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Mesa Boogie Bass Buster 200 1x15 Combo help

M

Master_Tak

Dec 12, 2011
5
0
#1
Hi all,

I'm totally new here so I beg your pardon if I'm not posting this in the right place or if I sound like a complete new guy.

My stack currently consists of a Ampeg SVT Classic head and a Ampeg 6x10 cab. I've had both since 2006 and its gotten to the point that I need to consolidate and sell both for the money and maybe get something cheaper in the long run for playing because its just been sitting around and barely being used.

I received an offer from someone to trade my SVT Classic head for his Mesa Boogie Bass Buster 1x15 combo. He said he also had a custom head shell made for it too, but I would probably end up using it mostly as the combo.

Is this a pretty fair deal? The way I see it is that I'd still have my 6x10 cab I could sell for the money and still have something decent to play on. I've never even heard of this Mesa Boogie line before so I'm unfamiliar with the sound and how they perform. I only plan on playing small gigs in the future should they come up and I figure 200 watts all tube is good enough. I just thought asking here would help me get some more information as I don't want to be taken advantage of or anything. Since the Bass Busters have been discontinued its tough trying to find an accurate price point to compare and maybe have a counter offer that would include some cash as well with the trade?

Thanks for any responses!
 
#2
Also if it helps he stated in his original email that there are brand new tubes in the head, whereas my SVT head still has all of the original tubes that were in it when I bought it. I don't know if that makes a difference at all in making sure its a fair trade.
 
#3
Mesa gear is expensive. I would certainly think about that trade if I could verify it's a good trade, which I think it may be. If I recall, someone is asking 900 OBO on the TB classifieds for a Buster Bass 200 head and I was recently offered a head alone for a near mint and almost unused 2003 SVT-CL I was selling.
 
#4
Thanks for the reply. Yeah I'm not trying to give him faulty equipment or anything, I want to make it fair. He said he wanted to do the trade because he has an Ampeg cab and just wanted the matching head.

I will probably go through the trade I've been reading a lot of cool stuff about the Buster amps.
 
#5
With that Busters extra head-case and new tubes I think it might be a fair trade, if every thing's in good shape. Although you never know, he might kick in a couple extra hundred if you asked... I've got a feeling he's discovered that Buster just wont ever give him the tone and feel of an SVT, not just so the brands of his cab and amp match.

I own a Buster 1x15 combo and several Ampegs including a vintage SVT, one thing I can tell you for sure is that buster will be giving you a completely different tone and feel to your playing. (even when playing it through your 6x10 cab)

You might end up preferring that Buster to your SVT, but If your like me you wont know for sure until you've compared them for yourself while playing with a live band. I'd try to get that guy to bring the Buster to one of your band rehearsals for a tryout. You just wont believe how different these 2 amps are until you've tried them both with a band.
 
#7
anderbass said:
With that Busters extra head-case and new tubes I think it might be a fair trade, if every thing's in good shape. Although you never know, he might kick in a couple extra hundred if you asked... I've got a feeling he's discovered that Buster just wont ever give him the tone and feel of an SVT, not just so the brands of his cab and amp match.

I own a Buster 1x15 combo and several Ampegs including a vintage SVT, one thing I can tell you for sure is that buster will be giving you a completely different tone and feel to your playing. (even when playing it through your 6x10 cab)

You might end up preferring that Buster to your SVT, but If your like me you wont know for sure until you've compared them for yourself while playing with a live band. I'd try to get that guy to bring the Buster to one of your band rehearsals for a tryout. You just wont believe how different these 2 amps are until you've tried them both with a band.
Click to expand...

Thank you that was very helpful. Maybe I can wiggle an extra $100 out of him, I haven't agreed to a price or the trade yet so I think its possible still. I understand what you mean when you say different tone and feel, but how different are we talking about? I know the Ampeg has a well rounded tone and, to me at least, is pretty bright sounding. Is the Mesa just completely on a different scale?
 
#10
I'd do the deal in a heartbeat-BUT, be aware, the Buster sounds nothing like the SVT. In fact, the Buster sounds like no other all-tube bass amp. It's got it's own very quick, punchy tone, so try it out and be sure you like it. The Buster as a standalone head, paired with your 6x10 will certainly be loud enough for almost anything.
 
#11
Thanks everyone for the help. I will definitely arrange a time to test it out to see how I like it first, but from what I've read and what everyone's said, it sounds like a solid amp. I'd like to try something new so maybe this would be a fun experiment to test out some new tones.
 
#12
Master_Tak said:
Thanks everyone for the help. I will definitely arrange a time to test it out to see how I like it first, but from what I've read and what everyone's said, it sounds like a solid amp. I'd like to try something new so maybe this would be a fun experiment to test out some new tones.
Click to expand...
As long as those tones are suited to you, it is. Otherwise you end up kicking yourself and re-buying what you got rid of ;) Oh well, at least SVT's are easy to find.
 

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