NAD: MESA TC-50 Head

Discuss the stuff that makes your ears bleed.

Moderators: Slowy, Capt. Black

Mini Forklift
meble-kuchenne.warszawa.pl

Re: NAD: MESA TC-50 Head

Post by Mini Forklift »

codedog wrote:When I built my 2x12 I added feet on one short side so I could run it vertically. Worked really well.
I actually prefer my 2x12 cab being vertical, just seems to give a fuller sound projection to my ears.

Could be worth just having a 1x12 cab as an alternative to your huge 2x12; one cool thing I found from sizing down was that I could run my volume higher through the smaller cab :-)

What a great head anyway, I was reading the review of it in an issue of Guitarist mag a few months back and it got a big thumbs up.

User avatar
codedog
Vintage Post Junkie
Vintage Post Junkie
Posts: 6706
Joined: Wed Jun 11, 2014 8:44 pm
Location: Christchurch
Has liked: 3476 times
Been liked: 1083 times

Re: NAD: MESA TC-50 Head

Post by codedog »

I've been watching YouTube vids about this amp. Pretty sure I'm gassing for it, but still in denial. Something like this would singularly be THE most expensive piece of gear I have ever bought other than cars!

User avatar
sizzlingbadger
Vintage Post Junkie
Vintage Post Junkie
Posts: 8241
Joined: Sat Jan 15, 2011 7:12 am
Location: Wire Wrapper
Has liked: 1203 times
Been liked: 1398 times

Re: NAD: MESA TC-50 Head

Post by sizzlingbadger »

Mesa's official TC-50 video is quite dark/closed sounding, there are other videos out there that give a much better approximation of how it sounds. I usually find swapping out the first couple of Mesa input tubes (usually JJ) to Tung Sol livens them up a bit too, this worked well on the MKV, Electradyne and RA100. I haven't tried it on the TC-50 yet.

Tube amp and guitar tones straight from 1958… amazing how believable the sounds were back then, even without the modellers...

User avatar
werdna
Vintage Post Junkie
Vintage Post Junkie
Posts: 2712
Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 8:16 am
Has liked: 590 times
Been liked: 458 times

Re: NAD: MESA TC-50 Head

Post by werdna »

Do you think this amp gets closer to one amp for any situation, say that the ED or RA?
In life, don't sweat the petty stuff, and don't pet the sweaty stuff.

User avatar
sizzlingbadger
Vintage Post Junkie
Vintage Post Junkie
Posts: 8241
Joined: Sat Jan 15, 2011 7:12 am
Location: Wire Wrapper
Has liked: 1203 times
Been liked: 1398 times

Re: NAD: MESA TC-50 Head

Post by sizzlingbadger »

Yep, the fact that all 3 channels have separate EQ and verb make it even more flexible than both the RA and ED.
Tube amp and guitar tones straight from 1958… amazing how believable the sounds were back then, even without the modellers...

User avatar
Molly
Vintage Post Junkie
Vintage Post Junkie
Posts: 24937
Joined: Sat Dec 21, 2013 12:17 pm
Has liked: 2482 times
Been liked: 2794 times

Re: NAD: MESA TC-50 Head

Post by Molly »

sizzlingbadger wrote:Yep, the fact that all 3 channels have separate EQ and verb make it even more flexible than both the RA and ED.
You've had a Mk.V so how does it compare?

User avatar
sizzlingbadger
Vintage Post Junkie
Vintage Post Junkie
Posts: 8241
Joined: Sat Jan 15, 2011 7:12 am
Location: Wire Wrapper
Has liked: 1203 times
Been liked: 1398 times

Re: NAD: MESA TC-50 Head

Post by sizzlingbadger »

Less knobs
Tube amp and guitar tones straight from 1958… amazing how believable the sounds were back then, even without the modellers...

User avatar
sizzlingbadger
Vintage Post Junkie
Vintage Post Junkie
Posts: 8241
Joined: Sat Jan 15, 2011 7:12 am
Location: Wire Wrapper
Has liked: 1203 times
Been liked: 1398 times

Re: NAD: MESA TC-50 Head

Post by sizzlingbadger »

Molly wrote: You've had a Mk.V so how does it compare?
Cleans are very similar, the Blue channel is much more like a Marshall, the Red channel is thicker and spongier like a hot rodded Marshall. Hint of Mesa in there of course. Lot less fiddly too, just plug in and have instant cool guitar tones.
Tube amp and guitar tones straight from 1958… amazing how believable the sounds were back then, even without the modellers...

User avatar
werdna
Vintage Post Junkie
Vintage Post Junkie
Posts: 2712
Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 8:16 am
Has liked: 590 times
Been liked: 458 times

Re: NAD: MESA TC-50 Head

Post by werdna »

Does the blue channel sound more like a Marshall than the blue channel on the ED, or is it the same?
In life, don't sweat the petty stuff, and don't pet the sweaty stuff.

User avatar
sizzlingbadger
Vintage Post Junkie
Vintage Post Junkie
Posts: 8241
Joined: Sat Jan 15, 2011 7:12 am
Location: Wire Wrapper
Has liked: 1203 times
Been liked: 1398 times

Re: NAD: MESA TC-50 Head

Post by sizzlingbadger »

more like a Marshall, not like the ED
Tube amp and guitar tones straight from 1958… amazing how believable the sounds were back then, even without the modellers...

User avatar
werdna
Vintage Post Junkie
Vintage Post Junkie
Posts: 2712
Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 8:16 am
Has liked: 590 times
Been liked: 458 times

Re: NAD: MESA TC-50 Head

Post by werdna »

I have been waiting years to see if Mesa could do a faithful Marshall copy then build in all the Mesa standard items like a great clean channel and high gain channel, all footswitchable with great EQ and equal volume. What more would anyone need? The Mark V gets close. The ED did not. I'll have to listen to the TC.
In life, don't sweat the petty stuff, and don't pet the sweaty stuff.

User avatar
handsoffmatt
Vintage Post Junkie
Vintage Post Junkie
Posts: 2711
Joined: Wed Jul 02, 2008 12:40 pm
Location: Sydney
Has liked: 46 times
Been liked: 244 times

Re: NAD: MESA TC-50 Head

Post by handsoffmatt »

I'm surprised by all the comments here that the ED wasn't very Marshall-esque. I used to get great Marshall-style tones out of my ED. I still rate it as one of the best amps I ever owned.

Having said that.....it sounded pretty pants at low volumes...
"Volume is tone" - EVH

Electrics: ESP/Fender/Gibson/.strandberg*/Godin/Washburn/Music Man/Knaggs/Squier/Vintage
Acoustic: Cole Clark/Godin/Takamine/Taylor
Amps: BOSS Katana Head / Friedman Smallbox

Post Reply