Mesa 2:90 ???

Scott Denniston · Post by **Scott Denniston** » 25 Mar 2006 8:53 pm

Has anyone used this power amp much in a rack for steel? I'm considering one. It's got 4 6L6 tubes per channel and it looks like one could configure each side differently for lows & highs. I've read a couple of posts that said the VHT 2/90/2 might be a little too high powered with the Kt88s(tubes). That the 6L6s would have a bit more "roundness". Wish I could compare them side by side but that's not practical. Anyone tried both?

Gerald Menke · Post by **Gerald Menke** » 28 Mar 2006 9:41 am

A buddy of mine has a monster rack with two of 2:90:2's in it, if you can believe it. I am probably going to see him this weekend, and I will see how the Mesa amp compares to the VHT that I currently use. I've begun wondering if the Mesa amp might be the thing to do, since a lot of Boogie and Mesa products sprang from Fender amps modded in the 70's, if I'm not mistaken.

I'll post something here soon.

Gerald

Scott Denniston · Post by **Scott Denniston** » 28 Mar 2006 12:11 pm

Thanks Gerald. I'd be interested in hearing about that.I did though today just purchase a VHT 2/90/2 but am not at home and won't really get a chance to work with it for a while. I'm using Brad's Revelation which is the best sounding pre I've played out of so the high headroom VHT should be pretty nice. I would still like to try that Mesa with the 6L6s though.

Mike Pace · Post by **Mike Pace** » 28 Mar 2006 4:00 pm

I was in the market for a new power amp a few years ago, and it came down to the VHT & Mesa 2:90... I ended up with the Mesa, and I feel it's a great sounding amp, but I wouldve been happy either way. My only gripe~ there's no way to bias it to your tubes, so your stuck buying the expensive color coded Mesa tubes, unless you know the model codes for Sovtek....

Mark Metdker · Post by **Mark Metdker** » 30 Mar 2006 12:19 pm

I talked to Steve Fryette of VHT the other day about the 2/90/2. He has a mod for this amp that will make it sound bigger and warmer, but also just as clean. If anyone is interested in the mod, contact Steve at VHT. He said he would furnish the parts for the mod.

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Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 30 Mar 2006 10:43 pm

I think it would be too much power. How's your hearing?

Steve Stallings · Post by **Steve Stallings** » 2 Apr 2006 12:54 pm

<SMALL>I think it would be too much power</SMALL>

Nah... ya can't have too much power. Sorta like too much fun....

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Steve Stallings · Post by **Steve Stallings** » 2 Apr 2006 12:56 pm

oh yeah... I know a fellow in Austin trying to sell that Mesa unit.

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Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 3 Apr 2006 5:34 pm

My Mesa 20/20 sounds better than my 50/50. I only use the 50/50 when I know I'll need to be really loud. I can't imagine a gig where I'd need more power than that.

Dan Tyack · Post by **Dan Tyack** » 4 Apr 2006 12:50 pm

The thing about the VHT 2-90-2 is not so much the volume as the *HUGE* bottom end. If you hit a low C6th note it sounds like a grand piano. The KT-88 tubes are know for this J LO effect.

That said, I own one of these power amps (the VHT) and it sits in my music room. I normally just use my THD 30 watt head.

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Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 5 Apr 2006 9:24 am

I don't play enough low notes to make it worth hauling the extra weight around. Seems that it would be a good amp for bass players.

Scott Denniston · Post by **Scott Denniston** » 5 Apr 2006 2:43 pm

I edited my last post (and bOb kindly deleted it) as when I read it later it seemed kind of obtuse & condisending. Mostly meant in jest! Anyway, I really don't think that too much power is much of a problem because the volume is adjusted with the pre and the pedal. More power seems to make for more headroom. I think that my Stewert 1000 gives me a MUCH cleaner and fuller sound than I ever found with my Twins or Peaveys. I guess what I was referring to in my original post about the KT88 tubes maybe being too powerful as opposed to the 6L6's is a question of tone and how the two might differ. I read in another post (I think by Gerald Menke) that the KT88 might sound a little too clean with all that power. It might be pretty cool with the Revelation in front of it though. For smaller rooms, the VHT has the switch that shuts down two of the tubes cutting the power in half. If I could compare the Mesa & VHT side by side I would but my VHT will arrive Friday so I guess I'm stuck with that. I'm really looking forward to it.

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 5 Apr 2006 8:26 pm

It seems that power tubes don't get their best tone until they reach a certain output level. When you have 4 6L6s on each side, all 8 tubes have to cross that threshold before the amp really starts to sing. That's LOUD.

Being able to turn off half of the tubes would be a big plus. My 50/50 has a "half power" switch, but I think it just attenuates the input or something. I can't get a good sound with it at half power. That switch is useless, IMO.

The 20/20 has 4 EL84's (two per side). I run it into a pair of alnico Tone Tubbies. It may not be real loud, but it sure sounds sweet!

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Sutton Reid · Post by **Sutton Reid** » 9 Apr 2006 8:50 pm

I tried a Mesa 50/50 and was very disappointed with it and swapped up for a 2:90. Absolutely no comparison. Even at low volumes (where a 20/20 is still very clean) the 2:90 is awesome. Headroom, yes, but also excellent control of the speaker, especially bass. I bought two of the Thiel speakers when I bought the 50/50 and was very disappointed with how sloppy they sounded. They also had resonant frequencies that were ugly. Hit a low C and it just got all big and mushy. Hit the B next to it and it was dead. I thought the speaker cabs were junk. Then I got the 2:90. The speaker cabs were transformed. I've never tried a 20/20, but people sure like them.

One of the things I'm tempted to do is put THD Yellow Jackets in one channel and turn it into a "Class A 30 watt". That's another way of saying you don't need 2:90 as 1:90 is more than enough. I think a lot of people only use one side of the 2:90's.

My 2 cents.