Hi - I'm a new Mesa owner. I just bought a used 10/50/100w Lonestar head that is in mint condition a couple of months ago. I know it has two channels, but the clean channel is so awesome I just don't get to much else! I play it on the 100w tweed setting almost all the time. I have some pedals in front, and a delay in the loop. I always have the loop engaged, although not always the delay pedal.
About a week ago, after playing for an hour or so, the volume dropped in a major way, the tone turned to mud (no treble), and the sound became distorted. In trying to figure it out I noticed that if I switch off the FX loop the problem goes away. And while the problem is happening, if I adjust the FX loop level knob, the volume cuts in and out, as does the distortion. Apparently after it sits overnight and cools off, it's good for another hour of playing until it happens again. And I switch my exact same pedal setup between amps, and the problem doesn't appear on my other amps.
So I put a new SPAX7-A in V3. The problem went away briefly, but returned. I saw in searching this board that maybe I need a Chinese tube in V3. I didn't have a new one, but there was one in V2. So I put the SPAX7-A in V2 and took the Chinese tube from V2 and put it in V3. Again, it worked OK for a little bit, but the problem is back.
I haven't noticed any problems with the other tubes (extra glow, arcs, etc) when the problem is happening. When it happens, it continues for some time and doesn't get better. At least not in the amount of time I've kept going with the horrible sound.
I have a new Chinese Groove Tube I can try and I'm waiting for some balanced Chinese tubes I ordered. I'll try those when they arrive, but I'm not optimistic that another tube change will matter.
I saw there is apparently a bit of trouble with rectifier tubes in the Lonestar, but since I'm in 100w mode all the time, I wouldn't think that applies. I do have a spare rectifier tube and spare power tubes, but haven't tried those since I'm kinda stuck on thinking it is related to the FX loop.
Any other suggestions for what to try? The amp is still under warranty, but I'd rather not take it in and be without it if I can resolve it myself.
Clean the FX loop jacks? Clean the V3 socket? Just don't play for more than about 45 minutes at a time?
Thanks!
About a week ago, after playing for an hour or so, the volume dropped in a major way, the tone turned to mud (no treble), and the sound became distorted. In trying to figure it out I noticed that if I switch off the FX loop the problem goes away. And while the problem is happening, if I adjust the FX loop level knob, the volume cuts in and out, as does the distortion. Apparently after it sits overnight and cools off, it's good for another hour of playing until it happens again. And I switch my exact same pedal setup between amps, and the problem doesn't appear on my other amps.
So I put a new SPAX7-A in V3. The problem went away briefly, but returned. I saw in searching this board that maybe I need a Chinese tube in V3. I didn't have a new one, but there was one in V2. So I put the SPAX7-A in V2 and took the Chinese tube from V2 and put it in V3. Again, it worked OK for a little bit, but the problem is back.
I haven't noticed any problems with the other tubes (extra glow, arcs, etc) when the problem is happening. When it happens, it continues for some time and doesn't get better. At least not in the amount of time I've kept going with the horrible sound.
I have a new Chinese Groove Tube I can try and I'm waiting for some balanced Chinese tubes I ordered. I'll try those when they arrive, but I'm not optimistic that another tube change will matter.
I saw there is apparently a bit of trouble with rectifier tubes in the Lonestar, but since I'm in 100w mode all the time, I wouldn't think that applies. I do have a spare rectifier tube and spare power tubes, but haven't tried those since I'm kinda stuck on thinking it is related to the FX loop.
Any other suggestions for what to try? The amp is still under warranty, but I'd rather not take it in and be without it if I can resolve it myself.
Clean the FX loop jacks? Clean the V3 socket? Just don't play for more than about 45 minutes at a time?
Thanks!