Soon there won't be any Mesa Boogie's left.

[polaris20]

Can you point me to some threads where people have been complaining about the reliability and/or construction of Mesa amps? Because I haven't really seen any.

Have you seen the size of the transformers? they're obviously skimping out; the old Rectifier transformers were roughly 25% larger, and the amps sounded a shit ton better. Have you had an older Dual Channel Rectifier in the same room as one of the newer ones? I have, and I did a few days ago, and it's LAUGHABLE. The biggest issue is INCONSISTENCY. If you have three new Boogies in a room, they are likely sound more different than three different MAKE of amp. It's really insane. My friend has a dual and a triple from around rev F that are 100 S/Ns apart and they sound practically identical, despite one being a tad louder.

Yeah, I've seen the size of the transformers. It's pretty well-known that they're not as big as they used to be. However while the two channels probably still sound the best (though I still personally think there's a bit of "unicorn tear mentality to it), the 2011 edition 3-channels definitely sound better than any 3-channel before it. The Roadster sounds amazing, and is probably my favorite Recto ever, due to the versatility.

I also disagree about the consistency comment. I've played several Roadsters, Stilettos, and Marks, and they've all sounded the same to me. Also, what does this have to do with reliability or build quality? Pretty much nothing. They're still built really well, and unlike Marshall, they've not started shipping off half their lines to China to be built.

I love old Marshalls. JCM800's, Silver Jubilees, SLP's. But the newer stuff just plain sucks, IMO. They don't seem built as well, and to me, they sound like shit. I'd much rather have an RA or Stiletto, if that's the sound I'm after.

My buddy's shop carries Rivera, Mesa, and Marshall, and he's the biggest fanboy of Marshall I know. But it's because he owns all JCM800's and Silver Jubilees.

 

[joepete77]

when I think mesa I also consider their nice build quality along with their versatility as far as usually they have many options from factory to change such as different rectifiers, assignable wattage, boost, etc etc. I like the fact that they have tried making different models built more around the brit toned el34 stuff and see a market for it. I bought a stiletto head when they first came out for that reason and it was nice but still sounded very much like a mesa. I must have just been to use to my marshalls so I sold the stilletto and kept my modded jmp.

 

[Shatter_The_Silence]

You dont Have to Mod a Mesa to make it sound like a mesa...... Just sayin.

 

[blackba]

A close friend of mine is an engineer at Curb records here in Nashville. I asked him the other day, how often he sees Mesa Boogie amps in their sessions. He said virtually never. Plenty of Bogner, Fender, Bad Cat, Bruno, 65 amps, \13 , Matchless, Vox etc.... No Boogie.

So did the flood in Nashville destroy all the Mesa Boogies?

 

[thiswaythatway]

I usually stick up for Mesa's reliability but does anyone remember the Big James Lugo amp shootout? Remember the out of ALL the amps there which one went out in a puff of smoke? The Mark V. And when it did work it didn't sound good at all compared to the other amps they had there. Juat sayin.

 

[some dude]

I usually stick up for Mesa's reliability but does anyone remember the Big James Lugo amp shootout? Remember the out of ALL the amps there which one went out in a puff of smoke? The Mark V. And when it did work it didn't sound good at all compared to the other amps they had there. Juat sayin.

Did anyone figure out what was wrong with it?

Your description sounds like a power tube failure, which is an assumed risk if you're going to rock a tube amp.

 

[some dude]

Have you seen the size of the transformers? they're obviously skimping out; the old Rectifier transformers were roughly 25% larger, and the amps sounded a shit ton better.

Although I've never busted out a calliper and measured them I think the 25% size difference in trannys is a bit of an overstatement. If I remember I'll measure them when I get home tomorrow.

[/quote]

The top line of measurements (in millimetres) is the '92 Rev F Dual Recto. The bottom line is a 2009 Roadster.

PT = 11.5 x 9.5 x 4
PT = 11.5 x 9.5 x 5.1

OT = 8 x 9.5 x 4.1
OT = 8 x 9.5 x 4.1

Note that the PT in the Roadster is larger and the OTs are the same size.

 

[glassjaw7]

A lot of good (and bad) information in this thread guys. Now, let's address something a bit more important:

Does the girl on the right have a really long and gross "outie"?

 

[roadifier]

Glassjaw, I think that is just her finger

 

[thiswaythatway]

Glassjaw, I think that is just her finger

It's a penis.


Ok folks, i have to admit I'm liking what I'm hearing from this.

 

[lolzgreg]

I suppose I'm going insane, or I'm blind, or perhaps plain stupid. I apologize for any "inaccurate" statements I may have made.

 

[thiswaythatway]

I suppose I'm going insane, or I'm blind, or perhaps plain stupid. I apologize for any "inaccurate" statements I may have made.

You're just another Know it all New Yorker with a big mouth. Now go make some Larry clips.

 

[Badronald]

Glassjaw, I think that is just her finger

It's a penis.


Ok folks, i have to admit I'm liking what I'm hearing from this.

I really like the clean tone. GREAT stuff. Not sure about those gain tones.

And.......Could the guy go out of his way to tune the damn guitar? Just a hair off, but it drove me nuts.

 

[DeezDemos]

Man some of you must have some seriously loud bands if you can't make a full stack cut through.

I think what you meant was:


Man some of you must have some seriously loud bedrooms if you can't make a full stack cut through.


Sorry, couldn't resist!

 

[thiswaythatway]

Glassjaw, I think that is just her finger

It's a penis.


Ok folks, i have to admit I'm liking what I'm hearing from this.

I really like the clean tone. GREAT stuff. Not sure about those gain tones.

And.......Could the guy go out of his way to tune the damn guitar? Just a hair off, but it drove me nuts.

I look at my own failure to get anything on video to sound good as a reference. It has me wanting to try it at least but if you look at where his master volume is set he's got those amps CRANKED. In his Electra Dyne video he has the master on 4 which is loud enough to play a really big club and still have the soundman yank you out of the PA mix.

 

[some dude]

I suppose I'm going insane, or I'm blind, or perhaps plain stupid. I apologize for any "inaccurate" statements I may have made.

The taller PT in the new Recto looks thinner (smaller) because of it's added height.

Even knowing that the newer one is bigger the older one still looks bigger to me when I eyeball it.

Best I can explain it is that a 200lb short/fat guy looks heavier than a 200lb tall/skinny guy.

 

[some dude]

I look at my own failure to get anything on video to sound good as a reference. It has me wanting to try it at least but if you look at where his master volume is set he's got those amps CRANKED. In his Electra Dyne video he has the master on 4 which is loud enough to play a really big club and still have the soundman yank you out of the PA mix.

An ED on 4 is loud enough to take speakers that I've been playing through for a year and stress them to the point where I can smell them being broken in again.

 

[philb]

Glassjaw, I think that is just her finger

It's a penis.


Ok folks, i have to admit I'm liking what I'm hearing from this.

I really like the clean tone. GREAT stuff. Not sure about those gain tones.

And.......Could the guy go out of his way to tune the damn guitar? Just a hair off, but it drove me nuts.

I look at my own failure to get anything on video to sound good as a reference. It has me wanting to try it at least but if you look at where his master volume is set he's got those amps CRANKED. In his Electra Dyne video he has the master on 4 which is loud enough to play a really big club and still have the soundman yank you out of the PA mix.

Agreed, the master at 4 on the Dyne is VERY loud.