Mesa/Boogie Titan V12 megathread!

[Pedulla-Player]

Hi gastric.
It can't be tube related - all of the tubes have been replaced with ECC 83's which say that they are a high grade substitute for 12AX7's. It does the same thing with the original tubes and the high grade replacements.

 

[rayzak]

About 5 seconds later there's an electronic switching noise from within the head, with a very low volume crack/pop type noise out of the speakers. Honestly, I had to cycle the power 8 times before I noticed it was coming out of the speakers and not just out of the head itself.

In my case here it's not a loud pop, and I never actually noticed it coming out of the speakers until trying this and specifically listening for it.

Mine behaves in the exact same way. Pedulla-Player, how high is your "output" volume turned up? If it's turned down, does that make any difference at all?

As for the distortion, I have no clue I would definetly call and speak with a Mesa rep. Unless you just want to throw in the towel..... who could blame you at this point

 

[gastric]

I'm only running into a 8ohm 2x12 PowerHouse. However, even with the master 1/2 up it's a non-issue. I can't imagine a 4ohm 4x12 would magically make the difference... but process of elimination would tell.

 

[Pedulla-Player]

I normally just turn the head on once , but I turned it on (just long enough for the tubes to warm up )and off a couple of times and it seems to make the loudest "pop" on the initial start up. It seems to act about like you describe after that. Could it be stored up power in a capacitor I wonder that is released after the initial powering up?? This time I didn't notice the distorted sound that I was getting last night when I played through it. Same settings (no OD of course - I know that causes a distorted sound ) so I am a little confused?? Am I overreacting about this initial "popping noise"?? I just know that the silver faced didn't do it. I can honestly say that I could get the silver faced to sound more to my liking for some reason?? No matter how I try I can't find that sweet spot that I had with the silver faced. Not that the Black faced sounds bad - I just can't find that tone that I found so pleasing with the silver faced. Did they change some components around or make some slight changes between the silver faced and black faced model (besides adding the extra fan mod)??

 

[DAcat]

I normally just turn the head on once , but I turned it on (just long enough for the tubes to warm up )and off a couple of times and it seems to make the loudest "pop" on the initial start up. It seems to act about like you describe after that. Could it be stored up power in a capacitor I wonder that is released after the initial powering up?? This time I didn't notice the distorted sound that I was getting last night when I played through it. Same settings (no OD of course - I know that causes a distorted sound ) so I am a little confused?? Am I overreacting about this initial "popping noise"?? I just know that the silver faced didn't do it. I can honestly say that I could get the silver faced to sound more to my liking for some reason?? No matter how I try I can't find that sweet spot that I had with the silver faced. Not that the Black faced sounds bad - I just can't find that tone that I found so pleasing with the silver faced. Did they change some components around or make some slight changes between the silver faced and black faced model (besides adding the extra fan mod)??

Have you talked to Mesa yet...they are incredibly helpful...Peace...DAcat

 

[mikeswals]

Lights come on, and an initial electronic switching noise comes from the head itself. Or maybe from the UPS battery backup I happen to have it and my laptop plugged into, the UPS doesn't usually like the initial power draw of the Titan even though it's not on the battery side of the UPS.
Fans come on and are audible.
About 5 seconds later there's an electronic switching noise from within the head, with a very low volume crack/pop type noise out of the speakers.

Okay, in the silence of my garage I happen to have my rig at home. I just did the same test, and have the same result as Gastric and Rayzak...yes there is a faint pop once that 2nd relay kicks on in standby, sounds like a time delay relay. The pop is no louder than say- dropping a plastic writing pen on a concrete floor. Defintely not a sound I hear in the rehersal room or onstage. Doesn't sound like anything to be concerned over...there's alot of power on tap there.

 

[Pedulla-Player]

I decided to return the Titan and go for the M9. I read the threads about both amps and it seems like the Titan is more prone to problems than the M9. I need an amp that is reliable since I live so far from the music store that I deal with , and both Titans that I used had issues. I'm not bashing the Titan by any means. The Silver-faced sounded incredible (better than the black faced for some reason??) when I was loaning it from the store , but a couple weeks ago when I decided to return the Black faced and get the Silver faced it was humming really bad. When I was at the store today to return the black faced they told me that they just got the silver faced back from being repaired by Mesa. I was tempted to go for the Silver faced , but I decided to go for the M9 instead. I also traded in the PH412 for a Genz Benz Uber410. I loved the PH412 (sounds great and built like a tank) the 90% of the time that I didn't have to carry it. The 10% of the time that I had to carry it I didn't care for it too much.

 

[DAcat]

I decided to return the Titan and go for the M9. I read the threads about both amps and it seems like the Titan is more prone to problems than the M9. I need an amp that is reliable since I live so far from the music store that I deal with , and both Titans that I used had issues. I'm not bashing the Titan by any means. The Silver-faced sounded incredible (better than the black faced for some reason??) when I was loaning it from the store , but a couple weeks ago when I decided to return the Black faced and get the Silver faced it was humming really bad. When I was at the store today to return the black faced they told me that they just got the silver faced back from being repaired by Mesa. I was tempted to go for the Silver faced , but I decided to go for the M9 instead. I also traded in the PH412 for a Genz Benz Uber410. I loved the PH412 (sounds great and built like a tank) the 90% of the time that I didn't have to carry it. The 10% of the time that I had to carry it I didn't care for it too much.

I have'nt had problems with my Titan. sorry to hear about your troubles. I also play it thru an Uber 410 as one of my cabs...weight was the reason I did'nt get a mesa cab ...I think you'll be very happy with the Uber 410...Peace...DAcat

 

[gastric]

That's why I opted for the Mesa PH 2x12. My easiest to lift and roll cab I've personally owned. Huge, removable casters that my 6 yr old can even push without effort. Small and light enough I can hoist it myself. Problem is I can't find a matching sibling for it as they're fairly uncommon in the used market. And at around $500 each used, buying two 2x12's is way more expensive than a single used 6x10, 4x12, 8x10, etc.

 

[Pedulla-Player]

Both are great amps IMHO and I don't think that you can go wrong either way. People on the M9 thread really love their M9's and the same goes here with the Titans. It just seems that a few more people (me included) have had some issues with the Titan. That is probably a very small percentage of all Titans out there and you usually only hear about the ones with problems. Mesa's customer service and repair techs are second to none and they get you up and running ASAP. Titans are great sounding amps with more headroom than you'll ever need unless you are playing stadiums - Then just get another one and a few more cabs.

Gastric - Good luck for your search for a used PH212. Down the road I will be in the market for another cab for my M9 to go with the Uber 410. I am thinking another 410 or a 212 - Genz or Mesa. You better have a fast trigger finger if a used PH212 shows up or I may just beat you to it! Lol JK It will be a few months before I re-coup enough cash for another cab.

 

[gastric]

REQUEST:

Someone please plug in some outboard gear to the rear FX LOOP on their Titan. Then do the following:

* Set MASTER OUTPUT to at least 9 O'clock
* Using the levels on your outboard gear in the LOOP configure it's input and output levels for unity
* Now turn MASTER OUTPUT to fully off
* What happens to the input level on your outboard gear? Does it completely disappear?
* Now turn MASTER OUTPUT higher than 9 O'clock
* What happens to the input level on your outboard gear? Does it increase as you increase MASTER OUTPUT?

Most amps have the FX LOOP between the prepamp and power amp. However, on my Titan the FX SEND level appears to be fully controlled by the MASTER OUTPUT level which seems stupid, assuming that's the design, as it makes set-and-forget levels on your outboard gear impossible. But MESA support said they had a tech check the schematics and the FX SEND is in fact after the MASTER OUTPUT.

But I can't believe it. Hence me asking one of you to confirm with your head.

Note page 11 of the manual specifies "...patch point between the preamp and the power amp section... in the middle of your amp...." but then briefly references adjusting OUTPUT as well. So it's not totally clear, and no schematic is provided.

 

[mikeswals]

Has anyone played around with different preamp tubes yet?

 

[dmot002]

My Titan in it's new head case !!!!

Link Removed

 

[mikeswals]

I just sent mine off yesterday to have the cooling updates done.
But for the last few weeks all I was getting was distortion...I don't use the o/d feature (didn't have to, lol). Still meaty lowend, but distorted. Hopefully they can figure it out, but probably just cheap tubes, not really fond of sovteks.

 

[DAcat]

I just sent mine off yesterday to have the cooling updates done.
But for the last few weeks all I was getting was distortion...I don't use the o/d feature (didn't have to, lol). Still meaty lowend, but distorted. Hopefully they can figure it out, but probably just cheap tubes, not really fond of sovteks.

What were you using for speaker Cabs (ohms please ) and how hard were you driving the cabs out of curiousity? DAcat

 

[mikeswals]

Powerhouse 8x10 4ohm.

for one gig like this: l and for another gig like this:
ch1 gain 10:30 l 10:00
bass 11:30 l noon
pas mid 9:30 l noon
act mid 9:00 l noon
freq 2:30 l noon
treb 2:00 l noon
ch1 mast 12:00 l 10:00
output vol 9:00 l 11:00

Either way same result, dist the whole time. You can see I don't use alot of stage volume.
Last night I played with my Mesa Bass 400 head into the PH810 and it was clean, no distortion, so it's not the cab.

 

[DAcat]

Powerhouse 8x10 4ohm.

for one gig like this: l and for another gig like this:
ch1 gain 10:30 l 10:00
bass 11:30 l noon
pas mid 9:30 l noon
act mid 9:00 l noon
freq 2:30 l noon
treb 2:00 l noon
ch1 mast 12:00 l 10:00
output vol 9:00 l 11:00

Either way same result, dist the whole time. You can see I don't use alot of stage volume.
Last night I played with my Mesa Bass 400 head into the PH810 and it was clean, no distortion, so it's not the cab.

I feel for you Bro-barely pushing it at 4 ohms. Just wonderin...is your Titan in a head case or rack by any chance or has any thing sat on top or blocked ventilation on the sides/rear of the head?? Peace...DAcat

 

[DAcat]

I feel for you Bro-barely pushing it at 4 ohms. Just wonderin...is your Titan in a head case or rack by any chance or has any thing sat on top or blocked ventilation on the sides/rear of the head?? Peace...DAcat

FYI...I have had my Titan head shut down twice to very low output at 2 gigs (Thank you trusty Walkabout that I carry in case of emergencies) while I had it in a 4 space gator rack (I happened to be running it hot with a 2 ohm load-2 4 ohm cabs both nights ) that I thought would give it extra breathing room...but once it cooled down and I pushed the fuse button on the back (right above the plug) it fired right up again and functioned absolutely normal. This amp uses a lot of electical power and gets warm and needs ventilation room ...I have not put mine back in a rack case except to transport to tricky gigs, but I'm considering trying out a 6 space head case and see if that will provide enough ventilation space....Peace...DAcat

 

[Anej Kochevar]

Hi fellow TITAN lovers ...

I've recently bought used Big block TITAN V12 (in mint condition). It was working great for about 10 gigs (2 months), and then it failed.
Last weekend i had a gig. I've connected TITAN to a box (AMPEG 8x10 -classic). It was working great for about 20 minutes or so, and then it threw itself into protected mode (you could hear the protector switch) for about 40 seconds.
After that it turned itself on again, but the volume was much lower and the sound was a bit distorted (farting sound).
I've taken the head to the studio and tried it again on a 2x12 box. It happened again, but the protector kicked in everytime i played a note (even at low-low volumes).
I'm really satisfied with the sound of mesa, and i would really REALLY like to had it repaired.

I'm from slovenia, and i would do anything to repair this head. I would buy a plane ticket to UK or whatever EU country to repair this GODLIKE HEAD!
If you know what's the issue,please tell me the easiest way to fix it (no matter how much it costs), as i need this head, since we're performing for some pretty big names here.

p.s. i also have a bass techician who knows what he's doing, but i'm hesitating to trust him this monster, as i know that it's a head with complex wiring.

 

[DAcat]

Hi fellow TITAN lovers ...

I've recently bought used Big block TITAN V12 (in mint condition). It was working great for about 10 gigs (2 months), and then it failed.
Last weekend i had a gig. I've connected TITAN to a box (AMPEG 8x10 -classic). It was working great for about 20 minutes or so, and then it threw itself into protected mode (you could hear the protector switch) for about 40 seconds.
After that it turned itself on again, but the volume was much lower and the sound was a bit distorted (farting sound).
I've taken the head to the studio and tried it again on a 2x12 box. It happened again, but the protector kicked in everytime i played a note (even at low-low volumes).
I'm really satisfied with the sound of mesa, and i would really REALLY like to had it repaired.

I'm from slovenia, and i would do anything to repair this head. I would buy a plane ticket to UK or whatever EU country to repair this GODLIKE HEAD!
If you know what's the issue,please tell me the easiest way to fix it (no matter how much it costs), as i need this head, since we're performing for some pretty big names here.

p.s. i also have a bass techician who knows what he's doing, but i'm hesitating to trust him this monster, as i know that it's a head with complex wiring.

Call Mesa...They know more about this head than anyone...obviously its not easy to send it in to get it repaired but they may be able to tell you something that may "save the day " for example, maybe its over heating for some reason...is yours in a head rack case?? If so ...you may want to remove it when playing or get a rack case that has at least 1 extra empty space above the head for ventilation and cooling...Peace...DAcat