Pricing and availability
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Average Price: $3,000
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$299
$1500+
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Description
The Mesa/Boogie Strategy 400 Stereo Power Amp is a powerhouse for musicians who demand uncompromising sound quality and reliability in their live sound setups. As a cornerstone of professional-grade amplification, this all-tube stereo power amplifier is designed to deliver exceptional performance with an output of 200 watts per channel. Its robust construction and versatile connectivity options make it an ideal choice for both stage and studio environments.
The Strategy 400 is celebrated for its dynamic range and tonal clarity, ensuring that every note is conveyed with precision and warmth. With the ability to handle complex audio signals with ease, it provides musicians with the flexibility to shape their sound to perfection. Whether you're driving a full stack on stage or recording in the studio, this power amp maintains the integrity of your tone at any volume level.
The amplifier features a dual-channel design, allowing for independent control of each channel's volume and tone. This flexibility ensures that musicians can tailor their sound to suit a variety of musical genres and performance settings. The rugged build and premium components ensure durability and longevity, making it a reliable choice for touring professionals and studio engineers alike.
Key Features:
- 200 watts per channel stereo power output
- All-tube construction for warm, dynamic sound
- Dual-channel design with independent controls
- High-quality, durable components for reliability
- Versatile connectivity options for flexible setups
- Ideal for both live performances and studio recording
Product specs
| Brand | Mesa Boogie |
| Model | Strategy 400 2-Channel 200-Watt Power Amplifier |
| Finish | Black |
| Year | 1988 - 2010 |
| Made In | United States |
| Categories | Power Amplifiers |
| Electronics | Tube |
| Number of Channels | 2 |
FAQs
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What kind of tubes does the Mesa/Boogie Strategy 400 Stereo Power Amp use?
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The Mesa/Boogie Strategy 400 Stereo Power Amp uses 6L6 power tubes, which are known for their warm, rich tone and reliability, making it a popular choice for guitarists seeking a classic tube sound.
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Is the Mesa/Boogie Strategy 400 suitable for live performances?
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Yes, the Mesa/Boogie Strategy 400, with its 200-watt output and dual-channel design, provides ample power and flexibility for live performances, handling both small and large venues effectively.
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How does the Mesa/Boogie Strategy 400 compare to solid-state amplifiers?
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The Mesa/Boogie Strategy 400, being a tube amplifier, offers a warmer and more dynamic sound compared to solid-state amplifiers, which are often more linear and less responsive to playing dynamics.
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Can the Mesa/Boogie Strategy 400 Stereo Power Amp be used with guitar preamps?
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Yes, the Mesa/Boogie Strategy 400 is designed to work seamlessly with guitar preamps, providing a robust and dynamic power stage to enhance your preamp's tonal characteristics.
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What are the connectivity options for the Mesa/Boogie Strategy 400?
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The Mesa/Boogie Strategy 400 features standard input and output connections suitable for integration into most guitar rigs, allowing easy connection to preamps and speaker cabinets.
Reviews
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Mesa/Boogie Strategy 400 Stereo Power Amp.
Features and functionality
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The Mesa/Boogie Strategy 400 can deliver up to 400 watts of tube power in stereo, offering more power than most users typically need.
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The Strategy 400 is so powerful that it can cause picture frames to rattle at only a third of its volume capacity.
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The Mesa Boogie Strategy 400 includes a built-in variable speed fan, which should manage heat; overheating may indicate a service issue.
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Use cases and applications
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Pairing the Strategy 400 with a Mesa Boogie recording pre-amp and Mogami overdrive cables can maximize performance, especially when driving high-capacity cabinets like the Vader 4X12s.
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The amp's volume capability makes it suitable for outdoor settings like parks, providing more power than typically needed for home use.
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In a home stereo setup, removing the cover can help manage heat, enhancing the amp's performance.
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User experience
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Owners appreciate the flexibility of mixing and matching components, allowing for customized setups that combine preferred power amps, pre-amps, and speaker cabinets.
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Value and pricing
Comparisons
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Pairing the Marshall JMP-1 preamp with the Strategy 400 can replicate much of the sound from the Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness tour.
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Mods and upgrades
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Adding a Furman P-1800 power conditioner and a Shure Axient wireless system is part of an ideal setup for some owners seeking to enhance their rig.
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Setup and maintenance
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Owners recommend ensuring empty rack spaces above the amp for better airflow and reduced heat buildup.
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For effective cooling, a 10-inch quiet fan is recommended to blow directly on the amp when used in a static setup.
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Using a temperature gun to measure the amp's heat can provide objective data, distinguishing between perceived and actual overheating.
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5.0 out of 5
Based on 1 Review and 3 Ratings
Artist usage
Add artist
He played this live once for Territorial Pissings on this show. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N49kYRC_EhQ
The cool thing about this power amp is it sounds good with more than just guitar, you can use it as a bass amp, piano amp and stereo system as well. But, no one really needs that much power unless you're playing to crowds of like 10,000 people.
In a photo from the "Psychedelic Sexfunk From Heaven" era, John Frusciante is seen using a Mesa/Boogie Strategy 400 Stereo Power Amp. The image, taken by Daisuke Hirata and shared on Flickr, provides insight into his gear setup.
The pictures in the source link confirm that Hetfield used this power amplifier at some point.
Used Live 1988-1989 during the Damaged Justice tour, he later moved on to the VHT 2150 around the recording of "The Black Album"
During the 1988 David Lee Roth and 1990 Whitesnake world tours, Vai used 2 of these power amps for two Marshall amplifiers.
In a user-uploaded photo on Photobucket, Dann Huff is shown using a Mesa/Boogie Strategy 400 Stereo Power Amp as part of his rig.
And what do you use live?
I have a Dual Rectifier and a VHT Pitbull. That’s in my rack, and when I’m travelling with my rack I do a left and right split on stage and in the PA, so it’s true stereo. A lot of guitar players never get that. I always tell them, first piece of advice, get two heads and a splitter. And I’ve even used a delay between the two in the past, and it really opens up the whole of the middle for the vocals and the kick and snare and bass. If you sit out front and listen to a true stereo guitar with two stereo heads, it’s huge. It’s way bigger than one mic. But a lot of the times when I’m on the road I’ll just use two Dual Rectifiers split, two full stacks. And it’s a lot of work to lug that stuff around, but either way, the Dual Rectifier, I would say, is my signature sound. I’ve been playing Boogies since our first recording on Epitaph, and that’s just the old school Dual Rectifier, one of the best amps I’ve ever heard in my life. It’s a very versatile amp, and durable. Y’know, it’s funny. I saved up and thought “I want to sound like Metallica,” so I went out and got a Mesa Boogie Studio 22 preamp and the Strategy 400 watt all tube stereo power amp, which was just insane. It cost me a lot of money. It cost $3500 bucks or something. I saved up all summer. And not to say that I’m that guy, but I’m pretty sure I turned the whole punk scene onto those Boogies. NOFX used it on their album, Bad Religion used it on their album, Down By Law used it on their album. After I recorded with it, Brett [Gurewitz, Bad Religion guitarist & Epitaph founder] was like, “Can I borrow it?” Then Eric Melvin from NOFX came down and he was really into it and he would up buying a Mark III. In the meantime I was trying to get sponsored by Boogie. I was like, “Hey look, you’ve got to hook up some punk bands.” And they were like, “Punk bands can’t afford our stuff. It’s too high end.” And I was like, “No, I’ve already got three bands that have bought it from you. Why don’t you give us some free stuff?” And they don’t give anybody free stuff. Maybe Metallica, I don’t know. But they’re one of those amp companies that really keeps it tight. And it’s hilarious because I look back on it and there was an article in a magazine entitled Boogie Man, and I just want to call them up and tell the old guy, “You know how many punk guys are using Rectifiers now? You owe me steak dinners for life!”
In the 1988 Headbanger’s Ball episode in which Anthrax hosted for the night (“It’s actually not late for us, It’s late for you”), Joey states Dan’s strategy “400 series” as a part of the gear he used at Montana studios.
"Bogner Triple Giant thru Mesa Boogie Strategy 400 (ABY Pedal) mixed with a Peavey 6505. I like to have the mids & highs of the Bogner at around 1 or 2 O'clock, and the Lows at 1 O'clock, exclusively thru the Sharp Gain channel. The 6505 was used to fill out the tone with more dirt and fatness."
In the video titled "Ian Antono Pindah Ke Lain Hati (God Bless Vlog #5)" on the God Bless Official YouTube channel, Ian Antono is shown using the Mesa/Boogie Strategy 400 Stereo Power Amp.
Sisters of Mercy gear list, circa 1991:
Tim Bricheno Squire Strat, 2x Squire Tele, Gibson 'Chet Atkins', 2xJC120, 2x4x12 Marshall cabs, 1x50w Marshall amp, Ibanez Tube Screamer, 2xBoss DD-3, Boss MZ-2
Andreas Bruhn
2xKramer Focus 1000 (with DiMarzio PAFs), Mesa Boogie Strategy 400, Mesa Boogie Quad pre-amp, 2xMarshall stero cabs, Quadraverb FX, Rat distortion, Morley wah-wah, Boss CS-3
Tony James
WAL Custom bass, WAL MIDI Custom bass, 2xAMPEG SVT amps, 2xAMPEG 8x10 cabs, Korg A3FX
Sequencing
Compac 386 portable PC, running Voyetra software, 2xAkai S1000, with external hard drives
Album Usage
The Mesa/Boogie Strategy 400 Stereo Power Amp has been featured on the following albums:
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Mesa/Boogie Strategy 400 Stereo Power Amp, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
Community setups
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