• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Mesa Boogie Big Block Titan V-12 & MB amps!

F

Flipper43

Sep 7, 2009
519
3
#1
Anyone hear good things about it? I saw that it has two different channels that you could go between via footswitch, but do you think by putting a pedal coupler in both of the channels input jacks (in the back of the amp, not the instrument input) would let you blend the two channels for a clean/ dirty sound instead of having to pair both amps or use a blender? It'd be great if you could answer that question!
Also, feel free to share your good or bad experiences with Mesa amps and your opinions! Talk about anything MB!
Post away!

And does anyone know if the Big Block 750 has an all tube power section AND an all tube preamp?
 
#3
I owned a Titan and now own an all tube 400+. I can tell you that the Titan never sounded like an all tube amp. It is loud and proud and one big bad mf'er, but it's still a hybrid.

I don't think there is a way to run both preamps due to the fact that they are internally switched, only one can be active at a time, but there may be a way around it. I don't know and I wouldn't risk frying an $1800 amp to find out.

There are two pots in the OD section though, one controls the tube saturation (fuzz) and the other is OD level. You can get a pretty good blend of clean and fuzz this way.
 
#4
levis76 said:
I owned a Titan and now own an all tube 400+. I can tell you that the Titan never sounded like an all tube amp. It is loud and proud and one big bad mf'er, but it's still a hybrid.

I don't think there is a way to run both preamps due to the fact that they are internally switched, only one can be active at a time, but there may be a way around it. I don't know and I wouldn't risk frying an $1800 amp to find out.

There are two pots in the OD section though, one controls the tube saturation (fuzz) and the other is OD level. You can get a pretty good blend of clean and fuzz this way.
Click to expand...

Ok, thanks man, sounds cool. Do you think i should just track down and a buy a 400+ if i want a more warm, fat sound? I would buy Ampeg or something else, but i already tried Ampeg and A/B'd it with an M-Pulse 600, and i liked the MB tone more than the Ampeg.I'm planning to run somewhat of a blended sound so i'm probably going to get two amps, but at separate times. Do you think tracking down a 400+ or two would be worth it in the end for my sound? (I play in a heavy band, not metal, just heavy, and i'm going to play with a Fender P and a J eventually if that helps
 
#6
I have a Mesa Walkabout and love it - 300 Watts into 4 Ohms - a loud 300 Watts.

The 400+ gets great reviews and I can't imagine not sounding amazing - I have heard that it is LOUD!

MPulse 600's get a lot of love too.

I think you should try to play a few if you can.

I love my Mesa and have never heard anyone say anything less.
 
#7
Honk'n_down-low said:
I have a Mesa Walkabout and love it - 300 Watts into 4 Ohms - a loud 300 Watts.

The 400+ gets great reviews and I can't imagine not sounding amazing - I have heard that it is LOUD!

MPulse 600's get a lot of love too.

I think you should try to play a few if you can.

I love my Mesa and have never heard anyone say anything less.
Click to expand...

Does the Walkabout have a "tubey" tone? And also, do you play gigs with it? If so, does the soundman screw with the sound too much that it makes it not worth even bringing to the show?
 
#8
Flipper43 said:
Does the Walkabout have a "tubey" tone? And also, do you play gigs with it? If so, does the soundman screw with the sound too much that it makes it not worth even bringing to the show?
Click to expand...

Yes, Tube City - Sound Men love this amp - you'll be hard pressed to leave it behind.
I also have a Markbass LM II, SWR and GK heads.

It is is like Instant Tubey Bassey Goodness. Do a search there's a Walkabout Megathread and a Mesa Club thread with lots of info!
 
#9
Honk'n_down-low said:
Yes, Tube City - Sound Men love this amp - you'll be hard pressed to leave it behind.
I also have a Markbass LM II, SWR and GK heads.

It is is like Instant Tubey Bassey Goodness. Do a search there's a Walkabout Megathread and a Mesa Club thread with lots of info!
Click to expand...

Awesome! I will! How does it sound with overdrive? I'm assuming awesome. I'm just looking for that fat tube OD tone that you can get by pushing a 400+, which i know i won't find in anything but the 400+ itself, but you get my point. I hope.
 
#10
I love my MESA gear. I have a Titan, and a 400+ (though the 400+ is at the shop ATM, having corrective surgery, the Titan has not had so much as a hiccup in a year and a half) just sold a PowerHouse 1000 cab, and am picking up a powerhouse 4x12 on Friday. I like a strong midrange sound, lots of clank and growl (combine Ellefson (Peace Sells) and Steve Harris (any, but especially the first 5 albums) ) and you will have an idea of what tone I get. I have not had enough time with the 400+ ( 2 resistors blew and took out a couple tubes) to compare them in depth, but what little experience I did get with it was pure tubey goodness.
 
#11
I have a Walkabout, and Titan.
I sold my 400+ for the Titan and I love it, the 400+ sounds awesome with tubey goodness, i didn't find it very flexible, it was plenty loud and rich.
The M-Pulse suprised me on how great it sounded, the 360 watts seemed more like 500 to me.
I traded the M-Pulse for a new Peavey VB-2 because I don't think I could totally be without a tube amp :)

The Titan is a BEAST, it is a very forward amp and always seems to have more in the tank... it has a very good tone and you can dial in alot of tones and you can cop a tube feel, just gotta set it right... it is a fast BRUTAL amplifier.
The Walkabout actually sounds like a tube amp to me and it is my best friend, it can cop alot of tones, but it's best trick is it's massive tube warmth... don't let the 300 watts fool you... that puppy can really thump!
I had a D-180 for a while and loved it, but i was offered a deal i couldn't refuse so away she went... she was a stellar amp, but she too was not versitile, but she sounded so good and sweet.
I had an M2000 for a while the power supply died, she was a quirky amp to me and was WAY too complicated... when she work she WORKED really well.
The M-Pulse 600, M6, an M9 are outstanding amps also... I never played a boogie i didn't love to be honest.
 
#12
Krügmeister;8680580 said:
I have a Walkabout, and Titan.
I sold my 400+ for the Titan and I love it, the 400+ sounds awesome with tubey goodness, i didn't find it very flexible, it was plenty loud and rich.
The M-Pulse suprised me on how great it sounded, the 360 watts seemed more like 500 to me.
I traded the M-Pulse for a new Peavey VB-2 because I don't think I could totally be without a tube amp :)

The Titan is a BEAST, it is a very forward amp and always seems to have more in the tank... it has a very good tone and you can dial in alot of tones and you can cop a tube feel, just gotta set it right... it is a fast BRUTAL amplifier.
The Walkabout actually sounds like a tube amp to me and it is my best friend, it can cop alot of tones, but it's best trick is it's massive tube warmth... don't let the 300 watts fool you... that puppy can really thump!
I had a D-180 for a while and loved it, but i was offered a deal i couldn't refuse so away she went... she was a stellar amp, but she too was not versitile, but she sounded so good and sweet.
I had an M2000 for a while the power supply died, she was a quirky amp to me and was WAY too complicated... when she work she WORKED really well.
The M-Pulse 600, M6, an M9 are outstanding amps also... I never played a boogie i didn't love to be honest.
Click to expand...

You mean ear-molesting, heart pounding-you can feel it in your chest-brutal? That's my favorite range of tones! How does the titan do with overdrive, and has anyone tried it with MB 15" cabs? I want to run a couple MB 15's in my rig.
 
#13
I have the bb750 And I love it. I just got a 400+
and I like it. both are very loud. It would not be far for me to judge the 400+ just yet .It came with mis matched tubes
I should have a new set of tubes any day now. (winged c power tubes and jj 803 pre amp tubes.) The 400+ is more precise I can get a good Overkill bass tone. the bb750 would be the better amp for slow sludge metal . Keep in mind I have only had the 400 a few days and it may have some junk tubes in it.
I was thinking of starting a 400+ thread and what tubes people liked in them. Maybe I just hijack this thread instead.:D
 
#14
Death Metal Jim said:
I have the bb750 And I love it. I just got a 400+
and I like it. both are very loud. It would not be far for me to judge the 400+ just yet .It came with mis matched tubes
I should have a new set of tubes any day now. (winged c power tubes and jj 803 pre amp tubes.) The 400+ is more precise I can get a good Overkill bass tone. the bb750 would be the better amp for slow sludge metal . Keep in mind I have only had the 400 a few days and it may have some junk tubes in it.
I was thinking of starting a 400+ thread and what tubes people liked in them. Maybe I just hijack this thread instead.:D
Click to expand...

Hahaha. Well, you can ask questions and everything, because this is for discussion about Mesa Boogie stuff, after all. My band plays some slow songs, but we're more at a moderate tempo, and i need an amp that you can feel, but will give you good definition and OD tones as well. So i don't know what MB to choose...
 
#16
Death Metal Jim said:
I have 2 of the 1 -15 cabs. I will try the bb750 with just 15s and overdrive And report back.
Click to expand...

Awesome! People on TB are the nicest people willing to help you out in any situation.. i guess that's just the nature of bass players, huh? Most guitar players (including the one in my band) don't seem to give two ***** about anything (gear, condition, AN-Y-THING), almost like their too cool. XD
 
#17
Flipper43 said:
You mean ear-molesting, heart pounding-you can feel it in your chest-brutal? That's my favorite range of tones! How does the titan do with overdrive, and has anyone tried it with MB 15" cabs? I want to run a couple MB 15's in my rig.
Click to expand...

You mean like this??

Walkabout037.gif


I love my Big Block with my stack of 115's. So warm and round yet deep, full and punchy. Not muddy at all.
 
#19
The Titan has PLENTY of power for chest smashing, it just has a faster attack on the notes than the 400+ did.. the 400+ had a more compressed attack and was a tad warmer, and very brutal also.
While I love tube sounds I have found myself more of a hybrid type of guy and Mesa makes some of the very best.
the M9 is quite a monster as well... it is a savage on volume and tone and has alot of great options that you can actually USE, the Titan is like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut while the M9 is like using a VERY large hammer.... they will both tear down foundations in buildings.
While they are very loud and clear, they have an amazing tone at lower volumes something that was harder to get with the 400+.
I felt the 400+ was at home at higher volumes as the tubes seemed to start working for thier pay :)
as much as I loved my D-180 and 400+ I can honestly say that the Peavey VB-2 has equally impressed me with it's rich lush tones.
The M-Pulse 360 was actually a better amp than it get any credit for, i found it to be really loud for it's rating and sounded excellent.. they are a tad rare though.
 
#20
Currently, Mesa has 2 lines of bass amps. They're very different. In corner one, the MPulse line, Walkabout, MP600, BB750, and the Titan. In corner two, the Carbines, M3, M6, and M9. Sounds like you want something from corner one, and on the bigger side. BB750, or Titan. Either one will rock your world.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back