Mesa Boogie Question

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   Okay, I'm so interested in purchasing a Mesa Boogie amp (Dual Rectifier probably). But I've got some questions.
What's this whole "Transtube" thing... or "tubes" or whatever? What are they? What do they do? How often do they have to be changed? Are they easy to use? Where can I get new ones and for what prices?
Just some general infomation please. I've read hundreds of reviews about MB amps lately and have yet to hear a bad one, but these "tube" things tend to put me off a bit.
Thanks in advance.

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Valarius Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: January 08 2005 Location: Germany Status: Offline Points: 1480	Topic: Mesa Boogie Question Posted: July 03 2005 at 17:46
	Okay, I'm so interested in purchasing a Mesa Boogie amp (Dual Rectifier probably). But I've got some questions. What's this whole "Transtube" thing... or "tubes" or whatever? What are they? What do they do? How often do they have to be changed? Are they easy to use? Where can I get new ones and for what prices? Just some general infomation please. I've read hundreds of reviews about MB amps lately and have yet to hear a bad one, but these "tube" things tend to put me off a bit. Thanks in advance.

GoldenSpiral Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: May 27 2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 3839	Posted: July 05 2005 at 13:36
	Tube guitar amps are widely regarded as the best sound available. It's out-dated technology but the vaccuum tubes produce "better" tone than most modern transistors or "solid-state" amplifiers. New tubes for a mesa boogie should not be hard to find, your local dealer probably has lots of them. there's a recommended period for replacing them but i dont know what it is. ususally, you just replace one if it breaks, and the procedure for that is pretty easy. MB amps, from my experience, give a very tight, refined tone (I believe it's what petrucci uses). So, if you're looking for a tight metal/hard rock sound, its what you want if you have the cash for it. however, if youre looking for a more vintage type of sound, go with a Marshall.
	http://www.myspace.com/altaic ALTAIC "Oceans Down You'll Lie" coming soon

oliverstoned Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: March 26 2004 Location: France Status: Offline Points: 6308	Posted: July 06 2005 at 04:59
	Tubes are as "out-dated" compared to transistor than analog is out-dated compared to numeric. Which means that analog and tubes are by far the best.

MikeEnRegalia Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: April 22 2005 Location: Sweden Status: Offline Points: 21022	Posted: July 06 2005 at 05:11
	If you don't know what "tubes" are, you might want to reconsider your determination to buy a Mesa Boogie amp. They're quite expensive, and if you plan to play in a band, you shouldn't underestimate the weight of these amps and the necessary 4x12 cabinets. My personal recommendation: Vox Tonelab SE. It uses a real tube to simulate a tube amp. Unlike other pre-processors that use a tube to create the distortion, the Vox Tonelab uses digital modelling for all the pre-processor effects and uses the tube to simulate the power amp and it's interaction with the cabinets. The BIG advantage of this device is that you can use it for EVERYTHING. You can practice via headphones, you can connect it to your PC and use it with Cubase etc., you can use it in live situations. It has two pedals, which you can program any way you want. The only limitation that I noticed is that some effect combinations are not possible (e.g. no tube screamer + wah), but it's not really important, because less really is more in that case. You can still combine Any stomp box + Any delay + Any modulation + Any reverb.
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GoldenSpiral Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: May 27 2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 3839	Posted: July 06 2005 at 12:38
	Gonna have to agree with Mike on this one. Mesa's are very unweildy, complicated and large, not to mention expensive. If you're looking to spend that kind of money, go with something crazy digital like that Vox Mike posted about. Versatility is key. I'd only go with a mesa if you've already got a collection of pedals, or if you don't plan on using any. A big mistake I've seen a lot of people make is getting sucked into thinking that having the right gear makes you a good player. Just because you buy an expensive amp doesnt mean you have talent. you have to be able to make it sound good yourself. so, make sure you have the skills if youre gonna spend that kind of cash. otherwise, hit up a used gear place, theres usually something decent there for less.
	http://www.myspace.com/altaic ALTAIC "Oceans Down You'll Lie" coming soon

Petrovsk Mizinski Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Prog Reviewer Joined: December 24 2007 Location: Ukraine Status: Offline Points: 25210	Posted: December 30 2007 at 00:59
	Oh, and Transtube is a reference to a Peavey technology, used in peavy bandit 112s, and XL and XXL series amps. They are all solid state, but the transtube technology is designed to help transistors sound more tube-like, not as good as the real tube though but much better than basic solid state amps.

Petrovsk Mizinski Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Prog Reviewer Joined: December 24 2007 Location: Ukraine Status: Offline Points: 25210	Posted: January 10 2008 at 17:16
	Anyone else outside the US that find the Mesa Boogie amps price range to be somewhat outside the reach of mere mortals?


Atavachron Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: September 30 2006 Location: Pearland Status: Offline Points: 65152	Posted: January 10 2008 at 20:46
	I purchased a MesaBoogie Studio Series amp (I got it used), small and intended mainly for recording but works well in a rehearsal or small live setting ..not what you're looking for I know, but there are options

Petrovsk Mizinski Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Prog Reviewer Joined: December 24 2007 Location: Ukraine Status: Offline Points: 25210	Posted: January 10 2008 at 23:51
	Well, i'm not particularly in the market for a Mesa Boogie (if maybe never), but i have always found i like the Rectifier Series sound for Rhythm guitar, for all that nice thrash metal chug-a-lug type riff and heavy metal riffing in general. But start playing some leads, and i find it a bit harsh and thin. Does anyone else agree with this? Edited by HughesJB4 - January 10 2008 at 23:53


Snipergoat Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: September 22 2007 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 148	Posted: January 11 2008 at 12:34
	I recently got a Vox AC30; and I knew nothing about tubes before I bought it. Now im completely converted I wouldn't want to use a SS or modelling amp again :P

MikeEnRegalia Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: April 22 2005 Location: Sweden Status: Offline Points: 21022	Posted: January 11 2008 at 14:13
	^ How about a Vox modelling amp, like I suggested? The Vox Tonelab offers both AC30 and Mesa Boogie Rectifier sound. And it's not just using digital modelling but also a real tube.
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