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Topic: Mesa Boogie 1-15 for PSG- feedback wanted |
Lefty
From:
Grayson, Ga.
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Posted 29 May 2004 1:44 pm |
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I traded my Fender Vibrosonic reverb in on my Peavey Session 500 years ago. I wanted to get more clean headroom, etc. I guess lately I have started to miss the warm sound of a tube amp. I bought a Mesa Boogie 1-15 60/100 watt combo (1979 Mark II), that I have not received yet. It has a stock Altec 1-15. I would appreciate feedback for those who have tried these. I have a couple of Mesa's for guitar, and believe they are a quality product. The reverb is a bit anemic for me. I don't know if this will live up to my old Vibrosonic, but I hope so.
Lefty,
AKA Richard Born
Sho-Bud LDG
Dekley D-10
G&L ASAT[This message was edited by Lefty on 02 June 2004 at 06:06 PM.] |
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Joe A. Camacho
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Posted 29 May 2004 7:22 pm
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| So you're the lucky one who won that auction... That Boogie should be great for steel, I'd probably run it at 60 watts since they sound better when run a little hot... btw if it's not what you expected let me know I'd love to take it off of your hands and give it a good home and good luck with your back, these mothers are heavy! |
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Lefty
From:
Grayson, Ga.
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Posted 30 May 2004 3:32 am
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Joe,
You are correct, 125 LBS. in the case. More than my 51 year old back can stand. #1 Son will have to help me load this one.
I have never used an Altec speaker. If it does not work, I will swap the EVM 15L out of my Fender Pro.
Lefty
Sho-Bud LDG
Dekley D-10
Les Paul Deluxe |
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Greg McMullen
From:
Brooklyn, New York
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Posted 30 May 2004 2:26 pm
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i own an early 70's mark I with a 15". i changed the reverb pan from a 2 spring to a 3 spring, and now it really sings.
i've gone through a few speakers though. it currently has a d130 in it, but i favor k130's. i'm curious about the altec...
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David Doggett
From:
Bawl'mer, MD (formerly of MS, Nawluns, Gnashville, Knocksville, Lost Angeles, Bahsten. and Philly)
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Posted 1 Jun 2004 8:19 am
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| Haven't tried a Mark I or II with a 15" speaker, but other Mesa amps I have tried seemed designed to break up early and play dirty, the way six-stringers like them. Also, 125 lbs. seems ungodly heavy. For pdeal steel, I have found that the late '70s silver face tube amps have the right balance of tube warmth and clean headroom. The heavier ones I put in a Dual Showman head cabinet and play with extension speaker cabinets. I recently put a Super Twin Reverb chassis (the combo was 110 lbs.) in a head cabinet, for a small 50 lb. package. It has 180 clean tube watts, and switchable 5-band active EQ. It's gotta be the best pedal steel amp on earth. |
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Peter Siegel
From:
Belmont, CA, USA
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Posted 1 Jun 2004 8:43 am
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"I traded my Fender Vibrosonic reverb in on my Peavey Session 500 years ago."
Wow, 500 years? Now that's a vintage amp! 
-Peter
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Lefty
From:
Grayson, Ga.
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Posted 1 Jun 2004 5:08 pm
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Greg,
Your 3 spring reverb sounds like a good fix. I would appreciate details about where you got the 3 spring, and if any modificaions were needed. I have an out-board Fender reissue reverb that I bought on the forum that sounds great, if I need it. But I always try to limit my rig.
David,
My Vibrosonic reverb was a Mid 70's master volume model, 110 watts I believe. It was a great amp, sorry I traded it. At the time I was looking for an amp that would work for Steel and guitar, as I was doubling on the two. I used a Musicman 2-12, but it did not have the low end howl for the steel.
That Quad reverb is a beast. I know Freddie King used one as did Waylon (two of them). Great sound. I bought this Boogie because I believed it would be the best for steel and guitar (I wanted one when they came out, but did not have the bucks). I will let you know how it works out. My Mark I reissue has a good loud , clean sound at 100 watts.
Peter,
Every site needs a grammer Nazi, and my grammer is not the greatest (or typing). Seems like everything I own is getting old these days, but better (most of it).
Thanks to all,
Lefty,
Sho-Bud LDG
Dekley D-10
Rickenbacker lap[This message was edited by Lefty on 01 June 2004 at 06:29 PM.] |
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Bobby Lee
From:
Cloverdale, California, USA
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Posted 2 Jun 2004 3:55 pm
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| Quote: |
| Haven't tried a Mark I or II with a 15" speaker, but other Mesa amps I have tried seemed designed to break up early and play dirty, the way six-stringers like them. |
I've owned a variety of Mesa amps, and none of them "break up early" in the clean channel if you set them right. The volume pot for the clean channel controls the gain of the first tube. If you keep that fairly low but hot enough for a good tone, the clean sound will progress through the various stages of the amp.
The mistake a lot of people make is to try to set their volume with the first stage gain control (misnamed "Volume"). The volume of the amp should always be set with the master volume control.
------------------
 Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs, Open Hearts
Sierra Session 12 (E9), Williams 400X (Emaj9, D6), Sierra Olympic 12 (C6add9),
Sierra Laptop 8 (E6add9), Fender Stringmaster (E13, A6),
Roland Handsonic, Line 6 Variax |
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Lefty
From:
Grayson, Ga.
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Posted 2 Jun 2004 5:10 pm
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Bob,
Good point. I can set either of my 1-12 Boogies up for a nice clean sound. I know with the Mark II though if it is set for the best clean tone, the overdrive channel suffers a little and visa-versa. This 1-15 will be used for Pedal Steel, and maybe a little clean guitar. My hopes are it will work well in clean mode.
Lefty,
Dekley D-10
Sho-Bud LDG
G&L ASAT[This message was edited by Lefty on 02 June 2004 at 06:50 PM.] [This message was edited by Lefty on 03 June 2004 at 05:02 AM.] |
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Lefty
From:
Grayson, Ga.
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Posted 9 Jun 2004 1:29 am
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Well I got this beast yesterday. It is in really good shape considering it is a 25 year old amp. After about a half hour I was dialing in a pretty good sound, loud and clean in the 100 watt mode. The Altec 15 speaker is close to a JBL D-130 sound, but not quite. The reverb is better than either of my other Boogies. The channel switch provides a good guitar lead tone on the second channel. This is exactly what I wanted 20 years ago when I was playing Steel and swapping over to guitar. Wish I had the whole day to play, but I am a working stiff.
Lefty
Dekley D-10
Sho-Bud LDG
Boogie Mark II 1-15[This message was edited by Lefty on 09 June 2004 at 02:30 AM.] |
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Lefty
From:
Grayson, Ga.
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Posted 24 Jun 2004 8:26 am
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Not much feedback on these. I added a new set of matched Svetlana 6L6 tubes, and it made a big difference. This amp sounds so good, I can hardly stand it. Maybe as good as my old Vibrosonic Reverb. Nothing like big ol tube tone.
Lefty,
Dekley D-10
Sho-Bud LDG
Mesa Boogie 1-15 |
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Bobby Lee
From:
Cloverdale, California, USA
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Posted 24 Jun 2004 3:09 pm
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I wired a lot of those Mark II and IIb amps when I was working for Mesa (1980-85). The wide-chassis amps were easier to build, because there was more space in them. We even made a high-powered version with six 6L6 tubes. It was very loud and very clean. I took one on a bar gig once and nearly blew the roof off the place.
I don't think we used Altecs at all when I was there. All of the 15" speakers were ElectroVoice.
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Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs, Open Hearts
Sierra Session 12 (E9), Williams 400X (Emaj9, D6), Sierra Olympic 12 (C6add9),
Sierra Laptop 8 (E6add9), Fender Stringmaster (E13, A6),
Roland Handsonic, Line 6 Variax |
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