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Mesa/Boogie Official Club Thread...Part #2

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#481
rockstarbassist said:
The 400+ has 3 8-ohm outputs and 3 4-ohm outputs.

Per the manual, to get to 2 ohms on the amp, you'd use 2 4-ohm outs. I just have 1 cable plugged in rt now giving me a 4-ohm load.
Click to expand...

Hmmmm... interesting to know.

I have one of the first years of the 400+ made and the top two outputs are 2 ohm.

This amp actually has the 400 control plate (with 6.5amp rating for fuse vs 8amp) and only 6 eq sliders and the attached power cable.

edit: I just looked at the back of my amp and the top two taps have a sticker that suggests two 4ohm cabinets to reach two ohms; I am thinking you have misread the manual slightly. It really doesn't make sense to have to plug in two cables on the amps end to get a 2 ohm rating. I just think you're running with the wrong impedance. Move the cable down a hole and then I'd know its running at 4 ohms. =)
 
#482
Nightlyraider said:
Hmmmm... interesting to know.

I have one of the first years of the 400+ made and the top two outputs are 2 ohm.

This amp actually has the 400 control plate (with 6.5amp rating for fuse vs 8amp) and only 6 eq sliders and the attached power cable.

edit: I just looked at the back of my amp and the top two taps have a sticker that suggests two 4ohm cabinets to reach two ohms; I am thinking you have misread the manual slightly. It really doesn't make sense to have to plug in two cables on the amps end to get a 2 ohm rating. I just think you're running with the wrong impedance. Move the cable down a hole and then I'd know its running at 4 ohms. =)
Click to expand...

What he said. The plain bass 400 has 4 speaker outs, 2 8 and 2 4 ohms. The 400 + has 2 each of 2,4 and 8 ohms. SOME later non plus 400's can run a 2 ohm load. Ive only seen 2.
 
#483
M6 carbine combo, can I get a number? ;)
P1010501.jpg
 
#484
Nightlyraider said:
Hmmmm... interesting to know.

I have one of the first years of the 400+ made and the top two outputs are 2 ohm.

This amp actually has the 400 control plate (with 6.5amp rating for fuse vs 8amp) and only 6 eq sliders and the attached power cable.

edit: I just looked at the back of my amp and the top two taps have a sticker that suggests two 4ohm cabinets to reach two ohms; I am thinking you have misread the manual slightly. It really doesn't make sense to have to plug in two cables on the amps end to get a 2 ohm rating. I just think you're running with the wrong impedance. Move the cable down a hole and then I'd know its running at 4 ohms. =)
Click to expand...

Hmm, well my 400+ was one of the late-runs of the model before they d/c'd it. I think it's like a late 2008.
Looking at the back of mine, I have 3 taps/Speaker Outs for both the 8ohm and 4 ohm outputs. Right now I have my speaker cable coming from the bottom-left one above the "4 ohm" indication. Or at least I assume the top ones are- there's no other sticker or indication they're something different.
I haven't noticed a change by using that top-row out vs. the bottom one, however.
 
#485
Question about speaker impedance :

I have two 8 ohms Powerhouse 1x12 and I'd like to add a Mesa 2x12. I guess the best match would be a 4 ohms but they're hard to come by. (I'm fine with a 2 ohms total). I would have four 8 ohms speakers, instead of two 8 ohms and two 16 ohms. It this a real issue ?

Someone in my area is selling the 8 ohms version for half the price of a brand new one. Should I buy it or continue to wait ... ?
 
#487
NickRich said:
Question about speaker impedance :

I have two 8 ohms Powerhouse 1x12 and I'd like to add a Mesa 2x12. I guess the best match would be a 4 ohms but they're hard to come by. (I'm fine with a 2 ohms total). I would have four 8 ohms speakers, instead of two 8 ohms and two 16 ohms. It this a real issue ?

Someone in my area is selling the 8 ohms version for half the price of a brand new one. Should I buy it or continue to wait ... ?
Click to expand...

If you have 2 8 ohm cabs that's a 4 ohm load, and then if you added another 8 ohm cab in the 212 format, you'd get a 2.67ohm load roughly, I believe. Should be fine I'd think.
 
#488
Also, for you guys that use the 400+ live- how normally do you get your sound to FOH? I don't have a really nice mic yet (a Senn 421 is in the works) and I haven't played at the venue we'll be at Saturday before, so not sure if they'll have mic or not.
I know it has a DI out but doesn't that kinda defeat the purpose or does it sound alright? Normally on my V12 or BB750 I'd just use the DI but wasn't sure about the noise or quality of it on this beast compared to those more clean hybrid amps.
 
#490
The top two taps are two ohm outs; but unlike the stamped labels underneath, are labeled with a sticker on the top of the amp. I am assuming yours has been removed. They do appear to be oddly separated in comparison to the 4/8 ohm pairs, but I see absolutely no reason that Mesa would have altered their design at the very end of production.

As for live sound; the effects send is your entire preamp signal before the graphic eq. The amp also has a 600 ohm balanced XLR output; which I believe is also before the eq.

I personally prefer using my Audix D6 microphone; which for $100 is a great investment.
 
#491
Also: I don't think you'd be able to hear a change when running the amplifier at either 2 or 4 ohms because the cabinet's impedance isn't changing and that is the only determining factor.

However the wear and tear on your amplifier components and vacuum tubes through increased heat buildup will take its toll when running your amp at the wrong setting.
 
#493
twinfallsbass said:
I used to have a plain 400 and I ran it @ 2ohms all the time, NEVER had any problems ( wish I still had it :bawl: ).
Click to expand...

My amp tech, (Craig Mueller who rocks) swears I should NOT do that. Considering that I run my amp hard I listen to him.
Maybe with two identical cabs it can work, when I tried it with a 4 ohm 4x12 and a 2x12 (8) and 1x15(8) it wasnt pretty.
Maybe when I pick up 3 more 8 ohm 2x15 cabs I can check that out again :bassist:

About the direct out, it sounds great, unless you drive the input hard, then it sounds terrible. I tried for years to use that output in live sound situations (I used to b a sound guy)but its very hot for a 600 ohm balanced line. I swear its +20dbu! Warn the sound guy that it is LINE nit MIC level. This in itself makes it pretty useless in a live sound situation. Most stages have 1/4" jacks on the stage box for line level, and xlr for MIC level. Its really better for slaving an amp. BTW the slave output is good too.


The tap is apparently off of the output transformer, so if you do keep your gain down its a pretty good sound. The send - return loop is pre grphic eq, post rotary. I like to use that to record with as well. Sounds great on clean guitar.
 
#494
Nightlyraider said:
The top two taps are two ohm outs; but unlike the stamped labels underneath, are labeled with a sticker on the top of the amp. I am assuming yours has been removed. They do appear to be oddly separated in comparison to the 4/8 ohm pairs, but I see absolutely no reason that Mesa would have altered their design at the very end of production.

As for live sound; the effects send is your entire preamp signal before the graphic eq. The amp also has a 600 ohm balanced XLR output; which I believe is also before the eq.

I personally prefer using my Audix D6 microphone; which for $100 is a great investment.
Click to expand...

Which top two, though? There's an L-shaped set of 3 speaker outputs above both sets of the 4 and 8 ohm outs? So are just the bottom L and R above the 4 and 8 ohm outs those particular ohm outs? I may need to contact Mesa on this. I'm using one of the bottom outs above the 4 ohm label to be safe but I need to make sure. That to me is a weird layout but in an odd sense I guess it kinda works.

I use the 2nd input and run that at about 3-3.5 and the Master at about 3 so not sure how hot that is. I may just use my 750 this weekend to be safe as I don't have a mic yet that I'm really in love with. Trying to score a good deal on a 421 ATM.
 
#495
rockstarbassist said:
If you have 2 8 ohm cabs that's a 4 ohm load, and then if you added another 8 ohm cab in the 212 format, you'd get a 2.67ohm load roughly, I believe. Should be fine I'd think.
Click to expand...

I'm more interested in hearing your opinion guys about the fact that l'll have two 8 ohms and two 16 ohms speakers.

That would mean two speakers would see/use about half the wattage of the others.

Good thing, bad thing, won't notice ?
 
#496
NickRich said:
I'm more interested in hearing your opinion guys about the fact that l'll have two 8 ohms and two 16 ohms speakers.

That would mean two speakers would see/use about half the wattage of the others.

Good thing, bad thing, won't notice ?
Click to expand...

Eh, I see what you mean and I don't think it'll make a ton of difference. Usually stuff like that at least IME doesn't make a huge difference unless you're turning up to cone-blasting levels, and even then it wouldn't sound good anyway haha! I think having two (or three) separate cabs will be a bigger or more noticeable difference. Kinda the reason I don't mix drivers nowadays. But reading your situation again, i don't think you'll have much issue. B/c yes I agree- unless you order them, finding a 4 ohm Boogie PH212 is gonna be a long, long wait!
 
#497
Calaverasgrande said:
My amp tech, (Craig Mueller who rocks) swears I should NOT do that. Considering that I run my amp hard I listen to him.
Maybe with two identical cabs it can work, when I tried it with a 4 ohm 4x12 and a 2x12 (8) and 1x15(8) it wasnt pretty.
Maybe when I pick up 3 more 8 ohm 2x15 cabs I can check that out again :bassist:

About the direct out, it sounds great, unless you drive the input hard, then it sounds terrible. I tried for years to use that output in live sound situations (I used to b a sound guy)but its very hot for a 600 ohm balanced line. I swear its +20dbu! Warn the sound guy that it is LINE nit MIC level. This in itself makes it pretty useless in a live sound situation. Most stages have 1/4" jacks on the stage box for line level, and xlr for MIC level. Its really better for slaving an amp. BTW the slave output is good too.


The tap is apparently off of the output transformer, so if you do keep your gain down its a pretty good sound. The send - return loop is pre grphic eq, post rotary. I like to use that to record with as well. Sounds great on clean guitar.
Click to expand...

Could I run the Slave Out (assuming that's Post EQ) to say, my Radial JDI and run that to the board?
 
#500
Nightlyraider said:
4864204738_2d1becbb7c_m.jpg


Mine with cables in the two 4ohm outputs.

The 8ohm are adjacent to the 4ohm, the 2ohm outs are stacked one each atop the 8 and 4ohm outs.
Click to expand...

Yeah, that's what mine looks like. It just doesn't have that 2 ohm sticker.

So are you running 2 4 ohm cabs with that load equaling a 2 ohm load? I'm always good with ohm loads, but this one confuses me. Is the single 2 ohm loads just so if you want to use 1 output and daisy chain the cabs?
 
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