• Ernie Ball
  • MusicMan
  • Sterling by MusicMan

Devnor

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 27, 2004
Messages
185
Location
Dallas, TX
Last night during a break my 1990 Boogie Mk3 combo spew forth flames from the chassis...followed by an impressive cloud of smoke. This amp was well cared for & recently retubed.

I play primarily at bedroom levels in a high gain mode. Anyone have any ideas about another amp that will scream like the boogie does at low volume levels? I'm going to check out a Vetta 2 this afternoon.
 

koogie2k

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 28, 2002
Messages
5,859
Location
Moyock, NC
I have the Vetta II, but cannot give you a comparison as I never owned a Boogie. I like the Vetta and it is quite versatile. :cool:
 

mhorse

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 15, 2005
Messages
362
Location
Amherst, MA
Devnor said:
Last night during a break my 1990 Boogie Mk3 combo spew forth flames from the chassis...followed by an impressive cloud of smoke. This amp was well cared for & recently retubed.

I play primarily at bedroom levels in a high gain mode. Anyone have any ideas about another amp that will scream like the boogie does at low volume levels? I'm going to check out a Vetta 2 this afternoon.

Maybe another Boogie? For the price of Vetta 2 you can a really nice Mesa amp.
Soldano Astroverb is a nice-sounding small amp, but it's only 1 channel... and it doesn't sound like Mesa, it has a sound of its own. I liked it though.
As a matter of fact, I was thinking of unloading my Mesa to get one, so if you're interested in 94 Mesa DC-5 1x12, PM me.
 

John C

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 16, 2004
Messages
973
Location
Kansas City
If you're a Mark player why not check out the Mark IV? With the master output it should theoretically be easier to dial in both clean and scream at bedroom volumes than your MK III. Of course it's been years since I played a MK IV and decades since I played a MK III, so my memory of their sound could be faulty.
 

thindave

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 17, 2004
Messages
448
Location
Manalapan, New Jersey
I have a Mark IV - I find that it's great when playing live, but I think it's a little too much amp for bedroom levels (not bad when you witch it to "Tweed"). I've been using my PodXTLive through a Bose PS-1 and it's great. Maybe a POD and one of those Atomic amps?
 

mhorse

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 15, 2005
Messages
362
Location
Amherst, MA
thindave said:
I have a Mark IV - I find that it's great when playing live, but I think it's a little too much amp for bedroom levels (not bad when you witch it to "Tweed"). I've been using my PodXTLive through a Bose PS-1 and it's great. Maybe a POD and one of those Atomic amps?

That may be a good idea too. I would also consider using different preamps, not just POD: Mesa V-Twin, Bad Cat 2-tone, Vox Tonelab etc.
 

AxSport4me

Well-known member
Joined
May 9, 2005
Messages
171
Location
Morrisville, PA
I swear by my Rivera Knucklehead combo! Amazing,amazing clean and overdrive channels! This amp can do it all! A little pricey for a combo but its a class A boutique amp and like i always say...you get what you pay for!
 

PeteDuBaldo

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 16, 2004
Messages
10,193
Location
Central Connecticut (Manchester) USA
The amp tried to flambe you? Wow, I have never gotten my amp THAT upset with me!

mhorse said:
Maybe another Boogie? For the price of Vetta 2 you can a really nice Mesa amp.
Soldano Astroverb is a nice-sounding small amp, but it's only 1 channel... and it doesn't sound like Mesa, it has a sound of its own. I liked it though.
As a matter of fact, I was thinking of unloading my Mesa to get one, so if you're interested in 94 Mesa DC-5 1x12, PM me.


That's what's so great about this forum! You can help him, I can help you, everyone can be happy :)

Hey, even NorM is doing a dance of joy in the open house thread, so he's happy too :D
 

nobozos

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 10, 2002
Messages
675
Location
Pekin, Illinois
You have to try a Vox AD120VTX. To my ear, it comes closer than any other modeling amp to nailing true tube tone. It also has the advantage of being able to adjust the output from 120 watts all the way down to 1 watt, so it is perfect for bedroom level playing, or gigging. You can put it down to 1 watt, crank the master volume, and get a cranked sound.

I recently traded my Mesa Nomad for one, and I'm not at all unhappy.
 

Mick

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 21, 2004
Messages
1,405
Location
Germany
Wow who retubed this thing for you, did you use Mesa Tubes since they are recommended for the perfect bias point???
Bad karma:-((
 

tvanveen

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 25, 2003
Messages
666
Location
DC
Devnor said:
Last night during a break my 1990 Boogie Mk3 combo spew forth flames from the chassis...followed by an impressive cloud of smoke.

You are officially a rock star now.
 

Devnor

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 27, 2004
Messages
185
Location
Dallas, TX
Hey guys... thanks for the tips :)

I just got back from trying the Vetta II with my Morse. Overall a fun toy, the Morse really shines with this amp but I dont use effects that much. In the end this thing would be obsolete in 5 years like my synthesizers. I only had time to try 1 amp out (lunch hour) so I'm going back tomorrow.

Mesa Mark IV: I wish I could find one in Dallas.. still looking. The Lonestar Special looks interesting; Im trying that tomorrow. If Mesa would do a re-issue Mark II C+, I'd buy one today. I'm not really into these new Mesas with all the switches like the Lone Star, Road King, Dual Rectos. I prefer the older, simpler designs.

Thanks for the tip on the Rivera... I'll look for that too. Probably will stay away from digital and SS amps.

I always retubed with Mesa tubes :(
 

SteveLINY

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 10, 2004
Messages
259
Location
Long Island, NY
Devnor said:
Hey guys... thanks for the tips :)

I just got back from trying the Vetta II with my Morse. Overall a fun toy, the Morse really shines with this amp but I dont use effects that much. In the end this thing would be obsolete in 5 years like my synthesizers. I only had time to try 1 amp out (lunch hour) so I'm going back tomorrow.

Mesa Mark IV: I wish I could find one in Dallas.. still looking. The Lonestar Special looks interesting; Im trying that tomorrow. If Mesa would do a re-issue Mark II C+, I'd buy one today. I'm not really into these new Mesas with all the switches like the Lone Star, Road King, Dual Rectos. I prefer the older, simpler designs.

Thanks for the tip on the Rivera... I'll look for that too. Probably will stay away from digital and SS amps.

I always retubed with Mesa tubes :(
Get a used Mark 3 red stripe, and save the money on a BS 2C+...
The M3 can nail the exact tone... Trust me I have both.
Steve
 

bluebullet

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 28, 2004
Messages
231
if you want to get by cheap check out the palimino crates at guitar center i never thought i would recomend crate but they sound really good.they are all tube and american made
 

cbpmmjp05

Well-known member
Joined
May 26, 2005
Messages
187
Location
New York
Devnor said:
Hey guys... thanks for the tips :)

I just got back from trying the Vetta II with my Morse. Overall a fun toy, the Morse really shines with this amp but I dont use effects that much. In the end this thing would be obsolete in 5 years like my synthesizers. I only had time to try 1 amp out (lunch hour) so I'm going back tomorrow.

Mesa Mark IV: I wish I could find one in Dallas.. still looking. The Lonestar Special looks interesting; Im trying that tomorrow. If Mesa would do a re-issue Mark II C+, I'd buy one today. I'm not really into these new Mesas with all the switches like the Lone Star, Road King, Dual Rectos. I prefer the older, simpler designs.

Thanks for the tip on the Rivera... I'll look for that too. Probably will stay away from digital and SS amps.

I always retubed with Mesa tubes :(

Hey Devnor, have you thought about trying an Engl? They make some quality amps, and their prices are pretty comparable to the Mesa stuff. The new Peavey JSX really rocks, as well. Just a couple of suggestions. :)
 

tommyindelaware

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 24, 2002
Messages
3,274
Location
wilmington , delaware
Devnor said:
Hey guys... thanks for the tips :)

I just got back from trying the Vetta II with my Morse. Overall a fun toy, the Morse really shines with this amp but I dont use effects that much. In the end this thing would be obsolete in 5 years like my synthesizers. I only had time to try 1 amp out (lunch hour) so I'm going back tomorrow.

Mesa Mark IV: I wish I could find one in Dallas.. still looking. The Lonestar Special looks interesting; Im trying that tomorrow. If Mesa would do a re-issue Mark II C+, I'd buy one today. I'm not really into these new Mesas with all the switches like the Lone Star, Road King, Dual Rectos. I prefer the older, simpler designs.

Thanks for the tip on the Rivera... I'll look for that too. Probably will stay away from digital and SS amps.

I always retubed with Mesa tubes :(

if ya get another mesa.....get em ta throw in a little fire extinguisher !!!

:D
 

Devnor

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 27, 2004
Messages
185
Location
Dallas, TX
Didnt Engl make a Richie Blackmore model? :D

Again thanks for the suggestions. I owned a Mk II C+ up till 1990 and loved the amp but there is no way I'd pay todays used prices; I'll keep an eye out for a red stripe Mark 3. IIRC mine is a green stripe.

This afternoon I put together this abomination of a rig...thats an Acoustic 2x12 loaded with celestions, boss metal zone & 10-band EQ, line 6 delay, electric mistress and Mesa bass 400. Its' output stage has 12 6L6s running at 500w. I've never tried this config but it nails the pantera sound, heh.

making_due.jpg
 

neastguy

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 15, 2005
Messages
213
zinky blue velvet should be able to get you to most places you need to go.....at bedroom levels.. :D
 
Top Bottom