Blind luck with the 295

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talltxguy

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The 20/20 was an awesome amp, but the EL84's weren't quite what I was looking for; so I sold it.

Over the past few weeks, I've been trying to figure out what power amp I can get. I want EL34's and class A capability. The Fryette 2/50/2 came to mind. I've heard great things.

But I also like the 6L6 sound too - especially for soloing. So Randall's RT2/50 came to mind, as it's got EL34's on one side and 6L6's on the other side. Unfortunatley, the Randall doesn't have class A. I was leaning toward the Randall though, not being happy about having to sacrifice that class A tone.

Was browsing the used Guitar Center pages last night and saw a Mesa 295 marked down to $319. It just so happens I got extra space available in my rack; so I snagged it. And shipping was only $50. :lol:

Now to find a tube preamp to complement this beast!
 
talltxguy said:
Was browsing the used Guitar Center pages last night and saw a Mesa 295 marked down to $319. It just so happens I got extra space available in my rack; so I snagged it. And shipping was only $50. :lol:

Now to find a tube preamp to complement this beast!


Insane deal! Best power amp ever!

Get a Triaxis for it!
 
ASG,

I don't know what Mesa's best power amp is, but I know that not too many people have spoken badly about the simul-class thing. I've had a 20/20 and a 50/50, but I've never had the pleasure of playing through simul-class.

My local Mesa tech told me that he used to play a 295. He said it was his favorite power amp Mesa ever made.

Have you ran the Triaxis through a 295?
 
i've played my TA through the 20/20, the 50/50, both are great amp with their own character.
But the 295 has this little plus, deepness, 3D sound that is awesome !
 
talltxguy said:
ASG,

Have you ran the Triaxis through a 295?

yeah mate ... insane combo.

the downside is the weight. The upside is the highest quality power amp Mesa ever produced. The newer ones are designed to be cheaper and lighter. If Mesa still produced them now the retail would have to be way in excess of 2 grand in the US.
Additionally your have switching flexibility that is complimented by the Triaxis. you can have the power amp clean for Rhythm and then switch to creamy power amp class A overdrive for lead.. Guys literally jump back and look at you like WTF!

It's still frigging loud with 30 watt class A

When crane says "3D" I think he means like additional body like on a really stacked hot lingerie model. The other power amps are flat and bland by comparison. This is lively and frisky wanting to eat you up! 8)
 
ASG said:
[
When crane says "3D" I think he means like additional body like on a really stacked hot lingerie model. The other power amps are flat and bland by comparison. This is lively and frisky wanting to eat you up! 8)
Oh yeah, well said.
 
talltxguy said:
So Randall's RT2/50 came to mind, as it's got EL34's on one side and 6L6's on the other side. Unfortunatley, the Randall doesn't have class A. I was leaning toward the Randall though, not being happy about having to sacrifice that class A tone.
I had a Randall RT2/50 and I loved it. The tonal variations with the TriAxis were super cool.

Then I got a 395. Everything everyone's saying about the 295 apply to that as well. The "Deep Extend" feature is astounding, and the "3D" sound everyone refers to is completely spot on. I A/B'd with the Randall and there was no comparison in the depth of tone.

I'm almost wondering if somehow the 295 is EVEN BETTER given all the comments here.
 
Well the 295 arrived a few hours ago. The wife refused to move the big ol' box into the house. :lol:

I had some brand new Mesa tubes waiting. Popped them in and played for a while.

This was my first experience with a simul-class amp, and I must say that I was impressed. My previous Mesa power amps were the 50/50 & the 20/20. This amp was thumping and sounding so good - and that's without a tube preamp, running through just a 1X12!

I found that putting a tube boost between the Digitech 1101 & the power amp made quite a difference in tubing things up. I'm running a Valvulator between the guitar and the 1101. I had tried the tube boost between the Valvulator & the 1101, but it didn't sound as good as running just the Valvulator.

But back to the 295...I ran it in class A (just the EL34's) and did not like the tone as much as in simul-class mode, which makes me very glad that I didn't purchase a Fryette 2/50/2.

Only complaint is the power cord! It's 4' or 5' long! I'm gonna have to get it shortened. And the fan is easily louder than the 50/50 fan. When I'm playing though, I don't even notice it. I'll have the local Mesa tech look over the fan and see what he can do with it & the cord. With regard to the weight, it's heavy but not nearly as heavy as I had anticipated.

Bottom line: it sounds even better than I was expecting. Good job Mesa!
 
Danimal said:
talltxguy said:
Then I got a 395. Everything everyone's saying about the 295 apply to that as well. The "Deep Extend" feature is astounding, and the "3D" sound everyone refers to is completely spot on. I A/B'd with the Randall and there was no comparison in the depth of tone.

I'm almost wondering if somehow the 295 is EVEN BETTER given all the comments here.

Hey d'Animal I haven't spent any time on a 395 myself but I have heard that they sound different and are slightly different beasts.
I don't believe anything until I have used it and got it working good so can't guarantee it. I guarantee that an in tune 295 will blow your mind and impress your bandmates and the punters.

I wouldn't trust Boogie dealers opinion as they rarely have 295 or 395's to sell. I do know that the Strategy 400 doesn't sound as good except where you need massive volume and headroom. When I say MASSIVE I really mean massive! You would have to be doing colluseums on a huge stage to need that sort of volume and these days with in ear monitoring I think strat 400's are useless. Some use them as HiFi amps but really that is silly even though it would sound lively and tasty to the ear ... valve amps are highly coloured.
For HiFi give me a mosfet Musical Fidelity or Bryston any day , clean flat and accurate.
 
ASG said:
Danimal said:
talltxguy said:
I'm almost wondering if somehow the 295 is EVEN BETTER given all the comments here.

Hey d'Animal I haven't spent any time on a 395 myself but I have heard that they sound different and are slightly different beasts.
I don't believe anything until I have used it and got it working good so can't guarantee it. I guarantee that an in tune 295 will blow your mind and impress your bandmates and the punters.

I wouldn't trust Boogie dealers opinion as they rarely have 295 or 395's to sell. . .
That's good advice. I don't think Boogie (or any company) could afford to bring a product like that to market in these times.

Having owned both a 295 and a 395 at the same time (and a 290 and 20/20 since), it's my opinion that the 395 was, perhaps, Mesa's first case of taking an insanely, great thing (295) and adding bells and whistles, and imposing limits on size and weight and cost. Don't get me wrong, the 395 was still a fine amp, but it never sounded as open and luxurious to my ears as the 295 esp. the early ones without the presence controls and the rear-deck volume controls. The added switches and pots became an Achilles heel for my 395. I replaced two volume pots and one presence pot on mine. The 295 was bigger and heavier and simpler. It seems to me that Mesa designed it with little if any compromise. It was made and marketed as a touring pro's power amp with no apology made for weight or price.

I'll put it another way: the 395 was an excellent tube, power amp for electric guitar while the 295 was an excellent power amp period. To my ears the 295 sounded much larger and more HiFi in that deep, 3D way that most players can hear but is all but impossible to put into words. Everything I ever patched into it sounded bigger and better coming out.

I guess the best I can say is this: you know how Mesa likes to lay the adjectives on a mile thick in all those juicy product descriptions? Well, the 295 may be the only piece of gear Mesa has ever made that actually deserves every inch of that hyperbole.

Wayne
 
My singer looked at my 2:95 and made an ignorant comment that 'maybe it was time to upgrade'.....
Milliseconds after fighting off the strong urge to punch him in the throat, I said ' Thats a Mesa Simul 2:95....you CANT upgrade'

Effin singers.... :wink:
 
:lol: Montana....I agree - about the amp and about singers.

I've owned quite a few power amps in my day, and this will be the last one. I have absolutely no GAS for any other power amp. And the crazy thing is that I'm running stock Mesa tubes in it.

Now I will be purchasing a head next year - just not sure if I'm gonna get an ED or an LS.
 
Hey man, I hear that!
Ive also owned quite a few power amps: Mackie 1400i(oops) 2 x Peavey 60/60's, Mesa 50/50, Marshall 9100...
and heads: Too many Peaveys to list, Randall, Marshalls, Crates, Engl Powerball for 3 days...(lol)
and I am done looking!
No Power amp GAS here either.

I do like the versatility and tones I get from my pod, but I dont know if I love it.
I wish I could try out a triaxis on my rig before I shell out 800-1000 bucks for one.
I may have some preamp GAS.
However GAS is easily cured by VLFS (Very Low Funds Syndrome).... :cry:
 
PS...holy crap $319 is an amazing price for a 295!!
Even if came W/O tubes at all!

Out of curiosity, does your front control 295 say mesa boogie c.1986 on the back?
Im just wondering if thats just the copyright year or production year.
 
wow...ok so I just installed my new tubes. They arrived at 6pm its about 9 30 now and Im just putting my guitar down.

All I can say is after never having retubed with brand new tubes, holy crap. sounds phenomenal!!

Ill be back in 3 more hours....
 
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