Which Of These Amps Do You Like Best, And Why?

[Boogie Bill]

Heartbreaker 212 Combo

Nomad 55 212 Combo

Maverick 212 Combo

Three different power levels. Lots of versatility. Three very different sounding amps.


Is the 100-watt Heartbreaker too much amp for a Classic Rock/Blues/Pop-band guitarist playing in clubs?

Is the 35-watt Maverick clean enough to handle those gigs?

The Nomad 55 would seem to be a nearly ideal compromise; but I have some questions about reliability, and fizzy-sounding distortions.

Which of these classic Mesa amps do you lust for?

Bill

 

[Murphy Slaw]

I don't get it Bill? Under your name is a list of amps that makes it appear you have 2 Maverick 2;12 combos?

Then you ask if it can handle gigs?

The answer is yes, but I don't get it?

 

[ToneAddictJon]

I like the heartbreaker best out of that bunch with the maverick a close second. 35 watts is plenty for pretty much any gig, the real concern is speakers, the more speakers you push the louder it will sound. If the gig is too big for 35 watts, chances are they have a PA and mic the guitar.

 

[Tyrant]

All I can say is the Nomad 55 4x10 is chock full of tone. I pulled the trigger on a MarkIVA and figured I might sell it to a friend. Auditioned it with 5 other guitarists who've all played tube amps for many years. You know, a Fender guy and a Marshall guy, a Vox lover etc...

After blowing through around 10 settings- about 3 per channel, I went to make a phone call. When I came back 3 of them were arguing over who was going to buy it, I mean really going at it. I had to chuckle. :lol:

Amazing Tone. I actually decided to keep it. My favorite tones coming from ch 1 twang and channel 3 blues punch. It obviously sounds best cranked, and is extremely loud. Even so, there are many usable tones at lower volumes. I've never heard any fizz.

 

[SixVeeSix]

Not dissing the other two choices as I have not tried them, just chiming in for the Maverick. I use a 1-12" with an upgraded speaker (Peavey Scorpion Ultra) and it is always louder than I need. I can always add a 1-12 cab but have not needed to. Here is one thing I like about the Mav, out on the gig there is redundancy. Blow a rectifier tube and you can just switch to the solid state rectifier and keep playing. Blow a preamp tube and you can just switch to the other preamp, change your settings and keep playing. Short of a Road King or Blue Angel, nobody keeps on playing with an output tube failure. I actually had a preamp tube go bad at the gig and got through to the break no problem. The cleans do get a little grind to them when you spank it but I like that, it is rock n' roll.

 

[Boogie Bill]

I don't get it Bill? Under your name is a list of amps that makes it appear you have 2 Maverick 2;12 combos?

Then you ask if it can handle gigs?

The answer is yes, but I don't get it?

Ah, what a sharp eye you have! Yes, I have two Mavericks, and I'm going to let at least one go in the next week or so. My plans at this point failed to come to fruition. I really don't need two Mavericks.

My regular gigging amp is my Mark IV 112 EVM combo with a 112 EVM Theile. While I think the Mav is fine for gigs, I've heard some people complain that it doesn't have enough headroom for good cleans, a common complaint with EL-84 amps. I'm used to 6L6 amps, so I do relate to that concern. I have done a couple of gigs with the Mav, and liked it a lot with a 212 Horiz. Recto cab underneath it. A nice little half-stack equivalent, and the Recto added some solid THUMP.

I'm really wondering if the Heartbreaker is just total overkill for what I need; or if the Nomad's flexibility and three channels are all really usable.

I don't see myself using a full-stack Recto or Stiletto--but do the Nomad or Heartbreaker amps offer me anything I don't already have?

Bill

 

[LPClassic]

My favorite is the Maverick but in the 4x10 format, still I prefer it over the other 2, my second would be the Heratbreaker.

 

[Mr_You]

The only reason the Heartbreaker is interesting to me is cause it was made to also run 6V6s. :lol:

 

[Murphy Slaw]

I went from a Fender Prosonic 2;10 combo, all tube (rectifier too, and it'll do Class A w/6L6's) to a Blue Angel 1;12 combo 6/7 months ago.

I put a V30 in it and was instantly floored. I'm not at all into fizz, and the Blue Angel cranked is something to behold.

I wanted a Maverick or Blue Angel since they first came out but didn't go to the trouble to get one (no dealers within many hours drive) until 6/7 months ago.

I prefer smaller wattage amps that are run near wide open.

Best of luck.

 

[Mr_You]

Yeah I'm planning on running 6V6s in a Lone Star. Will compare the C90 vs V30 too. I think I'm going to stick to ceramic speakers vs alnico.

 

[rizboog]

the heartbreaker can do 60 watts too, I love tha amp, have 2, 1 has to go, but I will always keep one, can get tons of different tones. I like it the best.