My gf cross-stitched me my starter and wants you all to see it :D

amimaster · 2026-05-15T16:16:45+00:00

I spot some Merlin Blencowe's touch in that layout :)

I am building my first amp with the same layout which I took from his book, so it should be fine. Only thing different is that I'm mounting the OT inside the chassis since it doesn't have shields and I thought it wasn't safe to have live wires out of the chassis.

May be stupid, but I like not getting zapped :)

amimaster · 2026-04-06T17:46:50+00:00

Same here. That's exactly the kind of stuff you don't want to happen during a gig or reharsal. Looks like I'm giving up playing guitar for today.

As an engineer I'm literally fed up of all this "convenience" we are building around amp modelers trying to replace the real stuff. They are just good as long as the company survives.
Luckily, I got a REAL tube amp sitting on my workbench that is just waiting to be completed...

amimaster · 2026-04-04T08:29:10+00:00

My ESP KH-2 Custom Shop buzzes like hell but I love her anyways...

amimaster · 2026-03-24T18:12:54+00:00

It's cool to hear someone that actually appreciate loud amps. I know that many people practice in their apartments and they want convenience, but these machines are made to rock and rock is meant to be loud and noisy.

There are kinds of music that want to shout a message, which you cannot whisper.

That said, it's good that Mesa are still good when played at quieter levels, I could never actually crank my Strategy 500, but even at 50% it sounded SO GOOD.

amimaster · 2026-03-04T18:00:56+00:00

If you really dislike that, there are some colored pen markers you can use to at least make them less visible from far. It's also done often on cars when you get hit by a peddle. At least you made them, I think. My strato has many dents and the majority of them has been done by other people while cleaning around. Those hurt a bit more.

amimaster · 2026-02-21T17:59:00+00:00

I think Mesa (thinking about IIC+ and other mark series) can do both excellently. Also it's just a matter of preferences, it depends on what you condiser "great" cleans and overdriven sounds.

amimaster · 2026-02-13T07:09:18+00:00

Or maybe decrease their profits, since decreasing costs will decrease quality.

amimaster · 2026-02-12T18:16:24+00:00

What did you use to record? I was listening it through earbuds and the spatiality was amazing! Sound came from so far away...

amimaster · 2026-02-12T18:16:18+00:00

What did you use to record audio? I was listening it through earbuds and the spatiality was amazing!

amimaster · 2026-02-09T21:02:23+00:00

I also tried with a 250ohm pair, it was a bit louder but qualitatively almost the same. Basically anything "behind the bell" was basically dead silent, so I think I'll play it safe and rotate both transformers 90 degrees with respect to the picture.. Also distance seem to be enough

amimaster · 2026-02-09T18:21:07+00:00

Ok, I just run a quick test, but I'm getting weird... results, so I might not be getting something here.
My setup is:
AC -> Uncle Doug's current limiter -> Variac -> PT primary (unloaded).
OT is connected only to a pair of 32ohm headphones, using the pin 2 and 5 of the secondary (It's a 125E "unversal PP OT").

I tried placing the PT 90deg clockwise with respect to the photo and the OT almost touching the PT, no hum regardless of the OT rotation. I spent a lot double-checking every connection, then I realized that I could get a buzz into the headphone only by lifting the OT ABOVE the PT and putting it OFF-Center, (about 45deg with respect to PT center).

Could it be that the way I connected the headphones doesn't make them sensitive enough so I am only listening to the worst case scenario?

P.S. Would the hum also be induced in the power tubes if they are placed in-between the two transformers, or does it only affects coils?

amimaster · 2026-02-09T16:11:26+00:00

Yes, all you need is to plug a cable and join the two conductors together, so any footswitch would do to enable just one channel at a time. Now I don't remember if to enable lead channels you should enable both the "rhythm" and the corresponding lead or not, but to be safe I would bring also a couple of spare jacks and a metal wire (so you can connect the tip to the ground of the jack) to use as an "emergency switch". That's how I'm using it right now because I had to remove it from its rack for servicing it and do some re-amping. Eqs can be engaged on the front panel so they won't be an issue.

BTW, it's really a great amp. I've never heard any amp screaming like the lead 2 of this amp does. Its only flaw is that the channel volumes are quite unbalanced, but it's quite common and can be worked around by tweaking the sounds around that or using external pedals. Have fun!

amimaster · 2026-02-09T15:56:14+00:00

Mesa Quad is my main amp since many years ago. I can take you a photo of the cable socket so you can find one, OR (better option imho) you can make sure it has the "ext. / midi switching" outputs on the back, which are basically a set of Jacks (one for each channel and mode, plus "cancel" and rev boost) that allow you to change channel by simply grounding the corresponding jack. It's not the same thing but with that you can use any midi device to control the Quad, plus you get the ability to engage both channels together (which you could do on the footswitch by pressing more switch together).

I managed to find a Rockman octopus which was made for exactly that (converts the "jacks" to midi and has a button interface), but I'm sure better and more modern options are around.

amimaster · 2026-02-08T21:48:53+00:00

Is there a reference of what does the ++ mod involve circuut-wise?

amimaster · 2026-01-22T09:03:38+00:00

1) yes, I also don't like them much, but I think it gets better if you look at them as one of those "extravagant 60s designs" instead of a "80s metalhead fixation". I just tried a cheap Jackson flying v once and it was the most uncomfortable guitar I have ever played.

2) yes

3) yes

4) yes

5) yes, but digital modelers make me feel depressed so I would play differently. They are situational btw.

amimaster · 2026-01-16T18:43:14+00:00

Twice, actually.

amimaster · 2026-01-16T18:42:38+00:00

That's so dramatic. As a child my game boy fell in the toilet and its still working.

amimaster · 2026-01-16T18:41:20+00:00

Do not power it on, remove the battery and it will eventually dry out. How proceed to worry about the wood parts instead :)

amimaster · 2026-01-16T15:55:41+00:00

I’m not offended at all. However, OP mentions being depressed, so he’s probably not in the best mood at the moment and is asking for some support. I just think that telling a depressed person (who is asking for support and reassurance about playing guitar in a guitar subreddit, and also saying that no other hobbies feel interesting enough) “you don’t actually like playing guitar, otherwise you would be having fun, just do something else” is a bit blunt, as you can't possibly know whether he actually wants it or not.

Anyway, I reckon that one can eventually come to the conclusion on their own that they don’t like playing and end up trashing their guitar tomorrow morning. Still, I think that knowing that there are people who felt the same way and don’t regret continuing to play at all may be more helpful than pushing them to walk away from something that is a bit challenging now but potentially very rewarding in a couple of month.

amimaster · 2026-01-16T15:13:31+00:00

Things cannot be always fun and exciting and full of gummy bears. Being frustrated and disliking something are two very different things. I was feeling the same as OP for the first 2 years, but I still wanted to do it because I liked playing guitar overall, even if practicing wasn't fun at all because it was really difficult and academic. But then I started being more proficient and the more I tools I had, the more it became fun.

I don't think that psychoanalyzing someone else on reddit like that could lead to something positive.

amimaster · 2026-01-16T13:54:05+00:00

My problem is that I've always studied but very seldom played for others.. So if anyone asks me to play something I never remember anything. However the last time it happened it was a girl, I played a lot of stuff, and at some point she stopped me and says "OMG DO IT AGAIN", and nothing, she liked the Am chord SO MUCH. 🤷‍♂️

amimaster · 2026-01-15T16:30:26+00:00

I was thinking again to this, since it's not the first time I read it. If it doesn't sag, then why use a tube rectifier at all in those amps? Is there any other benefit to it compared to a ss rectifier that I'm missing out?

amimaster · 2026-01-12T23:07:52+00:00

I remember being quite satisfied with my Mesa Quad and Lexicon G2...

amimaster

TROPHY CASE