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New Mesa/Boogie Fathom Amp

#81
Chef said:
Seriously? They're guessing on weight and dimensions?
It would seem one would need to know those to ship them...much less to inform a curious spec hungry customer base.
Click to expand...

LOL I said as much during the discussion I had. ;)

He was fairly flustered by the question and apologetic for not having the answer, went to talk to the techs a couple of times, checked his database info, and had the same info as I do from the February 2008 Pro Net Price List.

Which has TBA listed under the Unboxed Weights and Dimensions on the last page for Height, Width, Depth, and Lbs. for the Fathom Combo, Fathom 600 Head, and Fathom 600 Rackmount.

There's nada in the Pretty Blue Fathom brochure either.

So using intuitive logic, (Bass Players are allowed to do that aren't we?), and since the rackmount size appears to be that of the M-Pulse 600 (3.5" H, 10" W, 14.75" D and 28 lbs.) he guessed and I felt ballpark was good enough since once one hits the 100 lb. mark on a 600 watt all-in-one why quibble.

Moving to the Venture Combo (same speaker configuration, same Slip Cover width) for comparison we agreed that the Guess was most likely very close to the Venture dimensions I listed above.

ROSCOE5

I understand that that weight is a deal breaker for most however you said you have an SUV. Are you aware that the Fathom Combo has the same tug handle as the Venture (the Fathom's is black though :) ) and the same Skid Rails and roller system? Drop the tarp slide it down the bumper and roll it in. Once on the ground one steers with one hand and guides the bass case and gig bag with the other. Still one trip load in/out.

And YES I have placed my order for a Custom Fathom Combo with my Gear Guy.

Color? We will have to wait and see as we all know "No Pix = No Amp". However it's not British Tan nor British Garnet.
 
#82
For what it's worth:

M-Pulse 600 Rackmount: 28 lbs.

OR

M-Pulse 600 Head: 50 lbs.

+ (Dealer's Choice):

Powerhouse Vintage 2x10 69 lbs.
Powerhouse Vintage 1x15 72 lbs.
Powerhouse Vintage 2x12 78 lbs.
Powerhouse Vintage 4x10 96 lbs.
Powerhouse Vintage 2x15 123 lbs.
Powerhouse Vintage 6x10 134 lbs.
Powerhouse Vintage 4x12 136 lbs.
Powerhouse Vintage 8x10 173 lbs.

So even the lightest cab + head weighs in at 119 lbs. and
that IS two trips in two trips out and you still have to go get the gigbag and bass each way.

Cheers,

Mr BEAR
 
#83
Guys, I got this info from the Mesa Hollywood store.

"Hey Roger.
The Fathom rackmount head aproximately measures 19" left to right, 12" front to back and 3.5" top to bottom. It weighs in at 26 lbs.
Thanks,

Jay Hood
Mesa/Boogie Hollywood
7426 Sunset Blvd.
Hollywood, CA 90046
Tel: 323-883-9090
Fax: 323-883-9099"
 
#84
Roscoe5 said:
What a sweet amp! But my back would never be able to deal with that weight getting it in and out of my SUV. Keep us posted!

Did you order one then? What color combo?
Click to expand...

I'm with you Brother!. I really like the tone of the Mesa cabs, but they are just too freaking heavy for me in my old age. I would love to see them work on that. Even the all new NEO cabs are still very heavy. They lost a few pounds, but not near enough for me.
 
#89
Went down to the shop today and tried a bunch of different amps. First up was a 500 watt (I think), 2 channel Markbass head. I was pretty impressed. It's very flexible sounding, very even with a slightly soft nature reminiscent of a well designed tube amp. Despite it's incredibly small size and light weight, it put out a lot of volume. The salesman wouldn't stop raving about them, and I could understand why. But it left me feeling a bit cold. Great amp, but it didn't feel like an instrument to me. It was going for about $1000 (that's Canadian).

Next up was the tried and true GK 700RB-II. At something like $600, I'd say it held it's own, though the Markbass was better in basically every way. It didn't sound as full and wide, it's controls weren't as flexible. Even at the same volumes, it didn't feel as loud. The one thing I liked about it was it's dry, clean voicing (not everyone's cup of tea however). This is solid state done well to my ears, considering the price. Back to the Markbass though...

Next up was a Mesa/Boogie Walkabout Scout. One of the bassists at a show we played last night was using one and it sounded great with his Fender P. Plugging in today though, we were a bit underwhelmed. It had a nice, even, smooth sound and a bit more character than the other amps, but ultimately it seemed thinner sounding and not very powerful. Oh well, I expected as much from something this size. Back to the Markbass again...

Last, we tried the new Mesa/Boogie Fathom. This was it! As soon as we dialed it in, I remember going "Wait a minute, I really like this." And just messing with all the controls to see what it could do. For such a simple layout, this thing is capable of a very wide range of tones. But it's very consistent in it's smooth, even sound and it has something the Markbass totally lacks...character! All of a sudden the tones we were getting had a dimension to them, depth and a response to what was being played. Finally we were playing an instrument, not just an amp. The basic tonal controls respond like one would expect a vintage amp to (though the amp sounds fairly modern), and then the pull deep bass knob adds a beautiful new low end to things (not overly dramatic at all, it's just right). I feel it's about as bassy as one can get without things turning loose and muddy, so it was perfect to me. The five way voicing selector is great. Each choice is totally usable, the scooped ones being my favorites. I wish the gain knob provided a bit more growl when dimed, but I'm not complaining either. Also, I should mention that this thing got nice and loud! The price was the highest at $1275, but it also seemed like the best value of the amps we tried, on a whole other level from the others. I wish this was my amp and not my friend's! At least I get to hear it when we jam and play shows though.

The cabs we tried were a couple Markbasses (which are LIGHTWEIGHT, as a gigging musician, I'm stoked on that), a 1X15 and a 2X10 if I remember correctly. These cabs didn't blow me away sonically, but they sound full and even, much like the Markbass head they weigh next to nothing. I wouldn't hesitate to pick one up (literally too). The basses we used were an Ibanez BTB, a cheap Godin that sounded pretty nice actually, some expensive thing I didn't recognize that sounded great and a Warwick Corvette that injected that growl I'd been wanting to hear.

Anyway, sorry for the long review. Just thought anyone interested in someone's take on the Fathom might dig it. By the way, the serial number is #13...pretty sweet. And also my bassist's birthday!
__________________
 
#90
MrBEAR said:
For what it's worth:

M-Pulse 600 Rackmount: 28 lbs.

OR

M-Pulse 600 Head: 50 lbs.

+ (Dealer's Choice):

Powerhouse Vintage 2x10 69 lbs.
Powerhouse Vintage 1x15 72 lbs.
Powerhouse Vintage 2x12 78 lbs.
Powerhouse Vintage 4x10 96 lbs.
Powerhouse Vintage 2x15 123 lbs.
Powerhouse Vintage 6x10 134 lbs.
Powerhouse Vintage 4x12 136 lbs.
Powerhouse Vintage 8x10 173 lbs.

So even the lightest cab + head weighs in at 119 lbs. and
that IS two trips in two trips out and you still have to go get the gigbag and bass each way.

Cheers,

Mr BEAR
Click to expand...

28+69=77 not quite 119
 
#93
Benjamin Strange said:
You could always go for two Powerhouse 112s, at 45 pounds each. Easy to move, small, and kick ass. I imagine they'd mate up with a Fathom nicely.
Click to expand...

Exactly right Benjamin.
Not to quibble, more to share "correct/published" information,
Mesa Engineering's February 2008 Pro Net Price List has the unboxed weight of the Powerhouse 1x12 @ 48 lbs., and not available (although a Custom Order would most likely be able to produce one or two) in the Powerhouse Vintage dressing which would then match the 22 lb. fathom head casing and 28(?) lb. Fathom amp.

Matter of fact a pair of Powerhouse 1x12 cabs was what I auditioned the Fathom with and heard similar tones to what Nebadon 2000's Harmony Central review poster heard.

I played my Rickenbacker 4001 C64S with flatwounds, a Fender - New American Standard Jazz, and finally a Brubaker NBS Double-Cut 4 and was just floored. Girth, width, punch, growl, attack, all of the subjective superlatives we use to describe tone were there. (More on my personal opinion by request)

After a lot of deliberation and soul searching I decided to order a custom vinyl and grill cloth Fathom Combo. 108 lbs. (still approximate nothing definite from Mesa) with roller's and a handle in a single trip package was what works for ME vs. 148 lbs. in three trips. Again that's just ME. YMMV etc.

Lapses into 3-4 month custom order build/wait time :eek:

I may have to start a Custom Amp Build Delivery Anticipation Support Group thread. ;)

Cheers,

Mr. BEAR
 
#94
If they're 48 pounds, they feel quite a bit lighter than that, due to their small size and ease of transport. Still, they're way lighter than my older EV loaded Mesa cabs (my 2x10 weighed 95 pounds!).

Anytime I've custom ordered anything from Mesa, it took a maximum of 4 weeks. I doubt you'll have to wait 3-4 months, but it's possible.
 
#95
Benjamin Strange said:
If they're 48 pounds, they feel quite a bit lighter than that, due to their small size and ease of transport. Still, they're way lighter than my older EV loaded Mesa cabs (my 2x10 weighed 95 pounds!).

Anytime I've custom ordered anything from Mesa, it took a maximum of 4 weeks. I doubt you'll have to wait 3-4 months, but it's possible.
Click to expand...

:cool: Too Cool! :cool:
You're still under that seemingly magic Talk Bass weight factor of 100 lbs. that seems to keep many players here happy.

FOUR WEEKS!?!

:D

Must Maintain Steady Pulse Rate.

Cheers,

Mr. BEAR
 
#96
I went to the store and tried the Fathom head along with the Mesa 4X10 1X15 cabinet and I was ver, but very impressed by the Tone I got from that head. It has superb warmth and the Tone was right with simple EQ adjustments, etc.

I tried the head with another cabinet ( Epifani 3X10 UL ) and I could still hear the warmth perfectly. The head was really impressive !
 
#100
I played this head through my favorite Mesa cab, a Powerhouse 1000 (1x15" and 4x10") and it sounded amazing. I was a little leery of falling in love with the scooped tones considering the scooping the mids always makes me drop out in band situations, but with the deep knob pulled this head sounded amazing! The pricetag said $1,100 or close, so I compared it to a GK 800RB ($790 used) which had nowhere NEAR the lows of this head, despite me wanting so hard to love the 800RB :p the Fathom just blew it away with bass. I haven't had a lot of good luck with tube bass heads and I find Mesas especially muddy... I think I've played through some bum heads. But the Fathom was absolutely savage, and if I had 2 and a half grand for a rig I'd pick up the Powerhouse 1000 and the Fathom right away.
 

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