Ok here I bow thy head in shame. The JP-2C is fine.

[LP Freak]

Is it on the 90w setting?

 

[psychodave]

Green rated power tubes is the hottest I go on Mark series amps. I had the same problem with OP talks about with my dual and triple (Version F) rectos. Once you turned it up loud it would compress out and sound like like shit. I’ve never had this problem with Mark series amps.

 

[maddnotez]

I have lowered the GEQ when I turn up but I can’t Lower the Treble because then it loses even more gain.

I’m using a Mills 212 with Eminence Legends, I will being trying my V30 412 tomorrow but other amps don’t do this with the 212.

I’ve tested both 100w and 60w settings.

Gain is pulled and high at like 4:00-5:00
PRES pushed and 1:00 or so
Treble 1:00
Mids 10:00-11:00
Bass zero
GEQ -V

Shred on

I have tested with different OD’s but not too much at high volume.

Does anyone know the definitions for all of the tube colors?

 

[GJgo]

Check out my JP vids in my link below compared to the settings I'm using.

I'm thinking you might want to call Rich & send it in, after you're ruled a bad tube out.

Copied from other threads-

"I need an education on Mesas power tube color code system. From what I understand they rate from coldest to warmest in this order......

Red
Yellow
Green
Gray
Blue
White

So if I'm understanding this correctly, Red would give the most clean headroom while White would break up sooner. Which brings me to the question....will White bring up the bias and warm up the tone? Or does it just apply to headroom only?

The Reds and Yellows are so cold they may only draw between 15-20ma in a DR or any other 4 6L6 Mesa at -52V. The Green to White have higher natural plate current and draw more bias. They incrementally go up by a few MA's until you get to White. Even the white labels will usually only get you to 50-60 % MPD. More or less, they are safe to run in any Mesa. The only difference you will have to be careful is in Simul-Class amps. Both 6L6's and EL-34's above green may run too hot and wear quickly and die, or poof out. I have basically tried every Mesa color code with a Bias meter to see how they draw out."

 

[Vin Diezel]

Gain fully clockwise??? On a hi gain amp? Really?

 

[GJgo]

That works OK at low volume though it compresses it. As the volume goes up you have to roll off the gain, maybe the treble, maybe the presence, and the outside sliders on the GEQ.

 

[Vin Diezel]

I do not play Mesa, but neither on the Diezels nor on the 6505 have I ever turned the gain past 2 or 3 o'clock.
Seems to be a strange amp.

 

[GJgo]

Rectifiers are the same way, gain over 2 or 3 is bad.

Marks however can take it all. For a really compressed sound I can dime the gain & the treble. Whether you want to is another question. Only thing they can't take is any bass knob along with gain.

 

[Candiria]

I do not play Mesa, but neither on the Diezels nor on the 6505 have I ever turned the gain past 2 or 3 o'clock.
Seems to be a strange amp.

6505's and my Herbert have too much gain, Mesa Marks don't. Still that is a very high setting with the shred engaged and the gain pot pulled.

 

[GJgo]

Yeah with Shred engaged I'd roll the gain or the treble back to about 1 or 2 max.

 

[Candiria]

I have lowered the GEQ when I turn up but I can’t Lower the Treble because then it loses even more gain.

I’m using a Mills 212 with Eminence Legends, I will being trying my V30 412 tomorrow but other amps don’t do this with the 212.

I’ve tested both 100w and 60w settings.

Gain is pulled and high at like 4:00-5:00
PRES pushed and 1:00 or so
Treble 1:00
Mids 10:00-11:00
Bass zero
GEQ -V

Shred on

I have tested with different OD’s but not too much at high volume.

Does anyone know the definitions for all of the tube colors?

So the gain is going to dump bass into the signal, try lowering it to 2:00 then upping your treble for more gain and offsetting with the presence and GEQ, and add a tiny amount of bass. Maybe add a little mids back with the GEQ, just a small adjustment of the 750.

The other thing is that Marks are not super saturated gain monsters so you might be trying to get something out of it that isn't there, but from what you're describing and the fact that you have pretty normal settings outside of the gain, it sounds like it might be best to return it and grab another one.

 

[Metal1977]

If it sounds killer at 10:00 and at 12:00 it sounds like shit, it's power amp saturation (clipping). No matter what settings he's gonna have, it will sound bad.

I noticed that most of you guys have (green) code power tubes in it and he has (blue).

He plays with a 2x12 cab so he has to crank the amp louder with power tubes that are breaking up early. If the chart we have is accurate i think it explains everything, no?

 

[psychodave]

Check out my JP vids in my link below compared to the settings I'm using.

I'm thinking you might want to call Rich & send it in, after you're ruled a bad tube out.

Copied from other threads-

"I need an education on Mesas power tube color code system. From what I understand they rate from coldest to warmest in this order......

Red
Yellow
Green
Gray
Blue
White

So if I'm understanding this correctly, Red would give the most clean headroom while White would break up sooner. Which brings me to the question....will White bring up the bias and warm up the tone? Or does it just apply to headroom only?

The Reds and Yellows are so cold they may only draw between 15-20ma in a DR or any other 4 6L6 Mesa at -52V. The Green to White have higher natural plate current and draw more bias. They incrementally go up by a few MA's until you get to White. Even the white labels will usually only get you to 50-60 % MPD. More or less, they are safe to run in any Mesa. The only difference you will have to be careful is in Simul-Class amps. Both 6L6's and EL-34's above green may run too hot and wear quickly and die, or poof out. I have basically tried every Mesa color code with a Bias meter to see how they draw out."

The mA draw between colors is around 5-10 mA. At least in my experience. I run green Sylvania 415’s in my 2C++.

 

[maddnotez]

Some good replies here thanks!!

So yeah, that’s a lot of gain lol. I’ve never had a Mesa, I have a Rev 2 Uber and the gain stays at 11:30-12:00 with a boost.

The only reason the mesas is basically maxed is due to the issues in the OP. I’ll try to lower the gain and try to make up with the other dials. Thanks GJ

I don’t get to fire it up often at the house but I will check it out more and call Mesa about the tubes. With my scenario I want to go for Red lol....but I’ll see about the Green and also again, I’ll
Try the 4x12 soon.

@ Candiria, you may be right. Maybe I just want it to be a gain monster and it isn’t.

I’m feeling better about it now after playing with the ISP sub and hearing it with a bassist. Sits much better now but still seems like something could be off.

Between calling Mesa, talking tubes, trying more settings and a 4x12 I have some things to work with here. Want to do everything I can before a return.

Normally I’d just say screw it and return but the sound at low volume is so good, I really want it to work.

 

[NinjaRaf]

I agree with Metal1977. Seems like you need some higher headroom tubes, apparently.

Also, don't let the gain people scare you off. I run my treble, gain, and lead drive controls on my IV all at 8 on the dial. I love gain. And it sounds great in my studio room at night time friendly levels, and in my band room and literal ear pain levels.

 

[Wizard of Ozz]

Reading back over this thread really makes me think something is up with the amp itself.

The JP2C is a GAIN MONSTER at all volumes. Yes, you need to back off the gain at higher levels, say over the 12:00 mark... but the tone should still hold up and be really tight and cutting... with tons and tons of gain. Almost too much dare I say. I rarely use the shred option just for that reason... the gain becomes almost uncontrollable... which is still really cool sounding. My JP2C has a boatload more preamp gain than my 2016 Bogner Uber Blue for reference.

The volume taper is really gradual and comes on slow at first, then quickly thereafter so that maybe something to think about. But after swapping tubes, if your are still not happy... return it for a new factory sealed unit. Sweetwater ships FedEx Ground and believe it or not I don't have the best luck with them and shipping amps. They like power-bombing amps on their side and hard... instead of laying them flat down.

 

[maddnotez]

Reading back over this thread really makes me think something is up with the amp itself.

The JP2C is a GAIN MONSTER at all volumes. Yes, you need to back off the gain at higher levels, say over the 12:00 mark... but the tone should still hold up and be really tight and cutting... with tons and tons of gain. Almost too much dare I say. I rarely use the shred option just for that reason... the gain becomes almost uncontrollable... which is still really cool sounding. My JP2C has a boatload more preamp gain than my 2016 Bogner Uber Blue for reference.

The volume taper is really gradual and comes on slow at first, then quickly thereafter so that maybe something to think about. But after swapping tubes, if your are still not happy... return it for a new factory sealed unit. Sweetwater ships FedEx Ground and believe it or not I don't have the best luck with them and shipping amps. They like power-bombing amps on their side and hard... instead of laying them flat down.

Yeah that is what scares me. I have had several owners say that it is in fact a gain monster. Mine is not, there is gain but it is not even close to being "uncontrollable". It is more like "just enough" or BARELY enough gain. I am like rbasaria in the sense that I like gain.

My Uber's gain sits at noon with a hefty boost in front if that tells you anything.

Here is a clip of my Mesa in the room in a band mix through a tascam recorder. Sounds great yes, but keep in mind the volume is at noon and I have posted my settings already I think. Gain almost fully dimed.

Sounds good sure but I would like more volume. Any louder than this is where I start losing my gain/tone/saturation/all the goodness.

https://soundcloud.com/user-644394048/a ... jacob-1-20


I will however try again and lower the gain when I turn up. Maybe it is as simple as a settings and Tube issue. I hope it is because the amp sounds killer.

Also I have been trying Mesa since they opened. I assume they simply do not answer their phone. Ended up leaving a message and waiting for a call back.

 

[mrhiwatt]

Reduce gain as you increase volume and turn shred off . Imho it helps at low volume and is over the top when real loud. In the mesa world lower bass as gain goes up. I always am around 1 out of 10. Triple and miss add gain in mesa tone stack.

 

[maddnotez]

Reduce gain as you increase volume and turn shred off . Imho it helps at low volume and is over the top when real loud. In the mesa world lower bass as gain goes up. I always am around 1 out of 10. Triple and miss add gain in mesa tone stack.

Hmm I see you have the JP2C as well.

Do you find the same like I said in my OP?

Example, if I were to NOT lower the gain as I turn up, does the amp become very thick sounding and lose the gain and saturation?

 

[mrhiwatt]

I have not noticed what your are experiencing just that it sounds better at lower gain. I play priest savatage etc on Channel 2 my gain is at 1:00 and it has great metal crunch tone. Lead channel I have gain to 3:00 nice thick.
I think treble is noon mids 10 bass between 0 and #1 1 1/2. Presence i change for different tune but is pulled and goes between 10:00 and 2:00 Eq is the petrucci v

Remember in Mesa mark series noon on mids is comparable to wide open on Marshall. Any mid higher than noon is a mid and gain boost.

This has been working for me.

MrHiwatt