Thoughts about Mesa Boogie amps...

BenF

BenF

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Ok, its about time for me to go amp shoping and I'm seriously think about getting the Mesa Boogie M-Pulse 600 head, the guitarist in the band I'm in has played Mesa for 5 years and has not had any trouble and I have always loved the sound and how great they are built, just basicly every thing about them. I just wanted to get everyones thoughts about Mesa Boogie...

Thanks
 
A Mesa Boogie post from a guy with Ampeg is his name? Just kidding.

I can't say anything bad about the M-Pulse 600 other than Mesa stuff is a bit pricey. Personally I like the Ampeg SVT-6PRO a little better, but I have limited experience with both. A huge negative in testing new heads in the store is that they all ship with cheap tubes these days (GT's are cheap Sovteks), so you're often basing a large purchase on something you'd be better off modifying the day you leave the store anyway. My two cents.
 
I have played on a mesa scout combo and I was very supprised by its excellent sound. Then again almost anything sounds good next to my peavy =P
 
I find it overprized and not to good, actually. Ashdown is way better.
 
Just one thought - I wouldn't automatically assume that they make great bass amps just because they make great guitar amps. I suspect they may be very heavy - obviously I go for lightweight amps like Mark Bass (which also have the sound I want, as well as being light)

Like Charmand said - Ashdown amps are really good value - I've got one as a rehearsal/back-up - and some people on this forum reckon they go very well with Warwick basses

Try them all...
 
I only have owned a bass 400+ head & that was a fantastic amp. I didnt play Warwick then,it was the early 80's.There's no question Mesa gear is good quality,like everything else in life you get what you pay for.I'm sure the amps they build today are just as good.I particularly like the M-Pulse 600 & the Big Block 750 & their cabs are built like brick dunnies (strong).That was a pleasant little walk down memory lane. 8)
But on the other hand Warwick build excellent amps,I'm gonna get an X-Treme head & Warwick cabs shortly,my Thumb sounds great through it.Well worth checking out imo.
 
Thanks for the help guys good thing is that I have alot of time to decide on an amp :) so I'm in really no rush, but the thing is that the brands I would consider getting would be Mesa, Eden, SWR, or Ampeg. I have played on all of the those amp brands and they are all good but I'm leaning more twards the Mesa still for just every thing about them. Another question. Is there another good brand out there that I missed out on or that I should try out? Or should I still stay with the M-Pulse 600?

haha sorry I don't think I could see my self playing on an Ashdown...


Thanks

Ben
 
I like the Mesa's personally. I've only played through the 400+ tube monster, so I can't comment on the others. Their cabs are very nice too.
 
I don't really care for the way they sound, and just style I like to play just didn't seem right... :? and a stupid reason that has not much to do with it is that they are just really ugly lol but again thats not a real reason.
 
I used to own a BIG BLOCK 750 and it was a great amp 500 times louder than the Ampeg B4-R that i had prior. I sold it for my EBS FAFNER. Just because I liked the FAFNER more.. Nothing against Messa.

Messa's are Goooood amps. They are one of the only ones that are still FULLY HANDMADE Next to Orange and a few others.


No offense but Ampeg is WAY over-rated. Thier older stuff "was" good but now they just lack Tone. they are just LOUD thats it........
 
ampegbass2005 said:
Is there another good brand out there that I missed out on or that I should try out?
Click to expand...

I dont know what your budget is but,,, Try to get a hold of a EBS head. They are badass. So are Aguilar.

Also give Epifani a whirl too. I just ordered a UL 4x10 and a UL 115 I got to play these and they are the best cabs EVAR!! Light weight and SUPER smooth like getting hit in the chest with a Brick Wrapped in velvet.
 
Ben H8er has an awesome amp in the EBS Fafner,well worth checking out along with the rest of their amps/cabs.Or you might like to try a Phil Jones rig,theyre excellent I hear.
 
Well first I will have to find a dealer but if I do thats in a driveing distance I will check them out, they seem quite popular, and everyone says they are pretty good. Thanks
 
No offense to H8ER 321, but I think it's a mistake to suggest Ampeg is over-rated or lack tone based on the B4R, which is from their solid-state series (and not what they are known for). Love 'em or hate 'em, Ampeg is still the standard in the industry. I wasn't suggesting ampegbass2005 even consider that brand, but his original question is getting missed here because we all tend to want our gear to be the best.
 
EVOLVEBASS said:
No offense to H8ER 321, but I think it's a mistake to suggest Ampeg is over-rated or lack tone based on the B4R, which is from their solid-state series (and not what they are known for). Love 'em or hate 'em, Ampeg is still the standard in the industry. I wasn't suggesting ampegbass2005 even consider that brand, but his original question is getting missed here because we all tend to want our gear to be the best.
Click to expand...

okay maybe you are right i kind of came out swinigin' pretty hard there. But, I am not a fan of a "Gritty" tube sound that is why i didnt buy a ampeg tube head. I like a "warm-n-clear" tube sound. I felt that my B4-r was a little to flat for me but it sure was loud and thats about all that it had going for it IMHO. Plus, It started making this nasty burning smell after 5 months of usage :(. I sent it to Ampeg (I payed for postage) and they said "threre is nothing wrong with it" . I got it back and it dies 2 days before a gig. So, i went to my local dealer and rented a Messa Boggie Big Block 750 and fell in love (for the moment anyway :oops: ).


As for the gear question ampegbass posted i did answer: Personally i think Messa Boggie amps are really good just not my cup of tea anymore :? But their Quality and customer service smashes Ampeg into the ground. I have heard to many horror stories about ampeg besides my own. And that sucks because like i said they used to be the number one amp for all styles of music.


Btw, Nice choice on the Wal Evolve 8)
 
It's all good, H8ER 321. I touched on the "gritty tube" issue in my first post on this thread. Stock tubes typically blow (all puns intended). But I will definitely agree that Ampeg lacks a great deal in customer service.

And thanks (Wal). If I told you about the deal I got you'd punch me in the face...
 
H8ER 321 said:
EVOLVEBASS said:
No offense to H8ER 321, but I think it's a mistake to suggest Ampeg is over-rated or lack tone based on the B4R, which is from their solid-state series (and not what they are known for). Love 'em or hate 'em, Ampeg is still the standard in the industry. I wasn't suggesting ampegbass2005 even consider that brand, but his original question is getting missed here because we all tend to want our gear to be the best.
Click to expand...

okay maybe you are right i kind of came out swinigin' pretty hard there. But, I am not a fan of a "Gritty" tube sound that is why i didnt buy a ampeg tube head. I like a "warm-n-clear" tube sound. I felt that my B4-r was a little to flat for me but it sure was loud and thats about all that it had going for it IMHO. Plus, It started making this nasty burning smell after 5 months of usage :(. I sent it to Ampeg (I payed for postage) and they said "threre is nothing wrong with it" . I got it back and it dies 2 days before a gig. So, i went to my local dealer and rented a Messa Boggie Big Block 750 and fell in love (for the moment anyway :oops: ).


As for the gear question ampegbass posted i did answer: Personally i think Messa Boggie amps are really good just not my cup of tea anymore :? But their Quality and customer service smashes Ampeg into the ground. I have heard to many horror stories about ampeg besides my own. And that sucks because like i said they used to be the number one amp for all styles of music.


Btw, Nice choice on the Wal Evolve 8)
Click to expand...

Man I know exacty what your talking about with the burning smell, I had my amp in the music store getting it "checked up" and the imput fixed, and when I got it back a horible burning smell tortured my nose for the first couple of times I turned it on, then now the case is that when ever we have band practice the smallest of vibrations (a pluck to the cab) will make the amp start spazing out, just sputting and what not, so I have just got tired of dealing with that, which is why I asked about the mesa
 
ampegbass2005 said:
H8ER 321 said:
EVOLVEBASS said:
No offense to H8ER 321, but I think it's a mistake to suggest Ampeg is over-rated or lack tone based on the B4R, which is from their solid-state series (and not what they are known for). Love 'em or hate 'em, Ampeg is still the standard in the industry. I wasn't suggesting ampegbass2005 even consider that brand, but his original question is getting missed here because we all tend to want our gear to be the best.
Click to expand...

okay maybe you are right i kind of came out swinigin' pretty hard there. But, I am not a fan of a "Gritty" tube sound that is why i didnt buy a ampeg tube head. I like a "warm-n-clear" tube sound. I felt that my B4-r was a little to flat for me but it sure was loud and thats about all that it had going for it IMHO. Plus, It started making this nasty burning smell after 5 months of usage :(. I sent it to Ampeg (I payed for postage) and they said "threre is nothing wrong with it" . I got it back and it dies 2 days before a gig. So, i went to my local dealer and rented a Messa Boggie Big Block 750 and fell in love (for the moment anyway :oops: ).


As for the gear question ampegbass posted i did answer: Personally i think Messa Boggie amps are really good just not my cup of tea anymore :? But their Quality and customer service smashes Ampeg into the ground. I have heard to many horror stories about ampeg besides my own. And that sucks because like i said they used to be the number one amp for all styles of music.


Btw, Nice choice on the Wal Evolve 8)
Click to expand...

Man I know exacty what your talking about with the burning smell, I had my amp in the music store getting it "checked up" and the imput fixed, and when I got it back a horible burning smell tortured my nose for the first couple of times I turned it on, then now the case is that when ever we have band practice the smallest of vibrations (a pluck to the cab) will make the amp start spazing out, just sputting and what not, so I have just got tired of dealing with that, which is why I asked about the mesa
Click to expand...


If messa is what you want then go for it. You cant go wrong with them. All this other stuff I have said is just my opinion (as the same with everyone else for that matter). Just try everything you can get your hands on, And read every review you can about what you are looking to get. If you cant find a review then goto Talkbass.com and post a thread about the specific amp you are looking at and see if anyone else has and what they like about it or dislike about it.

btw Is a Giant review database of almost every single bass amp you cant think of and some you cant.

Good luck!
 
EVOLVEBASS said:
It's all good, H8ER 321. I touched on the "gritty tube" issue in my first post on this thread. Stock tubes typically blow (all puns intended). But I will definitely agree that Ampeg lacks a great deal in customer service.

And thanks (Wal). If I told you about the deal I got you'd punch me in the face...
Click to expand...


I dont want to know. :P

I bet she sounds great!
 
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