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

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#541
rockstarbassist said:
My 400+ was being a little weird last night... We'd started playing and the volume wasn't really pushing through. My NS5 is in the shop so I was rocking the Brooklyn NS2, and after the first song the volume would drop and then pop back up, etc.. I probably just didn't give it enough time to warm up, though. Unfortunately that's always something Imma have to deal with when we play live and why I always hustle my gear in there and turn the amp on ASAP. :hmm:
Sounds incredible still but eh. I'm still a total nuub when it comes to tubes after 13 years of playing, so any little hiccup like that just sets me off into panic mode!:D:hiding:
Click to expand...
I have used Mesa 400+ amps for years and never experienced the 'drop and pop' issue you had. Perhaps a visit to your local amp doctor is in order. :)
 
#544
rockstarbassist said:
My 400+ was being a little weird last night... We'd started playing and the volume wasn't really pushing through. My NS5 is in the shop so I was rocking the Brooklyn NS2, and after the first song the volume would drop and then pop back up, etc.. I probably just didn't give it enough time to warm up, though. Unfortunately that's always something Imma have to deal with when we play live and why I always hustle my gear in there and turn the amp on ASAP. :hmm:
Sounds incredible still but eh. I'm still a total nuub when it comes to tubes after 13 years of playing, so any little hiccup like that just sets me off into panic mode!:D:hiding:
Click to expand...

You need to take that amp to Reed Walker Services in Houston, and have him go over it, it will be money well spent, you just don't know how the shipper handled the amp
 
#545
jastacey said:
You need to take that amp to Reed Walker Services in Houston, and have him go over it, it will be money well spent, you just don't know how the shipper handled the amp
Click to expand...

I actually drove to Dallas to pick it up the deal was so good LOL. Long trip but the price and condition was nigh impossible to beat.
If the amp gives me grief tomorrow night, I'll call and make an appt to do so. But I'll need a service contact for it as-is, so thanks for the heads up. :thu:
 
#546
Hey rockstar, If your 400+ starts acting up again I was thinking It might be worth a quick try to patch a cord between your Effects Send and Return Jacks just in case your experiencing a switching contact issue. You've got 2 pairs of Effects jacks so you'd need to try this with each of them to be sure. Also make sure your Effects Blend Control knob is set to 0 anytime you dont have any Effects devices patched into one of your loops.
 
#547
anderbass said:
Hey rockstar, If your 400+ starts acting up again I was thinking It might be worth a quick try to patch a cord between your Effects Send and Return Jacks just in case your experiencing a switching contact issue. You've got 2 pairs of Effects jacks so you'd need to try this with each of them to be sure. Also make sure your Effects Blend Control knob is set to 0 anytime you dont have any Effects devices patched into one of your loops.
Click to expand...

Nice will try this too. And the other 4-ohm output jack. And the battery in my bass... ;)
 
#548
actually if you eq the amp very badly it is easy to get a kind of a strained sound. Not exactly distorted just kind of a solid bass that fades in and out.
the bad setting on my amp is cranking the bass on the amp and the bass (if its active) and the running it super clean with the master wide open. Now cut all the mids out.
Poop!
remember the eq is flat when bass and treble are at 2 and mid is at 10. The bass will start overwhelming the treble control at about 7 (and vice versa).
 
#549
Calaverasgrande said:
actually if you eq the amp very badly it is easy to get a kind of a strained sound. Not exactly distorted just kind of a solid bass that fades in and out.
the bad setting on my amp is cranking the bass on the amp and the bass (if its active) and the running it super clean with the master wide open. Now cut all the mids out.
Poop!
remember the eq is flat when bass and treble are at 2 and mid is at 10. The bass will start overwhelming the treble control at about 7 (and vice versa).
Click to expand...

Yeah I don't think it's an EQ issue as my EQ is pretty straight. I have Bass at 4 and Treble at 5, and Mids at 8 and use the Graphic EQ to taste and fit the room. It's never done it before so I think it just didn't have enough warm up time or I just need to replace the batter in my NS2... :o ;)
Also I forgot my main speaker cable and was using my backup, so that could be part of it. It def could have a short. I haven't had the issue with my main one.
 
#551
I think my backup speaker cable *cough*Monster*cough* is on the fritz. I used my ProCables N Sound 1/4-1/4 last night at our gig and had zero issues. I let the amp warm up probably about 2 mins before soundcheck, and it was about 5 mins total before we started and no cutouts or problems at all.
For some reason we were playing LOUD last night, and I ended up getting the Master on about 3, with the Channel 2 volume at 5 which is where I usually leave it.

And just, wow. That's easily the loudest I've gotten it so far in a band setting, and it just opens the hell up SO NICE! Does anyone use a powerbrake or something with their 400+? Really getting to drive the power tubes was almost life changing. In that it was deafening, even with earplugs, so not being able to hear would be life changing indeed! ;)

Was able to run a direct line from the XLR out, and then threw my Heil PR-40 on one of the Berg's drivers a little off center and the sound was excellent. Had to "settle" playing my '85 NS2 through it as Brownie is in the shop for some mods. Can't wait to get that one back, though!
 
#553
Hey, glad you got the problem sorted out.

rockstarbassist said:
Does anyone use a powerbrake or something with their 400+?
Click to expand...

I dont like the idea of using Powerbrake type devices on big tube amps, (besides finding one rated for 300 watt will cost big $$$) but I did a Cathode-lift mod and successfully ran my 400+ at half power for quite a few gigs. While using the amp like this you'd just need to plug into the 400+ speaker tap that's labeled half of your actual cab load. (8-ohm speaker load into the 4 ohm tap, etcetera) If your interested you'll find my old thread about this mod here: http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=238662&highlight=
 
#555
anderbass said:
Hey, glad you got the problem sorted out.



I dont like the idea of using Powerbrake type devices on big tube amps, (besides finding one rated for 300 watt will cost big $$$) but I did a Cathode-lift mod and successfully ran my 400+ at half power for quite a few gigs. While using the amp like this you'd just need to plug into the 400+ speaker tap that's labeled half of your actual cab load. (8-ohm speaker load into the 4 ohm tap, etcetera) If your interested you'll find my old thread about this mod here: http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=238662&highlight=
Click to expand...

That's a little beyond my level for sure, but I'll keep it in mind. I need to keep playing w/ this amp to see if I like keeping the Channel volume high, and Master low, or lowering the Channel volume and upping the Master. Just to see how much difference there is in really driving the pre vs. power tubes.
 
#558
Recommendations for preamp tubes in a 400/400+? I completely replaced the power tubes with a matched set when I bought it but the pre tubes sounded fine. I think something in the front is starting to go now though, and seeing as I have no idea how old they are figure I'll replace the 4.

Does anyone have experience with NOS tubes in the drive socket? Other sockets?

I have one of the very first 400+ runs that was made on the 400's control unit. As I understand it they are slightly different than the later 400+s?
 
#559
Nightlyraider said:
Recommendations for preamp tubes in a 400/400+? I completely replaced the power tubes with a matched set when I bought it but the pre tubes sounded fine. I think something in the front is starting to go now though, and seeing as I have no idea how old they are figure I'll replace the 4.

Does anyone have experience with NOS tubes in the drive socket? Other sockets?

I have one of the very first 400+ runs that was made on the 400's control unit. As I understand it they are slightly different than the later 400+s?
Click to expand...

IME the best tube I ever put in V1 was an old RCA 12ax7a
followed by a Valco ECC83.
The 3rd best and easily almost 2nd was a JJ Tesla 12ax7a. Those are some of teh best tubes for the money IMHO.
I and a lot of other fellas seem to like the Winged C SED (svetlana) power tubes.
Mesas stock tubes are not bad, but they are kinda boring in comparison to some of the cooler tubes out there.
 
#560
Calaverasgrande said:
IME the best tube I ever put in V1 was an old RCA 12ax7a
followed by a Valco ECC83.
The 3rd best and easily almost 2nd was a JJ Tesla 12ax7a. Those are some of teh best tubes for the money IMHO.
I and a lot of other fellas seem to like the Winged C SED (svetlana) power tubes.
Mesas stock tubes are not bad, but they are kinda boring in comparison to some of the cooler tubes out there.
Click to expand...

I had my electronics tech here in Dallas replace the power tubes in my 400+ when I bought it last June. He did not do the preamp tubes though.

Question 1: Any recommendations on where to buy some of the preamp tubes you are talking about at a reasonable price?

Question 2: Also how can I tell what year my 400+ was produced? Is there a build date anywhere or maybe by the serial number?

TIA all. I love this thread! And I really love my 400+ -- that amp really really rocks. Standing next to it on Thursday night when we were playing was pretty close to heaven. The guitarist said were were too loud that night though!

Dave
 
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