Recent content by bandit2013

Lots of good points above. I vote for the hard bypass test first. if that works, it could be half of the V5 tube is bad. You could also leave the amp with the FX loop on, set all of the mini toggles for each channel to turn on the FX, those are also on the back panel just below the reverb...

Interesting, did not know the combo has the long 2 spring tank. The RA100 head has that tank as well. Compared to the TC100 or TC50 I can hear a slight difference but not by much. As for the 12AT7, you will not get the same level of effect. More or less due to the recovery stage than the...

The Reverb circuit has a few op-amp buffered before it is sent to the tube driver circuit. The recovery stage which is also a tube circuit will then inject the output signal into the FX return gain stage. It actually runs in parallel to the FX loop. The tank is also a short 3 spring so it...

Running the 6L6 does open up the door to other possible character. STR440 (if you have them), STR441, STR443, STR445, STR448. Greens and greys may have the early distortion characteristics similar to the STR447 which usually seem to run the green, grey and blue colors. Sure, different tube...

I believe what Mesa was trying to indicate when running the channel master above a specific setting, it will not do anything to the FX loop circuit. The FX loop level is on the high side to start with. Depending on channel used, the clean channel can easily push out +8dBu but you need to set...

Awesome, I will have to try some TAD 6V6 tubes. Will have to check them out and see who makes them based on the appearance. The JJ 6V6 is not all that great as they tend to get noisy after a few thermal cycles. Noising being the tube sing where they vibrate at the same frequency as the notes...

Just curious if you made the choice to get the amp. I ran out of GAS after getting the second Mark VII. Having two sort of depleted my hobby funds. Actually I just do not like spending money unless it is worth it. It was, but ouch on the purchase. I did not have much interest in the EL84...

Pins are not supposed to be bent. It may have been caused by its removal or how it was inserted. Best to verify by feel that the pins are aligned before pressing the tube into place. If they are not straight, it becomes more difficult to get the tube installed. Never force a tube into the...

I have compared the EL34 and STR445 in the BAD side by side as I have two BAD 100. Those almost sound the same but need to puss the channel volume up with the 6L6 tube to be at the same level as the EL34. STR440 was a bit thin sounding. STR445 was aggressive as were the STR448 (grey color...

I figured out the Roadster for use with the 7 string. Sounds epic but you need some old Mesa tubes (Chinese Beijing square foil getter, aka 6N4-J military grade preamp tubes) and the STR440 reds. For me that was just a fun find as the Chinese tubes curbed the low end swamp. The 6 string also...

I felt the STR440 were not a good fit. I have all of the colors too as I have plenty of amps with different requirements. TBO, never expected reds to sound as good in the Roadster as they do. I normally ran with yellows. As for the MWDR, that amp came equipped with the STR440 grey, same tube...

I think it is the location of the tone stack that brings in more compression on the amp. I get the same effect with the Mark VII when using crunch and VII modes. Those two modes configure the amp much like the Badlander and places the tone stack after the Mark Lead drive circuit. I sort of...

I personally am not a fan of the EL84 tubes. However, I did have an opportunity to hear a Mesa TA30 combo and thought that sounded really good. As for the mini recto amps, are they not both the same but one with reverb? Not familiar with the lunch box versions. Have you seen this video...

Depends on what 6L6 tubes you run with. BAD is a Class AB amp. What I did like were the STR445 in green codes, and the STR448 in gray. The color codes will make a huge difference on overall character. the more early distortion of the power tube the better so green or gray would be the...

I got so worked up about the Bare Knuckle Pickups I have in the first one (Juggernaut set) that I decided to do something similar to the other one. The stock Sunset Strip and Pasadena pickups are ok. Felt the sunset was a bit thin on the upper strings, more so when compared to the BKP. Just...