NAD Mesa Bass 400+

[fakeneckplate'65]

I bought a Mesa Bass 400+ today off CL. The only other bass anp I've ever owned for any length of the time is a Gallien Krueger 700RBII.

I was/are very nervous about the purchase. It was a lot of money for me, although a decent price by 400+ standards. I'm still relatively new to tube amp world, which is why I was nervous about making such an expensive purchase.

• Non of the pots make any scratchy noises etc.

•Graphic EQ sliders are a little stiff but all function & don't make a scratchy noises.

•Power switch has been replaced, as has the end of the power cable. Replacement switch appears to be of the new Mesa variety as all the newer 400+ have.

• Amp pops a bit switch from stand by to on & back. Is that normal?

• Sounds beautiful, no weird noises etc, ( so far ).

• Amp is surprisingly clean, just a few scratches, etc.

I guess I'm looking for things to be aware & look out for as the owner of a new to me tube amp. I have no reason to believe there's anything wrong with it as it sounds great, but, I also like to be cautious. I rather have a tech check it out BEFORE I screw it up.

The only thing that strikes me as a little weird is the amp isn't as loud as I would have expected? I haven't rehearsed with it as I just got home an hour ago, but through the prior owners 8x10 it seemed pretty polite? Admittedly, I did take my Glarry P bass, which has a pretty gutless pickup. With Volume 1 @ 5 & the Master volume @ 2 it's only a little bit too loud to play in my apartment, haha. All the tubes are lit up,nothing smells strange etc. I wind it up a little more tomorrow as it's 9:30PM.

Tell me I did good fellas!

 

[Mingo Sanders]

Awesome. I'm very jealous.

 

[NecroticImbecil]

Nice amp.

Try Input 2. The 2 inputs are not the same. Also, Master at 2 is pretty low. That said, there was a spot on the Master on mine where volume jumped from "too quiet" to "TOO LOUD!!!!1!"

Also, the pic looks like the cab is connected to the 8 Ohm jack. This is your 8 Ohm cab, not the mentioned 8X10? Some confusion over the speaker outputs has been known to happen in the past.

Having a tech check out a newly purchased used amp is never a bad idea. At worst you spend some money to reassure yourself everything is A-OK. If you don't have a trusted tech, probably a thread here somewhere on techs in your area or somebody may chime in. Lots of threads about this amp, EQ settings, etc.

 

[fakeneckplate'65]

Nice amp.

Try Input 2. The 2 inputs are not the same. Also, Master at 2 is pretty low. That said, there was a spot on the Master on mine where volume jumped from "too quiet" to "TOO LOUD!!!!1!"

Also, the pic looks like the cab is connected to the 8 Ohm jack. This is your 8 Ohm cab, not the mentioned 8X10? Some confusion over the speaker outputs has been known to happen in the past.

Having a tech check out a newly purchased used amp is never a bad idea. At worst you spend some money to reassure yourself everything is A-OK. If you don't have a trusted tech, probably a thread here somewhere on techs in your area or somebody may chime in. Lots of threads about this amp, EQ settings, etc.

Yes its an 8 ohm Gallien Krueger 212 Neo. Yeah understandably with the master that low its going to be pretty soft. I'm actually pleased to find it very manageable even @ considerate apartment levels..

 

[mikeswals]

Master at 2 is very low.
Set master at 7 or 8 and regulate your volume with the input knob and this thing will start breathing heavy at ya.

Usually pops can go away with cleaning the tube sockets. Every year I pull tubes and use toothpicks and swabs soaked in Deoxit, and clean and make sure the socket pins have good tension (and I put the tubes back in the same socket they came out of).

Input 1 is padded for actives.
Input 2 for passives.

 

[higain617]

That’s a great amp! I miss my loud days.

 

[fakeneckplate'65]

Master at 2 is very low.
Set master at 7 or 8 and regulate your volume with the input knob and this thing will start breathing heavy at ya.

Usually pops can go away with cleaning the tube sockets. Every year I pull tubes and use toothpicks and swabs soaked in Deoxit, and clean and make sure the socket pins have good tension (and I put the tubes back in the same socket they came out of).

Input 1 is padded for actives.
Input 2 for passives.

It's not a huge pop, I turned the master volume down all the way, but, it didn't seem related to the pop. I don't want to damage my GK 212 NEO cab.

 

[fakeneckplate'65]

That’s a great amp! I miss my loud days.

Can't wait to start mine.. not concerned with loud so much as THE tone..

 

[gelinas666]

Great Amp! Mesa nailed it on this model..

 

[cuth]

Congrats - you will be happy with it.
I use a 400+ a lot and love the amp. I've never had volume issues through 4ohm 8x10 or 4x10s - and I play in a very loud band. Yes - mine pops a bit as well coming off the standby.
Also keep in mind flat EQ is about 2 low - 10 mid - 2 high.
Do a search for a 400+ manual if you don't have one. I think it is still available on the Mesa site. It has good info in it.

 

[bassboysam]

if i remember correctly, the 2 knobs on the back can affect output volume. play with them and det them where the amp is loudest, either all the way down or all the way up.

also, no matter what the previous owner said, take it to a tech and have it checked out.

 

[bassdude51]

I used to have a Mesa 400+ but sold it. I made a copy of the complete manual and I still have it on hand. I live in Columbus, Ohio in the 161 & Cleveland Ave/Westerville area. If you want the manual, I'll sell it for a minimal price. Send me a TB message.

In reality, the 400+ is pretty much a 360 watt amp with each 6L6 putting out about 30 watts. The 400+ is supposed to momentarily surpass 400 watts by some mil-seconds. So says Mesa.

The 400+ used to be Paul McCartney's amp of choice.

When it comes time to replace the power tubes............well, ahhh 12 matched (electronically matched) 6L6 tubes will cost a very "pretty penny". Good news is that the tubes should last 6 or more years. But, tubes are tubes and they can go bad when ever they feel like it.

If you are interested in the manual, send a message.

Congratulations on your amp.

Number 1 rule with the Mesa 400+.........have the stand by switch on when ya hit the power switch and wait at least 30 seconds before releasing the standby switch.

 

[JMarkD]

I bought a Mesa Bass 400+ today off CL. The only other bass anp I've ever owned for any length of the time is a Gallien Krueger 700RBII.

I was/are very nervous about the purchase. It was a lot of money for me, although a decent price by 400+ standards. I'm still relatively new to tube amp world, which is why I was nervous about making such an expensive purchase.

• Non of the pots make any scratchy noises etc.

•Graphic EQ sliders are a little stiff but all function & don't make a scratchy noises.

•Power switch has been replaced, as has the end of the power cable. Replacement switch appears to be of the new Mesa variety as all the newer 400+ have.

• Amp pops a bit switch from stand by to on & back. Is that normal?

• Sounds beautiful, no weird noises etc, ( so far ).

• Amp is surprisingly clean, just a few scratches, etc.

I guess I'm looking for things to be aware & look out for as the owner of a new to me tube amp. I have no reason to believe there's anything wrong with it as it sounds great, but, I also like to be cautious. I rather have a tech check it out BEFORE I screw it up.

The only thing that strikes me as a little weird is the amp isn't as loud as I would have expected? I haven't rehearsed with it as I just got home an hour ago, but through the prior owners 8x10 it seemed pretty polite? Admittedly, I did take my Glarry P bass, which has a pretty gutless pickup. With Volume 1 @ 5 & the Master volume @ 2 it's only a little bit too loud to play in my apartment, haha. All the tubes are lit up,nothing smells strange etc. I wind it up a little more tomorrow as it's 9:30PM.

Tell me I did good fellas!

View attachment 3907618

View attachment 3907619

Congrats! Looks like a very clean and well kept amp. To address your concerns, the stiff sliders are a good thing. They are made that way. The early power switches were prone to arcing. I had to replace one on my Bass 400 years ago. Never had a problem with the one in the 400+ but it's no big deal. That pop is normal. As for volume, as others have said, try input 2, raise the Master up to four or five and put the gain around three or four. Enjoy your new amp!

 

[Ryno1330]

Congrats. All those tubes are a beautiful thing. If you go to this page and scroll to the bottom you can download the manual. Good luck!

MESA/Boogie®

 

[Wesley R]

Congrats

 

[fakeneckplate'65]

I appreciate all the advice & well wishes. I posted last night when I got home. The AC in my apartment broke down the day before & it was 87 degrees inside, so forgive me if my rambling was a little incoherent. Still fired up the Mesa for awhile though

 

[chaosMK]

Looks great very clean. I might user fader lube on the GEQ for maintenance.

It should get loud, try raising the Master. Input 1 on 5 with a passive bass would be quite quiet. Even with my 18v active I raise it to like 7-8 but I always use the hotter input anyway. I tend to run my input to just before it grits up, then Master to taste.

There are tricks to getting an even louder clean signal (like front end gain clean but power tubes hairy) using the FX loop but I doubt you'll need it em.

Classic way to begin dialing it is like Treble 2 Mids 8 Bass 2. The mids are cut only so running it close to 10 is normal.

 

[EatS1stBassist]

I bought a Mesa Bass 400+ today off CL. The only other bass anp I've ever owned for any length of the time is a Gallien Krueger 700RBII.

I was/are very nervous about the purchase. It was a lot of money for me, although a decent price by 400+ standards. I'm still relatively new to tube amp world, which is why I was nervous about making such an expensive purchase.

• Non of the pots make any scratchy noises etc.

•Graphic EQ sliders are a little stiff but all function & don't make a scratchy noises.

•Power switch has been replaced, as has the end of the power cable. Replacement switch appears to be of the new Mesa variety as all the newer 400+ have.

• Amp pops a bit switch from stand by to on & back. Is that normal?

• Sounds beautiful, no weird noises etc, ( so far ).

• Amp is surprisingly clean, just a few scratches, etc.

I guess I'm looking for things to be aware & look out for as the owner of a new to me tube amp. I have no reason to believe there's anything wrong with it as it sounds great, but, I also like to be cautious. I rather have a tech check it out BEFORE I screw it up.

The only thing that strikes me as a little weird is the amp isn't as loud as I would have expected? I haven't rehearsed with it as I just got home an hour ago, but through the prior owners 8x10 it seemed pretty polite? Admittedly, I did take my Glarry P bass, which has a pretty gutless pickup. With Volume 1 @ 5 & the Master volume @ 2 it's only a little bit too loud to play in my apartment, haha. All the tubes are lit up,nothing smells strange etc. I wind it up a little more tomorrow as it's 9:30PM.

Tell me I did good fellas!

View attachment 3907618

View attachment 3907619

That is an awesome amp my friend!!
If you haven’t already come join the Glarry Club!!Official Exquisite/Glarry/Burning Fire Bass Club?

 

[fakeneckplate'65]

Looks great very clean. I might user fader lube on the GEQ for maintenance.

It should get loud, try raising the Master. Input 1 on 5 with a passive bass would be quite quiet. Even with my 18v active I raise it to like 7-8 but I always use the hotter input anyway. I tend to run my input to just before it grits up, then Master to taste.

There are tricks to getting an even louder clean signal (like front end gain clean but power tubes hairy) using the FX loop but I doubt you'll need it em.

Classic way to begin dialing it is like Treble 2 Mids 8 Bass 2. The mids are cut only so running it close to 10 is normal.

I read about it using a Fender style tone stack & have it set currently @ 2 -10 - 2. The prior owner apparently liked a very scooped sound as the graphic EQ was set @ an extreme " smiley " & engaged when I began to play it. once I disengaged the graphic EQ it sounded much better to my tastes. Can't wait to get home from work & play it some more.

I'm sure it's plenty loud, I guess Im more surprised how soft the low volume it. It seems very subtle & musical to me.

 

[BrickBatMansion]

Very nice. That's a lot of tubes.