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johnnyxmas
Newbie Alert
Joined: 12 Aug 2006
Posts: 1
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 Posted: Sat Aug 12, 2006 6:54 am Post subject: Reccomend: Tubes and Preamp for Mesa Simul-Class Amp |
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Hey All
I recently picked up an old Mesa Simul-Class 2:Ninety power amp, and am looking for an appropriate Preamp to match up with it that's not a Triaxis (cost restrictions). My main concern is figuring out exactly why I even need a preamp, instead of something as simple as an EQ and delay unit.
I'm running a Fernandes Revolver 7 with an EMG 707 through a Boss MT-2 into a DOD 844 Series II noise gate then into the Power Amp (it's got instrument jacks!) and it sounds amazing. W A Y better than my old Peavey 5150.
This is the first seperate power amp I've used, and I understand that a preamp is usually necessary, but given that I enjoy the sound I'm getting, is it really? I would be happier with more low frequencies, but I suspect it may actually be the MT-2 that's cutting those out, because the clean sound seems to pick them up aceptably. How about a Preamp that can produce a tone similar to the MT-2, but with lower frequency support.
Also, this amp is pretty old. How do I know when it's time to change the old tubes out? |
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gnappi
Tadpole
Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 18
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| Posted: Sun Aug 13, 2006 12:19 pm Post subject: Re: Reccomend: Tubes and Preamp for Mesa Simul-Class Amp |
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| johnnyxmas wrote: | Hey All
I recently picked up an old Mesa Simul-Class 2:Ninety power amp, and am looking for an appropriate Preamp to match up with it that's not a Triaxis (cost restrictions). My main concern is figuring out exactly why I even need a preamp, instead of something as simple as an EQ and delay unit.
Also, this amp is pretty old. How do I know when it's time to change the old tubes out? |
If it were me, I'd be hard pressed to appreciate the sound without the EQ section of a pre-amp. Add to that your gain "should" go up appreciably with a preamp I think it will sound better with one.
Your main problem is going to get a pre at a reasonable price that doesn't sound like a cheerleader squad farting on the bench :-)
Old and tube doesn't necessarily mean bad. I have a 25 year old amp with the original power tubes in it because nobody could make it work for more than a few minutes. I think the mileage on the tube is more important than age... look at all those 30 year old NOS tubes on EBAY.
Tube testers are not in drugstores anymore, so you really have to listen for changes in output, and look at them in their powered state. Failing that, replace them right away, and keep the ones in there now as spares.
If you were in South Florida, I'd let you try a tube preamp I designed that I'm going into a small production run with.
Regards,
Gary |
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