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BGRA: Mesa Boogie 400+
| Manufacturer |
Mesa Boogie |
Model |
400+ |
| Reviewer |
Martin |
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| Experience |
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Item owned |
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| Review Date |
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Price paid |
£ 1,800 |
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Dimensions | 3 Unit in rack |
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Wattage | 300 W RMS @ 8ohm (performs down to 2ohm) |
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Speaker(s) | none |
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Effects | 2 x loop (1 in front & 1 in back) |
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Controls | "Bright switch" on input volume 1 & 2 |
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Other | 400Ohm balanced out (XLR) |
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I use this amp with 2 modified SWR 4x10 cabinets on which the port in
the back has been extended in order to tune the cabinets frequency
down for inprowed low H string sound. I rarely use more than 1 of the
cabinets, and the amp have never been turned up more than to about 50%
of its power. With the bass,middle and treble set at 12o'clock you
will get a wery even sound which brings out a warmer version of what
your bass sounds like when recording DI whithout compressors or
filters. The graphic EQ i have found useful for removing rumble at
different locations. The main difference from transistor amps is that
on a 400+ you got loads of backup power - this is easily heard when
you hit the strings really hard - it just gets louder, as opposed to
an transistor amp where it gets compressed. On the negative side -
the amp is to heavy to carry with one arm for more than 100 yards, so
hide it between the drummers gear. Also be prepaired for expensive
retubing, as the amp has no less than 12 6L6 mesa tubes. They drive in
parallel - so always have at least 2 spare in your gig bag. I have on
occations playd with only 4 tubes working, and the amp didn't seem to
like it.
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| construction |
 | (100%) |
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| clarity |
| (80%) |
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| value |
| (70%) |
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| overall |
| (96%) |
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