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Stoner/Doom Bassists Thread, Part 90: Maxed Out

#40,541
Korladis said:
I always use the graphic EQ in Catapult. In Dustern and in my folk/rock band I usually don't.


I'd prefer the 400, so as to use either 6L6 or 6550 tubes in the power amp.


I've always been kinda "meh" on Hartke stuff, personally. Doesn't mean it's bad, I just don't like it very much.
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I've only used the cabs with aluminum coned speakers. It was a 410/115 stack used with my old 4 pro at a gig. I was not a fan of any part of it. Constant fear of blowing some guys drivers, weak sound, and very quiet. Plus the 410 115 stack is terrible enough that I'm really not sure why people still do it and how they don't hear how bad that combo is. Once I heard the difference, I ditched my 410/115 rig and ran for the hills.
 
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#40,542
Korladis said:
I've always been kinda "meh" on Hartke stuff, personally. Doesn't mean it's bad, I just don't like it very much
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Yea, people always compare it to Peavey stuff re: reliability etc, which I'm sure is true, but I find it lacks that character. Don't mind the heads, and the LH and kilo series look cool (I run an HA3500 atm), but the cabs are a bit eh for me. Oh well, it seemed like a ripper deal, I'll just keep looking.
 
#40,543
Burnsy said:
You guys stop hogging all the CL400's. I might want one someday.

That said, anyone have any experience or strong pro/con feels about Mesa Bass 400 or 400+?
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Corey Y said:
The 400 is 6 output tubes (earlier models are 6550, later are 6L6) and the 400+ is 12 output tubes (6L6, but I think there's some variation of model number with some era of Mesa branded tubes for it). The 400+ isn't twice as loud as the 400 though, they're nearly the same volume functionally, but the 400+ distributes its power across more output tubes for less strain. The 400+ also has two separate preamp sections with full controls and a single master volume. It's the same preamp design as the D-180 I believe or really close.
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Real world they both generally test out to 270 watts. Like anything tone is in the ear of the beholder.

Personally I dont think mesa has ever built a tube bass amp with enough iron. They skimp out on transformers (Even with current production) and IMO the low end suffers. That said my perspective and tonal goals are not common.
 
#40,546
Turkeypills said:
What's the hive minds opinion on toroidal transformers vs big iron? Amps like the cl400 are some of the few 300w+ tube amps that do t use toroidal and I'm just not sold on them. Seems like class D vs lead sled SS in a layman analogy.
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I dont know if I could name a big tube amp that uses a toroidal transformer. They work just as well as traditional ones if they are spec'ed out right. I had a B1500 that had a toroidal transformer, and it absolutely crushed.
 
#40,547
CL400Peavey said:
I dont know if I could name a big tube amp that uses a toroidal transformer. They work just as well as traditional ones if they are spec'ed out right. I had a B1500 that had a toroidal transformer, and it absolutely crushed.
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I believe the new mesas have toroidal. Also the Mills Customs have toroidals. I'm just curious because the strategy, and mills amps are rated 465w(?) and 400w respectively but I've heard that(at least the strategy) is powerful but a bit underwhelming considering such a huge rating. I haven't had a chance to hear the Mills yet but my presumption is that it isn't all that much louder than an SVT. But again, hearsay and presumption.

I guess I am mainly skeptical of on paper specs.
 
#40,548
i like Hartke's LH1000 it does me good till I can afford an all tube. The HX cabs ain't working for down tuned sludgyness and I'm looking to make a change there. I'm cash strapped till after the summer but found a dude who wants to trade one of my HX cabs for a Peavey 215. [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

In my mind, that seems to fit what I'm looking for in a cab, I need a big low end. I guess as with everything else I need to go play on it.
 
#40,549
Turkeypills said:
I believe the new mesas have toroidal. Also the Mills Customs have toroidals. I'm just curious because the strategy, and mills amps are rated 465w(?) and 400w respectively but I've heard that(at least the strategy) is powerful but a bit underwhelming considering such a huge rating. I haven't had a chance to hear the Mills yet but my presumption is that it isn't all that much louder than an SVT. But again, hearsay and presumption.

I guess I am mainly skeptical of on paper specs.
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The problem is Mesa under specs their transformers. It isnt that they are bad parts, just not the right ones. They are the cheaper option. Additionally they use their own yard stick for measuring power. They felt that measuring at 5% THD like every other tube manufacturer wasnt representative enough of how they felt their amp performed/sounded. So they measured at 7.5% instead to get a bigger marketing number.
 
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#40,550
CL400Peavey said:
The problem is Mesa under specs their transformers. It isnt that they are bad parts, just not the right ones. They are the cheaper option. Additionally they use their own yard stick for measuring power. They felt that measuring at 5% THD like every other tube manufacturer wasnt representative enough of how they felt their amp performed/sounded. So they measured at 7.5% instead to get a bigger marketing number.
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That's one of the many reasons I love GK. RAG always has sensible, reliable power ratings of what the amp can consistently produce. Not a peak rating or anything like that. Most of the time, his amps can produce double their wattage in short bursts and keep kicking for years. Heck, even decades. Glad I found GK after only having had one Ampeg combo. No plans to try other brands ever. And pedal GAS is enough, I don't need amp GAS as well!
 
#40,552


Fuzz bass test: P bass (AEAD) > EAE Claymore > DR400 > 3620. Bigg.

image.jpeg

Claymore settings. ^
 
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#40,553
CL400Peavey said:
They felt that measuring at 5% THD like every other tube manufacturer wasnt representative enough of how they felt their amp performed/sounded. So they measured at 7.5% instead to get a bigger marketing number.
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Ew. Really wish manufacturers would take the audiophile approach like Sunn and measure at THD<1%. Or at least agree to some sort of similar rating system. Not that that will ever happen, I know, but it would be nice to at least have a level playing field to compare amps on.
 
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#40,558
USA Millennium should be here today and I'm almost finished with the Hail Satan acid etch.
The etch looks pretty good but I didn't let the acid etch deep enough so the lighter parts of the mogwai don't show very well and some of the text isn't super clear.
I'll try again when I get my garage set up better to mess with acid but I'm gonna do a clear and put it back together so I can get it back on the board.

I moved my bass rig to the garage and now I don't like the way anything sounds. I'm not sure what I did or if it's just the amazing acoustics of concrete.

Pics tonight.
 

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