Hello all,
I recently fell into a great deal on a 1986 Mesa Stereo Simul-class 295 that I'm running into a 2x12 rectifier cabinet I've modded with a Becos plate for stereo. At the moment, I'm using a Line 6 Pod Pro as my preamp which obviously isn't ideal but the tube power amp really smooths it out quite nicely. Anyhow, 90% of the time I'm using the Mark IIC+ and Dual Rectifier models on the thing, which are sort of caricatures of the real thing.
I'm really looking to upgrade the preamp section and go with something a bit better sounding that will give me a good clean and a IIC+ or Rectifier sound for chunky rhythm.. preferably both but one or the other would do nicely. With those three sounds I'll cover just about anything I've ever used the pod for, and down the road I'll pick up a G Major or something for effects and stick it in the loop.
If I had the scratch I'd just pick up a Triaxis, but I'm wondering what other options might fit this bill.. The quad tube? Studio preamp? Formula? V-Twin?
What about non-Boogie preamps, even modeling ones.. any of them got a nicer IIC+/Rectifier sounds than the Pod models? (I can only imagine there are some better models)
Thanks!
PS- The Simul 295 is a real beast, built like a tank, and sounds *awesome*.. complete overkill for my needs (mostly home playing with occasionally gigging) but boy does it sound good and I've got some serious headroom! It's the model with the knobs in the back. Thank god for those Class A switches..
I recently fell into a great deal on a 1986 Mesa Stereo Simul-class 295 that I'm running into a 2x12 rectifier cabinet I've modded with a Becos plate for stereo. At the moment, I'm using a Line 6 Pod Pro as my preamp which obviously isn't ideal but the tube power amp really smooths it out quite nicely. Anyhow, 90% of the time I'm using the Mark IIC+ and Dual Rectifier models on the thing, which are sort of caricatures of the real thing.
I'm really looking to upgrade the preamp section and go with something a bit better sounding that will give me a good clean and a IIC+ or Rectifier sound for chunky rhythm.. preferably both but one or the other would do nicely. With those three sounds I'll cover just about anything I've ever used the pod for, and down the road I'll pick up a G Major or something for effects and stick it in the loop.
If I had the scratch I'd just pick up a Triaxis, but I'm wondering what other options might fit this bill.. The quad tube? Studio preamp? Formula? V-Twin?
What about non-Boogie preamps, even modeling ones.. any of them got a nicer IIC+/Rectifier sounds than the Pod models? (I can only imagine there are some better models)
Thanks!
PS- The Simul 295 is a real beast, built like a tank, and sounds *awesome*.. complete overkill for my needs (mostly home playing with occasionally gigging) but boy does it sound good and I've got some serious headroom! It's the model with the knobs in the back. Thank god for those Class A switches..
