Dialling in MESAs.........

[Brow]

Hey guys.

Over the last few days I've decided to sell alot of my stuff I'm not using and buy a versatile valve combo.

Up until now I've mainly used a clean head and gotten all my OD tones from pedals, which works well with lower gain sounds and pickups, but if I go for something heavier sounding(or a guitar with higher output pickups) it doesn't really work.

My plan is to sell alot of my rack gear, Orange head, spare cab and atleast 1 guitar and put that money towards a good quality amp. I've managed to borrow a MESA Nomad 55 1x12 combo as it seems to fit what I'm looking for with it's versatility, the problem is now coming with dialling it in!

So far I've used it with master output at about 11 o clock (can't push it too much as am at home) with a Les Paul with PAF style pickups and aside from a decent sounding clean on channel 1, both OD channels on 2 and 3 sound like a cheap distortion pedal!

Is this just a nature of these amps or do I suck at dialling it in? Has anyone got any tips for me so I don't write this amp off before getting to it's full potential.

Thanks.

Craig

[Dazza1004]

depends, when I had my Stiletto I couldn't get the sound I was looking for when playing at home but with the band it cut like a knife and sat really well in the mix.

I am not a massive Mesa expert but I perceive the Nomad series as a bit of an all-rounder with could be a strength or weakness depending on what you are wanting to use it for.

It could just be you need a bit of time to get used to it, or it may just not be for you (especially if you have a specific genre you are focussed on). The boogie board would be a good place for you to do some research, I also remember there was a big Nomad thread on harmony central a while ago, maybe worth a read.

[Brow]

Thanks for your reply.

Due to the fact that I had the amp up halfway and was sat infront of it and it wasn't overly loud, it's been bought to my attention that the valves in it might be shot, which kinda puts the mockers on my testing it to maybe buy it  :? :shock:

[viking]

Thanks for your reply.

Due to the fact that I had the amp up halfway and was sat infront of it and it wasn't overly loud, it's been bought to my attention that the valves in it might be shot, which kinda puts the mockers on my testing it to maybe buy it  :? :shock:

It could be the valves.... because the Nomad is VERY loud !I own a Nomad 55 212 and it took me a while to be able to dial it properly.It's not easy.All the controls are very sensible and interactive.Many Nomad (and M&B,in general)owners  like to add an equaliser in the loop (i don't do it). There was a big thread about the Nomad on the Boogie board also.The guys (multiple Nomad owners) asked for it to be permanent (like for other models) but i don't know if it was done or not.But you should be able to find it anyhow..I'm using mine with another cab and it sounds much better.Did you buy it or just testing it?

[Zaned]

I've owned only one Mesa, but handled a few. Get copy of the manual, they're quite often a good read.

About dialling Mesas, the controls are pretty interactive, the treble control being the most powerful. For example, set the tone controls to 12 o'clock and presence (if the amp has it) to 10 o'clock. THEN, first dial the treble where you think you have enough high end. Then tune the lows, and then the mids. Adjust presence.

On many Mesas, the treble control really changes the character of the amp..

-Zaned

[Brow]

Cheers for the posts guys.

I'm not sure what the problem was the other night when I 1st tried the amp, but I tried it again last night for an hour or so and right from the get go it instantly sounded alot better and louder than yesterday at the same volume and EQ settings.

The amp has been in storage for the best part of a year since the guy selling it has moved onto an Orange amp, so maybe it just needed a good warm through or something?

I still couldn't find any settings I loved, but overall the amp generallly sounded 'better'

Originally Posted by disturb 
Mesa's EQ are interactive. Raising or lowering one frequency affects the others. When you raise the Treble, it affects the way the Mids & Bass react. Typically you want to keep the Mids under control with them. I find 11:00 to be the sweet spot for most Mesa Mids. Treble usually 12:00 - 1:00. Bass 12:00. Gain 1:00 - 2:00. That should get you in the ballpark

I tried these settings on all 3 channels and they all gave me a sound I liked and when pushed a little more with a treble booster, really opened the amp up and made me actually like it more

I still have a few weeks with it I think, so will carry on trying it out and see if liking it turns to loving it 

I've owned only one Mesa, but handled a few. Get copy of the manual, they're quite often a good read.

About dialling Mesas, the controls are pretty interactive, the treble control being the most powerful. For example, set the tone controls to 12 o'clock and presence (if the amp has it) to 10 o'clock. THEN, first dial the treble where you think you have enough high end. Then tune the lows, and then the mids. Adjust presence.

On many Mesas, the treble control really changes the character of the amp..

-Zaned

I'd heard these amps were difficult to dial in, so managed to get the manual vefore I got the amp. Quite an indepth read!  :lol: I'll use your tips to tweak the amp more and see where it goes from there.

I've borrowed this amp for the time being as the guy that owns it now uses an Orange Rockerverb combo. He's asking for £800, which I dunno is a good deal or not?

[shaman]

come on over to the boogie board-www.grailtone.com/click on Boogieboard...a good forum with tons o' experienced cats

[Dazza1004]

come on over to the boogie board-www.grailtone.com/click on Boogieboard...a good forum with tons o' experienced cats

+1, top forum

[Brow]

come on over to the boogie board-www.grailtone.com/click on Boogieboard...a good forum with tons o' experienced cats

Cheers for the heads up.

I've had a look and seems like a decent knowledgeable forum.

I'm not familiar with many of the amps they're talking about though!  :lol:

[shaman]

extremely knowledgeable cats here-go to the modern amps section for your needs...I would search foe nomad in the modern amps section-cheers

[Simon D]

Coming late to this, I know, but the manual is available online at Mesa's site, and has some useful tips on dialing in tones, as well as some example tones. I found the manual tips pretty handy when i first got my 5:50.

http://www.mesaboogie.com/manuals/Nomad%20Manual.pdf

[Brow]

Coming late to this, I know, but the manual is available online at Mesa's site, and has some useful tips on dialing in tones, as well as some example tones. I found the manual tips pretty handy when i first got my 5:50.

http://www.mesaboogie.com/manuals/Nomad%20Manual.pdf

Hi Simon.

Cheers for the link.

I'd already downloaded the manual before I got the amp and gave it a semi thorough read throug. I tried all the sample settings and can't say as many of them did much for me tbh. Since then I've been able to dig out some tones I like though, but thanks anyway :)

[Simon D]

No worries. It's odd, sometimes those manual settings work great for people, sometimes they really don't. Like I said, the 5:50 sample tones were cool with me, but a friend who bought a Lonestar thought all the manual settings sounded rubbish!

Glad you're happy with the amp anway. How are your eardrums? ;-)

[Brow]

No worries. It's odd, sometimes those manual settings work great for people, sometimes they really don't. Like I said, the 5:50 sample tones were cool with me, but a friend who bought a Lonestar thought all the manual settings sounded rubbish!

Glad you're happy with the amp anway. How are your eardrums? ;-)

I'm happy enough with the amp at the minute. Dunno if I'm happy enough to spend £800 on it though!  :lol:

Ear drums are ok so far, I need to get it in a room with a drummer and give it some welly to see how it really sounds though. Something tells me I haven't heard this amp at it's best yet.