|
|
Guitar Discussions -> Mesa F-30 Amplifier
There are 9 messages in this thread.
You are currently looking at messages 1 to 9.
|
Mesa F-30 Amplifier - Mack - 12:01 19-11-05
|
|
I'm looking for a reliable amp with good clean tones and good overdrive
(60's & 70's british stuff) that costs under $1500 on the street and has a
headphone jack. I thought about the Vox AC30CC, but initial feedback makes
it look like they need to get some quality control issues nailed down
better. I'm also not going to buy a amp in that price range that has only a
1-yr warranty, which is totally bogus (Vox are you listening??). If you're
gonna charge that amount of coin, you better back it up. Even with any kind
of warranty, I don't have time to lug an amp back and forth to the tech. We
all know how much that sucks. Still, Fender and Mesa have a 5-yr
transferrable warranty so I've been concentrating on those two for now. Mesa
service especially seems good. Anybody have the F-30 or any other amp that
has the above attributes and care to share their story?
|
|
|
|
Re: Mesa F-30 Amplifier - Sasquatch - 14:35 19-11-05
|
|
Got a F-30, it's a damn fine amp. Mesa can give a 5 year warranty because
they make them so they won't have to go back to the shop. They are built
like tanks.
The cleans are glassy but not harsh, the overdrive is sweet if you keep the
pre cut back and crank the volume. Some people like the preamp distortion
though, in fact many people do.
The contour is OK, but then again I'm not crazy about the Metallica sound.
But this amp has bang for the buck, and tons of bang at that.
Sasquatch
"Mack" <ICH0R0426@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:DTIff.2069$NN2.1460@trnddc02...
> I'm looking for a reliable amp with good clean tones and good overdrive
> (60's & 70's british stuff) that costs under $1500 on the street and has a
> headphone jack. I thought about the Vox AC30CC, but initial feedback makes
> it look like they need to get some quality control issues nailed down
> better. I'm also not going to buy a amp in that price range that has only
> a 1-yr warranty, which is totally bogus (Vox are you listening??). If
> you're gonna charge that amount of coin, you better back it up. Even with
> any kind of warranty, I don't have time to lug an amp back and forth to
> the tech. We all know how much that sucks. Still, Fender and Mesa have a
> 5-yr transferrable warranty so I've been concentrating on those two for
> now. Mesa service especially seems good. Anybody have the F-30 or any
> other amp that has the above attributes and care to share their story?
>
|
|
|
|
Re: Mesa F-30 Amplifier - Grip - 15:03 19-11-05
|
|
I bought a Mesa 1X12 Maverick the first year they came out 92 or 93.
Absolutely very AC-30 ish as well as other pure class A type tones. 35
watts, uses 4 65QBs' (EL84s), two channels with seperate EQ, master, and
verb controls, and an a master ouput control. Can't say enough about it,
been my main amp for many years, although I only play in a rockin' praise
band anymore, I previously used it in a classic rock venue and studio. My
other amps include a 69-70 Ampeg VT40 4X10 combo (super blues tone but too
loud), a SF Pro reverb from the 70's, a Marshall 50 JMP halfstack(also from
the 70's) a Tech 21 Trademark 60(best SS amp I've ever owned, and a Dean
Markley K-150 combo (holds it's own very well), and other assorted practice
amps. Note: I once owned a Peavey Classic 50 4X10.....this amp was as close
to the Mesa in tone as I've had in cheaper rigs, but the Maverick was well
worth every penny I spent for it. As far as being built like tanks as
someone else remarked, IT IS! I had it about 3 or 4 months, it was sitting
on the tailgate of my truck awaiting being moved into our practice space,
now dig this....I pull the truck up not remembering it's there and crash! It
falls off, shatters every tube in the thing. It hit so hard the screws that
hold the chasis in the cab were all bent. I called Mesa, they laughed, said
that's why they're built tough, and sent me new mounting hardware. Ended up
with one small split in the vinyl covering only. Put new tubes in it and
used it for 8 or 9 years! Just had it retubed and gone over this year with
absolutely no issuses. I could spend alot more on a booootiquer, and have
demoed many,but I'm happy with this one. There was not $1 to $2 k difference
in sound between the Matchless I played and my Mesa. On bigger gigs, I do
use my 4X12 Marshall cab with it, drives it great, very sweet. Hope this
long winded description is found useful.
Mike
"Mack" <ICH0R0426@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:DTIff.2069$NN2.1460@trnddc02...
> I'm looking for a reliable amp with good clean tones and good overdrive
> (60's & 70's british stuff) that costs under $1500 on the street and has a
> headphone jack. I thought about the Vox AC30CC, but initial feedback makes
> it look like they need to get some quality control issues nailed down
> better. I'm also not going to buy a amp in that price range that has only
a
> 1-yr warranty, which is totally bogus (Vox are you listening??). If you're
> gonna charge that amount of coin, you better back it up. Even with any
kind
> of warranty, I don't have time to lug an amp back and forth to the tech.
We
> all know how much that sucks. Still, Fender and Mesa have a 5-yr
> transferrable warranty so I've been concentrating on those two for now.
Mesa
> service especially seems good. Anybody have the F-30 or any other amp that
> has the above attributes and care to share their story?
>
>
|
|
|
|
Re: Mesa F-30 Amplifier - Rick N. Backer - 15:15 19-11-05
|
|
On Sat, 19 Nov 2005 17:01:23 GMT, "Mack" <ICH0R0426@hotmail.com> did
courageously avow:
>I'm looking for a reliable amp with good clean tones and good overdrive
>(60's & 70's british stuff) that costs under $1500 on the street and has a
>headphone jack. I thought about the Vox AC30CC, but initial feedback makes
>it look like they need to get some quality control issues nailed down
>better. I'm also not going to buy a amp in that price range that has only a
>1-yr warranty, which is totally bogus (Vox are you listening??). If you're
>gonna charge that amount of coin, you better back it up. Even with any kind
>of warranty, I don't have time to lug an amp back and forth to the tech. We
>all know how much that sucks. Still, Fender and Mesa have a 5-yr
>transferrable warranty so I've been concentrating on those two for now. Mesa
>service especially seems good. Anybody have the F-30 or any other amp that
>has the above attributes and care to share their story?
>
I have an F-30 and I love it. It's the perfect size, fitting more
venues than my Nomad 100. It's got all the tone you need. I've not
had a single problem other than changing an occasional tube.
Ken Wilson
Amer. Dlx. Tele, Gary Moore LP, LP DC Classic w/P90s,
Jeff Beck Strat, Morgan OM Acoustic,
Rick 360/12, Std. Strat (MIM), Mesa 100 Nomad,
Mesa F-30
"Goodnight Austin, Texas, wherever you are."
|
|
|
|
Re: Mesa F-30 Amplifier - Mack - 19:57 19-11-05
|
|
Sorry for the ignorance: is the Maverick the predecessor to the F-30?
Maverick is listed as a discontinued product on Mesa's website.
|
|
|
|
Re: Mesa F-30 Amplifier - Grip - 20:42 19-11-05
|
|
It may be discontinued by now, I know later models went to a 2X12, still
pretty cool, but I like the 1X12 better. I honestly have not played the
F-30, and just looked at their site. The Lone Star Special 1X12 class A
looks to be closer to the Maverick in features and compliments. I did like
the looks of the F-30 though, but prefer a class A sound.
"Mack" <ichor0416@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1132448251.627187.291630@g44g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> Sorry for the ignorance: is the Maverick the predecessor to the F-30?
> Maverick is listed as a discontinued product on Mesa's website.
>
|
|
|
|
Re: Mesa F-30 Amplifier - Jim Anable - 14:31 21-11-05
|
|
Not many tube amps have a headphone jack. If they do, it's probably NOT
running after the power amp. Tube output transformers must have the
correct load on them, or bad things happen.
Mack wrote:
> I'm looking for a reliable amp with good clean tones and good overdrive
> (60's & 70's british stuff) that costs under $1500 on the street and has a
> headphone jack. I thought about the Vox AC30CC, but initial feedback makes
> it look like they need to get some quality control issues nailed down
> better. I'm also not going to buy a amp in that price range that has only a
> 1-yr warranty, which is totally bogus (Vox are you listening??). If you're
> gonna charge that amount of coin, you better back it up. Even with any kind
> of warranty, I don't have time to lug an amp back and forth to the tech. We
> all know how much that sucks. Still, Fender and Mesa have a 5-yr
> transferrable warranty so I've been concentrating on those two for now. Mesa
> service especially seems good. Anybody have the F-30 or any other amp that
> has the above attributes and care to share their story?
>
>
|
|
|
|
Re: Mesa F-30 Amplifier - Jim Anable - 14:34 21-11-05
|
|
Sasquatch wrote:
> Got a F-30, it's a damn fine amp. Mesa can give a 5 year warranty because
> they make them so they won't have to go back to the shop. They are built
> like tanks.
I've been reading that recent lines do not have the same reliability as
the older Mesa lines.
I bought a Mark III for cheap, because it was broken. A plate resistor
failed. But there's nothing that Mesa can do about that sort of
failure. I will tell you that it is NOT an easy amp to work on, as far
as pulling boards go.
> The cleans are glassy but not harsh, the overdrive is sweet if you keep the
> pre cut back and crank the volume. Some people like the preamp distortion
> though, in fact many people do.
> The contour is OK, but then again I'm not crazy about the Metallica sound.
> But this amp has bang for the buck, and tons of bang at that.
>
> Sasquatch
> "Mack" <ICH0R0426@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:DTIff.2069$NN2.1460@trnddc02...
>
>>I'm looking for a reliable amp with good clean tones and good overdrive
>>(60's & 70's british stuff) that costs under $1500 on the street and has a
>>headphone jack. I thought about the Vox AC30CC, but initial feedback makes
>>it look like they need to get some quality control issues nailed down
>>better. I'm also not going to buy a amp in that price range that has only
>>a 1-yr warranty, which is totally bogus (Vox are you listening??). If
>>you're gonna charge that amount of coin, you better back it up. Even with
>>any kind of warranty, I don't have time to lug an amp back and forth to
>>the tech. We all know how much that sucks. Still, Fender and Mesa have a
>>5-yr transferrable warranty so I've been concentrating on those two for
>>now. Mesa service especially seems good. Anybody have the F-30 or any
>>other amp that has the above attributes and care to share their story?
>>
>
>
>
|
|
|
|
Re: Mesa F-30 Amplifier - Sasquatch - 18:59 21-11-05
|
|
> I've been reading that recent lines do not have the same reliability as
> the older Mesa lines.
>
> I bought a Mark III for cheap, because it was broken. A plate resistor
> failed. But there's nothing that Mesa can do about that sort of failure.
> I will tell you that it is NOT an easy amp to work on, as far as pulling
> boards go.
I had a Mesa 50 cal+ that I had for about 10 years that was in mint
condition. It never gave me any trouble. I sold it to a younger guy who was
into Metallica and other metal bands. I ran into him at a music store 3-4
months later bringing in the same amp for repair. It was beat all to crap,
stickers were all over it, the nameplate was gone, the grill cloth had a big
hole in it, and the power tubes were two different kinds (so I'm sure they
were not a matched pair). Which makes me wonder, are they really less
reliable now or are they appealing to a more care-free crowd since the
advent of the tones inspired by Metallica, speed metal, death metal, and the
like? Or is it a little of both? I don't know, but the F-30 looks very
similar in construction to my DC-2 and former 50 cal+.
Sasquatch
|
|
|
|
1 |
|