Good amp repair techs in Connecticut? (Mesa content - help?)

[Blitzie]

I've got an older Dual Tremoverb that I am having several issues with.

I'm at a loss. I find myself having more trouble with noise, like hiss, when I don't recall it being a problem previously. I turned down the effects loop volume and it didn't change much. I did take almost everything out of the loop and that didn't seem to help either. The hiss on the clean channel is really bad. The channel is pretty much unusable.

The tremolo doesn't seem to be working as I'd expect it to, the hiss gets worse when the tremolo is engaged, on both channels. The tremolo itself on the dirty channel is working pretty well, oddly enough. The reverb is completely useless on the dirty channel. It adds a little reverb but it mostly doesn't do anything other than add hiss and this awful high-end that I can't explain.

Strangely enough, when I have the dirty channel on, if I turn up the reverb and the presence on clean channel, it adds high end and clarity to the dirty channel. I enjoy that aspect, actually. But I'm thinking it shouldn't do that.

There is only one "authorized" Mesa Boogie tech here in Connecticut. I brought it to him and after several visits, I was out $200 and none of the issues were fixed. This man is useless. He did nothing but replace the preamp tubes and, I'm quoting, "jiggled around some wires"

I'm looking for someone in Connecticut that actually might know what they're doing. I contacted Rich at Mesa Boogie and assured me they could fix the amp if I sent it to them but I live clear on the other side of the country. Round trip shipping will cost about $150, plus whatever repairs need to be done. Not sure I want to spend $500+ on an amp I got for $700.

Anyone know anyone? Or any suggestions on what I can do? I really love this amp, I want it fixed, but I don't want to spend a fortune.

 

[dsquared]

Where are you in CT? AccuTech Audio in East Hartford might be able to help you.

 

[Blitzie]

I'm a few minutes outside of Waterbury. East Hartford is a little bit of a hike but that's even closer than the place I already went to. I will check them out. Thanks for the heads up!

 

[anomaly]

I'd send it to Mesa/Boogie in Petaluma. They'd give it a clean bill of health better than anyone, and their prices are very reasonable.

 

[Chris6870]

I'd ship it to Mesa. You will likely pay more in labor and marked up parts from a local guy especially if he isn't thoroughly familiar with the amp. I paid like $275 for a local Mesa authorized tech to fix a loop problem on a Stiletto (paid 800 for it). It ended up being a jack and something else silly but I paid for his time to troubleshoot it.

 

[the rossness]

Where are you in CT? AccuTech Audio in East Hartford might be able to help you.

I'd second that.

 

[glpg80]

Ship it to mesa. The older tremoverbs had a range of bad LDR's causing channel bleed like you mentioned. Mine is a 1994 model but was still later than the early defective range. It also seems like there could be something tube related going on as well. The tremolo circuit in a Tverb is just a 555 timer running off of a 12V supply - if there is a problem with that affecting only one channel then it also points to switching circuitry problems.

Send it to them as they are familiar with these issues which are not common in other models. They will be able to isolate and fix it without headache.