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Hello!
What do think about the Mesa 20/20 Poweramp and the Rocktron Piranha Preamp?
Thanks!!!
What do think about the Mesa 20/20 Poweramp and the Rocktron Piranha Preamp?
Thanks!!!
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Re: Mesa 20/20 and Rocktron Piranha
I'm not sure about the Rocktron Piranha I've never used one but I love the 20/20 it has enough power to play small to medium clubs and you can saturate the tubes without having to wear ear plugs. It gets a very sweet melodic tone and can get quite rough and agressive when called for. Mine is preamped by an MP-1 and ART sgx, gets great sound from either or both.
I've seen posts on here on the Rocktron so I'm sure you'll be gettin' more feedback soon.
The 20/20 sounds good at lower volumes as well [img]graemlins/band.gif[/img] -
Re: Mesa 20/20 and Rocktron Piranha
I've had a Piranha before, and I've had a 20/20 for years.
Depending on the sound you're looking for, you may have to get some extra rack gear in order to get the Piranha to where you want it. It sounded a lot like a high-revving Marshall JMP-1 (straight Marshall amp sound) to me. Since that sound by itself doesn't scream "thrash metal" to me, neither the JMP-1 nor the Piranha did it for me. Like a lot of preamps by themselves (and a lot of amps to me) they were just kinda blah in sound, and their "feel" wasn't that great to me.
Now--important note--I wouldn't mind trying either of these units out again, now, a few years later, because my rack setup is more sophistocated. Sometimes, with rack gear, the difference between not liking, liking, or loving a unit can come down to one more add-on piece of gear.
The Mesa 20/20 has a great EL84 sound and feel. It's got a good thick, heavy sound, and that DynaWatt feature kicks in a really nice low-end punch to the sound. I play at home, and relatively low volumes, but the 20/20 can get very loud, and it's known to be used in clubs with no problem. Last I'd heard, there's a "big name" or two out there using one in their small-gig rack. The 20/20 has great, sensitive feel to the playing, to me. I've also got a VHT 2/50/5 (uses EL34/6L6 tubes), and I ended up plunking down an extra $200 on the VHT on some THD Yellow Jackets tube socket converters that convert EL34/6L6 sockets to EL84. All in an attempt to get the VHT to feel a little more like the Mesa 20/20. With VHT's reputation among many as the top dog on power amps, that's saying a lot. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]
StuComment
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Re: Mesa 20/20 and Rocktron Piranha
I use a 20/20 in my rack with Rocktron Pirhana and Chameleon Online preamps, going through a Marshall 1936 2X12 cab. Both preamps sound great through the 20/20. The Pirahna gets great clean tones and Marshall-esque distortion.Comment
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Re: Mesa 20/20 and Rocktron Piranha
Are you the same Jeff Ho that built surfboards and formed the Zephyr Skateboard Team in the 70s??!Comment
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Re: Mesa 20/20 and Rocktron Piranha
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">[img]graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] Nope, that was a little before my time [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]Originally posted by Boxcar Willie 84:
Are you the same Jeff Ho that built surfboards and formed the Zephyr Skateboard Team in the 70s??!Comment
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Re: Mesa 20/20 and Rocktron Piranha
I use the piranha with a 50/50,I think it's a great metal preamp.With the sweepable mids you can get several tones,in this period I achived to get a sepulturish Arise sound [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]
It's a great preamp for the price you pay it imho.
The only thing I don't like about it is that it lacks a bit of dynamic...Comment
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Re: Mesa 20/20 and Rocktron Piranha
What's the diff between Piranha and Chameleon?
Mesa is a perfect poweramp for me!
I use a fifty with ada mp-1 and it can take me almost anywhere i want!Comment
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Re: Mesa 20/20 and Rocktron Piranha
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Piranha is a preamp only, the Chameleon has onboard effects. Basically.Originally posted by 11miles:
What's the diff between Piranha and Chameleon?
Mesa is a perfect poweramp for me!
I use a fifty with ada mp-1 and it can take me almost anywhere i want!
The Piranha is a cool preamp - you can get almost any tone you like - like Mordor said, the sweepable mid freq. makes it VERY versatile so that you can get many different sounds - from Mesa to Marshall, to Fender. AND it's pretty simple to use - you'll be tweaking for days! [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]Comment
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Re: Mesa 20/20 and Rocktron Piranha
20/20 user here. I have a drummer who won't admit it but he tends to be a bit loud and the 20/20 would have no problem overpowering him. It is a welcome change from the Marshall 9005 I used to use since it is about 30 pounds lighter, only 1 rack space, and doesn't have to shatter windows and blow speakers to saturate. Matt has been a happy camper with his 20/20.
MattComment
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Re: Mesa 20/20 and Rocktron Piranha
The Piranha is a TUBE-BASED preamp-only unit, while the Chameleon I belive has always been a NON-TUBE preamp/effects unit.
StuComment
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