Triaxis inbound: Is there anything I need to check when I get it?

[nightlight]

I have a Mesa Boogie Triaxis inbound. I know these are really old units and many of them have developed problems over the years.

The one that I got looks to have minimal wear and tear, not even rack mount scars. All the lights and buttons seem to be working.

However, I've heard that's only part of the story, and many of these develop problems that can no longer be fixed.

Is there anyway to diagnose any of these problems by popping the hood off and looking inside? What should I look for?

 

[Luca79]

Had many problems when i bough it new. Been in repair for all the time it was in warranty, and ended to bring it to 2 techs for fix it.

 

[nightlight]

Had many problems when i bough it new. Been in repair for all the time it was in warranty, and ended to bring it to 2 techs for fix it.

Where is it now? Working, or did you trash it?

 

[Luca79]

Where is it now? Working, or did you trash it?

Sold in 2006, and not regret it at all. It need a big power amp; was bland with the 20/20 and 50/50.

 

[Jack Luminous]

I have a Mesa Boogie Triaxis inbound. I know these are really old units and many of them have developed problems over the years.

The one that I got looks to have minimal wear and tear, not even rack mount scars. All the lights and buttons seem to be working.

However, I've heard that's only part of the story, and many of these develop problems that can no longer be fixed.

Is there anyway to diagnose any of these problems by popping the hood off and looking inside? What should I look for?

Mine worked fine for almost 20 years but has now noise problems and bleed between channels. I couldn't get it fixed. Test all channels one by one.
I will get back to try fixing it with an electronics technician friend when I have some time. When it works, it is truly awesome.

 

[Code001]

They're crazy unreliable these days. Most of it is due to the tantalum caps that are old and at their limit. Expect it to eventually fail. The good news is that, if it is capacitor related, it's totally fixable, and Mesa doesn't charge much to fix it. Don't send it to other techs as they'll charge too much to deal with the insanity that is the Triaxis unless you happen to live in Europe.

Main things to look out for:
* Inability to channel switch
* Lack of gain even with new tubes
* Channel bleed (Ld1 controls should never impact Ld2's sound and vice versa)

Don't fuck up your membrane; there are no replacements. That front input dual gang pot is also no longer made. Handful of other parts inside are no longer made, but they don't fail as much as those stupid yellow tantalums installed everywhere.

If you have a V2 phat modded Triaxis, it's worth getting it reversed. After having both, there are just no real good, usable sounds out of Ld1 Red with the phat mod.

 

[DanTravis62]

It sucks because the triaxis has a shitload of excellent sounds. This is one of those pieces of gear that desperately needs a re-release with better components and reliability.

 

[griff10672]

when it stops working.... send it to Uncle Waynzo ........I'll re cap the whole unit ... tantalums and all

 

[ultimatemetalguitartones]

Had many problems when i bough it new. Been in repair for all the time it was in warranty, and ended to bring it to 2 techs for fix it.

DITTO

 

[Jack Luminous]

when it stops working.... send it to Uncle Waynzo ........I'll re cap the whole unit ... tantalums and all

I wish you were in Europe