Video my Mesa Quad and 295 rig - thanks Daveyboogie!

[Wolfster]

Hey guys, I thought I would finally put up a thread to say thanks to DaveyBoogie for fixing my Quad ages back. After trying to fix the thing myself, I only made it worse, to the point where it didnt even produce sound. Daveyboogie offered to help me out and now it sounds like new!

I've recorded some vids to show what this bad boy rig can do!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iws_OJjUBzg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0BsWoFlVic

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hogp0X1YTGE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6vztTK0QX8

Hope you guys like it. Thanks again Daveyboogie for all the help!

Nik Wolf

 

[Danimal]

Sounds fantastic. The second video said it was removed though :?:

 

[Wolfster]

Thanks man, I love the tone!

If anyones interested I can take a pic of my settings and gear. Let me know.

edit: thanks for reminding me; Ive replaced the link with another video of the same performance just with HD. Its now been sorted, and Ive added another vid I did this evening!

 

[Rob227]

Nicely done!

Bring on the gear pics and settings.

 

[musicman700]

nice man, good to hear people out there with quads need to make video as well btw what cab are you using?

 

[Wolfster]

Thanks.

There arent enough decent videos on youtube demoing the Quad and the 295. Not that mine are great - I need to get a decent microphone to record with!

My 4x12 cab is an old Marshall that I have fixed up. Also Put some Green Tolex on the bad boy! Its fitted with V30s. The 2x12 is a torres custom cab that I bought recently which I also plan on refurbishing.

I'll post some pics of settings when Im back from work later today.

 

[Wolfster]

Here are my settings:

Everything is pulled except the bass knobs, which I find makes the bass less tight. EQ's are actually in, but I switch them via the jacks at the back using the patchmate. I use a Keeley compressor, and Keeley modded TS9DX before the amp for lead tones. For rhythm, the TS9 is out and I have a MXR/CAE clean boost on.



If you would like to look at the rest of the rig I've posted it in the 'show me your rack' thread.

cheers

 

[Wolfster]

Also here's me playing some classic Metallica:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAerZdn2Pts

 

[daveyboogie]

Thanks for the plug dude! That is one sick rig you've built there.....sounding great too!!

Let's just hope my repair work holds up lol ...!

 

[mxr2000]

Also here's me playing some classic Metallica:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAerZdn2Pts

nice clip and tones.. how heavy its that power amp? 60 pounds? it take 4U but i would love to know one of those Power amps, what you think about them to **** loud for home use on Class "A" 30 watts mode?

 

[Wolfster]

Thanks.

Yes it's pretty heavy, but from I've heard and from people I've spoken to, it is the best power amp mesa boogie ever made. When I bought the power amp it made a big difference to my tone; it just seemed to make it bigger, warmer and less fizzy.

I can use it in my room in 30 watt mode and it doesn't kill my ears. I have the volume on 2 on each side for practice and its loud but okay.

 

[skoora]

Have you had much experience with a Studio Pre as well. I've been looking at Studio Pre's and Quad Pre's and not sure which is the better choice. I imagine both can do metal and Metallica stuff pretty well but does one do slightly broken up Fender clean better? Is the first channel on the Quad the studio Pre?

 

[Wylde861]

Nice videos! This is actually the setup I'm aiming for and your right it's really hard to find good videos of this setup, these are actually the best I've seen. I was more curious about how rhythm sounded but low and behold you even got that covered too, nice job. I was also curious is to how you have your 295 set. Volume, presence, and even what kind of tubes if ya don't mind. If you do find a better mic I'll be the first in line to check it out. I'm mostly wondering how heavy it can get. I do play a good bit of modern metal, but I don't really care for the sound a lot of bands have. I love the sound of And Justice For All but kind of looking for something more in the range of Lamb of God or at least somewhere in between. I know Lab of God uses mark 4s and I guess now the 5s but finishing this rig is my first priority ATM. I love how they are really heavy but their sound is still really tight and not over distorted, unlike a lot of bands these days. If you do play any Lamb of God or anything in that range would love to hear what that sounds like if you get the chance.

PS: The Symphony solo is one of my favs, thought it sounded awesome.

 

[Wolfster]

Have you had much experience with a Studio Pre as well. I've been looking at Studio Pre's and Quad Pre's and not sure which is the better choice. I imagine both can do metal and Metallica stuff pretty well but does one do slightly broken up Fender clean better? Is the first channel on the Quad the studio Pre?

Hey,
Sorry for the late reply guys; completely missed these new posts.

I have recently aquired a Studio pre. I think its basically channel one of the quad, and both are based on the MKIIc+. From my experience, the quad is more open sounding than the studio pre, which is a bit more saturated and modern sounding when it comes to distortion. Although I think my studio pre may have had mods done to it because it's behaving strangely, so I cant say this with any certainty.

What I can say is the Quad does slightly broken clean sounds just as well as high gain Metallica stuff; Channel1rhy 1 or Channel2rhy 2 are great for such tones. Both channels are very warm but can also have some grit if thats what you're after. You can get great bluesy tones as well as cleans/gritty cleans.

From my experience, I would try to get the quad if you can spare the extra cash; it is more versatile because of the two channels, and more open sounding. But you should also ask others with more experience of the Studio Pre as mine is quite limited. It may be that the Quad's extra possibilities are surplus to your requirements.
The only reservation I have towards the Quad is that it is quite difficult to get the volume settings right between each channel. It can take a bit of time to sort out your tone. The Studio pre is less hassle in that respect. Check out my settings - you can start from there if you have any trouble. I dont scoop my mids too much so the settings can work for alot of different styles. Just mess with the volume and lead gain knobs to have less distortion, if you're after bluesy/ slightly broken cleans. Alternatively you could try just using the settings on channel 1 for a studio pre.

I recorded some new vids recently, one being of an AC/DC track to see how the tone came out. It might help you decide:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xag7p5BoP6M

Nik

 

[Wolfster]

Nice videos! This is actually the setup I'm aiming for and your right it's really hard to find good videos of this setup, these are actually the best I've seen. I was more curious about how rhythm sounded but low and behold you even got that covered too, nice job. I was also curious is to how you have your 295 set. Volume, presence, and even what kind of tubes if ya don't mind. If you do find a better mic I'll be the first in line to check it out. I'm mostly wondering how heavy it can get. I do play a good bit of modern metal, but I don't really care for the sound a lot of bands have. I love the sound of And Justice For All but kind of looking for something more in the range of Lamb of God or at least somewhere in between. I know Lab of God uses mark 4s and I guess now the 5s but finishing this rig is my first priority ATM. I love how they are really heavy but their sound is still really tight and not over distorted, unlike a lot of bands these days. If you do play any Lamb of God or anything in that range would love to hear what that sounds like if you get the chance.

PS: The Symphony solo is one of my favs, thought it sounded awesome.

Hi, sorry for the late reply(read post above this one).

Thanks for the kind words. The 295 is great; Since buying it, Ive mostly had it in class A(just EL34s) mode in stereo with both volumes around 2, just so I can practice at home without it being too loud(although it is quite loud!). More recently Ive used a THD hotplate to attenuentate the volume a bit, so I can put it in simul-class mode which uses both the EL34s and 6L6s - it now sounds even better! It has more presence than before but is still tight and warm, and open sounding. I have the older model with the volume knobs at the back and presence switches. Ive never switched the presence on - it sounds too harsh for my ears.

With regards to better audio - I've recently bought a zoomQ3hd, which the latest videos were recorded with(check post above for AC/DC tone). I've also simplified my rig a bit more now, buying the G system to do the job of the Patchmate, Bradshaw, and G force. Im sellling these if anyone is interested along with my BBE sonic maximizer 482i. I still use a boost pedal for rhythm and a tube screamer and compressor for lead. It sounds great (and heavy) even without these, so modest settings are used just to colour the tone a bit. In fact I probably use too much gain but its just soo tempting!

Heres another new vid of the updated rig with me playing the solo from Walk by Pantera:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-pD0YBpUdE

I'll be recording some more vids of rhythm stuff soon aswell, which I'll post here. The Quad/295 combo doesnt get enough praise!

cheers,

Nik

 

[skoora]

I recorded some new vids recently, one being of an AC/DC track to see how the tone came out. It might help you decide:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xag7p5BoP6M

Nik

I'm a diehard plexi Marshall guy and that actually sounded pretty good. It doesn't quite have the richness in the top end and upper mids a good Marshall has but still so much better sounding than a recto or newer boogie trying to cop that vibe.