Lonestar 2x12 keeps going out

[Kenny4944]

I've got a Mesa Boogie Lonestar 2x12 that has been giving me problems. I've had the amp since 2004 or so, and have rarely had issues with it. Other than replacing tubes, fuses, etc... every once in a while, it has worked great. Recently though, it has been cutting out on me in the middle of playing. It'll sound fine for 30 minutes or so but then it just stops putting out any sound altogether. I've tried switching the wattage, drive channels, and every other switch on the face, but no luck. Anybody have any ideas of what might be going on?



Thanks,
Kenny

 

[Kenny4944]

Anybody?

 

[tle4]

Sounds like it could be tubes. When was the last time you changed them?

 

[jmontgomery]

I would say rectifier tube but you said you switched wattages. Might be time for a tech?

 

[Mjj]

Kenny - I haven't had this problem with my Lonestar but had something similar happen with an old Mark iii that I purchased recently. The volume would cut out after playing for 30-60mins. I put a cable in the effects loop and the problem wouldn't happen. I ended up cleaning the effects loop jacks and it fixed the problem without using a cable to bypass the effects loop.

 

[screamingdaisy]

When the amp cuts out take a look around back to see if any of the tubes are red plating. If they are it could be time for new tubes again, or it could be that one of the power tubes isn't making good contact in the socket. I had the problem before when I switched tubes from Sovtek (thick pins) to JJ (thin pins) in an old Mark III.

Beyond that, clean the sockets and verify that it isn't one of the cables or an effects unit that's giving you issues.

 

[Kenny4944]

I finally got the Lonestar fixed. Wasn't tubes or anything in the electronics, it was the speakers. The tech at World of Music here in Nashville finally pinpointed the problem after about an hour working on it. Neither of us could figure out how the thing was even playing at all after we checked the speakers. I ended up buying a new set of 12's from WGS and couldn't be happier with the tone. I can't remember the names of each model but its a mixed pair that was recommended to me by the manufacturer's tech. Thanks for everyone's suggestions.

 

[jmontgomery]

Glad to see you fixed your problem. It seems weird that the speakers acted that way. At least now people with your symptoms know what to look for.

 

[Crowey]

I ended up buying a new set of 12's from WGS and couldn't be happier with the tone. I can't remember the names of each model but its a mixed pair that was recommended to me by the manufacturer's tech. Thanks for everyone's suggestions.

Can you remember now what speakers you got?

 

[Kenny4944]

Crowey- I got the Reaper HP (http://wgs4.com/content/ReaperHP) and the ET65 (http://wgs4.com/content/et65). Played my first gig with it this past Friday and couldn't be happier with it. Playing through the LS these things sound ridiculous. I haven't really had enough time to get em broken in all the way, but if they already sound this great I can't wait to hear them in the next few weeks.


http://youtu.be/tfHGSMCmYkI right around 3:20 you can hear the Lone Star really well.

 

[Crowey]

Crowey- I got the Reaper HP (http://wgs4.com/content/ReaperHP) and the ET65 (http://wgs4.com/content/et65). Played my first gig with it this past Friday and couldn't be happier with it. Playing through the LS these things sound ridiculous. I haven't really had enough time to get em broken in all the way, but if they already sound this great I can't wait to hear them in the next few weeks.


http://youtu.be/tfHGSMCmYkI right around 3:20 you can hear the Lone Star really well.

Thanks mate, really appreciate the heads-up. Glad you're happy with the results!

 

[nitrous12]

Crowey- I got the Reaper HP (http://wgs4.com/content/ReaperHP) and the ET65 (http://wgs4.com/content/et65). Played my first gig with it this past Friday and couldn't be happier with it. Playing through the LS these things sound ridiculous. I haven't really had enough time to get em broken in all the way, but if they already sound this great I can't wait to hear them in the next few weeks.


http://youtu.be/tfHGSMCmYkI right around 3:20 you can hear the Lone Star really well.

Sounds good. Do you like these speakers better than the stock? In what way did the tone change?