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xtremcondition « Good but not worth its price »
Published on 08/16/10 at 09:57
Best value:
Poor
Tube amp 100 watts, 3 channels.
Presence settings, volume, gain and equalization of the 3 independent channels.
A master volume control and a solo.
Channel 1 (clean): Clean or Pushed setting.
Channels 2 and 3: Setting Raw, vintage and modern.
There is the possibility of connecting different configurations of speakers, 16 ohms, 8 ohms and 4 ohms
Adjustable parallel effects loop.
Opportunity to use the power amp mode "spongy" (in power) or "bold" (normal) and use the mode "vacuum tubes" (lamps rectifier) or the "silicon diodes (transistors) .
UTILIZATION
The general configuration is not very different from other amps (except the latest features above), so a relatively fast handling.
The look is great with the front metal beautifully.
Finish the whole head, pedals and cabinet is very clean, the materials used seem good quality with a flat on the wood of the cabinet who seems a bit low and that makes me think of my old Marshall cabinet oven mode.
Delivery with the covers is a very good idea and the quality of these is reasonable.
The manual is of course in English, but findable on the net in French. It is quite bulky but gives me the impression of being a VRP brand rather than a real tool for the user.
Regarding the sound settings on the clean channel no worries, it quickly finds what you seek. on the other hand, on channels 2 and 3, things get complicated and of course this is not facilitated by the different configurations: spongy, bold, vacuum tubes, silicon diodes ... And lack of real explanations of instructions does not fix the situation.
A point is strangely little or not at all mentioned in the notice is the presence of a snap when changing channels. After returning to the dealer several requests for support by including a letter directly to the importer, and countless spats, provides the only answer is: "it conforms to the specifications of the manufacturer"
I put the score of 7 because I think at this level and above price range this kind of problem is unacceptable.
SOUNDS
I find the amp relatively versatile although his favorite is of course the rock in all its forms. Personally, I use it primarily in this style even if I use regularly in totally different styles and varied.
Power level, there are more than reason, but it at least has the advantage of being calm under all circumstances.
His side, the clean channel as I said before is not a particular problem and the resulting sounds are good.
on the other hand, on the other two channels and despite hours and hours playing it and trying to solve them, the sound quality is not achieved at the height of what I wanted from an amp in this range prices. Not that the sound is not good or lack of fishing but it is most difficult to avoid the impression of either boiled serious you jump to the face or those screaming highs that you pluck the ears. The sound is too mushy for me and in dire need of clarification.
I disagree with some opinions, which specified that it could come from the cabinet, guitar and / or microphones "for being low-end" in my case, I use the mesa 4x12 cabinet with V30 in an ESP Lag Arkane horizon and a custom shop master both in emg 81 and 89 and an Ibanez prestige and Lag Metal master both equipped with Seymour and Di Marzio, so the material can not be incriminated.
To solve this defect because to me it is really a fault of the amp and after making the rounds on the net and possible changes made by some users of a correction, I went NOS (Name of sound) in Ales for editing: editing of the preamp section with changing lights, and editing bass and treble. There remains the possibility of changing the power tubes and replace the original ones by Sovtek (much better than Mesa) by including a new bias adjustment, but for reasons of economy they will be changed when these origins are tired.
The changes, which quotes do not cost more than a good effects pedal (thank you NOS) are worth visiting, my mesa finally sounds like it would have sounded: its precise and more dynamic than before.
Having been able to try my amp on a modified baffle NOS (V30 4x12 in), I can tell you he has a big difference in sound quality for this speaker compared to my Mesa cabinet.
I put a score of 7, not only in absolute terms the sound is bad, but it is not normal to have to do touch up after such an investment starting point for almost € 4 000 list price.
OVERALL OPINION
So it's a year since I use between 1 and 2 hours per day which must be added in group rehearsals, I waited before putting a review to make it as objective as possible and it appears from no euphoria of purchase.
I love this amp, its look is really beautiful and after the changes made, I find its really up to it.
Yet I would not advise buying this amp nine because I think the price is no justification: components not so upscale that it aside and "hand made" so touted by the mark, I still looking (presence PCB ...), the VAS is not up either (two months to get the amp).
Now that I know by heart the mesa, I think its price is prohibitive given that the material provided and it is not up to other brands like Brunetti, NOS and company.
Is what I would do this new purchase without hesitation I say no. I will turn instead to an undeniably NOS has many advantages: it can be done to map the components are the most finely crafted there is no presence of components "cheap" on the inside, it rings of god of fire, you will save money and in addition he is French.
on the other hand, if you have the opportunity to acquire a dual corrected at a good price do not hesitate, you will be more than satisfied.
So I would put an overall score of 7.
Presence settings, volume, gain and equalization of the 3 independent channels.
A master volume control and a solo.
Channel 1 (clean): Clean or Pushed setting.
Channels 2 and 3: Setting Raw, vintage and modern.
There is the possibility of connecting different configurations of speakers, 16 ohms, 8 ohms and 4 ohms
Adjustable parallel effects loop.
Opportunity to use the power amp mode "spongy" (in power) or "bold" (normal) and use the mode "vacuum tubes" (lamps rectifier) or the "silicon diodes (transistors) .
UTILIZATION
The general configuration is not very different from other amps (except the latest features above), so a relatively fast handling.
The look is great with the front metal beautifully.
Finish the whole head, pedals and cabinet is very clean, the materials used seem good quality with a flat on the wood of the cabinet who seems a bit low and that makes me think of my old Marshall cabinet oven mode.
Delivery with the covers is a very good idea and the quality of these is reasonable.
The manual is of course in English, but findable on the net in French. It is quite bulky but gives me the impression of being a VRP brand rather than a real tool for the user.
Regarding the sound settings on the clean channel no worries, it quickly finds what you seek. on the other hand, on channels 2 and 3, things get complicated and of course this is not facilitated by the different configurations: spongy, bold, vacuum tubes, silicon diodes ... And lack of real explanations of instructions does not fix the situation.
A point is strangely little or not at all mentioned in the notice is the presence of a snap when changing channels. After returning to the dealer several requests for support by including a letter directly to the importer, and countless spats, provides the only answer is: "it conforms to the specifications of the manufacturer"
I put the score of 7 because I think at this level and above price range this kind of problem is unacceptable.
SOUNDS
I find the amp relatively versatile although his favorite is of course the rock in all its forms. Personally, I use it primarily in this style even if I use regularly in totally different styles and varied.
Power level, there are more than reason, but it at least has the advantage of being calm under all circumstances.
His side, the clean channel as I said before is not a particular problem and the resulting sounds are good.
on the other hand, on the other two channels and despite hours and hours playing it and trying to solve them, the sound quality is not achieved at the height of what I wanted from an amp in this range prices. Not that the sound is not good or lack of fishing but it is most difficult to avoid the impression of either boiled serious you jump to the face or those screaming highs that you pluck the ears. The sound is too mushy for me and in dire need of clarification.
I disagree with some opinions, which specified that it could come from the cabinet, guitar and / or microphones "for being low-end" in my case, I use the mesa 4x12 cabinet with V30 in an ESP Lag Arkane horizon and a custom shop master both in emg 81 and 89 and an Ibanez prestige and Lag Metal master both equipped with Seymour and Di Marzio, so the material can not be incriminated.
To solve this defect because to me it is really a fault of the amp and after making the rounds on the net and possible changes made by some users of a correction, I went NOS (Name of sound) in Ales for editing: editing of the preamp section with changing lights, and editing bass and treble. There remains the possibility of changing the power tubes and replace the original ones by Sovtek (much better than Mesa) by including a new bias adjustment, but for reasons of economy they will be changed when these origins are tired.
The changes, which quotes do not cost more than a good effects pedal (thank you NOS) are worth visiting, my mesa finally sounds like it would have sounded: its precise and more dynamic than before.
Having been able to try my amp on a modified baffle NOS (V30 4x12 in), I can tell you he has a big difference in sound quality for this speaker compared to my Mesa cabinet.
I put a score of 7, not only in absolute terms the sound is bad, but it is not normal to have to do touch up after such an investment starting point for almost € 4 000 list price.
OVERALL OPINION
So it's a year since I use between 1 and 2 hours per day which must be added in group rehearsals, I waited before putting a review to make it as objective as possible and it appears from no euphoria of purchase.
I love this amp, its look is really beautiful and after the changes made, I find its really up to it.
Yet I would not advise buying this amp nine because I think the price is no justification: components not so upscale that it aside and "hand made" so touted by the mark, I still looking (presence PCB ...), the VAS is not up either (two months to get the amp).
Now that I know by heart the mesa, I think its price is prohibitive given that the material provided and it is not up to other brands like Brunetti, NOS and company.
Is what I would do this new purchase without hesitation I say no. I will turn instead to an undeniably NOS has many advantages: it can be done to map the components are the most finely crafted there is no presence of components "cheap" on the inside, it rings of god of fire, you will save money and in addition he is French.
on the other hand, if you have the opportunity to acquire a dual corrected at a good price do not hesitate, you will be more than satisfied.
So I would put an overall score of 7.