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Mesa 400 + footswitch

D

debozkurt

Jul 11, 2006
48
0
Elizabeth City, NC
#1
Hey guys.

I havent gotten much of a chance to troubleshoot or mess with it much more, but I just got a footswitch for my 400 + so I can switch between a clean and distorted channel at the flick of a button.

However, say in a band setting I set the master at 6 to 7 and the channel volume near the same. This gets me a nice distortion, plugging straight into channel 2, the higher gain channel.

The way this footswitch works is you basically plug your bass into the box, and then two cables into channel one and two respectively.

Now, going straight into channel 2 with no footswitch, at the aforementioned settings, there is no problems at all. However, when I have the same settings and use the footswitch to toggle channels, it doesnt respond the same. I get feedback and screetching from my high gain channel. If I swap out the box, keep the settings and just plug straight into the channel, no problems.

So Im wondering if anyone has any experience with this sort of thing or can give me a possible explanation?

Thanks!
 
#2
IF you have a true bypass switch your sound in each channel should be the same as if you plug in straight to the channel itself (minus the almost unnoticeable difference of having a longer cable).

Is this a mesa product or 3rd party switch?
 
#4
One of these should do the trick. Not sure what you paid for the Mesa one but my guess is that this one is cheaper and it shouldn't be any different that going straight into the channel.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Can you retun the switch to mesa? I hear they have really good customer service so maybe you just got a bad switch or something. Still, if their switch has some kinda buffer that may cause the problems you are experiencing. The product above is true bypass so it should be just like plugging in straight.
 
#5
I have been switching my Bass 400+ and GK heads, much in the manner you describe, with a Morley George Lych Tripler (two lines to the 400+, one to the GK) and it works just great . . . . . . not sure what is up with what you have, but the concept is fine . . .

- Tim
 
#6
debozkurt said:
I just got a footswitch for my 400 + so I can switch between a clean and distorted channel at the flick of a button.
Click to expand...

The Mesa 400+ doesn't have a "distortion channel".
Channel 1 is padded (less input volume) for active basses.
Channel 2 is non-padded meant for passive basses.

All you're doing is cranking the input to overdrive and distort.

I use the inputs for what basses they are made for that way I don't ever have to adjust my volume knob. A pedal like that would be nice for me not having to unlpug the cable when I switch between an active bass and a passive one (I have a morley A/B pedal, but my amp buzzes when I try using it).
 
#8
Caca de Kick said:
The Mesa 400+ doesn't have a "distortion channel".
Channel 1 is padded (less input volume) for active basses.
Channel 2 is non-padded meant for passive basses.

All you're doing is cranking the input to overdrive and distort.

I use the inputs for what basses they are made for that way I don't ever have to adjust my volume knob. A pedal like that would be nice for me not having to unlpug the cable when I switch between an active bass and a passive one (I have a morley A/B pedal, but my amp buzzes when I try using it).
Click to expand...

There is actually a bit more difference than that. As you said, neither is a distortion channel, but they are voiced differently, and I don't beleive that Mesa ever said anything about one for active the other for passive - eiter will go either way, just adjust the input level accordingly, and select based on the tone you get. For that matter, you can get a really nice tone using an A/B/Y pedal, and driving both together . . . .

- Tim
 
#9
tadawson said:
...and I don't beleive that Mesa ever said anything about one for active the other for passive - either will go either way...
Click to expand...

This is the quote from my Mesa owners manual:
CHANNEL ONE
Input 1 and volume 1 offer a high-headroom preamp that you might find preferable for active type basses. The gain is slightly lower than channel 2 and the tonal personality is slightly different.
CHANNEL TWO
Input 2 and volume 2 recreate the classic sounds of the D-180. The gain is slightly higher and may be better suited for traditional basses than channel one.
(traditional; meaning passive)

It does say it right there....
Yes, either will work either way, just like any other amp. But since I use both active and passive basses at the same gig, all I do is plug into the appropriate channel and I never-ever have to fiddle with volume knobs...both knobs set the same at 2-1/2 it's a perfect level match.
 
#10
Caca de Kick said:
This is the quote from my Mesa owners manual:
CHANNEL ONE
Input 1 and volume 1 offer a high-headroom preamp that you might find preferable for active type basses. The gain is slightly lower than channel 2 and the tonal personality is slightly different.
CHANNEL TWO
Input 2 and volume 2 recreate the classic sounds of the D-180. The gain is slightly higher and may be better suited for traditional basses than channel one.
(traditional; meaning passive)

It does say it right there....
Yes, either will work either way, just like any other amp. But since I use both active and passive basses at the same gig, all I do is plug into the appropriate channel and I never-ever have to fiddle with volume knobs...both knobs set the same at 2-1/2 it's a perfect level match.
Click to expand...

I guess my point is that there are a lot of reasons other than active/passive which may determine which channel a player uses. As I said, I ABY mine with any bass, for various tones . . . be it active or passive . . . YMMV.

Oh, and the terms "might find" and "may be" go back to what I think I initially stated - the two channels on the 400+ were not necessarily designed for active/passive distinction, but more for different sounds, and a by product of that design was a subtle difference in gains, which can work as a/p inputs.

- Tim
 
#11
Caca de Kick said:
The Mesa 400+ doesn't have a "distortion channel".
Channel 1 is padded (less input volume) for active basses.
Channel 2 is non-padded meant for passive basses.

All you're doing is cranking the input to overdrive and distort.

I use the inputs for what basses they are made for that way I don't ever have to adjust my volume knob. A pedal like that would be nice for me not having to unlpug the cable when I switch between an active bass and a passive one (I have a morley A/B pedal, but my amp buzzes when I try using it).
Click to expand...

No, the Mesa does not have a dedicated channel for distortion.

I am stating that I was using Channel 2 for distortion, as it has a higher input gain...And I bought a footswitch to toggle between this "distortion channel" and a cleaner channel.

Which was confusing me, as I would think that a true a/b box shouldnt pose a problem when switching between channels. However, I was getting a lot of feedback and whatnot.

Im going to try and mess with it some more tomorrow, as I just got it all back from the studio, and see if its anything I can figure out...If not, Ill just call Mesa up and see if they can help me out.
 
#12
I used my morley A/B Y switch just as a splitter and ran both chanels together.....they definitely are voiced differently and when driving each to taste and then adjusting the respective volumes, the sound was WAY more fat and complex overtone wise....after a while I never swiched the morley at all.....though somtimes it worked to put the effect pedals on just one of the chanel inputs....
 

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