to handle the extra watts. The choice of 6650s was a 'safe' decision as they are about 35w and KT88s are up to 50w. All that was required was the addition of some bias resistors tailored to the specific 6650s at the time. That lead to a legitimate 200+ watts instead of the 200 watts they are allegedly pulling out of 6 6L6s. I gigged that amp for 10 years and it was solid every time - it would get warm at times but never failed.
The power transformer is the same used in a bass 400+ so technically has the available power for 6550's but the B+ is less than 500 volts so you don't get anymore power out of 6550's.
The output transformer is the same one used in a triple rectifier and it peaks out at about 150 watts so it definitely cannot put out more power.
It may change the tone a little but you will not get anymore power out of it. So for more expensive tubes that make the amp run hotter and need a special way to hold theM In the amp, you will get barely anything!
I've done the tests on the buster, an old D180, old 400 non plus, and M-190 power amp and it doesn't make much of a difference.
The output transformer is the same one used in a triple rectifier and it peaks out at about 150 watts so it definitely cannot put out more power.
It may change the tone a little but you will not get anymore power out of it. So for more expensive tubes that make the amp run hotter and need a special way to hold theM In the amp, you will get barely anything!
I've done the tests on the buster, an old D180, old 400 non plus, and M-190 power amp and it doesn't make much of a difference.
I love it. It's only hooked up to one cab for now, and it's more than loud enough. I have a Palmer Cab Merger coming so I can hook up the other cab. That is still only half of my rig. The other half is a GK400B hooked up to a Diesel 215.
Tim V, so what you are saying if all things stay equal and you do not change the B+ you will not get anymore power out of any substituted tube, you may get a different tonality, but that's it, correct? I think I will just stick to the Mesa STR 415's that came with the amp, seems like they are the best tube of their class out there.
Thank you. By the way, the 15 Combo sounds amazing with the Faital speaker, I know I said it already, but want to reiterate, for those on the fence, it's a worthy enhancement.
Thank you. By the way, the 15 Combo sounds amazing with the Faital speaker, I know I said it already, but want to reiterate, for those on the fence, it's a worthy enhancement.
Meh, I also had a stock one along with the one converted to 6550s, side by side the volume and clean headroom was noticeably different. Since my tech did the work, I can't speak for the 'on paper' calculations for the voltage. All I know is the real world difference from performing and recording, so ymmv, etc, etc.
Your stock one is biased like a stock Mesa so cold. If you put one with a bias mod and the bias turned up next to a stock one you would probably hear a similar difference.
You can disagree all you want but I am a tech that has done the tests and mods and the actual power output is not much different but as I said, you may hear a tone difference because of the different tube types. Different tubes have different distortion characteristics so the perceived headroom may be greater.
I'm not saying it isn't worth trying just that expecting to gain more power isn't correct.
You can disagree all you want but I am a tech that has done the tests and mods and the actual power output is not much different but as I said, you may hear a tone difference because of the different tube types. Different tubes have different distortion characteristics so the perceived headroom may be greater.
I'm not saying it isn't worth trying just that expecting to gain more power isn't correct.
