Mesa Trem-O-Verb: User experience between Combo and Head

  • Thread starter Thread starter Boogie808
  • Start date Start date
Corey James said:
Mine failed. It cost me a money to send it back to them. It would intermittently switch from clean to distorted while playing.

I had one for 15 years, and I certainly don’t miss it. my combo weighed right around 110 pounds on a scale.

FMB
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Damn...That sucks especially if you don't live nearby Mesa's headquarters. I live in the bay area, so any time I've ever had an issue with my mesa amp I'd just drive up to Petaluma.
 
Basically the Red I typically run 9-10 o'clock.
Orange, Blues and Clean 9-1 is more common.
There is some stuff you can do with Clean and Blues with the Master higher or even max. Basically the Gain much lower. But not something I would typically use.

I think for most people using Red or Orange with a overdrive out front to control the highs and lows setting the Master relatively low is just practical for most applications.

I bypass the effects loop having it turned off on the back. Most of the time. It has a pretty big effect on the tone. Both are good. Just my preference.

If you need real low volume in the room the effects loop can be useful to control the volume.

The amp is pretty intuitive and versatile.
The settings collection I put together shows a pretty good range of the Rectifier series. If your interested in what it can do.
 
stephen sawall said:
Basically the Red I typically run 9-10 o'clock.
Orange, Blues and Clean 9-1 is more common.
There is some stuff you can do with Clean and Blues with the Master higher or even max. Basically the Gain much lower. But not something I would typically use.

I think for most people using Red or Orange with a overdrive out front to control the highs and lows setting the Master relatively low is just practical for most applications.

I bypass the effects loop having it turned off on the back. Most of the time. It has a pretty big effect on the tone. Both are good. Just my preference.

If you need real low volume in the room the effects loop can be useful to control the volume.

The amp is pretty intuitive and versatile.
The settings collection I put together shows a pretty good range of the Rectifier series. If your interested in what it can do.
Click to expand...
Wow. Super helpful. I hear that a lot of tremoverb users like to use an overdrive going in to control the signal. Also, I did not know that the effects loop has an affect on the overall tone.
 
Boogie808 said:
Wow. Super helpful. I hear that a lot of tremoverb users like to use an overdrive going in to control the signal. Also, I did not know that the effects loop has an affect on the overall tone.
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The overdrive thing is all Rectifier amps. They just react really well to Tube Screamer family and other overdrive pedals.
That and the GEQ in the loop is really popular.

It just opens up a much wider range of sounds. Needed if you want to do the modern stuff.
 
stephen sawall said:
The overdrive thing is all Rectifier amps. They just react really well to Tube Screamer family and other overdrive pedals.
That and the GEQ in the loop is really popular.

It just opens up a much wider range of sounds. Needed if you want to do the modern stuff.
Click to expand...
Is the GEQ in the effects loop mainly for people trying to get modern tones?
 
For those of you with a Trem-o-verb, are you using 6L6 or EL-34 tubes? Most of the ones i've seen have 6L6 in them, except for the rig rundown i saw in which Kim Thayil had EL-34 tubes in his. What are some characteristics of either tubes with the amp?
 
Also, I've been looking for the trem-o-verb amp with tan grille cloth (head version) for a few months now and one popped up on my local craigslist. Sadly, it was up for less than an hour, and when I reached out to the person, it had already been sold :(
 
I have been using 6L6 in my Tremoverb the last several years most of the time.

I used EL34 in it most of the time for 25 years.

I keep several quad around of both EL34 and 6L6 so I can change any time I want.
 
stephen sawall said:
I have been using 6L6 in my Tremoverb the last several years most of the time.

I used EL34 in it most of the time for 25 years.

I keep several quad around of both EL34 and 6L6 so I can change any time I want.
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I'm thinking whenever it is that I grab a Tremoverb, I'm going to make sure that I have both sets, EL34 and 6L6, so that I'm able to switch between them. I looked at the back of the amp and noticed that there is a switch for EL34 and 6L6, so I assume there is no need to take it into a shop to get the tubes biased...
 
Boogie808 said:
I'm thinking whenever it is that I grab a Tremoverb, I'm going to make sure that I have both sets, EL34 and 6L6, so that I'm able to switch between them. I looked at the back of the amp and noticed that there is a switch for EL34 and 6L6, so I assume there is no need to take it into a shop to get the tubes biased...
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They need to be in the middle range 4 - 6 on the Groove Tube scale. A lot of vendors can get you in that range.

All Mesa tubes are color coded for matching pairs.
 
Red 4
Yellow 4
Green 5
Gray 5
Blue 6
White 6

If I remember correctly.
I usually prefer the red or 4 range. You need to play really loud to hear any difference. It's about breakup.
JJ are a lot darker. Allows you turn up the presence on Red mode.
Currently I am using GT6L6GE. Rated 5.
I've tried a lot of tubes in the Tremoverb. 6CA7 I used for years. V1 in the preamp like most amps has the biggest effect on the sound.
 
stephen sawall said:
Red 4
Yellow 4
Green 5
Gray 5
Blue 6
White 6

If I remember correctly.
I usually prefer the red or 4 range. You need to play really loud to hear any difference. It's about breakup.
JJ are a lot darker. Allows you turn up the presence on Red mode.
Currently I am using GT6L6GE. Rated 5.
I've tried a lot of tubes in the Tremoverb. 6CA7 I used for years. V1 in the preamp like most amps has the biggest effect on the sound.
Click to expand...
Ahhhh I see. So in terms of Mesa Tubes, does the color code correspond similarly? Or is it strictly for labeling matched tubes like you said previously?
 
Boogie808 said:
Ahhhh I see. So in terms of Mesa Tubes, does the color code correspond similarly? Or is it strictly for labeling matched tubes like you said previously?
Click to expand...
What I posted above the colors are the Mesa system. The numbers are the Groove Tube system.
 
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