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Mesa Boogie Prodigy

#2
MRlowend said:
Just curious, I've heard good things about the Mesa Boogie Prodigy, but I've also noticed a lot of them For Sale in the Classifieds. If they're that great of an amp, why are so many being sold it seems? From my count, there's been 37 listed since Feb 2014.
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With every new product there is a big push to try them. Some people love them. Others prefer something else. Some people like to flip gear.
 
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#3
What he said. BASS = buy and sell s***. Some people own alot of different basses, but I don't. I like using different amps for different projects. The Prodigy is terrific if it fits what you're playing.
 
#7
I had a Prodigy and a Strategy, they both sounded like a tube versions of the M6/9 (owned both the 9 twice) family which IMHO are designed for the bedroom player, all boom and sizzle. Perhaps the worst boutique amps I have ever tried to gig, couldn't get them to sit in the mix. I really wanted to love the Prodigy, but just could not get a good stage tone.
 
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#8
atrapp said:
I had a Prodigy and a Strategy, they both sounded like a tube versions of the M6/9 (owned both the 9 twice) family which IMHO are designed for the bedroom player, all boom and sizzle. Perhaps the worst boutique amps I have ever tried to gig, couldn't get them to sit in the mix. I really wanted to love the Prodigy, but just could not get a good stage tone.
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I tend to disagree, My strategy is punchy and cuts through the mix like crazy. I just use the #3 tone setting and run the amp flat. Never played through an amp that I thought sounded better than this. Mabe your cabinet just doesn't work well with this head.
 
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#11
username1 said:
I tend to disagree, My strategy is punchy and cuts through the mix like crazy. I just use the #3 tone setting and run the amp flat. Never played through an amp that I thought sounded better than this. Mabe your cabinet just doesn't work well with this head.
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I'm glad you posted this as I'm gearing up for my first gig with this head on Friday. I have to say, when I play my Modulus Q5 though the Prodigy head and my two GK 112's, it sounds amazing! I just know this rig is going to cut through the mix like a hot knife through butter.
 
#15
I owned a Strategy, but I'm familiar with the Prodigy as well. The Prodigy is a really nice amp, but it does have a baked-in tone. And it's not the baked-in tone many of us think of as "vintage tubey" (Ampeg, et al.). It's quite scooped and to my ears, not very warm. I think if some of the presets had a bit of low mid boost, that would have really helped.

My feeling was that if you play heavy modern-sounding music, the Prodigy/Strategy are amazing for that. They can work in more mellow/traditional settings, but it doesn't feel like that's what they are aimed at.

I think that many people probably buy it thinking they are getting a tiny SVT, and that's not what it is.
 
#16
@Bones1450 Godly, creamy, tube-y tone all night that sounded great in the mix. Even my band members said that all of the notes were much more articulate and focused. I played with the voice settings throughout the night and # 3 ended up being the winner. However one thing I should mention. My Neo 112's aren't stock as I put Faital PR300's in my cabs which have a more pronounced low-mid than the GK drivers.

IMG_5249[1].JPG
 
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#17
npbassman said:
@Bones1450 Godly, creamy, tube-y tone all night that sounded great in the mix. Even my band members said that all of the notes were much more articulate and focused. I played with the voice settings throughout the night and # 3 ended up being the winner. However one thing I should mention. My Neo 112's aren't stock as I put Faital PR300's in my cabs which have a more pronounced low-mid than the GK drivers.

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Thanks for the follow-up. I'm still looking at getting a Prodigy to use with my GK NEO 212. But, will probably get a Mesa PH410 or 610 later on. If I do, then I'll have to decide on the Traditional or Standard cab. There seems to always be more gear to want and try... ;)
 
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#19
I do not understand this description of the Prodigy as "scooped". This head has a ton of mids, I think it's just very dependent on what cabinet you use. I've used ported Mesa and Sadowsky cabs with it so far, and the midrange is so prominent for me. I've had nothing but praise for my tone while using it. It is a beast, probably the most articulate sounding tube amp on the market.
 
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