Does the Strategy 500 compare to the 50/50?

[Disco Cat]

I love the sound of the Strategy 500 and would like to own one. However, it's 200-watts-per-side specs appears to be a dilemma to the scenario of me having it loud enough to get the tones I love. I can crank a 50 watter at home no problem. A 100 watter, I can work with. 200 watts? Seems too much. So, as a concession, I'm humouring the concept of purchasing a 50/50... if it will deliver about the same beautiful sonic aspects as the Strategy 500 - just at a bearable volume. I haven't experienced a 50/50, so I'm looking to those who have for opinions. Thanks!

 

[Bobby Marshall]

My suggestion would be to buy a 500 and have an experienced tech put in bias pots so you can bias the tubes to run hotter at lower volumes or get two decent attenuators (if running in stereo). You could also get a Palmer PDI-03. I think Jerry Cantrell uses Palmers in his rack. Lots of guys used them back in the original rack glory days.

I use the 500s little sisters with 95 watts per side and they are just right for me but I wouldn't mind a 500 for that special outdoor gig running a full stack of EVM-12Ls (or two). Some day . . . some day. :twisted:

I never owned a 50/50 but I can't imagine two 6L6 tubes per channel will "feel" the same as the 500 with its six 6L6 tubes per side. Hey that's three sixes (666) per side, is there something there? :wink:

 

[Disco Cat]

I use the 500s little sisters with 95 watts per side and they are just right for me but I wouldn't mind a 500 for that special outdoor gig running a full stack of EVM-12Ls (or two). Some day . . . some day. :twisted:

Would that be the 295 or 395 that you use? Do either sound close to the 500?

Hey that's three sixes (666) per side, is there something there? :wink:

Yes, the sound of Rock. 8)

 

[stephen sawall]

The 500 has 8 x 6L6 and 4 x 6550 in the power amp. None of the Mesa power amps sound like any other Mesa power amp in my ears. They all have their own sound. The 500 is a much "bigger" sound than any of the other models. I have used all of them and owned a few. The 500 is my favorite power amp by any maker.

 

[elvis]

That is simply INSANE. I assume the "500" in "Strategy 500" is the cost per channel to retube...

 

[stephen sawall]

It is about $300 to re-tube.

 

[Bobby Marshall]

The 500 has 8 x 6L6 and 4 x 6550 in the power amp. None of the Mesa power amps sound like any other Mesa power amp in my ears. They all have their own sound. The 500 is a much "bigger" sound than any of the other models. I have used all of them and owned a few. The 500 is my favorite power amp by any maker.

I thought that you could not get the 6550 tubes anymore and that you would have to run 6L6 in those slots.

I use the 500s little sisters with 95 watts per side and they are just right for me but I wouldn't mind a 500 for that special outdoor gig running a full stack of EVM-12Ls (or two). Some day . . . some day. :twisted:

Would that be the 295 or 395 that you use? Do either sound close to the 500?

395 - I have never owned the 500 so I can't say how it compares to the 395 but it appears to have the same layout with just the two extra power tubes per side so a 395 should be the closest to the 500. The Mesa hound in me would like to get a 500 and a 300 but I think my GAS is on mandatory vacation.

Don't worry about the 200 watts per side being to much headroom - get the bias pots installed, get the machine to bias your own tubes and crank it up. :twisted:

 

[stephen sawall]

I thought that you could not get the 6550 tubes anymore and that you would have to run 6L6 in those slots

I do not think it is a option at all to run 6L6 type tubes in the 6550 spots. I would think that would damage the amp and tubes in the stock form. If a adjustable bias was put in it may be a option.

Where did you hear you could exchange 6L6's for 6550 in this amp ?

6550/KT88/KT90/KT100 are all part of the same family and can be interchanged.

These tubes can be found lots of places.

http://thetubestore.com/6550types.html

http://thetubestore.com/kt8890100types.html

I have played the 395 and 500 side by side and the 500 is much bigger sounding tone wise in my ears.

 

[Disco Cat]

I use the 500s little sisters with 95 watts per side and they are just right for me but I wouldn't mind a 500 for that special outdoor gig running a full stack of EVM-12Ls (or two). Some day . . . some day. :twisted:

Would that be the 295 or 395 that you use? Do either sound close to the 500?

395 - I have never owned the 500 so I can't say how it compares to the 395 but it appears to have the same layout with just the two extra power tubes per side so a 395 should be the closest to the 500. The Mesa hound in me would like to get a 500 and a 300 but I think my GAS is on mandatory vacation.

Don't worry about the 200 watts per side being to much headroom - get the bias pots installed, get the machine to bias your own tubes and crank it up. :twisted:

You know, I think I am going to try and pick one up. Might as well, it's probably as close to a dream amp as I have, and give it those bias pots... but I hope those 6550s don't go anywhere. I wonder how many S-500s were made in total.

 

[Bobby Marshall]

Stephen is pretty knowledgable so if he says KT-88s can be put in place of the 6550 he is probably right. I must have misread somewhere about the lack of 6550 tubes. I thought those tubes were used in the old Mesa bass amps too and just remember something about not being able to find suitable replacements for the 6550. Also possible the person who made that post was ignorant about such things, like me.

Seems the Strategy 500 is an amp easier to find than a 395, at least in my limited experience.

I tend to blow fuses quite often in my Mesa power amps so make sure you have a few spares handy.

 

[stephen sawall]

I am doing my best to talk a friend of mine into selling me his. I feel the Strategy 500 is the perfect power-amp for me. The 6550 and its family just adds a focused low end that is just impressive in this amp. If you get one let us know what you think of her .....

 

[Disco Cat]

I will do! I may be taking a 6 hour drive to pick one up next Tues (and then another 6 hour drive back!). If that one falls through, I have a second option... which may or may not also come through.

 

[Danimal]

Sell one to me - I'm dying for this amp! :mrgreen: :lol:

 

[Disco Cat]

If it happens that both amps come through, I'm sure I can do a hook-up :wink: But at the moment I'm just crossing my fingers that I can get one of them.

 

[stephen sawall]

I saw one go last month for $550 and a other just over $600. They are a lot cheaper than a year ago .... almost a $1000. What are they going for now .... out of curiosity ?

 

[Disco Cat]

I've seen from $675 - 1200. Saw one for $1600 on Harmony Central, but that was from Jan of this year. The one I'm getting has new tubes and is included in a rack with an ADA MP-1 all for $850

 

[MickPotter]

I had the 500, a simul 2:90 and a 50/50 at the same time. They all sounded great. the 500 with new tubes was really great, but here in Australia a retube was the best part of $1000. Also if you are lugging your own gear around, it weighs up pretty big. I ended up using the simul most of the time which was very very goood.. The 50/50 was before the others, and whilst not as big sounding as the other 2, seemed to give me a better run on tubes. ALOT cheaper to run with tube costs, which are obviously high down here. Especially when talking a batch of 6550s along with a small herd of 6l6s. Sound wise, the simul was as good in my humble opinion as the 500. The 500 cranked was huge, but pending the size of the stage youre on and whether you are working in a close proximity with foldback focused singers, might bring challenges
All the best with your choice,
Mick

 

[Disco Cat]

So I picked up a Strategy 500 in good condition with apparently pretty new tubes (less than 10 hours on them, is what the guy claimed).
It also came in a 7 slot travel rack with an ADA MP-1 and rack power supply. I paid $810 for the whole thing (we split the cost of gas for me to pick it up). Too bad customs nailed me at the border and slapped a $270 fine on me for not declaring everything. Oh well, I'm still happy with it. I haven't yet had the chance to play around with it in depth, apart from making sure everything worked while I was at the guy's house. I'll post pictures soon when I get the chance.

 

[stephen sawall]

Congratulations .... let us know what you think.

 

[Disco Cat]

So this is what I picked up on a recent trip down to Oregon from Vancouver:

The first sound you hear upon powering up the 500 is the whir of its two cooling fans.
I had a choice between the ADA and a DOD preamp, but the ADA was already in place, and I didn't know anything about the DOD, so I just accepted the ADA. I'm planning on replacing it with a JMP-1 eventually. I think the ADA needs new tubes, I get some crackling when using certain distortion presets.

I think this rig will have to stay in the basement, because it's too loud for upstairs (where amps can easily be heard outside the house) and down there I'll have a lot more room to back away from myself it than I do upstairs.

I'm a bit concerned about playing it through my Avatar 2x12 with a g12h30 and V30. Since this amp's 200 watt / channel, that's a recipe for blowing a speaker, right?

The original Craigslist posting for this sale is this: http://salem.craigslist.org/msg/1506148420.html


Also, the guy I bought it from claims that for some reason the tech who last retubed it had to dent the chassis to fit in the 6550 tubes. I don't understand why they'd require that to fit, but here's a pic where you can see the mounds made in the chassis to accomodate the tubes:

I still haven't yet given 'er any in-depth use, so my opinion and understanding of the device is very not yet matured. Still, I am very happy to own it!