Boogie Bill
New member
Re: Mesa Mark I
That really is such a non-issue about the tube-biasing. Remember, Randy Smith worked on amps for years before he came up with the Mesa design--he's seen a lot of people screw up bias adjustments, which is why Mesa sets their amps with a fixed bias. The state of the tube market being what it is, most reputable vendors are able to supply you tubes that will balance correctly in a Mesa amp.
Let's look at one of the big myths of tube biasing. Go buy a set of Groove Tubes, and let's say you opt for a set of 6L6s and you get GT #6 tubes, and you take them to your tech and he bias the amp for your GT #6s. Great. Next time you need tubes, just pop another set GT #6s in there--and Groove Tubes will tell you, "Hey, with the same nuber, you don't need to re-bias your amp!"
Okay, let's repeat that story with a set of tubes from The Tubestore.com, and set your amp up with their "Perfect Pair" numbers. Bingo! No need to re-bias the next time your replace tubes if you use the same number, right?
So how are these two scenarios diferent than what Mesa does?
Answer: It's no different at all. Just like Mesa, you are putting a rated tube into circuit with a set, and known, bias.
Just as Randall Smith states in some of his white papers, the "your amp needs biasing" is a big money maker for repair shops...and tube sellers. Smith's argument makes a lot of sense to me.
The fact that I don't like the Mark I has nothing to do with Mesa's bias circuit; and everything to do with a preamp circuit that, while it was THE state of the art thirty years ago, is a little finnicky and sensitive for my taste.
I've used Mesa amps exclusively for more than ten years now. I regularly get compliments on my tone--compliments I didn't get when using Fender or Marshall gear. My amps have Mesa tubes, Groove Tubes, Tubestore tubes, Eurotubes, Brian Sanborn tubes--all without a bias adjustment. My cleans are rich and lush, my overdrive tone sings with expression. Who in their right mind would reject an amp because of a a technical feature in the bias circuit? The bottom line is TONE. These aren't amps for bedroom shredder wannabes. These are amps for gigging professionals, guys who make their living and hang their reps on their tone.
So maybe, Lew, Lord Valve's messing around in your amp wasn't such a great thing after all, and may be that's why the amp didn't work for you?
I don't know about you guys, but I"d think twice about letting just anyone touch my amp, especially someone so pompous that he calls himself "Lord".
Bill
Lewguitar said:
That really is such a non-issue about the tube-biasing. Remember, Randy Smith worked on amps for years before he came up with the Mesa design--he's seen a lot of people screw up bias adjustments, which is why Mesa sets their amps with a fixed bias. The state of the tube market being what it is, most reputable vendors are able to supply you tubes that will balance correctly in a Mesa amp.
Let's look at one of the big myths of tube biasing. Go buy a set of Groove Tubes, and let's say you opt for a set of 6L6s and you get GT #6 tubes, and you take them to your tech and he bias the amp for your GT #6s. Great. Next time you need tubes, just pop another set GT #6s in there--and Groove Tubes will tell you, "Hey, with the same nuber, you don't need to re-bias your amp!"
Okay, let's repeat that story with a set of tubes from The Tubestore.com, and set your amp up with their "Perfect Pair" numbers. Bingo! No need to re-bias the next time your replace tubes if you use the same number, right?
So how are these two scenarios diferent than what Mesa does?
Answer: It's no different at all. Just like Mesa, you are putting a rated tube into circuit with a set, and known, bias.
Just as Randall Smith states in some of his white papers, the "your amp needs biasing" is a big money maker for repair shops...and tube sellers. Smith's argument makes a lot of sense to me.
The fact that I don't like the Mark I has nothing to do with Mesa's bias circuit; and everything to do with a preamp circuit that, while it was THE state of the art thirty years ago, is a little finnicky and sensitive for my taste.
I've used Mesa amps exclusively for more than ten years now. I regularly get compliments on my tone--compliments I didn't get when using Fender or Marshall gear. My amps have Mesa tubes, Groove Tubes, Tubestore tubes, Eurotubes, Brian Sanborn tubes--all without a bias adjustment. My cleans are rich and lush, my overdrive tone sings with expression. Who in their right mind would reject an amp because of a a technical feature in the bias circuit? The bottom line is TONE. These aren't amps for bedroom shredder wannabes. These are amps for gigging professionals, guys who make their living and hang their reps on their tone.
So maybe, Lew, Lord Valve's messing around in your amp wasn't such a great thing after all, and may be that's why the amp didn't work for you?
I don't know about you guys, but I"d think twice about letting just anyone touch my amp, especially someone so pompous that he calls himself "Lord".
Bill
