Mesa/Boogie Bass 400 Head

Bought mine in the UK in 1989. It's a later one with speaker jacks to take two 4 ohm cabs (which I did, using 2 Boogie 2x15's).

Only use Channel 2 with my old Precisions and had the DI modded to be pre-eq (it's post eq as standard).

Every tone imagineable is in there and I've had 20 years years of compliments on my on-stage sound.

I use Fender Precisions, some with round wound strings and others with flats. The amp can produce any sound you want although it took me a few months to really get to grips with the tone controls when I first got it - well worth persevering though.

My amp has spent 20 years sitting in my amp rack without ever complaining. It's never let me down in all that time.

It's been on countless tours in all that time and I have never had to worry about it.

Only contacted Boogie on an unrelated subject (the speaker cabinets) but they were quick to respond and helpful.

This is the best investment I have ever made. It cost a fortune when I bought it (and the two cabs plus the flightcases) but it has saved me far more in the amp changes that would have resulted had I not found the sound I had in my head.

If you can get hold of one of these, buy it - and then give it to me!!!

This is analog at it's brawny finest. Basic features... you know the drill. Mine was made sometime early mid 80's ...

The truth is: IF YOU ARE NOT RUNNING 6500's or KT88's IN THE POWER SECTION OF THIS AMP - THEN YOU ARE NOT HEARING THIS AMP THE WAY IT WAS DESIGNED TO BE HEARD.

The pre-amp section of the BASS 400 (Note: NOT BASS 400+) is a different beast than that of it's successor the beloved 400+.

The thing sounds great. Can make whatever noise you have in your brain.... assuming you have a decent cab to pound on.

Had a power tube tube start to go bad on me shortly after buying it. The tubes were the original Mesa Boogie 6550's. Mesa Hasn't made (rebranded) 6550's for a long time so I'd assume they were the only tubes ever put in.

Eurotubes.com hooked me up with 6pack of KT88's and 4nice pre tubes and that really let the monster out of it's box.

Can't have a 25year old tube bass amp and not expect a little upkeep.

no need.

If this amp got stolen - If given the choice to replace it with a 400+ Id most definitely pick the Original 400 over the 400+ any day of the year.

6550's make better bass amp tubes than 6L6's - that's just the honest truth.. . but what do I know?

Don't know what year it was made. It says 1981 on the back, but apparently all the 400's say that. I do know it's rather old because when I brought it in to Boogie (I used to live a few miles away) they were surprised to see a head that still had 6550's in it. They switched it over to 6l6gc's and fixed a few other broken things with it.
The sound is very versatile. I have even used it for rhythm guitar!
It does pretty much every style of music. The only drawback I can think of is that it doesnt get that tube "sag" that wimpier amps get.

I have played this amp at full bore for hours. Really. Crank up all the volumes, put a rat box on it and crank up all those knobs, then hit a big "E" chord. One of my old bands was very loud, and this was able to keep up with a marshall and bogner fullstack. Heck I have often been asked to turn it the hell down!
I do wish the gainy channel was gainier.

The other guys that gave this amp low marks for reliability are idiots. Plain and simple. I have beat the living daylights out of my amp. Tossed into the back of a ford econoline after another night of drunken music abuse, weeks on end of bouncing in the back of said ford as I toured cross country. Sure they do break eventually. But long after lesser amps have failed. Ampegs are notorious for breaking. GK's will make a nice big cloud of grey smoke when they fail. When Boogies fail they blow a fuse. When this happens. Stop. Dont do the tinfoil trick. Replace with another slow blo fuse of proper amperage. If it happens again take it to a tech! The fuse blows so you wont short out something or melt a tube!
The one guy who says his tech told him to junk it must have a moron for a tech. First off, no matter what kind of amp you have your tech should respect your taste in gear. If you want to rock a peavey heritage 120 thats your choice!
2nd Boogie makes amazing gear period. I suspect his tech wanted him tojunk the amp at his shop so he could rebuild it and sell it!

I have always had good experiences with Mesa. They are much more responsive to emails and phone calls than most other music gear companies. Try finding a phone number for Ampeg or fender~

I play a musicman stingray 5 and an Ovation Magnum. I use DBA and EH pedals, Mesa, Eden GK and SWR cabinets. This is the real deal. I have owned dozens of amps in the last 25 years. The only other head I would ever want is the Traynor YBA IIIa

When it worked... it was very nice. I totally dug the high-input. Could get almost a Lemmy sound. Closely compared to his old Marshall only this could get much louder.

When it worked, both channels were perfect after a bit of tweaking.

I gigged with this amp for less than a year and it's blown a $300 speaker in the 2x15 powerhouse cab that I bought with it and after I got that repaired something inside the amp has gone wrong causing a horrible noise to scream out of this thing every time you hit a note. I've tried everything to fix it and a highly respected amp tech in my area straight up told me to junk it and sell it for parts.
I loved this amp when I bought it more than anything now I will never touch Mesa again or even be in a band with anyone that's counting on one.

I called Mesa in California and the dude was completely clueless. I figured if they had built the things they should have come in contact with every kind of problem since they've been around for so long. Couldn't even give me suggestions on finding a solution.

I've been carrying this as dead weight for well over a year because It would do me no good to sell it for measly parts. No one in my area is versed enough with amplifier repair and maintenance to know if they need these parts or not. I'm just waiting on a miracle at this point.

Mine is from very late 1988, so it's one of the last ones made. Unlike other old 400's, this one has transformer taps for 2 ohms as well as 4 and 8 ohms, giving it more versatility with cabinets. It has two preamps (Ch.1 is low-gain and Ch.2 is high-gain), two effects loops (front and back), 6-band graphic and 3-band passive equalizers. The 3-band has pull-pots that shift the frequency down a bit for more punch. Also, the gain knobs for each channel can be pulled out for a brighter tone. In all, it's very versatile and feature-packed for an older tube amp. And apparently they only made about 1200 of the original Bass 400, so they're somewhat rare.

As far as tubes... mine came stock with six Mesa STR-420's (their re-branded russian 6L6GC's) in the power section and four Mesa 12AX7's in the preamp. I've modified the preamp with a Tung-Sol 12AU7 for the driver (low-gain high-current for increased clean headroom and EQ functionality), a balanced JJ 12AX7 in the PI socket, and two JJ 12AX7's in the gain stages. I find that this setup gets the best and most flexible tone from the amp.

Also, like the Fender Showman amp (on which the 400's preamp is heavily based), flat on the rotary EQ is 10 on middle, 2 on bass, and 2 on treble. The midrange is cut-only, and the bass and treble offer almost no cut. I play my EQ on 9-4-4, BMT.

I use two Warwicks: a '95 Fortress 5-string and a '96 Flashback 4-string. I also use an '86 Music Man Stingray. The amp adjusts perfectly to my two bands; one plays jazz fusion, and the other does progressive/hardcore metal. Lots of clarity, but with no lack of beef! I'll explain the output power of this thing shortly.... As for noise, I do need to turn the fan to "Low" when recording, but besides that, it's a very quiet and clean amp.

Regarding output power: Having tested the amp extensively with different power tubes, I've found that loaded with 6L6GC's it will put out around 200 watts RMS, 220 at most (like, when the moon is full). The tubes run pretty hot at 520 volts (at the plates), but the tone is excellent. Tight, punchy, and warm. The overdrive is very pleasant and full, never harsh. Running the tubes like this requires robust models (like Sovteks), but they'll last you well over a year, maybe two years.

When I adjusted the bias and installed Sovtek 6550WE's, things changed a bit. Output power increased to about 250 watts RMS, but with a little less breakup at higher volumes (especially with my preamp tube selections). The amp gained a more full-bodied tone with more low end; this reinforces my belief that 6550's and KT88's are much better for bass than 6L6's (despite their cost). Also, because you're running these tubes at only 520 volts, they stay relatively cool and last a REALLY long time, like two or three years! The Mesa 400 was originally designed for 6550's, but switched to 6L6's when they couldn't get good stocks of American-made tubes anymore. I feel that this amp sounds and behaves best with 6550's.

Finally, I believe that the 400 is more efficient than the current 400+ model. The 400+ pulls 270-280 watts out of TWELVE 6L6GC's, whereas the 400 can do a solid 210 watts from half of the same tubes, and 250 watts from 6550s. Also, by running the tubes a little hotter, the old 400 can get a thicker, more tubey tone than the relatively sterile and cold-running 400+.

Non-tube related, I also run both preamps at the same time using an ABY box. This gives me Ch.1's clean beef, and Ch.2's beastly gain. Fattest and most commanding tone from the amp! However, in my jazz-fusion quartet, I only use Ch.1 with my Stingray. Clean, loud, and tight.

I've had this guy since 2004; I bought it from a guy that aquired it new and never used it. Lucky me!

It's never given me a lick of trouble, and always behaves on the gig. I've had lots of problems with my old Ampeg amps (including the SVT-CL), but the 400 has never even so much as complained. I used to take a back-up 800RB to gigs, but I stopped because it's just added weight that I never need.

I've spoken to Mesa a few times regarding technical issues and the history of the amp, and they were always courteous and informative. Good job, guys! My only complaint is that you cannot email them. I hope that they make this available soon!

I've been playing since I was 12 years old, in 1999. I've owned lots of Ampeg amps, most of which failed me miserably. They sounded fine, I just couldn't trust them! With Mesa, I feel totally at home. This amp was made in the same year (and most likely the same month, judging by the serial #) that I was born, so it's like finding a long-lost brother. I can't find anything wrong with it, the tone is outstanding and the output is earsplitting.

I used to have a newer Mesa 400+, which I compared extensively to this amp. Since then, I've sold the 400+ and kept the old guy. I think they did it right the first time.

This is "that 80s amp" I think that it was made in 1986, if I remember the detail correctly. It's a 200-something watt tube bass amp. This amp is versatile enough for me--I play mostly twangy rock blues. It has two channels--1 is for active basses and a lot cleaner; 2 is pretty hot with my precision; almost too crunchy for most people, I'd imagine. Channel switching could be accomplished with an a/b box, but I've never thought too hard about needing that function in a bass amp. The amp has two effects loops: one on the front panel, and another on the back panel (a throwback to the rack-o-rama that was the 80s)--I don't use either, but I might in the future. The effects loops have a blend control. There's no headphone jack, but if you're using an amp like this, you obviously want it loud. There's a slave out with a level control, which might be useful. Another output is the 600 ohm DI (which sound guys complain is too hot). Two 8-ohm speaker outs, and two 4-ohm speaker outs (1/4", sadly. I'd prefer banana jacks or speakon).

My primary bass is an 80s Japanese Fender Precision with SD 1/4 pound pickups. This setup has served me really well for several years. When I found this amp, my sound actually improved from the previous rig (ampeg svt), which was quite good. Suddenly, the whole band (not just the drummer) were commenting on my tone. I think that it's a great alternative to the SVT sound.

It suits my style well, apparently.

It's not even noisy. It's dead quiet for a tube amp (as long as the AC is wired correctly--a big problem in older homes). There's a polarity switch and ground filter to help with that problem, though. Mostly, I don't touch those switches.

The amp can make lots of loud, usable tones. More than I require. It doesn't do that farty GK sound very well (the abundance of tubes is the problem, I'm certain).

The amp breaks up rather nicely. It's very touch-sensitive. Hold back, and it's clean. Pull some wires, and it's crunchy. If you're into distortion, this amp can deliver with appropriate settings.

I hear tell that tube amps are unreliable, but this one has tolerated everything that I have thrown at it.

I retubed it shortly after getting it with JJ tubes (6x6l6, 4x12ax7). The old Mesa tubes looked totally original. I was getting some microphonics, so one of my "tube snob" friends suggested a retube. Problem solved.

Mesa is a good company, even if I think that they pimp their computer tested tubes way too much. They're responsive to questions, and even answer the telephone. You can't get any better than that.

I've been playing for >20 years, and have owned countless amps. If this were stolen, I'd first eviscerate the person responsible, and seek out another. The only amp that has come close to "that sound" was a '66 Bassman blackface that I had, but it was 50 watts. Almost anything sounds decent through an Ampeg 8x10", though. This one sounds better than decent.

amp was made in 85', the amp does cover a wide variety of tones and what not, 2 channel, Im not really into all the features but it could have an outlet, never used the salve output just the di, has pleanty of power for clubs and venues, really comes alive around 5.

im useing all kinds of differnt basses and pickup styles and the amp is able to cover all, great tone, very quiet for a tube amp. Dosent distort too easially unless really driveing the bass and the pre-amp circut.

i cannot depend on this and for anything, ever since i got it, it has been a piece of crap, when it works its amazing but when it dosent its horrible, and it seems like it never works. Replaced all the tubes cleaned everything touched up all the sodder connections and even replaced the jacks and still the same thing, more problems. I cant tell if the amp had been neglected previously but i know its never been something i want to rely on.

i have to say the company was pretty helpful i brought it down to mesa/boogie and they looked at it said it was working how it should of been, i must of brought it one of the days it decied to work because a few days later it startes spazzing out again.

good sould quality, nothing else. doubt if i will ever buy boogie again.

Mine was made in 1985. It came to me via ebay with 6 ARS 6L6's in it, which sounded weak and too distorted for me. At first I thought for sure that I had made the wrong choice and that tube clipping just happened, but as it turns out, the 6L6's were a *little* old (10+ years!!) and in a month, the structures inside them started to glow a pleasant red. So I changed to Sovtek 6L6's (which I normally hate on guitar amps, but they were what I had) and it came alive. Much more headroom. Imagine that, functional tubes and the amp works.
All that having been said, the amp was designed to run 6550's or 6L6s. The 6550's give you about twice the wattage, so that means some more headroom. Good news for me, except that they're so darn expensive.

The amp's got two inputs for the different sounds people want- 1 is more likely to crunch up, or for quiet old basses, and 2 is more clean and lower gain. Both have the "pull bright" option, which I don't particularly use.
The EQ is stupidly comprehensive, with a 6-band hard bypassable graphic EQ as well as the common 3-band rotary- but the bass and treble knobs both have pull functions, which changes their personality.

You can footswitch the EQ, so if you need a different channel sound, there you go.
There's effects loop ins and outs on both the front and the back of the amp, which I will probably just never use.
There's also a 600-ohm transformer balanced out on the back, with a pre-post switch. I don't know if that switch is factory, as it's not labeled, and I've never heard of another 400 with that.
A ground lift and fan switch round out the controls on the amp, which is a master-volume circuit.

It has 4 speaker outs on the back, twin 8 and 4 ohm, respectively.
It's a whole lot more basic than I just made it sound, but the point is you can just plug in and go, or go balls-to-the-wall nitpicky.
I always notch out the 625hz band to cut out distortion and it gets me 2 more numbers on the master volume knob.

I wouldn't need them, but the two things I can see missing from this amp that would be even a little useful are headphone jacks or a built-in compressor. I think they'd both be dumb here, but a whole lot of amps these days have 'em.
(why buy a 50 lb all tube bass head to play into HEADPHONES?)
(tubes compress naturally.)

I play a G&L L-2000 with stock pickups. I play techie metal in a band called Silence the Epilogue. We do lots of recycled 80's showboat stuff, like 8-finger tapping, sweep picking, and high speed alternate picking. I usually have some tapping bits in songs, but for 70% of the time, I'm just doing the bass thing: playing something with groove under the guitar line, synced to the drums. I really, really, really like clean, deep bass- but I also like the ability to add a touch of crunch buy just picking the string harder. I dial out alot of the treble because our band has two guitarists that are all kinds of busy on the top end, anyway. The last thing we need is pollution there. I can, though, turn it up to modest levels and it is very plinky. I don't really dig that, but I think Jaco could find "his sound" from this head.
The amp is dead quiet without you making noise, and the only disruptive thing I can thik of it doing is occasional fan noise.

Like I said before, my thirst for controllable clean headroom is unquenchable (funny how I like tubes, eh?), so I'm looking forward to 6550's. With the 6L6's in it, I get to about 5 on the master volume and it goes sludge-crunchy. It's loud as hell there, though.

If you _want_ distortion, this amp can give it. I really have no taste for that, so I can't tell you if it's glorious. I know it should be, both for this much money and this many tubes.

The tubes, by the way, really added to the sustain of my bass. I think that might just be a percieved difference, because of the way they handle transients. But it does feel better when I sustain a tapped note way up high on the fretboard and I actually continue to hear it past the initial "plink".

Um, the tubes died in it, but they were a bit ancient. Prince was selling records when they were new. So maybe that doesn't count against the amp so much.

I'm worried about switching to 6550s. I don't know if the bias has been modded since the amp was manufactured. If 6L6's stayed at all live in it for 10 years, there's a good chance it has been altered. Mesa told me the amp shouldn't eat through 6550's in less than three years. I don't believe them, but we'll see.

So far I've blown 1 fuse. That's pretty much alright by me. Other than that, it's a beast.

I called Mesa when I got it to see if they still had 6550's or what they thought was ok. They said the Groove Tubes were ok, as were the Electro Harmonix. In the manual, they specifically state that those are NOT ok. Funny how these things change.

I didn't have to wait on the line at all, dude was interested in how the amp was holding up, and had heard of my band. Pretty much, I had a good support experience. I still feel like Mesa is shifty about their tube requirements, though. I will give them an 8 because I feel like they've been fundamentally dishonest about the nature of tube amps in general- when you change tubes, you bias. Period.

I play through Hughes & Kettner Bass base cabs ( 4x10 and 2x15) and love them. Way deeper than an 8x10, which I've also owned. I like the tone of this setup alot, and really just don't want to involve anything else in the chain.

I would cry and wail and sob and moan if it got stolen. I wouldn't mind having it again, and it's pretty much my favorite so far. 600 bones is huge, though, so while it'd be on the list, I'd use something cheaper first.
It's loud enough. It sounds good. I want 6550's so bad my heart hurts. It was more my style than the Fender or Sunn all-tube heads that are being made now. I've only played one 6550 SVT, and it was sick. I can't tell you what I think of that. I know that this amp was half the price, though.

If you want to hear this amp in action, go to www.myspace.com/silencetheepilogue and listen to "new clip". It's a live, no-frills recording. You'll be able to hear it pretty well there.

Bought the amp in 88.Had to have it repaired
about 10-15 Times.EQ stops working about once every
2 Years.All the repairs were because of minor malfunktions,e.g.
input jacks,capacitors,etc.Broke down at gigs at least 6-7 times.
All in all over almost 20 years I can't really call this amp reliable.

Been playing for about 20 years.
Wouldn't buy it again.Ampeg SVT is still superior to this amp.
I also play a Marshall Superbass from 76 that hasn't let me
down,yet,but is less versatile than the Boogie.
I play Punk,Metal,70ties.

I came to write this review for one reason only. As far as the sound, I love this amp its is just plain great...worth the extra weight (heavy as hell!)

The reason im here is I got FRIGGIN ELECTROCUTED (SHOCK ME, MAKE ME FEEL BETTER :) last night on the gig. whenever i would touch the mike to sing blue sparks shot out.Once was enough, I dropped my beer and shook for a few minutes. it felt like i had stuck my tounge in a light socket, which i might as well had done. Well, im playing again tonite so i had to get this fixed.
Come to find out, it is because the ground lug on the power cord is coming slightly detached. Its still set in there solidly, but when I put my continuity tester on it I could see that it had an intermittent
break to ground. I put my meter on AC, one side to earth ground and the other to the chassis. I wiggled the plug in the socket and watched
as it jumped between zero and 120vac ...OUCH!!

SO....im off to Home Depot to get a plug for tonite. Just figured Id give someone the heads up on this before they got fried.

Best wishes!

Rich

http://www.limelight.tk

PS. the fun part was I got to touch my bass to the guitar player a couple of times and watch him jump hehehehehehe.....