Re: Anybody else have an amp they have a LOVE/ HATE relationship with?
I've had this happen, too.
My old SUNN Solos II sounded great with single coils, but really grainy and edgy with certain humbuckers. My JCM 800 kicked butt when run above 5, and sounded thin and wimpy below that. I've had a couple of BF Fender heads, but I always missed reverb.
I've always said that the Mesa's had the tone and features I needed. I really found the tones I wanted in my first Mark III head and 412. I went through several amps, but when I found it, it was such a great feeling of joy.
I've had some frustration in learning how to cope with the different response of the EL-84 amps, but that was a minor thing and I quickly realized how good they sound. And the Mark V just has so many great tones, it's been hard to narrow it down to just a few. Talk about a first world problem, lol.
Most of the Mesa amps are not good for those with a need for instant gratification. They're not really plug and play; they take some dedication and commitment to find the best tones. And it can actually be harder with the Caliber Series amps. But I think it was worth the time and effort to find my sound with the Mesa amps I have.
When an amp sounds good one day and blah the next, it could be a sign of a weak tube in the amp. Another issue could be that the voltage coming out of the wall socket is not as steady as it could be, and that can be easily checked. I find that they do like to be played with some volume, but I think Mesas tend to sound better at low volume than many other amps.
I think sometimes it's just a matter of barometric pressure affecting our ears. And sometimes it's just a matter of having faith...in my gear, my talent, and my gear. Faith. I swear, sometimes the less I worry about tone the better I actually sound.
Bill
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