check out my mini rec, need advice.

[Axxion24]

what do you guys think? i took it apart and painted it. ordered the blue led from mesa, i felt like i could have ordered a cheaper, brighter strip from a computer parts site but i didnt want to have foreign objects and wiring inside my mesa lol. also i want to change the knobs for reasons you all may be aware of, how do you guys think these would look? would they even fit??

http://mesa.stores.yahoo.net/blrikn.html

also what kind of tubes should i get to take away from the muddy, fizzy sound of the stock tubes? as for as changing the sound in vintage and modern. i like to play pushed with the gain maxed, as it sounds so ballsy with so much clarity, but it a little lacking in gain, is it bad to have my gain maxed on that channel?

 

[screamingdaisy]

also what kind of tubes should i get to take away from the muddy, fizzy sound of the stock tubes?

I don't know if it works on a Mini-Recto, but on my regular Rectos I'm a fan of replacing the tube in V1 with a Tung Sol 12AX7.

Beyond that, try turning the bass and gain down while turning the volume up.

is it bad to have my gain maxed on that channel?

No.

 

[KiwiJoe]

What Screamingdaisy said; I like pushed with gain dimed, too, for something a little less gainy than my vintage setting. The TungSol in V1 is supposed to be the hot ticket, and I suppose I'll get around to it sooner or later, but I'm very happy with the way mine sounds stock.

Those knobs should fit. This came up in another thread, and supposedly a guy from MESA said they would. I looked at them on an Express next to a Mini in my dealer's store, and as long as the shaft diameters are the same, the outside diameter will fit. I'm getting around to that, too.

I have not experienced any fizziness with mine, but I probably set mine up differently to most, and I play an archtop. For me, on Vintage, 10 watts, my settings are as follows (all numbers are "o'clock):
Gain: 9-10
Treble: 1-2
Mids: just shy of dimed
Bass: 9-10
Presence: just shy of dimed
Master: 1-2
Works for me as I like a very pronounced mid tone, almost Mark I-ish; it really cuts through in the mix in either my trio or quartet with the keys man. Try it and see how it works for you.

I've got a Fromel Shape coming any day now, so those settings will probably change slightly.

 

[Axxion24]

What kind of tungsol specifically should i get? I see all kinds available, from gold pin to new new production and a few more.

Also will changing my power tubes to mullards make much of a difference? I dont play anywhere near loud, never get above 25% on any channel except maybe clean with low gain.

 

[screamingdaisy]

http://www.thetubestore.com/Tubes/12AX7-ECC83-Tube-Types/Tung-Sol-12AX7

The amp comes stock with JJ ECC83 preamp tubes relabelled as Mesa 12AX7s. I find JJ ECC83s a little dark/dull. The Tung Sol is brighter with better definition. I like the Tung Sol/JJ mix because the Tung Sol adds some much needed brightness and detail while the remaining JJs keep things from getting too bright or brittle sounding.

 

[Addictedtokaos]

What level are you usually running your master volume at? If you are trying to get a mesa tone with the volume zeroed out and compensating with the channel gain your going to get fizzy.

From my experiences, I don't get a heavy thick tone on channel 2 until I get the master up to 25-30% and the power section is working.

Is adding too much gain that makes my tone thin and muddy.