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Renarts

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Howdy all! I'm new here and think I've finally found the Holy Grail of Mesa info.

I've been using a Triaxis/2:90/2x12 Verticle Recto cab (wired stereo) rig with Jackson SL1s/Les Pauls & Strats with EMG Gilmour PUs for some years and have been quite happy with all of it. I do mainly classic rock from ZZ Top to Pink Floyd and everything in between. I play mainly small to mid-sized clubs.

As I'm getting older, my back is telling me to dump that weighty pig of a 2:90 and go for something lighter like a 20/20, but my head thinks I'll lose sufficient volume and tone to gig happily with.

I would appreciate some opinions, especially from Triaxis/20/20 owners please.
Thanks!
8)
 
Renarts said:
Howdy all! I'm new here and think I've finally found the
As I'm getting older, my back is telling me to dump that weighty pig of a 2:90 and go for something lighter like a 20/20, but my head thinks I'll lose sufficient volume and tone to gig happily with.
8)
Click to expand...

You wouldn't be losing volume. Let's put it this way: you'd go from *way too much* volume to *more than enough* volume. Is it a loss? It's up to you. I don't think so.

You would be losing your current tone. You'd gain another tone, whether it is a loss or not it's up to tastes. I like 6L6 tone better than EL84s, but that's my personal taste.

I had TA and 20/20 in the past, found it a truly beautifully sounding couple.
 
Thanks Fatboy & Straitouttahell. I appreciate the input.

I've always been a 6L6 guy, but I 'd like to explore the EL84 possibilities.

I think I'm convinced enough to at least try out the TA & 20/20 setup. And I'll probably keep my 2:90 for backup and large gigs.
8)
 
straitouttahell said:
Let's put it this way: you'd go from *way too much* volume to *more than enough* volume.
Click to expand...
I agree.

I'll throw in another thumbs-up for the Triaxis-20/20 combo. I made the change from 2:90 about 8 years ago, and I've never shed a tear of regret. Not that the 2:90 wasn't fantastic (especially after I modded it with adjustable bias, and put in NOS GE and RCA 6L6GC), but I find the 20/20 to be more than sufficient.

- Thom
 
Thanks guys, I really respect your opinions. I'm definitely going to check out the 20/20. Are there any major differences between the older chrome face and newer black face models?
8)
 
Renarts said:
Thanks guys, I really respect your opinions. I'm definitely going to check out the 20/20. Are there any major differences between the older chrome face and newer black face models?
8)
Click to expand...

I think chrome faceplate was used in the early versions because this poweramp should have been the perfect companion for the V-Twin rack pre. Possibly, but I'm just guessing here, the relatively poor success of V-Twin on one hand, and the huge commercial success of 20/20 on the other, proved it would be a good idea to make 20/20 look like the rest of the family. AFAIK the differences between the two are just cosmetic.
 
Renarts said:
Thanks Fatboy & Straitouttahell. I appreciate the input.

I've always been a 6L6 guy, but I 'd like to explore the EL84 possibilities.

I think I'm convinced enough to at least try out the TA & 20/20 setup. And I'll probably keep my 2:90 for backup and large gigs.
8)
Click to expand...

That's exactly what I did......I couldn't give up my 2:90 or 20/20 so I just kept both.. I use my 20/20 with a 2x12 cab with low wattage (high Efficiency) Celestion G12 Century -- and it sounds awesome. There is something special about the 20/20 that I just can't replicate with the 2:90, especially when playing smaller venues and volume has to be controlled.

On the other hand, When playing a bigger stage or outdoors (with poor monitoing), the 20/20 runs out of headroom and begins to compress alot--too much for may tastes.

I would never sell my 2:90, although I have gone through many 20/20s -- always thinking that I could cop the tone with the 2:90 -- NOT...as another poster said...it's a totally different tone with the 20/20 (I'd say sweeter and more dynamic at lower volumes)

But you can't beat the girth of the 2:90.

In essence, I found that the 2:90 (for my paying styles) sounds better with higher wattage speakers (i.e. EV & C90), while the 20/20 sounds more natural and fluid with lower wattage/high efficiency speakers (i.e Celestion -- V30, G12 Century Neo)

Just my 2 cents
 
All I can say is wow!. I got a used 20/20 with JJ Tesla tubes installed off of Ebay and man, you guys were right on! This little beast rocks!

I ran it side by side to test the differences with my 2:90 and they are different critters, each with their own strong points. But after playing with it for a couple of days and tweeking my TA a bit, I've got a whole new respect for the 20/20. I can't believe how good this amp sounds and the new life it has breathed into my rack is wonderful. Of course I'll keep the 2:90 for the really big venues, but it looks like the 20/20 is my new weapon of choice.

Thanks again to all of you guys for your insights and encouragement. You all did me a great service. Ya'll rock hard!
8)
 
All I can say is wow!. I got a used 20/20 with JJ Tesla tubes installed off of Ebay and man, you guys were right on! This little beast rocks!

I ran it side by side to test the differences with my 2:90 and they are different critters, each with their own strong points. But after playing with it for a couple of days and tweeking my TA a bit, I've got a whole new respect for the 20/20. I can't believe how good this amp sounds and the new life it has breathed into my rack is wonderful. Of course I'll keep the 2:90 for the really big venues, but it looks like the 20/20 is my new weapon of choice.
Click to expand...

I´m a british el84 gentleman :lol:
 

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