Face plate issue

[Azrehan]

Hey dudes.

I was one of the lucky ones to get a dodgy face plate with finger removable decals.

Contacted the dealer and they had a new one sent from Mesa which they told me to replace myself. Therein lies the problem.

I removed the original faceplate by undoing the allan bolts, but when I did the corner ones I heard a noise which turned out to be nuts on the
back of the faceplate dropping into the chassis. I managed to get them out by tilting the head, but now don't know how to get them back in without completely
dismantling the amp.

Also, there is an LED cover on the original faceplate which is clinging on for dear life, so it feels like it will snap if I try to pry it off. It has 4 tabs on the back
but pushing these towards the center doesn't help one iota.

Has anyone else replaced their faceplate or pulled the chassis completely apart? I will call the dealer on Monday, but I am pretty pissed off right now
and don't want to lose another week of using the amp because of a few measly nuts. If anyone knows the easiest way to get them back on please let me know.

This is the LED cover

And a front view of the same

NUTS OF DOOM

token MarkV without faceplate pic.

 

[tombas]

I am watching closely this issue among the internet forums ,and it is the main reason for not buying the amp yet.
I think the Mesa should send you instructions how to replace the faceplate.

I had a similar issue with an expensive(4800€) TEN TEC radio amateur transceiver where I had to replace 2 cables into the radio.It was a fault from the factory and they sent me an email with instructions how I will open radio and which and how many screws I will have to take out to get the job done.
This is what I call ,perfect after sale customer support.

I think that the fault is your dealer's.He should ask from Mesa instructions and give you the faceplate WITH the instructions,or (better)he should change the faceplate himself.

Sorry I can't help you.
Keep us updated :!:

 

[dodger916]

I am watching closely this issue among the internet forums ,and it is the main reason for not buying the amp yet.
I think the Mesa should send you instructions how to replace the faceplate.

I had a similar issue with an expensive(4800€) TEN TEC radio amateur transceiver where I had to replace 2 cables into the radio.It was a fault from the factory and they sent me an email with instructions how I will open radio and which and how many screws I will have to take out to get the job done.
This is what I call ,perfect after sale customer support.

I think that the fault is your dealer's.He should ask from Mesa instructions and give you the faceplate WITH the instructions,or (better)he should change the faceplate himself.

Sorry I can't help you.
Keep us updated :!:

Yes, I would think the dealer should perform this.

 

[MrMarkIII]

I totally agree, this is the dealer's responsibility. Take it back, demand satisfaction or a refund, and be sure to "hint" at massive negative word-of-mouth they'll also receive as an added bonus should they blow you off.

 

[Nermel]

The Dealer is probably obligated to do this due to the warranty

 

[CudBucket]

Guys, I understand that a dealer should do this for you but you can just pull the chassis out and change the faceplate in 10 minutes.

 

[gplex]

Hey dudes.

I was one of the lucky ones to get a dodgy face plate with finger removable decals.

Contacted the dealer and they had a new one sent from Mesa which they told me to replace myself. Therein lies the problem.

I removed the original faceplate by undoing the allan bolts, but when I did the corner ones I heard a noise which turned out to be nuts on the
back of the faceplate dropping into the chassis. I managed to get them out by tilting the head, but now don't know how to get them back in without completely
dismantling the amp.

Also, there is an LED cover on the original faceplate which is clinging on for dear life, so it feels like it will snap if I try to pry it off. It has 4 tabs on the back
but pushing these towards the center doesn't help one iota.

Has anyone else replaced their faceplate or pulled the chassis completely apart? I will call the dealer on Monday, but I am pretty pissed off right now
and don't want to lose another week of using the amp because of a few measly nuts. If anyone knows the easiest way to get them back on please let me know.

I had the same issue. I am not happy about it. But, I really appreciate them just sending me one. To ship the amp to them (free, of course) will take a month, maybe more. It is a simple swap. You will have to remove the amp from the chassis.

FIRST: Take off the lower back panel and alluminium support bar. Put the screws in a baggie and tape them to it.

SECOND: Unplug the speaker and remove the phillips head screw that attaches the power cord to the cab. Unplug the cord from the chassis.

THIRD: Mark and remove your power tubes and rectifier tube. This not necessary but you could bump them on the speaker.

FOURTH: Mark the reverb plugs and write down how you marked them. Pull them to remove.

FIFTH: remove the chassis, loosen the jam nut on the transformer brace, then thread it in until you have some wiggle room, remove the four phillips head screws on top, holding the cassis as you remove so it dosen't fall.
Once the chassis is out remove the grill. When you reassemble put the grill on last. If you already have all the face plate screws out be carefull to push on the face plate when removing it so you don't pry it off unintentionally and break something. You may want to remove the grill first, if you can.

THERE ARE HIGH VOLTAGES IN YOUR AMP EVEN WHEN UNPLUGGED !!!

If you don't feel confortable doing this take it to a local repair center, Mesa, or the retailer will tell you where they are.
As for the led's , once the chassis is out you will see what you need to do. Just push em' a litte if it's tight.

 

[dodger916]

Guys, I understand that a dealer should do this for you but you can just pull the chassis out and change the faceplate in 10 minutes.

True, but two things to consider:
First, one risks serious injury if you don't know what you're doing.
Second, does chassis removal by someone not authorized void the warranty?

ps: Cudbucket: are you in upstate NY?

 

[Nermel]

Hey dudes.

Contacted the dealer and they had a new one sent from Mesa which they told me to replace myself. Therein lies the problem.

That's when you say, "No, Bitch, this amp is under warranty and you, as the dealer, represent Mesa Boogie and are obligated to fix my freaking amp. Removing the Chassis is dangerous and I'm not qualified *cough* so I rather have a professional (you the DEALER) do this for me because I didn't hesitate giving you 2000+ dollars for this product. Ass-Clowns!"

Yeah I feel better now

 

[kiff]

I would be surprised if mesa told the dealer to have the customer do it, probably just them being lazy or whatever

 

[dodger916]

Hey dudes.

Contacted the dealer and they had a new one sent from Mesa which they told me to replace myself. Therein lies the problem.

That's when you say, "No, Bitch, this amp is under warranty and you, as the dealer, represent Mesa Boogie and are obligated to fix my freaking amp. Removing the Chassis is dangerous and I'm not qualified *cough* so I rather have a professional (you the DEALER) do this for me because I didn't hesitate giving you 2000+ dollars for this product. Ass-Clowns!"

Yeah I feel better now

 

[jressell]

I called about this issue a month ago.... they offered to fix it for me or have an authorized dealer fix it for me. They never once suggested that I do the repairs myself. In fact, I asked about doing it myself and the rep said it is ok if I did it but no damage caused by me during the replacement would be covered under the warranty. I don't believe you received different advice than I did.

 

[Azrehan]

Hey dudes.

Contacted the dealer and they had a new one sent from Mesa which they told me to replace myself. Therein lies the problem.

That's when you say, "No, Bitch, this amp is under warranty and you, as the dealer, represent Mesa Boogie and are obligated to fix my freaking amp. Removing the Chassis is dangerous and I'm not qualified *cough* so I rather have a professional (you the DEALER) do this for me because I didn't hesitate giving you 2000+ dollars for this product. Ass-Clowns!"

Yeah I feel better now

The dealer (who isn't the aussie distributor) didn't think it was a huge operation. They thought it was just held in by the allan bolts onto the chassis.

What surprises me is that neither mesa or the Australian mesa distributor gave any instructions or warnings about this. No one said to the dealer that
I would have to pull the ******* amp apart to get the faceplate on. The problem is now I might have one of these son of a bitch nuts shorting a circuit, so
I can't use the amp now until it's fixed.

 

[Jim Ed Love]

What surprises me is that neither mesa or the Australian mesa distributor gave any instructions or warnings about this. No one said to the dealer that
I would have to pull the f%&# amp apart to get the faceplate on. The problem is now I might have one of these son of a bitch nuts shorting a circuit, so
I can't use the amp now until it's fixed.

Yeah, at first thought, it sounds like an easy switch, but after reading the directions above I would have the dealer fix it. It is under warranty. I suppose I would attempt a switch myself if I were to save hundreds.