Mesa/Boogie Titan V12 megathread!

[tombowlus]

I don't know what's more incredible: You, finding enough time in a day to fullfill your responsiblilties, or:
your wife putting up with your busy @$$

I do have an incredible wife.

 

[rayzak]

Let's bump this up. C'mon Titan lovers. Speak and be heard.

 

[chris lykins]

I have to admit I love Mesa also. Have a titan, walkabout scout, and an M6. The overdrive sound is almost up to my favorite overdriven amp sound, ashdown ABM, but is much clearer. The clean sound of course blows it away! Clean channel settings are gain 11 oclock, bass at 3, passive mids at 11, 1.2k slightly cut, treble at noon. Second channel gain at noon, bass at 3, passive mids at 1, 400 hz boosted to 2 oclock, treble at noon. The slight increase in gain plus the mid boost totally adds the grit. Its amazing how those two interact to totally change the tone!

 

[rayzak]

So Chris, how would you compare the clean sound of the Titan vs the M6?

 

[chris lykins]

The titan is definitely warmer and has a little "give" on the deepest bass notes where the M6 is razor sharp. Overall the titan is more versatile but the M6 is just so insanely punchy. Im glad I have both and tend to use the titan when the bass in question needs some warming up (like a musicman) or when Im playing a more rock gig.

 

[Krügmeister]

D'oh! this thread seems to have run out of steam... anyone do any pre amp tube rolling yet?

 

[levis76]

Traded my Titan for a 400+. Never happier.

 

[Krügmeister]

Traded my Titan for a 400+. Never happier.

LoL, I did the exact opposite! what kind of cab you run it through?

 

[levis76]

These. Ran the Titan the same way. The Titan was nice, but 400+ has so much more bottom and a smoother midrange voice once you learn to tame the beast. I actually run the 15 with the slot port on the floor/stage now with the 410 on top. If I have room I actually like to run them side by side, but I almost never have room after the guitard gets both his 4x12s setup, which can never ever ever ever be stacked. Ever. I should also note that I do not use Mesa tubes exclusively. I loaded this baby up with Tung Sol 12AX7s and Winged C power tubes. All I can say is WOW.

 

[Krügmeister]

that must sound divine, I ran my 400+ through a Berg NV610 sounded amazing.
I was offered a trade for 400+ and NV610 for brand new Titan and PH412... took it and love the sound!

Recently got the VB-2 so I still can play with some tubes.
I miss my D-180, and 400+ but i really think I am digging the hybrid Titan and is quite the beastly pair.

I love your rig though, looks beautiful

 

[rayzak]

LoL, I did the exact opposite! what kind of cab you run it through?

Me too!

 

[ShawnStones]

Titan folks, I have a question! Haha. The Titan is essentially 2 Big Blocks, correct? And I've heard the Big Block described as, as close to tube, but solid state you can get. Does the Titan have this type of tone as well? I'm looking for a Clean tone, no "grit" or "fur" or tube "bite". Can the Titan be loud and stay clean?

 

[mournblade]

Shawn,

I would recommend the M9 versus the Titan. It can sound nice and clean, but the M9 is crystal clear and clean.

 

[Krügmeister]

Titan folks, I have a question! Haha. The Titan is essentially 2 Big Blocks, correct? And I've heard the Big Block described as, as close to tube, but solid state you can get. Does the Titan have this type of tone as well? I'm looking for a Clean tone, no "grit" or "fur" or tube "bite". Can the Titan be loud and stay clean?

I traded my 400+ for the Titan because it was just more versatile and was able to get almost any tone you can dream of, honestly even flat it has a nice tube sound but not as wooly and gritty as the 400+ was, I have found the Titan to be UNBELIEVABLY loud, and I have never even came close to topping it out.
I run it through a PH412 4ohm and it sounds so amazing to me, I rolled a few preamp tubes and I was able to get THE sound I was looking for.
I put a JJ803s gold pin in the V1 and V2 slots, and then put JJ 83s gold pin in the V3 and V4 positions... I like the tube sound a bit and the 803s really gets that sound and I am totally happy with it.
As far as staying clean and loud I DARE anyone to stand in front of my rig and claim it isn't loud enough for ANYTHING.
I can't express how much this thing has in the tank, it seems like it just gets louder and louder and stupid loud, and then ludicrously loud.
I have heard other people say their GB1200 was pretty stout, it is but it sounds a tad different… I prefer the Titan because it seems more like the Walkabout sound but with a jet engine… it really sounds like the Walkabout to me after some tube swapping, and to me THAT is the sound I WANT!
I can honestly say it is the loudest and cleanest amp I have ever played, the power requirements are pretty stout and they actually limit the 2ohm power output because of the amps it would pull out of a regular house circuit ( there is a thread with the info somewhere) it really can cause cracks and foundation movements… it is like standing in front of an explosion.
If you use Overdrive or Compression this amp has those features.
The overdrive is amazing and it actually works really well if you use that type of thing.
I would have to say it IS the best amp I have ever played though and I have no problem making that claim.
That said, the M9 is cleaner and just as loud

 

[lomo]

… it really sounds like the Walkabout to me after some tube swapping, and to me THAT is the sound I WANT!

Makes sense to me, since I found the BB750's clean channel gave me my preferred WA tone and the Titan is a pair of 750s.

 

[Pitbull Growl]

As a 400+ owner I'm watching this thread closely and enjoying the comparisons. The Titan is one I've been curious about for a while now. It reminds me of the M-2000 (but bigger & badder) based on what I've seen/read, but I've yet to have the good fortune of trying one out yet.

 

[MEKer]

I've been dying to be able to get either the Titan or the 900 watt M9 Carbine and either way really would prefer two 2x12's cabs for versatility instead of the single big 4x12. However, the 4x12 is rated to handle the max wattage of the Titan or M9 while the Mesa 2x12's are not (at 600 watt handling). Dang!
So what would be the answer to that: the GK 2x12 rated to handle 1200 watts and what would I lose if I did that?

 

[Krügmeister]

I wouldn't imagine you would lose anything, those are nice cabs.
I have learned that Mesa amps ARE voiced to thier cabs, while they sound amazing with other cabs they really seem to open up a tad bit more with Boogie cabs. IMHO, YMMV

 

[KsPiNeSh]

I've been dying to be able to get either the Titan or the 900 watt M9 Carbine and either way really would prefer two 2x12's cabs for versatility instead of the single big 4x12. However, the 4x12 is rated to handle the max wattage of the Titan or M9 while the Mesa 2x12's are not (at 600 watt handling).
So what would be the answer to that: the GK 2x12 rated to handle 1200 watts and what would I lose if I did that?

The answer is to go ahead and get 1 Mesa 212 and use some common sense with it. Wattage ratings are thermal ratings, and speakers will reach their mechanical limits long before the thermal limits (i.e. they'll sound like crap when you're feeding too much power). In the case of the M9, you won't be putting out the full 750 W or whatever it is at 4 ohms all the time. I use a 1000 watt @ 4 ohms head (GBE 1200) with a 600 watt 212 cab regularly without issue. You'll be fine.

 

[MEKer]

Thanks for the info, guys.