mesa boogie...

[Hetfield]

ok.....i just saw a mesa dual rectifier...yesterday for $900.00


will this get a zakk wylde sound...without pedals...and even at high volumes?

[jgcable]

Re: mesa boogie...

No it won't. I have one. I also have a triple in my basement that is a friend of mines. Neither will get the Zack Wylde sound. Not even close. Not even remotely close. Not even in the same ballpark. I think you need a Marshall and a DS1 or maybe a SD1. A Les Paul with super heavies on it and EMG's will help the cause too.

[Misanthrope189]

Re: mesa boogie...

yeah...I think Zakk's massive arsenal of JCM 800s will rule out the Boogie's chance of matching the tone. Plus, his own fingers, very heavy strings, and the EMGs...and I think the Mesa is incompatible with the tubes that are possible in the Marshalls...the 5881s and such...or is it 6 something...the Boogie is 6L6 and El34 only.

Cheers,
Nick

[taxistationary]

Re: mesa boogie...

Well, tube wise, i've read that Zakk uses 6550's, and if a Mesa can take EL-34's, then it can be re-biased to take 6500's. But i also agree that just for starters, to get Zakk's heavey tone, you'll need a JCM with EMG's.

[Misanthrope189]

Re: mesa boogie...

Yup, 6550's, that's what I was thinking of, and thanks, John, I didn't know you could rebias EL-34s for 6550's.

Cheers,
Nick

[Chuckracer]

Re: mesa boogie...

Only if your transformers can dish out the wattage.
EL34s are a 25 watt tube, as are most 6L6s. 5881s are a 30 watt tube.
6550s are a 35 watt tube. They are monsters.

[Misanthrope189]

Re: mesa boogie...

Ahh, monster wattage...hehe.

[img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img]

My ears!

[taxistationary]

Re: mesa boogie...

i want them (6550) for my metaltronix....i can't wait until christmas [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[Somnuszoth]

Re: mesa boogie...

6550s are also insanely loud.....they bark....use an 800 and at least a guitar with emgs in it with the sd1 to even come close to zakks sound.....

[markD]

Re: mesa boogie...

I'm jamming out right now with my new (to me) modded JCM 800 2204 head pumping through a Rivera 4x12 loaded with EVM speakers and the sound is thick and rich, just like Zakk's. My Marshall has EL-34Ls, and with the EVM speakers, my tone settings are just: 2 all the way across...it's pretty cool. I didn't even want that sound. My Rivera M-100's don't get that sound through the same cabinet...but, the JCM sounds like total ass through a celestion loaded cab. I think it must be the EV speakers...oh well, just thought I'd share.

[Wizard of Ozz]

Re: mesa boogie...

Originally posted by john:
Well, tube wise, i've read that Zakk uses 6550's, and if a Mesa can take EL-34's, then it can be re-biased to take 6500's. But i also agree that just for starters, to get Zakk's heavey tone, you'll need a JCM with EMG's.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">The only problem with that is Mesa's don't have bias pots. [img]images/icons/tongue.gif[/img]

Mesa's are fixed bias amps, so you'd first need to install a bias pot, then you would need to change the value of the bias resistors in order for you to use 6550s with the proper bias setting.

BTW Your best bet for the current Zakk Wylde tone is a JCM800 2203 loaded with 6550s. I think his best tone is on the "No More Tears" album, on which he used a JCM800 with EL34s (not 6550s).

[Misanthrope189]

Re: mesa boogie...

Yeah, it is a "huge" tone, but it's almost too hair metal-like for my tastes...

[Twisteramps]

Re: mesa boogie...

Originally posted by Chuckracer:
Only if your transformers can dish out the wattage.
EL34s are a 25 watt tube, as are most 6L6s. 5881s are a 30 watt tube.
6550s are a 35 watt tube. They are monsters.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">a 'true' 5881/6L6GA or GB - 25 watts
6L6GC/some modern 5881s/EL34s - 30 watts
E34Ls - 36 watts
6550/KT88s - 42 watts *!*

Pete

[toejam]

Re: mesa boogie...

Just curious since I'm new to tube amps... how many watts are EL84s? My 30-watt Mesa F-30 has two of them with four 12AX7 preamp tubes.

[Hotrod]

Re: mesa boogie...

And also to get Zakks' tone, you would need his fingers...... [img]graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]
Not to get into a whole "the amp makes no difference at all" thing (because it does), but IMHO, the individual has a lot to do with the sound. By the same token, you could get his identical setup, but *may* never sound like him. Maybe not even remotely close. Try out the Mesa if you get a chance and decide for yourself. Just because someone else couldn't get a certain tone out of an amp, doesn't mean you could or couldn't. Try one and then try the Marshall/distortion pedal.
FWIW, I would buy the theory more if he (Zakk) wasn't slamming his front end with a pedal. Yes a Marshal sounds different than a Mesa, but add shit in front and it's different still.
My .02 cents. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img] Good luck.