For those who send Mesa's in for service...

[skullfxr]

What should I ask for regarding service? Since there is no 'menu'

 

[stephen sawall]

My Mark IV, Tremoverb and Heartbreaker all need to go in.

 

[skullfxr]

I may send in my. 22 cal at some point if that is a little cheaper.

 

[scottosan]

Define what you expect them to do. The amp is likely not old enough for new caps. Unless there is an upgrade you’ll likely get the pots cleaned and lubed as well as jacks cleaned and tightened and tubes changed and biased. I would expect anything major to be performed. They aren’t going to practically replace passive components for no reason

 

[skoora]

Unless I wanted a particular mod I would just take my Mesa's to a local guy who's does Mesa warranty work.

 

[skullfxr]

Define what you expect them to do. The amp is likely not old enough for new caps. Unless there is an upgrade you’ll likely get the pots cleaned and lubed as well as jacks cleaned and tightened and tubes changed and biased. I would expect anything major to be performed. They aren’t going to practically replace passive components for no reason

All I really want is to get it like it would be if new or just really fresh. If I could get R2 modded to be more like the lead, that would be great.


If it doesn't need caps, I may as well disassemble and clean the shit out of it on my own. And tighten stuff up. I was kind of think it needed a recap.

I will pull it apart in the next week or so and see what I can clean. Which will most likely be just about everything.

It's just weird how everybody describes dealing with Mike B. Not that I am saying good or bad, as I have never met or spoke with him. it seems like an odd approach and I wish I knew what was on the menu.

 

[the recluse]

I sent a DOA Maverick (filter caps blew smoke and fire out the back of the amp) in to be made functional again plus retuning and overall it was pretty reasonable. I remember them charging a decent per hour rate for work plus parts so it wasn't too bad. Shipping is awful just due to the weight involved, but the prices are fair and they will make whatever you want happen. If you don't have a local Mesa service center, it's worth the money.

 

[Beyond Black]

Define what you expect them to do. The amp is likely not old enough for new caps. Unless there is an upgrade you’ll likely get the pots cleaned and lubed as well as jacks cleaned and tightened and tubes changed and biased. I would expect anything major to be performed. They aren’t going to practically replace passive components for no reason

All I really want is to get it like it would be if new or just really fresh. If I could get R2 modded to be more like the lead, that would be great.


If it doesn't need caps, I may as well disassemble and clean the shit out of it on my own. And tighten stuff up. I was kind of think it needed a recap.

I will pull it apart in the next week or so and see what I can clean. Which will most likely be just about everything.

It's just weird how everybody describes dealing with Mike B. Not that I am saying good or bad, as I have never met or spoke with him. it seems like an odd approach and I wish I knew what was on the menu.

There’s no menu. You just call up and talk to the man. Tell him what you want, and ask what else is available.

 

[SpiderWars]

Unless I wanted a particular mod I would just take my Mesa's to a local guy who's does Mesa warranty work.

I waffled on this and decided to do just that. My local tech is really good so I feel very comfortable with him. But mine is just a IIC+, the IV looks like it's a whole nuther level of complexity. I don't think it's unreasonable to ask the local tech how familiar/comfy he/she is with a MkIV.

I also found that there was at least a little confusion on exactly what Mesa did...some people thought they were indeed replacing good functional parts like filter caps as a matter of course. But considering the price charged it didn't add up. Still a good deal from the OEM.

 

[GJgo]

I've sent 10+ amps in for service. All full re-caps and anything else it needed. Cost has ranged between $350-450 depending on what was done. They are thorough, some of the ones that needed the most replaced I thought looked the cleanest- but you can't tell electronics by the looks.

About half or 2/3ds of those I've had Mike mod after the service. On my IV he did mod R2 by brightening it up when treble (?) was pulled, but it really didn't help. It's just not a metal friendly channel.

I talk a little about the process in here. Send your tubes with it, they'll replace any that are bad.

 

[Racerxrated]

Define what you expect them to do. The amp is likely not old enough for new caps. Unless there is an upgrade you’ll likely get the pots cleaned and lubed as well as jacks cleaned and tightened and tubes changed and biased. I would expect anything major to be performed. They aren’t going to practically replace passive components for no reason

All I really want is to get it like it would be if new or just really fresh. If I could get R2 modded to be more like the lead, that would be great.


If it doesn't need caps, I may as well disassemble and clean the shit out of it on my own. And tighten stuff up. I was kind of think it needed a recap.

I will pull it apart in the next week or so and see what I can clean. Which will most likely be just about everything.

It's just weird how everybody describes dealing with Mike B. Not that I am saying good or bad, as I have never met or spoke with him. it seems like an odd approach and I wish I knew what was on the menu.

There’s no menu. You just call up and talk to the man. Tell him what you want, and ask what else is available.

This. If you don’t get in touch right away be patient. They’ll ask for your phone# and chances are Mike will call you back, and the next thing you know you’ve talked gear for 40 minutes and haven’t mentioned your IV! Lol. But he’ll tell any and all things that can be done to your amp. He’s a super nice guy to deal with, makes it an enjoyable experience.

 

[Mailman1971]

I sent in a mark iii. But it was dead. Not working. Talked to mike on the phone. Super cool guy.
He said he would make it a ++
Which he did. Said Mesa up front would contact me for the device. But I enclosed a check inside tut amp for him to mod it. Zero problems.

 

[Beyond Black]

Define what you expect them to do. The amp is likely not old enough for new caps. Unless there is an upgrade you’ll likely get the pots cleaned and lubed as well as jacks cleaned and tightened and tubes changed and biased. I would expect anything major to be performed. They aren’t going to practically replace passive components for no reason

All I really want is to get it like it would be if new or just really fresh. If I could get R2 modded to be more like the lead, that would be great.


If it doesn't need caps, I may as well disassemble and clean the shit out of it on my own. And tighten stuff up. I was kind of think it needed a recap.

I will pull it apart in the next week or so and see what I can clean. Which will most likely be just about everything.

It's just weird how everybody describes dealing with Mike B. Not that I am saying good or bad, as I have never met or spoke with him. it seems like an odd approach and I wish I knew what was on the menu.

There’s no menu. You just call up and talk to the man. Tell him what you want, and ask what else is available.

This. If you don’t get in touch right away be patient. They’ll ask for your phone# and chances are Mike will call you back, and the next thing you know you’ve talked gear for 40 minutes and haven’t mentioned your IV! Lol. But he’ll tell any and all things that can be done to your amp. He’s a super nice guy to deal with, makes it an enjoyable experience.

My experience exactly! Talked for 30 minutes, and talked about my amp for five. First conversation with the man and we talked and laughed like old friends. Mike B. rules!

 

[Markedman]

Years ago I called and spoke with Mike B. and he said no way on the Mark IV ch.2 mod. He said it would make it too unstable. This was before the JP2C came out.

I grew to love the Mark IV ch.2 once I used the amp in a cover band. Ch.2 works great for copying musical tones of classic rock, but Lamb of God, you'd need a pedal.