[Tacosauce]

I was going to say, to tide you over until we get pics of the Sarno preamp, here's a gut shot of my FYD JG Special Reverb 1X12 combo. But, in fact, BookieMK2 posted a gut shot already earlier in this thread.

That’s sexy. Always wondered why he stopped making those. I had reached out to him about one before Brad came along with the Spectrum but he said that those were no longer in production.

Maybe COVID related supply chain issues? Who knows. Either way, beautiful amp. What do you power it with?

[Tacosauce]

And while I’m here and we’re on this topic, I took the top panel off out of curiosity to look inside when it arrived. This amp is a goddamn work of art, I’ve never seen amp guts (if that’s the best term?) so clean and organized.

Brad killed it with this.

You didn’t happen to take any photos?

Hey Boogie,

I didn’t, don’t know why. Will try to do so on Friday when I have some free time.

Here’s one to give you an idea of the rig tho



Sean

[Jon S.]

That’s sexy. Always wondered why he stopped making those. I had reached out to him about one before Brad came along with the Spectrum but he said that those were no longer in production.

Maybe COVID related supply chain issues? Who knows. Either way, beautiful amp. What do you power it with?

Thanks for your kind words! It's a combo, so it's self powered (6L6s or 5881s; I'm currently using the latter because it tames the volume some and [to me] sounds sweeter).

[Tacosauce]

That’s sexy. Always wondered why he stopped making those. I had reached out to him about one before Brad came along with the Spectrum but he said that those were no longer in production.

Maybe COVID related supply chain issues? Who knows. Either way, beautiful amp. What do you power it with?

Thanks for your kind words! It's a combo, so it's self powered (6L6s or 5881s; I'm currently using the latter because it tames the volume some and [to me] sounds sweeter).

Oh ok- I thought it was the FYD Jerry head that he was making for a while (that’s why I mentioned him not making it anymore ). Either way, I’m sure it sounds killer, I know Jeff has great reputation as a builder.

[Tacosauce]

And looking back on this now, I realized I was thinking about the Philadelphia eagles owner Jeff Lurie when I said “Jeff” in that last reply.

Not sure what was going on in mah brain.

Anyways, cool amp!

[Jon S.]

It’s all good! Thanks again!

And may I add, my FYD JG Special Combo includes a “Tweed” switch that lifts the tone stack, unleashing Marshall-like gain, and another control that sounds to my ear like a variable treble bleed cap, enabling Vox Top Boost-like tones. So, it’s actually an extremely versatile combo that excels at Jerry tone but doesn’t stop there.

[BoogieMK2]

And while I’m here and we’re on this topic, I took the top panel off out of curiosity to look inside when it arrived. This amp is a goddamn work of art, I’ve never seen amp guts (if that’s the best term?) so clean and organized.

Brad killed it with this.

You didn’t happen to take any photos?

Hey Boogie,

I didn’t, don’t know why. Will try to do so on Friday when I have some free time.

Here’s one to give you an idea of the rig tho



Sean

Nice rig! Is the Boogie head a MKIIA or B, or other? Using the complete circuit or only power amp?

I expect your Spectrum guts will look like the pic I found but nice to see another one. What attention to detail both, design and aesthetics! Is it completely clean or is some dirt possible? I have a Revelation and it is super clean. It takes pedals well so getting dirt is not a problem.

[Tacosauce]

Thanks Boogie. It’s a IIA. It has a pre amp out tap on the back that allows me to run that through the Mc2300 if I want to. Funny thing is, and if you or anyone else here has any ideas about this please speak up, when I tap the pre amp I only wind up getting a signal out of one channel in the McIntosh. I have no idea why. When I run the Sarno through it, I get a signal in both channels like I should since I have speakers hooked up to both.

And the Spectrum does have separate gain and master volume so it can get a little dirty, but I rely mostly on pedals to get distorted tones. And I’ve been too lazy to take the thing apart for pics, but will try to do so sometime this week.

Sean

[Tacosauce]

It’s all good! Thanks again!

And may I add, my FYD JG Special Combo includes a “Tweed” switch that lifts the tone stack, unleashing Marshall-like gain, and another control that sounds to my ear like a variable treble bleed cap, enabling Vox Top Boost-like tones. So, it’s actually an extremely versatile combo that excels at Jerry tone but doesn’t stop there.

Yea, really surprised he doesn’t make more of these, especially given his rep as a builder and the market for Garcia inspired amps.

[BoogieMK2]

Thanks Boogie. It’s a IIA. It has a pre amp out tap on the back that allows me to run that through the Mc2300 if I want to. Funny thing is, and if you or anyone else here has any ideas about this please speak up, when I tap the pre amp I only wind up getting a signal out of one channel in the McIntosh. I have no idea why. When I run the Sarno through it, I get a signal in both channels like I should since I have speakers hooked up to both.

And the Spectrum does have separate gain and master volume so it can get a little dirty, but I rely mostly on pedals to get distorted tones. And I’ve been too lazy to take the thing apart for pics, but will try to do so sometime this week.

Sean

I’m lacking details on the Mc2300 and Spectrum to answer your question. Is the Spectrum output mono, only one cable used? My MKIIA preamp out is from underneath the chassis and is way hotter than a line out. It is the junction between the Boogie preamp and power amp, not a modern line out. I think the preamp out/power amp in in the same electrical point.

You would need to provide this signal to both sides of the Mc2300 or some jumper setting to accomplish the same thing. Get the Mc2300 manual which details hookup to drive both outputs from one input. If you have both the Spectrum and Boogie connected at the same time, one input will drive both sides and the other input just one side. Test by switching the Mc2300 inputs and see if mono behavior follows.

[Tacosauce]

Thanks Boogie. It’s a IIA. It has a pre amp out tap on the back that allows me to run that through the Mc2300 if I want to. Funny thing is, and if you or anyone else here has any ideas about this please speak up, when I tap the pre amp I only wind up getting a signal out of one channel in the McIntosh. I have no idea why. When I run the Sarno through it, I get a signal in both channels like I should since I have speakers hooked up to both.

And the Spectrum does have separate gain and master volume so it can get a little dirty, but I rely mostly on pedals to get distorted tones. And I’ve been too lazy to take the thing apart for pics, but will try to do so sometime this week.

Sean

I’m lacking details on the Mc2300 and Spectrum to answer your question. Is the Spectrum output mono, only one cable used? My MKIIA preamp out is from underneath the chassis and is way hotter than a line out. It is the junction between the Boogie preamp and power amp, not a modern line out. I think the preamp out/power amp in in the same electrical point.

You would need to provide this signal to both sides of the Mc2300 or some jumper setting to accomplish the same thing. Get the Mc2300 manual which details hookup to drive both outputs from one input. If you have both the Spectrum and Boogie connected at the same time, one input will drive both sides and the other input just one side. Test by switching the Mc2300 inputs and see if mono behavior follows.

Sorry, I think you misunderstood. The Spectrun works fine, I get a signal out of both channels in the Mac when I use it.

The Boogie is the one giving me problems. I use the same cable to connect the Boogie preamp out to the McIntosh that I use to connect the Spectrum to the McIntosh, but with the Boogie I only get a signal out of one channel on the Mac. It’s a 1/4” male TS connected to the Spectrum and dual RCA connected to the McIntosh.

No idea what’s wrong. I’ve called McIntosh and spoke with someone who has worked there for years and was familiar with the JG style rig, he had no idea. Called and emailed with people at mesa and they had no suggestions either.

[Tacosauce]

Oh and one other detail- I’m not using the output jack that is on the underside of the chassis, I’m using the one on the back panel that’s next to the slave knob, it’s a power amp in/pre amp out jack on top and the slave out jack on the bottom. I haven’t tried connecting to the one that you described yet.

[BoogieMK2]

I think the signal at the jack you use is the same electrical point. Since you aren’t using the Boogie power amp, you have no need for a loop. I used to use it with a buffer for an effects loop but no more. Like a C-lator that can match the levels.

Did you ask Brad Sarno about the stereo/mono problem? He may have run into it or have insight. He has answered several questions for me in the past about odd combinations. Just email him.

[Tacosauce]

Sorry man, I think you’re still misunderstanding- the spectrum works fine. It’s the mesa boogie that I’m having issues with when I run it through the McIntosh. Only get a signal out of one channel, even though I have speaker cabs hooked up to both.

[mkaufman]

Sorry man, I think you’re still misunderstanding- the spectrum works fine. It’s the mesa boogie that I’m having issues with when I run it through the McIntosh. Only get a signal out of one channel, even though I have speaker cabs hooked up to both.

Do both Boogie speaker outputs work independently (ie: one at a time)?

ace