Need Help Mesa Nomad 100

[CoyotesGator]

I got this 1X12 Nomad 100 combo from my mom about 5 or 6 years ago.

She couldn't bond with it, now I can't bond with it.

I just can't get anything great out of it.

It sounds OK when very loud, but otherwise meh.

I have tried other cabinets, closed and open. Perhaps it is me?

Would anyone care to share their settings with me?

 

[Ghostman]

Sounds like it's time for it to hit the trails.

 

[tresmarshallz]

Which tube type do you have in it, 6L6 or EL34? Try changing tube type to see if it gives you a sound more to your liking.

I ran mine with EL34s for while and liked it that way. Wait, I had the 100W head which had the ability to switch tube types, your combo may not have that.

It is a very versatile amp, but you are right it does not do anything great. The key for me was finding a good overdrive pedal for it. I think the EQ section sliders on that amp can take a bit away from the organic tube sound. Maybe try bypassing that EQ section and putting an EQ in the fx loop if you need it.

 

[ampmadscientist]

I got this 1X12 Nomad 100 combo from my mom about 5 or 6 years ago.

She couldn't bond with it, now I can't bond with it.

I just can't get anything great out of it.

It sounds OK when very loud, but otherwise meh.

I have tried other cabinets, closed and open. Perhaps it is me?

Would anyone care to share their settings with me?

Nomad has distortion in low frequencies unlike Marshall.
So it's a different sound.
You might go for Marshall instead.
(Marshall is much cleaner in the lows)
What does help is changing the filter caps, because there is too much sag in the power supply.
The over-sag condition is the main cause of complaints about the Nomad.
(Nomad is discontinued...)

Also: mechanical relays, contacts go bad...

So you need to decide if you're going to put money into it, to make it work right.
No, not speakers, or settings will make it sound better.

 

[RickyLee]

I have a Nomad 100 head buried in my gear storage room. I have been wanting to dig it out to mess with but just have too much other stuff going on.

I did do a few minor tweaks on mine. I am remembering one mod was I made CH2 and CH3 share a reverb control so I used that CH3 reverb location a resonance control.

I always thought the Clean CH1 was excellent and CH2 was very close to a 2203. I think I might have lowered the Gain bright cap value on CH3 as well.

But yeah I agree these amps sound great when you get the volume up to punishing levels.