Odd as I set mine up scooped (V shape to eq). Channel 3 modern, 1 o'clock on treble and mids and 3 o'clock on bass. Presence about 9 o'clock. JHS tube screamer and Sentry gate up front and ran on a Mesa Rectifier 4x12 with Celestion V30s. Sounded absolutely amazing. Ran head to head with a Mesa Recto Badlander (50w) and a Mesa Dual Rectofier (100w). Although it sounded similar it definitely had its own voice. Had more low end than the Badlander but the Badlander was a little tighter. The Dual Rectifier had a little more low end but not a huge difference. The Nomad has a dirtier distortion (in a good way). This amp gets some hate but IMO its a monster and is overlooked. I love it.
Good stuff, but the Nomad is a direct descendant of the DC series. The F series came after the Nomads. And by the time the nomad had been released, Metallica had long moved on from the IIC+ era and were onto Dual Rectos. You are right about about everyone wanted big scooped mid sounds and this was not it at the time. I personally think they sound fantastic.
How hot do these Nomad amps run? I've played a few DC series and Rocket series over the years and they put off serious heat. I passed on buying any of them because I was concerned they'd fail or malfunction from the intense heat they put out.
I love my Mesa Nomad 100. I changed the fx loop to series and utilize an Empress ParaEQ to remove the excessive mids. I also changed V1 and V2 to 12ay7, which I feel was an improvement. I use the MESA EQ as a lead boost. I use a Maxon OD808. I also use a TC electronic Iron Curtain front of the amp and Boss NS-2 in front of the amp and in the fx loop. I have very low noise with the dual noise gates. The gates make the Nomad 100 reverb unusable. I use a Two Notes Torpedo Captor 8 to send line out to my stereo fx. I get great tone from this amp. My solo function seems disabled. I just use the EQ as a solo boost. I would buy another for sure.
Boss just came out with a version NS-1X. I will try that sometime. I have tried my ISP Decimator X Micro G that does the loop and infront very well. I use that for my other EVH 5150III EL34 50 watt head.
Interesting, I quite like the sound of my Nomad 55 scooped. Thinking of getting an EQ pedal to put in the fx loop for more tone shaping. I agree it’s not naturally scooped like a Rectifier but boosting the mids is the last thing this amp needs (IMO)
Would love to shoot out a Nomad 55 and 100. Even though you can turn the 5 band EQ off on the 100, I think the 55 would have pretty different tone structure since it doesn’t have it.
Yours could be modified on the 2nd channel to make it brighter, perceived louder, and perhaps perceived gainer. My nomad has the best tone for those hotter tones I’ll never part with mine, the solo and the EQ make it perfect, I only wish the channel mode on channel one was switchable between Cali-Clean and Mesa Tweed. That pushed sound is drastically underutilized b/c of how sweet the lead channel actually plays. I boost the front with an SD-1 if I want more moar. Rock on!
Can anybody identify the cause of the noise at 3m45s? This is on chA, but the same noise is on b and c. I have the same head and it makes the same noise. Pre and power amp tubes have been replaced. Filter caps are not leaking (no voltage between pots and earth).
@@3bandEQ thanks for your reply, and also for a great video and your insights. Very enjoyable. @psionic audio describes a “running water” sound on a Mesa he is repairing-which seems like a good description of this noise. He also points to a couple of potential causes-an under-spec-orange-drop-filter cap or a tantalum cap. I need to revisit these possible causes. WRT to your suggestion of a noisy pot; 1-I did replace a noisy pot to no effect, 2-noise is across all channels.
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Odd as I set mine up scooped (V shape to eq). Channel 3 modern, 1 o'clock on treble and mids and 3 o'clock on bass. Presence about 9 o'clock. JHS tube screamer and Sentry gate up front and ran on a Mesa Rectifier 4x12 with Celestion V30s. Sounded absolutely amazing. Ran head to head with a Mesa Recto Badlander (50w) and a Mesa Dual Rectofier (100w). Although it sounded similar it definitely had its own voice. Had more low end than the Badlander but the Badlander was a little tighter. The Dual Rectifier had a little more low end but not a huge difference. The Nomad has a dirtier distortion (in a good way). This amp gets some hate but IMO its a monster and is overlooked. I love it.
When you say "dirtier" would you say it's close to the gain you get from the orange rockerverbs...?
Good stuff, but the Nomad is a direct descendant of the DC series. The F series came after the Nomads. And by the time the nomad had been released, Metallica had long moved on from the IIC+ era and were onto Dual Rectos. You are right about about everyone wanted big scooped mid sounds and this was not it at the time. I personally think they sound fantastic.
How hot do these Nomad amps run? I've played a few DC series and Rocket series over the years and they put off serious heat. I passed on buying any of them because I was concerned they'd fail or malfunction from the intense heat they put out.
Sounds like in between a recto and a mark series
I love my Mesa Nomad 100. I changed the fx loop to series and utilize an Empress ParaEQ to remove the excessive mids. I also changed V1 and V2 to 12ay7, which I feel was an improvement. I use the MESA EQ as a lead boost. I use a Maxon OD808. I also use a TC electronic Iron Curtain front of the amp and Boss NS-2 in front of the amp and in the fx loop. I have very low noise with the dual noise gates. The gates make the Nomad 100 reverb unusable. I use a Two Notes Torpedo Captor 8 to send line out to my stereo fx. I get great tone from this amp. My solo function seems disabled. I just use the EQ as a solo boost. I would buy another for sure.
That’s sounds dialed in! I’ve never set up a rig with NGs up front and in the loop. Gonna give that a shot!
Boss just came out with a version NS-1X. I will try that sometime. I have tried my ISP Decimator X Micro G that does the loop and infront very well. I use that for my other EVH 5150III EL34 50 watt head.
I am not scooping them, just reducing them.
Interesting, I quite like the sound of my Nomad 55 scooped. Thinking of getting an EQ pedal to put in the fx loop for more tone shaping. I agree it’s not naturally scooped like a Rectifier but boosting the mids is the last thing this amp needs (IMO)
Would love to shoot out a Nomad 55 and 100. Even though you can turn the 5 band EQ off on the 100, I think the 55 would have pretty different tone structure since it doesn’t have it.
Nice content
Thanks man!
Yours could be modified on the 2nd channel to make it brighter, perceived louder, and perhaps perceived gainer. My nomad has the best tone for those hotter tones I’ll never part with mine, the solo and the EQ make it perfect, I only wish the channel mode on channel one was switchable between Cali-Clean and Mesa Tweed. That pushed sound is drastically underutilized b/c of how sweet the lead channel actually plays. I boost the front with an SD-1 if I want more moar. Rock on!
What's better for 80's metal this Nomad? Or a Bogner Shiva??
If money isn’t an issue, Shiva. All day.
I would find it a Gem and I wouldn't think twice to get it..
Definitely a sleeper! Loved it then. Still a great amp. Does the thing. Don’t get the hate. Lol.
Can anybody identify the cause of the noise at 3m45s? This is on chA, but the same noise is on b and c. I have the same head and it makes the same noise. Pre and power amp tubes have been replaced. Filter caps are not leaking (no voltage between pots and earth).
Sounds like a noisy potentiometer. I’m probably wrong though.
@@3bandEQ thanks for your reply, and also for a great video and your insights. Very enjoyable. @psionic audio describes a “running water” sound on a Mesa he is repairing-which seems like a good description of this noise. He also points to a couple of potential causes-an under-spec-orange-drop-filter cap or a tantalum cap. I need to revisit these possible causes.
WRT to your suggestion of a noisy pot; 1-I did replace a noisy pot to no effect, 2-noise is across all channels.
It's a classic