First Look: Mesa Boogie Prodigy and Strategy All-Tube Bass Amps
Mesa Boogie unveiled some sweet new gear at Musikmesse this year, including a pair of new all-tube bass amps called the Prodigy and the Strategy. Rated at 120 watts and 300 watts respectively, the pair are both equipped with three 12AX7 preamp tubes and a class A/B multi-watt power amp.
The Prodigy’s power amp section allows for running all four 6L6 power tubes for full power or 2 for half power resulting in 60 watts, while the Strategy offers Full, Half, and Low switching producing all 300 watts, 150 watts, or 60 watts.
Both of the new amps will have Normal and Vintage inputs. Controls will include Gain, Bass, Mid, and Treble with a 5-position active mid-voicing switch. The Strategy beefs things up further with footswitchable, assignable and by-passable 9-band graphic EQ. Other common features include a balanced XLR Line Out with Ground lift, Pre/Post, and level control, a fully buffered FX loop, and slave outs.
The Mesa Boogie Prodigy and Strategy bass amps are expected out this year with prices around $1,499 and $2,299. They’re currently finishing up final tweaks on the final products, so some details are subject to change.
Mesa Boogie Prodigy Specs:
- 120-watt all-tube bass amp
- Preamp tubes: 3 x 12AX7
- Power amp tubes: 4 x 6L6
- Normal & Vintage Inputs for stylistic voice/feel
- Controls: Gain, Active Bass, Passive Mids, Active Treble, 5-Position Active Mid-Voicing Switch & Master Volume
- Footswitchable Solo Level Control
- 2 Tuner Outputs w/ Footswitchable Amp Mute & Manual Play/Mute Switch
- Fully Buffered, Footswitchable FX Loop
- Balanced XLR Line Out w/ Ground Lift, Pre/Post Switch & D.I. Level Control
- 3×1/4? Speaker Output Jacks (1×8 & 2×4 Ohm)
- Slave Out
- Fan Cooled
- External Switching Jack for: Mid Voice, Solo, FX Loop & Tuner Mute
- 4 Button Footswitch (Mid voice, Solo, FX Loop & Mute) w/ Alternate 1/4? Tuner-Out Jack
- Slip cover
Mesa Boogie Strategy Specs:
- 300-watt all-tube bass amp
- Preamp tubes: 3 x 12AX7
- Power amp tubes: 12 x 6L6
- Normal & Vintage Inputs for stylistic voice/feel
- Controls: Gain, Active Bass, Passive Mids, Active Treble, 5-Position Active Mid-Voicing Switch & Master Volume
- Footswitchable, Assignable or Bypassable 9-Band Graphic EQ
- Footswitchable Solo Level Control
- 2 Tuner Outputs w/ Footswitchable Amp Mute & Manual Play/Mute Switch
- Fully Buffered, Footswitchable FX Loop
- Balanced XLR Line Out w/ Ground Lift, Pre/Post Switch & D.I. Level Control
- 5 Combination Speakon-1/4? Speaker Output Jacks (1×8, 2×4, &2×2 Ohm)
- Slave Out w/ Level Control
- Fan Cooled
- External Switching Jack for: Mid Voice, EQ, Solo, Tuner Mute & FX Loop
- New 2×3 5-Button Footswitch (Bottom Row: Mid Voice, EQ, Solo – Top Row: Mute & FX Loop w/ Alternate 1/4? Tuner-Out Jack
I can wish, right?
Uhm, shopping a little dear?
BUSTED!!
BUUUUUUUUSTED! she looks like a nice gal though, hope she won’t mind a nice new mesa head
I have a 400+ and love it. I’m sure these are great, but why do they have low power modes?
So you don’t blow up your eardrums playing at home? :D
Proud owner of the M6 Carbine…excellent sounding head, can imagine these will sound just as good if not better!
12 6L6 power tubes? why didn’t they just use KT88’s or 6550’s to get that power…much more efficient and cost effective on the retube.
6L6 in a bass head? really?
reckon better than ampeg orange?
best (well, my favourite, obviously) orange/ampeg bass heads use 6550s/KT88s. fuck i want me a 70s SVT real bad.. good luck shipping that to nz tho..
400+ has 12 of em.
Proud owner of a 400+. Been playing it for 12 years. :)
Heavy as hell though. It will take your back out. :-i
Sounds Like the Fender Bandmaster Circuit. I had a Plush P1000S Gutar head that I played bass through for many years. It was based on the Bandmaster Circuit. It always sounded great. Four 6L6’s give an extremely Warm and Ballsy tone.
KT88’s this year at Musikmesse.
I want to know the weight of both. After leaving my 100 pound Boogie Buster combo for a 5 pound Aguilar 500 that has more headroom and clearer tone, not sure if I want to lug another heavy cabinet again.