Been reading the great article on tube amps in a recent issue of Bass Player (I think). Kind of interested in jumping in with a tube-type. Have a chance at a Mesa 400 for around $500. What opinions are out there, and what knowlege should I have when I check it out.......Thanks, Bud B
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Mesa 400
- Thread starter BigBud
- Start date
Buy it! I have a 400+ and i love it!!! worst case you'll have to re-tube it for a couple hundred dollars
Play it quiet, loud and everywhere in between. Thoroughly test it using each of its 2 input channels too.
(a trully good sounding amp is a very good sign)
Allot of people have trouble finding a good tone knob setting with these amps at first. I'd suggest you start out with tone knob settings of:
middle-8
bass-2
treble-2
And eq section turned off.
Fully turn ALL the knobs/eq-sliders back and forth listening for any static sounds and correct operation.
(you'll find some of this models knobs have a push/full feature resulting in a slight tone change, so check those too)
While you have it cranked up, stop playing and listen for any loud hiss, hum or static sound.
(a little hiss is ok, but loud-ish noises are a sign of possible problems)
Make sure the cooling fan works on all speeds.
As far as value goes, most of the 400 (non+) models I've seen for sale were priced in the $500 to $800 range. They seemed to be going for $100 to $200 less than 400+ models in similar condition.
Chef
In Memoriam
That's a good price if it's in good working order.
I recently sold mine for $675, but it had the spiffy mesa head case too.
If it needs much in terms of service work, that's not a great price.
Good head, if it's your sound.
Replace the driver tube with a 12AT7 to really make the tone stack shine. There's a thread here somewhere on that by PsychoBassGuy.
I recently sold mine for $675, but it had the spiffy mesa head case too.
If it needs much in terms of service work, that's not a great price.
Good head, if it's your sound.
Replace the driver tube with a 12AT7 to really make the tone stack shine. There's a thread here somewhere on that by PsychoBassGuy.
You mean a 12AU7, right?
I've been using an '89 Bass 400 for months now, and it's definately the best head I've ever owned (next to my old 800RB). Unfortunately, I'm considering downsizing due to my lack of playing gigs; the amp hasn't seen much action lately and it looks like it's getting bored
Chef
In Memoriam
Hey there Chef! Been seeing your posts here and there. I'm over on the Kansas side of things (Jayhawk land), and you are, well, in the middle of dreaded Tiger country. Oh, the amp turns out to be a 400+. Actually hoped it was the straight 400. 12 tubes sounds scary! Bud
Chef
In Memoriam
Quick reality check.
The Mesa 400 is a totally different amp than the Bass 400+ right???
The 400 is older, around 200W and has 6550's ???
The 400+ is newer, around 300W, 12 6L6 and a rival to SVT - right?
Chef
In Memoriam
Agreed. The difference between the wattage of the two is there, but not too noticeable. The 400+ has one more band of graphic EQ. They both slay dragons and make babies cry.
Yep. I used to own the 400+, and currently own a very late-model Bass 400 (from mid 1989). And for about three weeks, I owned both at the same time. When I A/B'd them through my early-90's SVT 8x10 cabinet, I found they had about the same maximum useable volume, with the 400 obviously being way more distorted and grindy. With KT-88's installed in the 400, I imagine they'd be virtually identical sound-wise.
My preference is the older 400 because A) I feel a lot better about using ten tubes as opposed to sixteen, and B) the KT-88 tubes will give a better bass sound compared to twelve 6L6's.
