anybody have a Mesa Boogie Maverick?

[Musical123]

If so, what are your thoughts - good and bad. Also does it have a power break that allows you to drive the tubes hard, but still keep volumes low?

Someone in my area is selling a head for $400 so I am thining of stopping by to see/hear it.


Thanks

 

[MrMarkIII]

No "power brake". You can replace the 5AR4 rectifier tube with a 5V4 to get more "sag", and it reduces power a bit. Like most Boogies, it has a Master Volume to keep the overall loudness down while overdriving the pre-amp.
The Maverick is old-school: loose, chimey, and open-sounding.
It has a rectifier tube, but not the "Recto" sound.

 

[lyman]

if nothing is wrong with the head, then $400 is definitely a very good price. seems like combos, which cost more since they come with speaker(s), go for $800 or so on the used market.

did you try the search function? there have been several threads about ye olde maverick...

 

[90wreck]

If so, what are your thoughts - good and bad. Also does it have a power break that allows you to drive the tubes hard, but still keep volumes low?

Someone in my area is selling a head for $400 so I am thining of stopping by to see/hear it.


Thanks

For 400-, I would snag it.
Had one years ago and mainly used it for a country gig.
When pushed on the clean channel, I could get some hair on it then boost it with pedals..Rarely used ch. 2.......... :?:

 

[tiktok]

I quite like mine with single-coil guitars. I have the combo, and always found it a bit too dark with humbuckers, but I never experimented with changing the speakers.

$400? Definitely.

 

[igfraso]

I quite like mine with single-coil guitars. I have the combo, and always found it a bit too dark with humbuckers, but I never experimented with changing the speakers.

$400? Definitely.

I have just bougth a Maverick 1x12 combo. This one has a Celestion V-30. What was the original speaker coming with this combo and what speakers are all of you using?
Thanks and regards

 

[igfraso]

Also... would you prefer the V30 or the Celestion C90 on this 1x12 Maverick combo?
Thanks in advance!

 

[MrMarkIII]

I have just bougth a Maverick 1x12 combo. This one has a Celestion V-30. What was the original speaker coming with this combo and what speakers are all of you using?
Thanks and regards

I'm pretty sure the V-30 was standard issue.

 

[212Mavguy]

v30 standard ish in my 2/12. Fantastic versatile amp.

 

[RR]

$400, great deal! ... and I thought $650 2x12" was great price (mine).

Covers everything from clean to Classic Rock. But like above, not the hi-gain Recto sound like DR.

It has switchable rectifier, tube or silicon. For MESA, it's easy to use, "friendly user".

 

[groovebelly]

Yes... the Maverick is an awesome amp. Beautiful cleans and dumble (or boogie) like OD on the gain channel.

I have the 1x12 with the C90 speaker which I think was the original for this amp in the 1x12 version. The V30 was stock in the 2x12.

at $400 for the head, tell me if you don't buy it... I will..

 

[Nanno]

Hello to all - first time poster (after years of lurking...) here !

As to the Maverick: Bought mine (1x12 combo) new in 1996 after owning several other Boogies (Mk II, Studios, Calibers etc.).
It is a nice amp! Very vintage sounding, nicest Boogie clean channel I've ever heard. The gain channel is definitely old-school with some plexi-notion as well.
With the 1 x 12, the C-90 Speaker was stock.

For 400.- bucks I'd buy a head anywhere, anytime

If you get the head, take the money that's left, get a decent 2x12 cab (not loaded), break the bank and get youself a Celestion Alnico Gold and a Celestion G12H Heritage and you'll be in tone-heaven. Seriously!
After all these years thinking that the C-90 is a decent speaker (which it undoubtly is) and a perfect match for the Mav, I just put a Celestion Gold in there instead. WOW - it really opened up the amp and added sparkle and chime on top and some serious balls at the bottom. Fitted a 1x12 extension cab with the Heritage G12H and those two speakers are a perfect match. The Greenback adds some bite and further tight low end (55 Hz resonance frequency!).

Mind you: 400.- for the head and maybe 600.- to 800.- for the cab and you get yourself a superb little half stack that covers everything except heavy metal (which can be obtained with pedals, which the Mav takes really well) !