F50 Level drop....

[ikkyu88]

I just got my F50 and I tested it out. It seems that channel 1 is alot quieter then channel 2.
I was Just wondering if it could be the preamp tube or power tube or something else? I don't think the level should have that big of a difference when both are set the same....

 

[Platypus]

Preamp tube

 

[ikkyu88]

Thanks... it seems I should just set up a straight line to you PLatypus... You are just too good....

 

[Platypus]

Try checking the preamp tubes via the FAQ I have in my sig.

Is it a HUGE volume difference? There could be a volume difference even if the settings are similar. I should have asked you originally about that. Is it like whisper quiet as in barely audible?

 

[ikkyu88]

Its not whisper quiet, but it is a noticeable difference....

 

[Platypus]

Its not whisper quiet, but it is a noticeable difference....

Hopefully an F50 user can chime in here, I've only played the amp once so I can't tell you if there's a noticeable difference. Most boogie amps I've played have a quieter clean channel. It's hard to say without hearing how much of a difference you are hearing.

If you crank it, does it get loud?

 

[Charlie]

The clean channel is going to be a little quieter than channel 2. Keep in mind that channel 2 has a lot more gain so it's going to be hitting the power section a little harder.

Unless it's a really big difference in volume I wouldn't worry about it. If it's a big difference you might want to get a replacement preamp tube and swap them out one by one to see if one of them is on the way out.

 

[ikkyu88]

OKay, other then running the preamp tubes thru a tube tester, how can one find out which is the bad tube?

 

[ikkyu88]

Oh yeah, swapping one at a time seems a little difficult since its kinda cramped back there.... but if that's what it takes....

 

[Charlie]

Check the manual - start with P1 or P2 because that's your preamp section. If you don't have the manual you can go to Mesa's website.

And yes, changing those tubes in and out is a pain in the ***!

:wink:

 

[ikkyu88]

Alrighty, I ordered 2 tung sol 12ax7 and just in case I ordered 2 tung sol 6l6GC STR power tubes.

Let's hope these resolve the problem.

 

[Lt_Core]

Just my 2 cents....

Normally I have the Clean channel Master around 12 o'clock to 1 o'clock and the Gain channel Master around 10 o'clock. Seems to be pretty balanced then. Currently I'm pulling back my overall volume a bit with an MXR 10-band EQ in the loop to control our stage volume. Like most other Mesa's, the 50-watt rating is way low, IMHO

 

[Charlie]

You will probably like the Tung Sols better anyway. I switched my preamp tubes to Tung Sols in my F-50 and it made a world of difference.

Did you make sure those 6L6's are rated properly for a Boogie? Just checking...

:wink:

 

[Lt_Core]

My F-50 has Eurotube's full tube replacement tube kit, by the way. Didn't care for the stock Mesa tubes, too bright for me.

"Mesa F50 Standard Retube Kit
Price: 68.00
Description: A pair of JJ 6L6GC's for the power section. Three standard ECC83S's for V1, V2 and V3 and a balanced ECC83S for V4."

 

[ikkyu88]

Actually no. I didn't know you could request them to be properly rated for a mesa. They are : Platinum Matched PAIR of Reissue TUNGSOL 6L6GC STR. Interesting they are rated for 30 watts too....

 

[Charlie]

Actually no. I didn't know you could request them to be properly rated for a mesa. They are : Platinum Matched PAIR of Reissue TUNGSOL 6L6GC STR. Interesting they are rated for 30 watts too....

Well Mesa amps are all fixed bias so you need to get properly rated tubes for them. If you are not using properly rated tubes you run the chance of damaging your amp.

 

[six20aus]

My 0.02 with my F50 head through a Vox 2x12.

Channel One I like REALLY clean so I keep the channel gain on 9 o'clock. If I'm playing loudly I might have the master on 12-1 o'clock...turning the master further doesnt give any appreciable volume at this point. You'd need to mic it to be heard over a drummer at that level but it means channel one is so clean which is important to me cos I play alot of acoustic through it.

Channel Two I keep the channel gain on 3pm... I rarely get the master past 10 o'clock ...by 11 o'clock my windows are rattling and small children are crying... (and I get deaf about 3mins later - I must be getting old)

So yes - there is a big difference in volume output between the channels.

 

[Lt_Core]

I rarely get the master past 10 o'clock ...by 11 o'clock my windows are rattling and small children are crying... (and I get deaf about 3mins later - I must be getting old)

So yes - there is a big difference in volume output between the channels.

+1 on that...I always say my F-50 can kill any small animal that would cross in front of it. Wish I could run it without attenuating the volume. It's so darn loud. We mic everything with professional sound companies so we're very picky about our stage volume.

 

[plumptone]

F-50 user here. There is a difference. I'm generally running my clean master at about noon, with the gain at about 1:30 or 2:00. Channel 2 is usally with gain at about 2:00 and I'm hard pressed to get the master up over 10 o'clock. I agree with what was said about getting past noon on the clean channel not giving you a lot more volume - it's starts to get very compressed if you turn up more. If you need more volume than that either add extension cabs which will give you more apparent volume ot mic the thing up. The volume difference is the nature of the beast.