[Leon]

Originally Posted by keithb

I actually made a mistake: it's a Nomad 100 1x12 widebody combo. Like new condition, dust cover, footswitch, all paperwork included....within driving distance.

I think I'll definately have to check it out.

...for $800? hell, with a deal like that, you could always turn around and probably sell it for more if you don't like it!

also, the 100w Nomad models have a 60/100w toggle switch, which would be really nice to have!

nice find!

[keithb]

Yeah, that was my thought as well - I'm still afraid it'll be way too loud. But like you said - I won't lose money if I decide to sell it.

[Leon]

i imagine with the 60w power option and only 1x12 it shouldn't be too loud. what i do, is use a little bit of distortion to my mix, so that i can get that cranked sound with the volume really low.

you can also mismatch the speaker impedances to get a softer sound. as with mine, the 2x12 is an 8ohm cabinet. but, instead of using the 8ohm output, i use the 4ohm output. the user manual has some listings of safe mismatches that you could try out.

[keithb]

Before I bite the bullet and grab the Nomad, I have one more option to consider - a decent rack setup.

Ideally I'd like to be able to do direct recording, low-volume practice and band gigs all with one rig. I had been planning to get the Nomad and a PODxt for practice/recording. Looking around, I realized it might be better to get a decent rack preamp (maybe a POD or Sansamp? Maybe something tube-based?) that I can run through the Mosvalve power amp I already have if I need volume.

Basically, I want great tone at bedroom volumes, good tone at band volumes, and the ability to record easily. I'm thinking maybe a 100W tube amp isn't going to give me what I want :p

[Leon]

Originally Posted by keithb

Basically, I want great tone at bedroom volumes, good tone at band volumes, and the ability to record easily. I'm thinking maybe a 100W tube amp isn't going to give me what I want :p

i can get both volume tones really well. as far as ease of recording, there is a recording out on my Nomad, but i've not used it. Drew, however, i'm sure has used it, and would be a better source of information on it's in's and out's.

mesa makes rackmount amps too i believe

[No Soul]

Originally Posted by wildealien

also, the 100w Nomad models have a 60/100w toggle switch, which would be really nice to have!

thats just for lazy people who dont wanna just pull 2 power tubes out

[Drew]

Sorry, long weekend (took tuesday off too), so my usual Nomad raving's a little late.

the Nomad is an almost obscenely versatile amp. Needing an OD as a booster in front? Personally, I think you're crazy- especially now that I've got my UV, I usually run the gain at about 4.5 or so, maybe just a touch under 5, and really don't think I'd need more than that- there's an absurd amount of distortion on tap here.

Huge range of tones, from dark singy mark-style stuff to full-out-crunch that rivals a recto, and now that I'm playing a brighter sounding guitar (my 7620 was fairly dark), the clean channel is really a thing of beauty. Marshall crunch is about the only thing I haven't gotten out of it, and frankly, there's enough good "crunch" sounds available that I can get something else that works just as well if I ever need it.

Great heavy rhythm tones, phenominal leads... this amp has just about anything you could need on tap. If you want to give mine a try, let me know- I'm in Waltham, where are you?

Gotta say, though, I'd want to play it first just to see what I think of the speaker, but had I been offered a 100 for that price (what I payed for my 45 2x12), I might have gone that way, instead- the graphic EQ could be fun.

(although I sorta think I'd like a 100 head more than a combo, for some reason...)

-D

[keithb]

I think I'm gonna let the 100 slide (though I'm still considering it), especially since I've never played a Nomad before and it's a 4 hr drive 1 way to NJ for me to pick it up. Drew, I'm in Narragansett (southern RI) - I'd definately like to take you up on that offer to check out your Nomad. You have to promise not to laugh at my playing though :p

I think I've called every music store in this lil state of mine, and there are no Nomads to be found, just lots of suggestions to "come in and try a road king/F-series/Mark IV"

Edit: although I could always do the good ol' buy it, try it, and sell it if I don't like it

[Drew]

Hahaha, yeah, not much impetus for them to look if they stand to make an extra grand on the deal...

Forgot to get into the recording out- basically, it's useable, but not remarkable. They do some sort of speaker emulation to it, but it seems more like a treble filter than anything, and it's a little muddy. I'd tried the recording out on my old Rocket-44 and was seriously underwhelmed, so when I plugged into this one and tried monitoring through my speakers, I was actually pleasantly surprised- it really is a big improvement, and is perfectly fine for headphone monitoring for late-night practice. However, honestly, this thing sounds perfectly fine at lower "bedroom" volumes, so I just mic it up when recording. If you want to hear it in action, swing by and listen to "A Pagan's Prayer" at www.purevolume.com/drewpeterson - that's my 7620 driving the channel 3 vintage mode of the nomad, recorded so quietly that I had to toss the first take of the intro because you could hear my watch rattling on a sustained vibrato, picked up by the mic against the grill while I was standing across the room.

Mesas do better at low volumes than anything else I've ever played- my TSL had a GREAT recording out but sorta blew with the volume back (too fizzy), so I used the emulated out for that, but with this amp there's no need.

I won't laugh at your playing if you don't laugh at mine- deal?

[Leon]

Originally Posted by Drew

Needing an OD as a booster in front? Personally, I think you're crazy...

i should clarify, i use the OD pedal for getting that cranked sound at a volume of about a 2 or 3. over the xmas break, i had it cranked with another 2x12 hooked up. didn't need the OD then!