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Tubes for Recording / Shows, Class D Backup?

#41
As
Coolhandjjl said:
If the Mesa D800 isn’t loud enough, you either have:
  • Too much stage volume from the other guys
  • Very inefficient speakers or not enough drivers
  • Poor EQ/Scooping out too much midrange
Click to expand...

It’s a Barefaced Six10 so it should be able to compete with a freaking jumbo jet.

I do think it’s possibly an EQ issue or an output issue with the Mesa (I have my resistance settings correct, FYI) . The Sunn 1200s and Acoustic B1000HD have no trouble. The Mesa just does not put out the same volume.
 
#43
Selehpotsihpem said:
As


It’s a Barefaced Six10 so it should be able to compete with a freaking jumbo jet.

I do think it’s possibly an EQ issue or an output issue with the Mesa (I have my resistance settings correct, FYI) . The Sunn 1200s and Acoustic B1000HD have no trouble. The Mesa just does not put out the same volume.
Click to expand...

Never would have thought there would be a whole lotta diff between 800 to 1000 to 1200 watts. Thanks for laying it out like that.
 
#44
Coolhandjjl said:
Never would have thought there would be a whole lotta diff between 800 to 1000 to 1200 watts. Thanks for laying it out like that.
Click to expand...

I agree. I’ll say that my rankings if the EQ goes like this: Acoustic > Sunn > Mesa.

The Mesa is very dark (this may be my problem), the Sunn has this odd midrange squawk, but the Acoustic is perfect with the EQ dials at noon and the graphic EQ bypassed.

The Mesa is hard to get the same punch as the Acoustic without adding unwanted treble too. I’ll jero messing with it. Maybe it’s in there and I just haven’t found the magic combination of settings.

But that Acoustic honestly rips.
 
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#45
Selehpotsihpem said:
...The Mesa is very dark
Click to expand...
I’ve often characterized the Mesa tone as ‘thick’, especially in the high-bass, low-mids.

But that Acoustic honestly rips.
Click to expand...
If you’ve found your tone, that’s the goal! Just like a J won’t sound like a P won’t sound like a Rick.

I understand the reliability concerns. Back when Acoustic was reintroduced, it seemed like it was just another GC house brand and few gave them a second look. Iffy reviews, problematic reliability, etc.

Borrow an SVT and see how you like it with your Barefaced
 
Last edited:
#46
I wouldn't use different amps for gigs and rehearsals. My Aguilar AG700 or TH500 are good for everything, including home practice. I do alter the number and size of the cabs though.

In my time I've had 3 tube amps fail. 2 on stage and 1 in a recording studio. In the last 20 years, since I stopped using tubes, I have had total reliability from all SS and D class amps I've owned.

YMMV
 
#47
chris_b said:
I wouldn't use different amps for gigs and rehearsals. My Aguilar AG700 or TH500 are good for everything, including home practice. I do alter the number and size of the cabs though.

In my time I've had 3 tube amps fail. 2 on stage and 1 in a recording studio. In the last 20 years, since I stopped using tubes, I have had total reliability from all SS and D class amps I've owned.

YMMV
Click to expand...


The Acoustic is my 4th SS bass amp. I had 2 (the Sunn and Kustom KXB500) suffer from unexpected volume fluctuations. And the Acoustic has some known reliability issues.

So I’m a little hesitant...
 
#48
Selehpotsihpem said:
The Acoustic is my 4th SS bass amp. I had 2 (the Sunn and Kustom KXB500) suffer from unexpected volume fluctuations. And the Acoustic has some known reliability issues.

So I’m a little hesitant...
Click to expand...

I wouldn't even consider owning an amp that had any known "issues". There are so many great amps out there that you can easily find one that fits your requirements/preferences and is 100% reliable.
 
#50
I would usually use one of my tube heads to both practices/shows/recording, but also a class D preamp/poweramp rack for backup. A couple times, I ran the class D head as well (using the slave out) into my second cab. A little larger than a microhead, but still only weighed like 15lbs or so. So that made it easy enough. I also started using tube heads in the 50lbs range, which is perfectly fine, rather than 100lbs.
 
#51
Heres' what I can tell you, a high quality SMPS amplifier can get very close to the sound of the SVT. I owned a Walter Woods MI-400-8 for a long time and

had the opportunity on ocassion to compare it directly to the SVT through SVT's 8x10 Cabinet. My take is that the Woods very closley emulated the SVT with

the exception of the Ampeg's midrange voicing which was different the the Woods. Since few of you have ever played the 400 watt version of the Woods you'll

just have to trust me on this. Just my take of course. The MI-400-8 was an all analog pre and power amplifier tied to t digital switching power supply. So technically

it's not quite a Class D. But it weighed 9 lbs. Walter also built a MI-600-8
 
#53
I use my Marshall for gigging, otherwise, I probably wouldn't use it that much. It would destroy my practice room. I bring along a TC RH450 as a backup to the Marshall, but haven't had to take it out of the bag as of yet.
I have a Hartke TA3500 at our rehearsal space and an old Traynor YBA-1 in my rehearsal room at home. I also have a Sunn Beta Bass head lying around here somewhere.
Fishheadjoe
 

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