Must have gear?

Karl Hungus · 05-01-2005 5:21am

D'oh!

Ah well, it was a nice thought.

feylya · 05-01-2005 5:22am

Mate in England runs a Mark IV American head with a step down transformer...

Karl Hungus · 05-01-2005 5:24am

How much would that cost to get such a transformer?

Assuming not much, and it wouldn't be much hassle to set up, would the Nomad be worth it then?

trippertds · 05-01-2005 7:27am

Aside from the obvious, my must-have effect has to be compression.

It helps with keeping your playing tight and allows you to go from soft picking to frantic strumming without any change in volume. My MXR Supercomp does this well.

Doctor J · 05-01-2005 10:21am

Can be done. Dabhoys Dual Rec was brought back from the states and he got Mark Levin to do the necessary electrical jiggerypokery. I'd say it'd be a bastid on pastage though. In my experience, Mesa heads are exceptionally heavy (and I don't mean tone)

Still, can't hurt to mail Chris and find out how much.

feylya · 05-01-2005 1:55pm

TBH, there's no jiggery pokery needed. Just plug into a step down transformer and plug the transformer into the wall. A transformer should cost about €50 I think.

Doctor J · 05-01-2005 1:57pm

Easier just to get the amp "doctored"

Less to carry around.

feylya · 05-01-2005 2:04pm

Yeah, but Mesa power transformers aren't cheap. Unless they have the funky transformers where you move two wires and it's right...

Doctor J · 05-01-2005 2:10pm

Dabhoys was fairly reasonable to get sorted, IIRC, in the region of €40 including labour, I think he said

feylya · 05-01-2005 2:17pm

That's not bad actually.

Doctor J · 05-01-2005 2:19pm

Indeed. Karl, that idea is a go-er, as far as I'm concerned. Shipping would be the main concern.

feylya · 05-01-2005 2:19pm

I reckon he'd have it for less than a grand...

Doctor J · 05-01-2005 2:28pm

TBH I'm not familiar with that model, what's the rep like?

feylya · 05-01-2005 2:29pm

No idea. I've heard of them but I've never heard one.

Eoin Madsen · 05-01-2005 6:13pm

I got a step down transformer in Dixons for €30 that only handles 50 watts max. A Mesa Nomad 100 will have a much greater power consumption. You might get one in a specialist shop (ie definitely not Peats, Maplin, or Dixons) but it'll cost you quite a few more quid than that, I'd say.

It would seem that mesa don't include a 220-240v tap on their US model power transformers, so the one wire fix is out of the question, unfortunately. Presumably they do it to stop exactly this.

You could probably buy a better power transformer than a stock Mesa to fit the amp. For less than $300, including shipping. I reckon you could sell the US Mesa tranny on ebay for at least $80/90 to make up some of the cost too.

As for the cab, screw that! Buy a 12" Celestion (€120ish for most of them) and €50 of birch plywood in B&Q and make your own.

feylya · 05-01-2005 6:23pm

Ah, cabs aren't that easy to make. It's not just a bolt together job...

Karl Hungus · 05-01-2005 7:37pm

Doctor J wrote:

Indeed. Karl, that idea is a go-er, as far as I'm concerned. Shipping would be the main concern.

Hmm... Sounds good!

I wouldn't mind the €50 odd on the jiggery pokery tbh, everything should work out grand. It really does look like an amazing head altogether, dunno if I'll have the money for it anytime soon, but it could be worth an attempt.

Here's the specs of it, and that converted into euro works out at €2553. So if I got it from Chris at €750, I'd save a mega €1800! Plenty left over for the likes of shipping and electronical jiggery pokery right there.

feylya · 05-01-2005 7:56pm

You're gonna need a hotplate too I reckon.

It wasn't me! · 05-01-2005 7:57pm

:eek: 1800?! You'd be well on your way to getting your custom guitar with the money you'd have saved! Is this another possible avenue? I was looking at that head a while back and thinking a Mesa head for 750 couldn't be a bad deal but I never looked further into it.

feylya · 05-01-2005 7:59pm

There's better amps imo.

Karl Hungus · 05-01-2005 7:59pm

It wasn't me! wrote:

:eek: 1800?! You'd be well on your way to getting your custom guitar with the money you'd have saved! Is this another possible avenue? I was looking at that head a while back and thinking a Mesa head for 750 couldn't be a bad deal but I never looked further into it.

HANDS OFF! IT'S MINE!!!

But yes, with the amount saved, ****ing hell I'd be well sorted for the new guitar.

John · 05-01-2005 8:00pm

That and the stealth 7 string would be a very nice combination

It wasn't me! · 05-01-2005 8:24pm

Heh. To get 750 bob I'd have to flog my guitar, which would kind of negate the point of buying an amp.

feylya · 05-01-2005 8:25pm

To get €750, I'd have to flog my computer and a guitar. Or my G&L 5 string and another guitar probably.

HusseinSarhan · 05-01-2005 9:54pm

Mesa Boogie Nomad 45 Combo

Chris says:

"Incredible and an absolutely killer combo with more tone options than anything else out there plus Boogie quality to hold up on the road or studio. 45 watts Dyna Power via a quad of EL84’s with five 12AX7’s in the preamp, THREE FULLY-INDPENDENT channels (full separate control knobs for each) plus a Solo function, spring reverb, too many features to list here but read all about it at Boogie’s Site. Includes factory tag, manual, and floorboard, and dead mint condition..."

Costs only €565 (no shipping although I'd say it would work out around 600 eurp in total...maybe less) and is a much better choice than the Nomad 100. Well, thats unless you play at ridiculously large venues on a regular basis, have the ability to turn it up as loud as is needed to get things going in the power amp section or desire MILES of clean headroom. The Nomad 100 is a live stage tool really, for the pros. The Nomad 45 is much more rewarding for the non-stadium playing musician. Its really funny when people buy Marshall JCM 900's and keep the master at 2 or something! Its really funny when people buy JCM 900's anyway! 45Watts is too loud for most usues anyway so you may consider a Hotplate with this too. Its still a great buy though. Forget the Nomad 100 head in my opinion.

And cabs are essential to good tone. I would really reccomend that you do not make your own!

Eoin Madsen · 06-01-2005 12:40am

feylya wrote:

Ah, cabs aren't that easy to make. It's not just a bolt together job...

A friend of mine made one, it took him two or three Saturday afternoons. If you have the dimensions of a working cab you want to copy it's fairly straight forward - assuming you have any amount of wood working skill at all, and a few of the right tools. You may have to use butt joints rather than anything flashier but this doesn't greatly impact on the sound or sturdiness of the cab. If you closely examine the craftsmanship and materials of any cheap cab you own (and €500 is cheap) you'll be disappointed.

HusseinSarhan · 06-01-2005 12:50am

Eoin Madsen wrote:

A friend of mine made one, it took him two or three Saturday afternoons. If you have the dimensions of a working cab you want to copy it's fairly straight forward - assuming you have any amount of wood working skill at all, and a few of the right tools. You may have to use butt joints rather than anything flashier but this doesn't greatly impact on the sound or sturdiness of the cab. If you closely examine the craftsmanship and materials of any cheap cab you own (and €500 is cheap) you'll be disappointed.

In my opinion cabs make a huge difference to tone. I wouldnt bother comprimising materials on something that could make or break an amp. But you are right, most cabs are ****, even the €500 ones. Brands like Toneking, THD and Matamp really put effort into their cab design... and it shows.

feylya · 06-01-2005 1:32am

What about Behringer cabs? €250 for a 4x12 with Jensens...

ferdi · 06-01-2005 2:59am

i use no pedals but i would like to own the following two pedals

http://www.zzounds.com/item--AKASB1

and

http://www.samedaymusic.com/product--DAVEHBM

Karl Hungus · 06-01-2005 4:56am

HusseinSarhan wrote:

Mesa Boogie Nomad 45 Combo

Chris says:

"Incredible and an absolutely killer combo with more tone options than anything else out there plus Boogie quality to hold up on the road or studio. 45 watts Dyna Power via a quad of EL84’s with five 12AX7’s in the preamp, THREE FULLY-INDPENDENT channels (full separate control knobs for each) plus a Solo function, spring reverb, too many features to list here but read all about it at Boogie’s Site. Includes factory tag, manual, and floorboard, and dead mint condition..."

Costs only €565 (no shipping although I'd say it would work out around 600 eurp in total...maybe less) and is a much better choice than the Nomad 100. Well, thats unless you play at ridiculously large venues on a regular basis, have the ability to turn it up as loud as is needed to get things going in the power amp section or desire MILES of clean headroom. The Nomad 100 is a live stage tool really, for the pros. The Nomad 45 is much more rewarding for the non-stadium playing musician. Its really funny when people buy Marshall JCM 900's and keep the master at 2 or something! Its really funny when people buy JCM 900's anyway! 45Watts is too loud for most usues anyway so you may consider a Hotplate with this too. Its still a great buy though. Forget the Nomad 100 head in my opinion.

And cabs are essential to good tone. I would really reccomend that you do not make your own!

That's an absolute excellent option Hussein!

The only thing holding me back is the overall versatility of a head. I mean, the way I see it, I can plug a decent head like the nomad into any cab, be it a 1x12 or a 4x12 or a 2x12 and a 2x10 or if I'm ever rich a few 4x12s!? The possibilities are infinite!

Obviously I'm not 100% sure on this, and all things are an option, but the thought of a head of such quality makes me weep at the thought!! Imagine if I got that, the custom built stealth, and a nice 4x12! The sounds, oh my! It would be phenominal!!!

Must have gear?

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