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Mesa/Boogie Titan V12 megathread!

#621
Not knowing the history of your amp means that it could be for any reason, including a past hack job service attempt.
 
#622
Well.... I get that actually. I'll try with a pedal in the FX Loop once I'm back home and mess with the switch.
But that is really weird in fact, yes. Are there any known modification on this amp to have the FX loop in parallel and not series?

But according to what I remember, I think my M9 behaved the same. Whatever the position of the switch was, it never muted the amp. But my memories are vague about that particular detail.

UPDATE:
I just had a look a the M9 manual and there are no switches at all for the FX LOOP. That means, if there is nothing plugged in it, there should be no sound at all. Which is obviously not the case.

I'm a bit lost about that FX loop think actually....
 
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#623
This is a problem that is common with many manufacturers, where techs and end users who do not fully understand electronics try to "improve" things and end up creating bigger problems. Often, removing the modifications and restoring back to stock solves the problems the amps are sent in for.
 
#624
Well, that effect loop thing had nothing to do with my previous problem when the unit stopped onstage.
It's just Dalmasn who reported his experience with his. Mine works flawlessly since it's been serviced.
But I'll check that out once I'm back home as in interests me and that might show that amp might have been modified.
 
#625
UPDATE:
I just gave a try with an octaver pedal in the effect loop. When the swith is off, the pedal has no effect. When it's on, I can hear the octaver. I can also switch the pedal off, while the effect loop is on, and no more octaver.
My Titan works just perfectly like expected I think.
I pretty sure, while the switch is on and there is nothing in the effect loop, there must be something that actually bypasses it. Like the M9, even if that amp doesn't have any switch. I think it's there just for purists.
So I would assume, there is something wrong if you need to turn that very switch on or off to have the amp working.

I just want to remind everybody that I never had any issue with the effect loop on that amp. Only a MOSFET in the power section that fried while onstage.
 
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#627
baxter_x said:
Does anybody knows if swapping tubes really changes the tone of the Titan?
Click to expand...

I would also like to know this. I have had a blackface titan for probably about 8 years and ended up finding a great deal on a silver face when I had my other one in the shop for service and bought it. They sound pretty different with all settings exactly the same and I was wondering if the tubes might be the reason
 
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#629
I also have an older silver face and a newer black face. They sounded quite different before I had the silver serviced to the latest standards. My silver one became much chestier, beefier and with a lot more bounce when on a lot of overdrive, like the rectos for guitars, which I really like (and very much like the black face is already). You can get subtle overdrives from elsewhere, but the earthshaking ones are harder to find i think. There's plenty of earthquake on tap in both of my silver and black faces today. I still think my silver one has more kick than my black though, and only when on overdrive so I'm pretty sure the tubes might make a difference, old, worn out or different specs i don't know? I've never changed them and its mesas in both. Without overdrive they sound very much alike to me.
 
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#635
Hmmm....I thought that you were supposed to switch it if you changed from 2 ohm cab configuration to a 4-8 ohm configuration to protect the amp.
Also , I'd never heard or read before that wattage dropped to 840 watts @ 2 OHMS. I often play with 2 - 4 ohm Mesa cabs and its just silly loud.
Peace, DAcat.
 
#636
baxter_x said:
Does anybody knows if swapping tubes really changes the tone of the Titan?
Click to expand...

Yes the tubes can make subtle changes to gain and voicing. I had to swap out one of the original tubes in the overdrive (OD) circuit because it would sometimes oscillate at about 100 hz or function partially as a sub octave doubler. Oddly, the offending tube was noise free and sounded good in another amp. After replacing the bad OD tube, I rolled a few tubes through V1, and settled on one with an extended but smooth top end. Subtle but nice change if you like a little sparkle on top. IMHO the original tube was a bit dark, grainy, and hard sounding, and I found it difficult to dial in the top end without the amp sounding a bit brittle.

There are two banks of two tubes in the amp. I originally assumed one bank of tubes is for channel one and the other bank is for channel two. This is incorrect. When switching channels, you continue using the same tubes, but switch between the two control banks. Additionally when you switch on OD in the selected channel, it adds two more tubes and the associated OD Drive and Level controls to the circuit.

If I remember correctly, the banks of tubes are broken down into the switchable OD tubes on the left and the regular preamp tubes on the right. Counter intuitive until you look at how the front panel is laid out. It's been awhile so don't sue me if got the order of the tube banks reversed. Wish the manual provided a diagram and better troubleshooting directions. The existing directions seem generic and unsuited to the Titan.
 
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#637
DAcat said:
Hmmm....I thought that you were supposed to switch it if you changed from 2 ohm cab configuration to a 4-8 ohm configuration to protect the amp.
Also , I'd never heard or read before that wattage dropped to 840 watts @ 2 OHMS. I often play with 2 - 4 ohm Mesa cabs and its just silly loud.
Peace, DAcat.
Click to expand...
If you use any cab configuration with the switch set on 2 ohms, you don't risk anything. However if you use the amp under a 2 ohms load with the switch on 4-8 ohms, there is a risk of overheating it.
I'll try to find the information saying the power is limited to 840W with the switch set on 2 ohms, but I'm pretty sure about it. That switch is basically an output limiter. It drops the output power from 1200W to 840W to prevent overheating the power section. I always use it that way just in case. I'm pretty sure, whatever the cabs plugged in, it won't overheat, even if I hit the 2 ohm load without paying attention. And I can't simply hear any difference at all between the 1200W or the 840W.
Maybe @agedhorse will confirm or not what I'm saying about this output limiter?

Edit:
Here's what I just found on the Mesa website:
1200 Watts @ 4 Ohms (840 Watts @ 2 Ohms, 650 Watts @ 8 Ohms), Simul-State™ Power w/ 4 or 2 Ohm Impedance Select Switch for optimum Power/Load Performance / 22 Tube driven Power MOSFET’s, 4x12AX7
MESA/Boogie®

Wasnex said:
Yes the tubes can make subtle changes to gain and voicing.
Click to expand...
Did you use Mesa tubes or any tubes from another brand?
 
#639
baxter_x said:
Did you use Mesa tubes or any tubes from another brand?
Click to expand...

Both of the tubes I rolled into the Titan were pulls from other amps. I think one was a Marshall labeled 12AX7 from a vintage JCM 800 and the other was an Aguilar labeled 12AX7 that came out of a DB359. The Marshall tube sounded pretty much like the Mesa tube it replaced, except no low frequency oscillation. The Aguilar tube had very low noise and an extended frequency response, a good choice for V1. This was before I bought new tubes, so I just used what I had on hand.

Since then I ordered around 10 models of new production 12AX7s and have rolled them into 3 other bass amps. I have not gone back and rolled additional tubes in the Titan.

So far, I have been very happy with New Sensor Mullard ECC83 in V1 and JJ ECC803S in most other positions. The Mullard seems to really boost and tighten the low end, but also extends the highs and softens the upper mids. If you like a bit of clank in your sound you probably won't like the Mullard because it has consistently smoothed out the top end in my amps. Also, as the Titan already has really strong low mids, the Mullard might be too much of a good thing in this amp, but still I plan to try it someday.

The JJ ECC803S was tight and articulate, and had a relatively even frequency response with just a touch of shimmer in the mids. I have used a bunch of the JJ ECC803S because they tend to sound great and can handle elevated cathode voltages. As they are fairly neutral, try a more colorful tube in V1, especially if you need a brighter top end.

I also really liked the Chinese made New Sensor Genalex ECC83 in the OD channel of one of my bass amps. The Genalex had the best touch sensitivity. It transitioned smoothly from clean to distortion and had the darkest and most even distortion of all the tubes I tried. The Genalex also produced strong tight lows that held together nicely with relatively high gain, instead of mushing out.

Something to keep in mind is the circuit has a significant impact on how a tube performs. You might like a particular tube in V1 but not V2. Or you might like a particular tube in one amp but not the other.

Nothing against Mesa tubes; but consider, if you replace a Mesa labeled 12AX7 with another Mesa labeled 12AX7 you are probably not going to get much of a change in gain or tonal character unless you are replacing a worn or bad tube.

Here are some links that might help if you are interested in tube rolling:
www.thetubestore.com - 12AX7 / 7025 Tube Reviews
Invalid Link Removed
Welcome to TubeDepot.com!
 
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