Ok---Mesa Power amp or VHT/Fryette or anything else HELP!

  • Thread starter Thread starter Mrevol
  • Start date Start date
I dig my 2:100 a lot. If I ever buy another power amp, it will likely be a Fryette (or used VHT)
 
There's a Rivera on ebay right now but that thing looks HHHHUUUUUGGGGGEEEEE.

Kinda looking between Mesa 2:90, Fryette 2/90/2 and a peavy classic (i know that sounds funny but I have been hearing good things about it)
 
There's also a strategy 500 on ebay right now and that looks kinda interesting too

errrrrrrr the choices
 
Strategy 500! :rock:


if you're allready interested in one, i'd say go for it.


i've got a Strategy 500 and a Marshall 9200, i'd take the Mesa over the Marshall any day. the lack of a depth control on the Marshall is a bad thing IMHO. the Mesa doesn't have depth, but has a deep switch that will things to thumping.
 
Strategy 400 smokes the 500 in every way and I know of two available for around 700 right now. :thumbsup:

There is a correlation between Metallica's shitty new live tone and lack of Strategy 400s in the racks. :cry:
 
Mrevol":3uo184w5 said:
This might sound crazy but what about the old Peavey Classic power amps. The one's with the resonance and presence controls? Would save alot of dough that way.
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Not crazy if you already have one. I have a Peavey Classic 60(mono) power amp that I'm gonna use with my MAK4 (will also try the power section of my Splawn) until I decide/can afford another one. Mine is bare bones. No presence or resonance. Just volume. 3 RU, light weight and simple. I am considering modding it with a presence and resonance knob. It was cheap and even after the mods will still be cheap.Might even try doing it myself. :thumbsup: I know I can just stick an eq pedal in between the pre and power but that's too easy and requires a battery/plug and two cables. Way to complicated :lol: :LOL: I had never heard of the Randall R250/2 before. That thing seems awesome. Maybe I'll wait to see the matching MAKO power amp when it comes out.
 
I've owned a Mesa 395 simul and 500 strat. I can tell you right now both have unbelievable amounts of power with the right tubes. Simul is smoother and darker, liquid sounding. The 500 has crazy amount of head room and power. It is super fucking loud. Has a brigher more 3d sound with tons of depth not as smooth or liquid sounding. Tighter as well over the 395. The 395 has more give and feel to the sound.
Can not go wrong with either of these in my opinion and have used both these in my wet/dry/wet rig and makes shit sound massive.
 
People ask why is the 400 so awesome and I always copy and past this post from 2004 because I could not have said it better myself:

fretfire4405-04-2004, 12:29 AM
Ahhh, The strategy 400. Now thats an amp! This Mesa amplifier was specifically built for touring professionals that were using multiple(as in 4) cabs or more. Its loaded with 12 tubes. And it is built like a tank. Its sound is unmistakeable. As was mentioned, the headroom is incredible, and thats what drew many players to it. Its sound was so pristine clean and warm, this amp actually jumped genres. Besides us guitarists in search for the ultimate tone, as well as bassists looking to rumble rooms,audiophile guys (that means HUGE stereo heads) were buying these, modding them with RCA inputs, and using them to power their Nakamichi tape decks, their $5000 record players and other super high end stereo equipment. It was so popular to mod these amps, that for a while, Boogie took those mods, added a VU meter to it and called it The Baron power amp. Its just a stereo system optimized Strategy 400! And yes, it does sound that good. Those audiophile guys are sticklers for transparent sound and amps that DONT color their music. And boy do these amps deliver. Its claim to fame is its headroom. You can push it to unbelieveable levels and it wont break up. It'll just sit there glowing brightly while its tearing not only the paint, but the plaster off the walls while causing structural damage to the club. Glass windows dont last long around this amp. Its BRUTALLY loud, and equally heavy(weight wise). It delivers EXACTLY what you pump into it. So if you're looking for a power amp to color your tone a bit, and help your preamp by softly compressing and shaping its output, this isnt the amp for you. You'd probably be more happy with a 50/50. If you want a BRUTALLY LOUD, EXACT representation of the signal you're running into it. Then this is your amp. There was one in a store I worked at I used to enjoy running a Studio pre through and shake all the guitars on the walls. Not to mention eliminating any phone converstions in the WHOLE store. We'd scream"INCOMING!" and let the shred licks rip! Ahh those were the days! Well, all I can say is, if you find this amp for $550 or below in decent condition, its a good deal for sure.
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I do know that the Mesa 400 is what Hetfield has in his guitar rig still to this day.
 
Can I ask why everyone is saying to go with the 2/90/2 over the 2/50/2. Is there a big sound difference?
 
Mrevol":2agpztbd said:
Can I ask why everyone is saying to go with the 2/90/2 over the 2/50/2. Is there a big sound difference?
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The differences are subtle, but they are there. The 2/90 has more girth, punch the 2/50 more of the mid-range grind you get from el34s. Owning both and playing both with the Mak4, I'd say if you want the dorado channel to sound it's absolute best, get the 2/90/2. The Makoplex sounds best with the 2/50/2. Which makes sense since that's how the heads were designed. Overall, I'd say the 2/90/2 since it'll give you more headroom and the Mak4 puts out plenty of mid-range snarl that you won't find it lacking in the 2/90.
 
2/90/2 or 2150. i used them with the mak 4 as it was recommended by andrew at mako.
 
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