Maverick... tweak it or trade it.

[jammintree]

For several years I've been playing a Mesa Boogie Maverick 2x12 on and off in different groups. In many ways I really love this amp. I love that it is a basic two channel amp with reverb and doesn't have a million bells and whistles. The nature of the gain is also really to my liking, as the amount of drive is really controllable with my guitars volume knob.

What I have found lacking in both channels is that the bass doesn't have that hefty and tight thump, and more importantly I can't seem to dial in much jangle in the upper mids and treble. While I don't expect a fender type clean from this amp I would like some of those qualities which are common in many amp brands including Marshall and Vox. Currently I would describe the amps EQ character as a mountain of mids. I'm not looking for that blackface scooped mids thing; I like that boogies are a mids forward amp.

The question I have for all you Boogie players is this: Is the Maverick the right amp for me? Can I tweak it to get what I'm looking for or is there another Boogie that is more suitable for my needs?

Can I get more jangle, bigger - tighter bass with different tubes? What about speakers? Or should I be looking toward a Lonestar or Express to find these qualities? In the ideal world I'd like a boogie that has a Fender/vox/ marshal clean channel and a Mesa/Marshall crunch channel. I feel like the Maverick I have, which is all original stock (to the best of my knowledge) is really close to my ideal amp. Can ya'll help me get the rest of the way?

 

[Chester]

Sounds like the Mav is the amp for you ..

Try tweaking the preamp by rolling tubes. A Tungsol in V1 worked well in my Roadster to brighten up preamp response. I have also gone back to EL34's to bring out more upper mids and tighten up bass - 6L6's were too bass heavy through my rig

EL84's should get you the type of feel you are looking for, so I would roll in a different set to see if the highs and crisp response are restored. Good suppliers should be able to advise on Mesa compatible options

Also try an Exotic EP boost - I leave mine on low all the time with both Roadster and Lonestar, but turn it off through the MKV which is forward and bright enough

 

[jammintree]

Those are all elements of good advise. For the sake of understanding which tubes are effecting the amps sound in various ways I may swap out tubes in small groupings. I'm also considering what speakers might best suit my playing. I'd really like to get some low end snap, without being big and flabby and stepping on the frequencies of a bass guitar.

I've been using a Fulltone Fatboost as a clean boost, but after you suggestion about the EP I have set up the FB to be an always pedal adding Jangle and tightening up the bass and it REALLY works well. Though I still need a bit more of that thump and broad EQ.

 

[jammintree]

Any recommendations for a good source for tubes?

I'm surprised not to have heard from more folks on the topic of Mavericks.

 

[bandit2013]

I generally do not comment on amps I am not familiar with since I do not want to lead someone in the wrong direction. As far as tubes are concerned, the end result may be similar in a different amp or quite the opposite. For instance preamp tubes that I have found to sound great in the Mark V do not have the same effect on the RA100. That being said, it becomes subjective at best.

If the Maverick it is what I think it is, EL34 will not do you any justice since they are not interchangeable with EL84 tubes. There are a few brands of EL84's available. Some will sound good or bad. I did notice a difference with Mullard EL84 compared to the Sovtek EL84 in my Carvin V3MC which is also an EL84 amp. Just a point, some that have the Mini rec did not care for the Mullard EL84. There are others available including Mesa. They will all sound similar and some are better than others.

Tung sol in V1 may enhance the tone of the amp. If it seems to bright, try a Mullard reissue 12AX7 in V1. The Mesa JJ tubes will have a distinct character and I really like them in the Roadster. New tubes may just be all you need if you have not changed tubes in a while.

For a class A amp, for great cleans to very nice distorted tone, I would consider a Jensen Black Bird or WGS Black Hawk HP100. Both are Alnico drivers. They are not inexpensive either. Avoid getting a speaker with a neodymium driver, sure they sound great with bass amps but it will definitely cause more vibration in the amp (tried a Tonker Lite in my Mark IV and it sounded like the amp was going to fall apart, no mass in the speaker to dampen the vibrations ) but there may be others worth trying. Before jumping into a speaker project, I would retube the amp with new tubes first.

tube resources I have used with good results:
(1) the tube store, located in Canada.
(2) tube depot

 

[O==00==O]

Honestly, you should sell the amp to a player who wants what the Maverick has to offer, and get yourself a different amp that has the qualities you're looking for. I love the Maverick and would hate to see any Maverick be modded as it was one of the only amps to sound the way it does and to alter a somewhat rare boogie would be a shame.

 

[jammintree]

I have been realizing with my recent research how rare these amps seem to be. Considering that this one is in PERFECT cosmetic condition I have come to feel resolute about keeping it, both because of its great tone and it appears to be (or at least will be) collectable. The thought has crossed my mind that I should even consider not taking it on the road for gigs. I've always loved this amp and it just seems that some of its range is missing, which I'm beginning to realize could simply be because its time to re-tube it.

None of what I am thinking about doing would be considered a true mod to the amp. First I'm going to put some new tubes in it, which is an element of normal maintenance; its pretty likely the the tubes in it now are the originals. If tubes don't bring back some clarity and bass response and I do opt for different speakers, I'll certainly keep these original Vintage 30's and store them safely. This way, at the drop of a hat I can put it back to its original specs.

Regardless, I think the amp is worth more to me than I could sell it for these days.

 

[Crowbar]

Yeah I'd say keep it, I'm keeping mine. Great amp for me, I just wish it was a 1x12 instead of two, its so heavy.

Now as for sound. I like the clean channel so much that I never use the lead channel. This is important because the lead channel sounds awful, it must be messed up. Just total mud, no twang or jangle or crisp sounds at all. I asked about this in a thread some months ago, I just haven't bothered to take the thing in. Again, the clean channel suits me fine, I can set it right to the edge of breakup.

But I wonder about that lead channel. Maybe it is messed up and it would be great if it was fixed. Tube swaps do nothing for it. Treble on ten and it is still a dull flubby mud hole. Maybe our amps are suffering a bum capacitor or something sucking the tone away.

I cant recommend any speakers, most all sound good to me! I sometimes plug the Mav into a Marshall 4x10 cab. For a while I thought I liked that better and then when I went back with the internal 2x12 I liked that better.

Good luck with it. Let us know if you take it to a tech.

 

[bandit2013]

I was in your shoes a while ago with my Mark IV and Mark III. At the time I had given up due to an injury and thought I would never play again. I was not about to learn how to play lefty. After 8 years tendons healed and no more pain. I did end up selling the Mark III, wish I had not. That was a great amp. I was also considering loosing the Mark IV but happy I kept it. Now I got back into guitar again and hit the GAS, not the brakes.

Keep the amp, look for another for gigs and or practice. There are a few good deals on Ebay sometimes. Also check your local guitar shops sometimes they get Mesa's in great condition.

I have a thought on the Mud Hole issue. Have you tried a lower gain preamp tube? Jan/GE 5751 will brighten things up. Even a 12AT7 can enhance the gain channel by adding some headroom. Not too familiar with the Maverick to be of any help in that regard.

 

[Eevil]

What I have found lacking in both channels is that the bass doesn't have that hefty and tight thump, and more importantly I can't seem to dial in much jangle in the upper mids and treble. While I don't expect a fender type clean from this amp I would like some of those qualities which are common in many amp brands including Marshall and Vox. Currently I would describe the amps EQ character as a mountain of mids. I'm not looking for that blackface scooped mids thing; I like that boogies are a mids forward amp.


Can I get more jangle, bigger - tighter bass with different tubes? What about speakers? Or should I be looking toward a Lonestar or Express to find these qualities? In the ideal world I'd like a boogie that has a Fender/vox/ marshal clean channel and a Mesa/Marshall crunch channel. I feel like the Maverick I have, which is all original stock (to the best of my knowledge) is really close to my ideal amp. Can ya'll help me get the rest of the way?

Well.. If it's open back 2x12 it may be that you will not get The Thump out of it Also if it has the V30 speaker, they have a hi-mid spike that basically masks all the nice jangly sound you may want to hear. If you have any friends who have different speaker you could try different ones alnico (ex. celestion blue, eminence red fang) or from scumback or weber

I had a Mark III 1x12 combo with open back and Mesa C90 speaker and by itself it was lame at best but paired with 1x12 Thiele it was bold and punchy

Also 2x12 external cabinet with closed back or ported cab could work to give some extra thump. Comparing the traditional 4x12 recto to 1x12 thiele the latter one gives a deeper and rounder bass end Or buy two thieles and you will have biggest thump ever

 

[bandit2013]

I had to download the manual to get a better understanding of the amp. Nice feature it uses two separate preamp tubes for the rhythm and lead (very similar to the RA100). That is cool, you can use different types of preamp tubes for the high gain channel and the rhythm channel.

Your description on the muddy sound could be related to need of new EL84 tubes along with a new rectifier tube. If you still have the Mesa Branded JJ tubes in the Lead channel (could not find the tube chart in the manual) I would start there with either Tung Sol or EH. Even the Mullard CV4004 would be nice but may provide more compression. It all depends on the amp, so different tubes may not have the same effect as they would in a different amp. For lead, if possible, use silicon diode rectification and not the Rectifier tube. My experience with the Roadster and the high gain channels when using tube rectifier tracking seems to darken the amp and loosen the bottom end. Silicon diode tracking will tighten up the bottom quite well. However, I believe there is a thread on what amps have cathode follower circuits. If the Maverick does have such, either Mesa branded JJ or Chinese tubes will work for that particular circuit.

If you have not change tubes recently, that would be the best starting point.

I would agree on the V30 comment. If your amp has V30 and is not sealed enclosure it will seem a bit mushy on the bass. A V30 in a sealed cab, ported or un-ported may give you that extra thump. Before I got my RA100, I had used one of the V30 from the Recto cab I refitted with EV in an oversized 1x12 extension cab, I had to cut the back to provide a 1/3 opening which reduced the flub issue. WOW talk about a definitive bass response. I did not want to remove the V30 but the RA100 needed 4 to complete the 412 project.

MC90 does not seem to behave all that well in a sealed 1x12 cabinet but the V30 really sounded incredible. I would admit that the extension cab made a believer out of me with the V30, I was considering tossing them but glad I did not.

 

[green_henry]

As a first step, I would recommend replacing the tubes with a new set of the Mesa-branded tubes, which you can order directly from Boogie or get from an authorized Boogie dealer. I have tried JJs before, and I was shocked by how different they sounded ... and not in a good way (the tone was really harsh, especially on the lead channel; brittle is how I'd describe it).