PAGE 8
don’t expect the same type of response you would find with these heavier sounds as you would from a 100 watt amp. The TA-30 is
indeed mighty in its class… but those little EL84’s can’t handle massive amounts of both preamp gain and huge low end like an amp
running the larger octal-based 6L6 or EL34 type power tubes. Running the GAIN control high in the 30W and 15W Modes in perfectly
fine to do, it just won’t keep the attack as focused… especially when you increase the playing loudness.
NOTE - CHANNEL 1: In Channel 1 the VOLUME control is both the front end (GAIN) control and the playing loudness or “master”
control as well. We wanted to pay tribute to these sounds in the most reverent way and there was no master volume control on the
original amplifiers - so as you turn up the VOLUME control in CHANNEL 1 - you are adding (gain) saturation AND turning up the
playing volume. Purists have long identified with this “no master” scheme - citing its more urgent response, clarity and dynamic touch
sensitivity. We agree with these observations to some degree – for these types of circuits – but there is little doubt that the trade-off
for this stripped “no-master” approach is difficult to overlook when it comes to the flexibility department.
So we gave you a choice by including a cool new feature for this type of circuit. When you need the old-school response of the original
“no-master” scheme and the gain versus volume issues that inherently arise from this scenario are not a problem… crank it up and
Rock!
But for those times when you do need control over the gain and saturation independent of the playing volume… pull the CUT control
out and… problem solved, you now have a MASTER volume control! The CUT is preset to about 1/3 of the way on (rolling off just a
little top end) and the same pot now functions as a fully independent MASTER volume control.
Again…Pushed In, the CUT/PULL MASTER control functions as a CUT control (rolling off high frequencies as you increase the
control clockwise - almost like a reverse PRESENCE control). Pulled Out, the CUT/PULL MASTER control becomes an indepen-
dent MASTER volume.
This “mod” to the original “vintage” architecture greatly enhances the flexibility of both NORMAL and TOP BOOST Modes and allows you to use
them for many more sounds and footswitchable scenarios. It opens up the landscape for these sounds to be applied in new ways and allows
them to interface to the modern world of footswitchable sounds and yet retain their expressive charm and harmonic identity.
CHANNEL 2: GAIN / PULL BOOST
The TA-30 incorporates a new GAIN BOOST feature appearing as a pull-pot on Channel 2’s GAIN control. This
powerful feature takes the TA-30 into new and uncharted high-gain waters, enabling it to scuttle even the most extreme
Rock and Metal sounds with one well-aimed pull of the GAIN pot pull-trigger. The boost of focused gain across a
well defined region empowers all three Modes in Channel 2 (though slightly less radical in TWEED) and delivers a
take-no-prisoners assault on the senses…especially in the HI 1 and 2 Modes. Just remember to adjust the BASS
control accordingly – especially as you use the BOOST in the higher region of the GAIN control to avoid flubbiness
and retain the focus and clarity of the attack.
TREBLE:
This control, while being the second most powerful control in the preamp, is very simple to operate… and when you’ve
dialed in a little too much, it’s easy to tell right away. The TREBLE controls how much of the high frequencies in the preamp will be
blended into the signal. This is another control to use in the middle ranges to produce the best balance of tone and
noise. The TREBLE can bring in unwanted noise (hiss) when set to the extreme high end of its range (3:00 – 5:30)
so avoid setting the TREBLE this high whenever possible.
Like the GAIN, the best sounds are found with the TREBLE in its middle range where an equal blend of highs from
here are mixed in with the lows from the BASS (and GAIN). If you need things brighter in CHANNEL 1 - try leaving
the CUT control set low (9:00 – 7:00). The top end that comes from there comes later down the line in the signal
path - closer to the power section - and will produce less likelihood of noise and task the preamp tubes less.
FRONT PANEL: Controls & Features (Continued)
CAUTION:
Unplug power
before replacing
fuse
120 V~
60 Hz
2 A
2 A
SLO
BLO
SPEAKERS
8 OHM
PATENTED
6,621,907
7,173,488
7,602,927
CAUTION: CHASSIS SURFACE MAY BE HOT!
4 OHM
TRANSATLANTIC
TA -15
HANDBUILT IN PETALUMA, CAALL T UBE AMPLIFIER
®
CAUTION!
WARNING!
TUBE GUIDE
4 x 12AX7
2 x EL 84
F
U
S
E
F
U
S
E
INPUT
FT SW
VOLUME TREBLE BASS GAIN TREBLE BASS MASTER
POWER
STANDBY
NORMAL
15 15
HI 1
TOP BST
25W
FT
SW
5W
TWEED
HI 2
25W
5W
ON
ON
MASTER
PULL
CUT /
™
-15
CAUTION!
WARNING!
HANDBUILT
IN PETALUMA
CALIFORNIA, USA
8 OHM OUTREVERB
4 OHM OUT 4 OHM OUT SEND RETURN EL-84 X 4TUBES: 12AX7 X 6 INSIDE
-
INPUT
FT SW
VOLUME TREBLE BASS TREBLE BASS MASTER
POWER
STANDBY
NORMAL
30 30
HI 1
TOP BST
40W
FT
SW
15W
TWEED
HI 2
40W
15W
ON
ON
MASTER
PULL
CUT / BOOST
PULL
GAIN/
™
-30
BYPASS
FX & REV
BYPASS
FX & REV
®
REVERB
REVERB
Unplug power to service chassis.
Unplug power to change fuse.
TA-30
MESA BOOGIE LTD.
ALL-TUBE AMPLIFIER
™
PATENTED
6,621,907
7,602,927
To Next Page
Loading...
