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Topic: Cheap Kustom Sienna65 sounded better than my Mesa Nomad |
Daniel McCombe
From:
Pennsylvania, USA
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Posted 2 Apr 2014 10:27 am |
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| Hello everyone I just had a regersal and plugged my GFI into a cheap 65watt kustom amp that tripels as a mic/piezzo/line amp. Plugged into the line and wow 800 dollars cheaper and 100x better than my tube mesa combo amp. Why is this? Headroom? Is there a way I could drastically increase my headroom on my current rig via di box or preamp or pod? Or should I just pick up one of these cheap Kustoms? |
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Paul Arntson
From:
Washington, USA
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Posted 2 Apr 2014 11:37 am
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It sounds like the difference is due to not overdriving the input by using the line input on the Kustom, giving a cleaner signal in the first stage. I guess that's headroom, but due to "gain structure"=avoiding too much gain in the first stage. If you have a buffer or active volume pedal, try running the Mesa with a much lowered input level and see what happens.
I would think you could get a good sound from the Mesa if you tinker around adjusting the EQ and lowering the signal level in. Maybe b0b can chime in. I think he has one.
I bet the Kustom is a lot lighter.
Downside is it won't have any resale value, but if you like the sound...
It might make sense to try to find a used one and avoid the drive-off-the-lot depreciation.
I have a Kustom Arrow 16 and it's a great little practice amp. Their designer definitely knows what he is doing, if it's the same guy.
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Excel D10 8&4, Supro 8, Regal resonator, Peavey Powerslide, homemade lap 12(a work in progress) |
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Jim Kennedy
From:
Brentwood California, USA
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Posted 4 Apr 2014 9:20 am
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Mesa amps are made specifically for guitar, to give that "rock guitar" sound. The speakers in them are selected to enhance that sound. The original idea behind the design was to pack as much power as possible into as small a package as possible. I have a Mesa 50 Calibre. Great for guitar, sucks for psteel, even with my Webb 15 inch cabinet. I'm not saying that there isn't a model out there that might work, they just weren't designed to have the amount of clean headroom needed for psteel. Just think of Santana's sound. Mine does work if I'm looking for a more rock or blusey sound from my psteel. And they are phenomenal work horses. Mine survived being dropped out a pickup going 20 miles an hour.
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ShoBud Pro 1, 75 Tele, 85 Yamaha SA 2000, Fender Cybertwin, |
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