Mesa Boogie "Nomad" guitar combo amp! A versatile Beast...
Written: Oct 04 '02
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Three independent channels, 2 voicings per channel for 6 modes of operation...
Cons: Some volume level increases when switching between channels, plastic barrels and nuts...
The Bottom Line: I think the Nomad 55 is Mesa/Boogie's finest all-round amp...hands down!
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| vanwarp's Full Review: Mesa Boogie Nomad 55 Combo |
Mesa packed three totally independent and uniquely voiced pre-amps, each with their own nonpareil gain structures, into one box. Then they added independent reverb controls and a “solo” boost switch to goose the gain in any one of its three channels. No, the boys from Mesa did not go mad, as a matter of fact they stated it right up front: Mesa Boogie NoMad!
Nomad amplifiers are available in many different configurations in terms of power and speaker combinations, as well as in “head only” formats. The Nomad 55 is part of a family which have slightly differing features depending on your choice of power output: the 40 watt amps have a switchable negative feedback loop, the 55 and 100 watt models have bias switching and the 100 watter also gets a half-power option that leaves two valves in standby mode and it has a graphic EQ.
The Nomad 55 is a guitar combo amp, rated at 55 Watts, Class A/B Power with 2x6L6 Power tubes and 5x12AX7 pre-amp tubes. The Nomad 55 pre-amp is comprised of three footswitchable channels. Each of these channels offers two “modes” of operation for a total of 6 distinct character modes. Channel 1 goes from a “Clean/Normal” mode to a “Pushed” mode. On Channel 2, the choice is a “Vintage/Normal” mode or a “Modern” mode, while Channel 3 is the opposite of Channel 2, with a “Modern/Normal” mode and a “Vintage” mode.
The modes can be drastically modified by a simple flick of the switch, radically altering the voice of each channel. Exploring these sounds can lead to some of the most versatile footswitching you could find in any amp, including modeling amps.
CHANNEL MODES:
Channel 1 - “Clean/Normal” mode: Fender-esque with a Boogie twist.
Channel 1 - “Pushed” mode: More throaty Mids, the high gain made controlled feedback FUN.
Channel 2 - “Vintage/Normal” mode: Tweed like grind with a Boogie twist of course.
Channel 2 - “Modern” mode: Huge High gain feel with more bottom end.
Channel 3 - “Modern/Normal”: High gain feel with tight punchy bottom end.
Channel 3 - “Vintage”: Creamier/warmer well-mannered lead tone.
The Nomad 55 guitar combo amp delightfully travels to all corners of the musical map and comes loaded with treasures. The gain and tone controls are extremely interactive and versatile.
FRONT PANEL ATTRIBUTES:
GAIN - for best results set between 11 and 2 p.m.
Start with the GAIN control at 12 o’clock and adjust to taste. Below 12 o’clock - more sparkle to your sound, and above 12 o’clock - more warmth. Save yourself the inconvenience of having to deal with annoying microphonic tube problems by simply using a little common sense - don’t turn the Gain knob all the way up! Also, too much gain will saturate your sound and what your left with is very little TONE as a result. Also of much importance is that on this channel, if you want to avoid flubbiness, set the BASS control below 11 a.m....
MASTER - for best results set between 9 and 2 p.m.
Each channel is fitted with its own MASTER control, enabling the three channels relative volume levels to be matched accordingly, regardless of their extremely different sound styles and gain signatures. Setting one MASTER control at 12 o’clock and another one at 1 o’clock will be necessary to equalize volume control between channels, especially when footswitching between channels.
PRESENCE - for best results set between 9 and 12 p.m.
The presence knob regulates the amount of negative feedback in the power amp stage and affects mostly higher frequencies and is crucial in voicing the channel. It is a powerful TONE control.
TREBLE - for best results set between 11 and 2 p.m.
The Treble is the most powerful of the EQ controls and is next in line only to the GAIN control as a shaping tool. It is by far the most dominant tone control.
MIDRANGE - The MID control knob tends to soften or stiffen the way a sound feels.
Experimentation is required here along with extreme settings of the other tone controls to balance both sound and feel.
BASS - for best results set between 10 and 2 p.m.
The BASS knob controls the amount of low frequencies present in a sound.
The actual low frequencies it mixes in changes from channel to channel. Most importantly, when the TREBLE control is set high the effectiveness of the BASS and MID controls is reduced. If the TREBLE control is set low the BASS and MID controls become dominant.
The BASS frequencies and other tone controls are different in each channel as follows:
Channel 1 - Enhanced low frequencies provides warmth for clean sounds and produces a bouncy, elastic feel. The TREBLE and MID controls also add gain and sustain to this sound. This has got Boogie’s rhythm sound - with warm midrange and shimmering treble. Reduce the treble and presence a little and wind up the gain, and you have a perfect all-purpose country, rock or blues sound which you can switch from rhythm to solo thanks to that second master volume. When this channel is set in the “Pushed” mode, it transforms the gentle clean sound of the amp to a raging crunch machine. There's a great blues/rock lead tone, which is very responsive, especially with the mid control set high.
Channel 2 - Sub-low extension defines this channels bottom end and produces the deepest sounds obtainable from the Nomad. The BASS control may spoil you here, leaving the other channels sounding “thin” by comparison. There’s only one word to describe this sound: FAT. This is ideal for players with slow hands...for that wonderful blues sound. This is the traditional Boogie lead sound: round, fat midrange with focused highs. Turn the gain almost off gives a great jazz tone; dark and woody with a slight growl. Activate the “Modern” mode of this channel and WHOA! What a beast...watch out for a HUGE kick in volume, with the tone taking a more aggressive edge - just like a Mark III. Definitely more aggressive than the “Vintage/Normal” mode, more over the top, more monstrous, and is perhaps the mode that is the most appreciated by many owners of the Nomad 55.
Channel 3 - Here the emphasis is not on how low can you go but rather how tight can you get. This is NOT necessarily the highest gain channel. You can even dime the BASS knob on this channel without having to worry about damaging anything. This channel is better for those musicians with fast hands. Now were talking attitude here...and lots of it. This sound may be more “British-like” and the preamp is much more responsive. The bass frequency range appears to be set a little higher than channel two, and the tone controls are much more active, especially the midrange, which can really be 'scooped'. Activate the “Vintage” mode lowers the volume and adds a softer treble, creating a slightly warmer rendition of the Channel 3 “Modern/Normal” mode.
To continue with the front panel attributes: to the right of the panel is Mesa's highly useful global OUTPUT level control, and a second knob marked “Solo”, which allows you to dial in a pre-set global volume boost, making every channel a potential lead/rhythm source.
OUTPUT control - This knob determines the overall volume level of the amplifier.
SOLO control knob - This feature can only be activated with a footswitch. The “solo” boost is an additional output level control wired in parallel with th OUTPUT control knob...giving you a boost when you want to cut through the mix on stage and hear yourself play clearly.
Next to these controls and finally at the extreme right hand side of the panel, we find the High Volts and AC mains (Power) toggle switches. The Hi Volts toggle switch is great for set breaks and will help increase your tubes life substantially. Follow this cold start procedure everytime! Before AC Mains is switched on, make sure the Hi Volts switch is in the down position, wait 35 seconds and flip the Hi Volts switch ON. After that you can Power Up your Nomad 55 with AC Mains switch to ON.
REAR PANEL ATTRIBUTES:
To the left there's a headphones/recording outlet with a speaker mute switch (for late night recording or playing), a Channel select knob which allows you to select channels 1-2-3 or a footswitch, a pair of send/returns for the parallel FX loop with a mix control, and a bias switch for a choice of 6L6 or EL34 power tubes. The BIAS select switch must be set to match the tubes in use, as failure to check this could seriously damage your amplifier.
The footswitch pedal has five buttons with status LED’s to help select channels and to toggle the reverb and solo controls On and Off. The seven-pin DIN plug connects to the footswitch socket located on the underside of the chassis (left side). In order to use the footswitch the Channel select knob MUST be set to the footswitch position.
The recording out 1/4" jack enables you to go direct into a console for both live and recording applications.
To the right there are three reverb level knobs - one for each channel - and a trio of speaker jacks - one 8 ohm and two 4 ohm - as well as a fixed-level slave out.
The Accutronics spring reverb is very good. The decay is long and smooth, particularly on channel one, and the FX loop also works well, keeping the dynamics of the signal more or less intact.
If you wish to add a cab to your combo, you may use the following combinations to ensure proper impedance match and maintain full power capabilities:
1. One 4 ohm cab on one of the 4 ohm jacks and leave the other jacks empty, or
2. Two 8 ohm cabs each connected to the 4 ohm jacks thus leaving the 8 ohm jack empty, or
3. One 16 ohm cab on the 8 ohm jack and one 8 ohm cab on a 4 ohm jack thus leaving one 4 ohm jack empty.
Furthermore, you can missmatch with higher impedance loads but not lower than those indicated above, with the only downside being unable to obtain full power.
The slave jack enables you to use the Nomad as the master amp in a large venue where multiple amps are used for increase coverage. It can also be used to send a signal to an effects processor...
Construction:
The cabinet is 18mm birch ply throughout. The chassis is sprayed inside and out in a very fetching metallic dark grey. A 90-watt 12-inch Black Shadow loudspeaker lurks behind a substantial rear baffle, and the Accutronics spring reverb occupies the floor. The preamp tubes plug into board-mounted sockets, and have screening caps to reduce hum.
Nomad Applications:
Many configurations exists, you might wish to use Channel 1 “Pushed” for lower gain, Channel 3 “Modern/Normal” for high gain crunch rhythm sound, and Channel 2 “Modern” mode for solos.
There are many great combinations, make a list of your favorite configurations for quick reference and it will make footswitching less confining, allowing you to play hours without end.
I think the Nomad 55 is Mesa/Boogie's finest all-round amp (IMHO).
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
vanwarp
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Location: Canada
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"Only sick music makes money today." Friedrich Nietzsche, German philosopher (1844 - 1900)
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