Mesa Boogie Buster Bass 200 User Manual
Owner's Manual
The Spirit of Art Through Technology
1317 Ross Street, Petaluma, CA 94954
Hello from the Tone Farm...
YOU, the smart player and all around intuitive human, have put your trust in us to be
your amplifier company. This is something we do not take lightly. Our reward is that
we’ve made a classic amplifier and by choosing this amplifier, you have become part of
the Mesa family...Welcome! Our goal is to never let you down. Your reward is that you
are now the owner of an amp bred of fine all tube amp heritage...benefiting from the
many patented pioneering Mesa/Boogie circuits that led to the refinement of your new
instrument. Feel confident, as we do, this amp will inspire many hours of musical
satisfaction and lasting enjoyment. It was built with you in mind, by players who know
the value of a fine musical instrument and the commitment it takes to make great music.
The same commitment to quality, value and support we make to you...our new friend.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PRECAUTIONS
OVERVIEW___________________________________________________________________________ 1 / 2
INSTANT GRATIFICATION ________________________________________________________________ 2
( 2 DEMONSTRATION SETTINGS )
FRONT PANEL:
VOLUME_______________________________________________________________________________ 3
TREBLE _______________________________________________________________________________ 3
MID ___________________________________________________________________________________ 4
BASS _________________________________________________________________________________ 4
MASTER_______________________________________________________________________________ 4
GRAPHIC EQ ___________________________________________________________________________ 5
TOGGLE SWITCHES
EQ IN / OUT ___________________________________________________________________________ 5
STANDBY______________________________________________________________________________ 6
POWER _______________________________________________________________________________ 6
BACK PANEL:
FUSE _________________________________________________________________________________ 7
A.C. RECEPTACLE ______________________________________________________________________ 7
EFFECTS LOOP - SEND & RETURN _____________________________________________________ 7 / 8
SPEAKER MUTE ________________________________________________________________________ 8
PIN 1 LIFT / GROUND ____________________________________________________________________ 8
DIRECT OUT ___________________________________________________________________________ 9
SPEAKERS ____________________________________________________________________________ 9
FACTORY SAMPLE SETTINGS ___________________________________________________________ 10
PERSONNAL SETTINGS PAGE ____________________________________________________________11
TUBE TASK CHART ____________________________________________________________________ 12
TUBE MAINTENANCE _______________________________________________________________ 13 / 14
TECH TALK: An article by Randall Smith ___________________________________________ 15 / 16 / 17
PARTS SHEET _________________________________________________________________________ 18
Your Mesa/Boogie Amplifier is a professional instrument. Please treat it with respect and operate it properly.
USE COMMON SENSE AND ALWAYS OBSERVE THESE PRECAUTIONS:
Do not expose amplifier to moisture, rain or water, direct sunlight
or extremely high temperatures.
Always insure that amplifier is properly grounded.
Always unplug AC power cord before changing fuse or any tubes.
When replacing fuse, use only same type and rating.
Avoid direct contact with heated tubes.
Insure adequate air circulation behind amplifier.
Keep amplifier away from children.
Be sure to connect to an AC power supply that meets the power
supply specifications listed on the rear of the unit.
If there is any danger of lightning occurring nearby, remove the
power plug from the wall socket in advance.
To avoid damaging your speakers and other playback equipment,
turn off the power of all related equipment before
making the connections.
Do not use excessive force in handling control buttons, switches
and controls.
Remove the power plug from the AC mains socket if the unit is to
be stored for an extended period of time.
Do not use solvents such as benzene or paint thinner to clean the
unit. Wipe off the exterior with soft cloth.
Be sure to have the warranty card for this product filled out by the
store at which it was purchased and return to Mesa Engineering.
YOUR AMPLIFIER IS LOUD! EXPOSURE TO HIGH SOUND VOLUMES MAY CAUSE
PERMANENT HEARING DAMAGE!
No user serviceable parts inside. Refer service to qualified personnel. Always unplug AC power
before removing chassis.
EXPORT MODELS: Always insure that unit is wired for proper voltage. Make certain grounding
conforms with local standards.
READ AND FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS OF PROPER USAGE.
Operating Instructions
Congratulations on your choice of the Mesa/Boogie BUSTER BASS 200 ! As you’ve probably already discovered, it is one of the
most responsive and expressive amplifiers available today and we’re excited about its unique design and performance. The dynamic
tone, resolute pitch and bold punch BUSTER delivers is largely due to the all-tube circuit design. Most manufacturers won’t attempt
an all-tube design for bass; citing higher parts cost and more challenging design parameters - opting instead for cheaper-per-watt
solid state designs that ensure a higher profit margin per unit.
We know that, despite the slight weight disadvantage, nothing can respond in the time domain nor capture the three dimensional
experience that is live music - like an all tube circuit. We salute your discriminating tastes and your obvious demand for great tone ! We
would like to thank you for trusting us to build your amplifier and for choosing Mesa/Boogie as your amplifier company. We feel
confident that BUSTER will exceed your expectations of performance in both live and recording environments. Our wish is that it
provides you with amazing tone for years to come and becomes an inspirational springboard for all your musical endeavors as a
bassist. Enjoy !
Overview:
Your new BUSTER BASS 200 incorporates a single channel, all-tube pre-amp with the standard array of
interactive rotary controls. It also provides a 7 Band Graphic Equalizer that may be used to further shape the sound and it can be used
in conjunction with the rotary tone controls. The GRAPHIC EQ may be activated manually, or via a mini toggle switch located on the
Front Panel. It may also be activated with the EQ Footswitch included with BUSTER.
Input sensitivity, headroom and overall character of the channel is determined with the VOLUME Control found at the far left of the
Front Panel. Output volume and overall listening level is controlled with the MASTER Control to the right of the tone controls. As you
might have guessed, the pre-amp VOLUME may be run high and the power section (MASTER) set low to produce some interesting
pushed or overdriven sounds.
BUSTERS’ healthy power section is fueled by six 6L6GC power pentode tubes and is rated at a very conservative 200 watts RMS.
These six 6L6s’ are fed by a circuit maximizing a single 12AX7 driver tube that contributes greatly to its responsive, dynamic character. Upon experiencing the attack, punch and power of the sound for the first time, most people are amazed to learn that BUSTER
isn’t rated as far more powerful than 200 watts ! While we are pleased - we have always preferred to stick to true power ratings and
let the all-tube tone do the talking.
FRONT VIEW: BUSTER
INPUT
EQ FTSW
VOLUME
BASS 200
TREBLE
MID
BASS
MASTER
40Hz 100
250 625 1560 3900 6600
EQ. IN
EQ. OUT
EQ. FTSW.
ON ON
STANDBY
POWER
REAR VIEW: BUSTER
FUSE
6.25A. S B
117 V.
60 Hz.
6.25A
WARNING:
To reduce risk of fire or elec-
trical shock,replace fuse with the same
type and rating only. Do not expose
this unit to rain or moisture.
NOTE: Euro style power cord receptacle is under this edge of chassis.
BASS 200
CAUTION:
To reduce risk of fire electric shock, do not remove cover. No userserviceable parts inside. Refer
servicing to qualified personnel..
EFFECTS
SEND RETURN
PAGE 1
10% 100%
FX
BLEND
SPEAKER MUTE
SPKR ON
LIFT
GROUND
PIN 1
DIRECT OUT
SPEAKERS
4 OHM
HANDBUILT BY MESA/BOOGIE LTD. IN PETALUMA, CA
8 OHM
OVERVIEW: (Continued)
BUSTER is equipped with a buffered parallel Effects Loop with an EFFECTS BLEND Control
which is located on the Rear Panel for interfacing outboard signal processors. For direct interfacing to a recording console or live
mixing board, we have provided a balanced XLR DIRECT OUTPUT which is fed by the VOLUME Control. There is also a SPEAKER
MUTE switch for those times when you want to go direct and don’t want to hear the speakers live.
The innovative Wedge 2 x 10 design makes BUSTER a portable combo alternative to the giant rigs of the past. The custom designed
Basis 10" speakers are capable of surprising volumes even at the lowest frequencies making BUSTER the rig of the future for the
bassist on the move.
TRANSPORTING BUSTER COMBO:
WARNING ! READ AND REMEMBER !
When towing BUSTER by the Retractable handle...Always make sure the Retractable handle is locked in place !
*Always make turns slowly thus keeping both wheels on the ground !
*Always keep your wrist in the center of the handle and support handle with both hands when making a turn !
*Never pull BUSTER off curbs - Stop, Turn Around At The Curb and lower from the curb with both hands !
INSTANT GRATIFICATION:
Before reviewing the controls and understanding their role in shaping your sound, let’s take a moment to hear what BUSTER can do
with these quick demos.
Don’t forget to to remove the protective plastic webbing from the tubes before connecting the A.C. power cord! See page 6
for important information about power-up.
NOTE: The EQ mini-toggle switch
DEMO NUMBER 1: Fingerstyle
should be in the middle position OUT
ON ON
EQ. IN
EQ. OUT
INPUT
EQ FTSW
VOLUME
TREBLE
MID
BASS
MASTER
40Hz 100
250 625 1560 3900 6600
EQ. FTSW.
STANDBY
POWER
DEMO NUMBER 1: Thumbing
ON ON
STANDBY
POWER
INPUT
EQ FTSW
VOLUME
TREBLE
MID
BASS
MASTER
40Hz 100
EQ. IN
EQ. OUT
EQ. FTSW.
250 625 1560 3900 6600
Now that you have a better idea of what BUSTER can do and have had a first hand look at the features on board, understanding the
controls and how they interact to achieve the sounds you are are looking for is the next step, so let’s get to it!
PAGE 2
FRONT PANEL:
First familiarize yourself with the layout of the Front Panel and locate the EQ FTSW jack. This jack, when connected to your footswitch
will allow you to engage the 7 Band Graphic EQ remotely. If there isn’t a footswitch available, the mini-toggle on the right side of the
EQ (Front Panel) will allow you to engage the EQ manually (EQ IN). Be sure that this mini-toggle is in the down (EQ FTSW) position
when the footswitch is connected to it’s designated input jack.
CONTROLS:
VOLUME:
This control determines the overall character of the input sensitivity. The lower regions of the control (below 12:00)
lend greater headroom and provide a scooped, brighter personality. The upper harmonics come through more prominently in this area
of the control making the top end sound more transparent and sweet. This region is especially useful for funkier stuff when thumbing
is the choice. It keeps the rubber- band feel intact in the lows and mids while voicing the snap
just high enough to avoid harshness, or the dreaded “gak” when the G string is plucked.
As the VOLUME is increased past 12:00 a richer, more “well-rounded” voice becomes dominant and headroom starts to diminish in increments until eventually, a tube overdrive sound
appears as the 12AX7 input tube is driven into saturation. The region between 12:00 and 2:30
INPUT
EQ FTSW
VOLUME
is where the classic, warm tube sound resides and within this narrow band you will discover a
world of tone. Tiny increments here produce subtle, but important differences in the attack
characteristic which in turn, feel like changes in the time domain. By experimenting with the amount of gain, you can actually voice the
amp to feel as if it bounces just ahead of the groove - or lays back a little deeper to produce a more Fatback feel. The difference in
attack and sustain produces striking results as to how the bassist - and in fact the whole band - perceives things in the time domain.
At the top of the VOLUME Control there is ample gain available to push the envelope, and up here, you will find the harder side of
BUSTER. This type of sound is great for alternative and rock styles where some overdrive is needed, but defined attack cannot be
compromised as it’s still important to establish the groove. Some Bassists that would otherwise never play “distorted bass” may find
a little of this tube overdrive valuable in the studio for solo passages or just to double track a part that needs a little attitude.
TREBLE:
As with most tube amplifiers, the TREBLE Control is the most powerful of the three rotary tone controls. Its setting
determines the mix of the MIDDLE and BASS and at high settings of the TREBLE Control, the MID and BASS have a much reduced
effect on the signal. This interaction is normal and therefore, we suggest using the
TREBLE somewhere in the middle regions 10:00 - 2:30.
If you require additional emphasis on the top end harmonics, the 7 Band Graphic
Equalizer is the perfect tool. Simply dial in a curve that accentuates the highs and
possibly even scoops the mids to bring out a brighter voice while leaving the lows
INPUT
EQ FTSW
VOLUME
TREBLE
untouched.
The equalizers’ seven “Q” points are discreet and the separate frequencies do not interact in the same way as those found in the
TREBLE Control, and yet the bands are spread wide enough to allow musical shaping of the sound. This wider-band style of equalizer
found aboard BUSTER is infinitely more friendly to use than a traditional 31 (or more) Band EQ that you might use for sound
reinforcement or studio applications. These equalizers are great for notching problem areas in a troublesome venue or a complex
studio mix, but can cast the player with limited experience on these powerful tools into a frustrating no-tone-zone real fast.
PAGE 3
MID:
This control blends the lower midrange roundness and upper mid attack frequencies in and out of the mix. Like the TREBLE
Control, it is more powerful as the pot is increased toward the top of its range. At the top of the control it becomes the dominant tone
control and the effectiveness of the TREBLE and BASS will be greatly diminished. The MID differs slightly from the other two tone
controls in that when the control is all the way down and the mids are
turned off completely - there are some very usable sounds. In fact, this
setting would actually be preferred in many instances for thumbing and
funk style playing.
This scooping of the midrange frequencies lends a more elastic, rub-
INPUT
EQ FTSW
VOLUME
TREBLE
MID
ber-band-like feel to the strings that makes many players feel more
comfortable and expressive. Since the rotary tone controls offer a more
blend-conscious approach to EQ’ing, the scooping of the mids here
also makes the top end seem sweeter and allows the super-high frequencies to shine through a little more clearly. This makes for
some exciting, yet never harsh, snap when plucking the G string during thumbing passages. Because of the awesome presence and
punch BUSTERS’ all-tube power section delivers, many players find they don’t need very much of this midrange frequency - so don’t
be surprised if you find yourself using what you might consider to be a lower than normal setting on this control.
BASS:
Way huge found here ! This final rotary control dials in and out the rich, warm bottom end tube amplifiers are famous
for...and in BUSTERS’ case there is no shortage of this crucial ingredient. All regions of this control may be used without penalty with
the possible exception of things getting a bit tubby if you
are using the VOLUME Control maxed for an overdriven
sound. In this scheme, it may be better to attain empha-
BASS:
sized low end from the three bottom sliders of the EQ.
In general, the low end found here in the rotary controls,
INPUT
EQ FTSW
VOLUME
TREBLE
MID
BASS
as opposed to the type found in the lower region of the
Graphic EQ, tends to be of a breathier nature, rounding
and smoothing out the sound and filling in the gaps when
more focused, super-tight bottom end is required for a specific part it may be wise to set the rotary BASS Control at 12:00 or below
and dial in some of the desired frequency from the lower bands of the Graphic.
MASTER:
This is the overall Output Level Control for BUSTER and it is responsible for signal level fed to the power stage. It
may be used to increase and decrease the listening level once the desired tone and color have been shaped by using the front end
VOLUME Control.
INPUT
EQ FTSW
VOLUME
TREBLE
MID
BASS
PAGE 4
MASTER
As mentioned in the VOLUME section earlier in this manual, the gain may be set as to
achieve an overdriven sound and then volume level reduced with the MASTER Control to a desired listening level.
Loading...