Mesa's quality

[bermuda_]

Hey!!!! Mesa Recto fans I have a question to ask you guys

Are the Mesa Boggie Dual Rectifier, Triple Rectifier are build with just as much quality as any other highly expensive amps brands out there ie ENGL Bogner Framus Hughes and Kettner etc

Like I personally think I the Mesa Boogie Rectifiers are a worthy enough to compete with the likes A Framus Cobra or a Bogner Uberschall

What's your thought on this topic Mesa Fans do you think Mesa's are really worth handing out all that cash for?

 

[Turumbar82]

Typically Mesa's are less expensive than Bogner, Framus, H&K like you mention and their build quality is really just as good if not better.

That's the thing that really sets Mesa apart from most other amp makers. They are extremely reliable and have good customer service.

I had problems with my ENGL preamp with in a few days of owning it sitting in my room. My Mesa I had for 7 years moving around a lot and playing in bands frequently and never had one problem with it ever.

 

[CoG]

Yeah, beware especially of H&K. I do not know anyone who owns an H&K that hasn't had pretty major issues, and there are very few techs who will want to work on the newer ones, at least in North America.

I only know one person with a Diezel and he's had problems with the channel switching.

The only place I see people having ongoing problems with Mesas are on the internet, take that how you will.

 

[Elpelotero]

I have 3 mesa amps in my room with a collective 67 years old. No issues on any of them.

 

[rabies]

Generally speaking Mesa amps are reliable and the customer service is exceptional. I have had some issues with two amps (RK1 and Stiletto II), however, so beware.

 

[kekam35]

One thing that I've noticed on this forum and others is that the problems w/Mesa's are usually
the newer ones(Expresses , newer Dual recs, MKV etc.). Where as their seems to be fewer issues
w/older models(DC, early MK 1-4, and older DR's). Anyone else notice that?

 

[CoG]

Well, that applies to pretty much anything.

One of the problems with "skilled labour" type production lines is that you get individual or short runs of lemons because somebody was hung over one day, someone was covering someone else's maternity leave and not on their best station, etc. and QA in any kind of modern industrial process is really really hard. The amp will come off the line sounding fine and working fine but there's a wacky solder joint in there that isn't going to go for like 30 hours.

However, there are no Mark III's (for example) left that had "birth defects" because they've long since been ditched-- all the remaining III's are probably the ones that were the best made in the first place. Come back in 20 years and people will be talking about how bombproof those RK1's are, because only the bombproof RK1s will be left.

edit: in the mid-80s B-body GM's were allegedly notorious for having a fragile tranny, and I'm sure some of them were. My dad put 420,000km on a 1985 Delta 88 that he only got rid of in 2005, and I am still driving an '89 Pontiac Safari (the B-body wagon, not the minivan) that will probably go 300K without needing anything done in there, and now everyone talks about how indestructible these cars are.

 

[Anonymous]

One of the problems with "skilled labour" type production lines is that you get individual or short runs of lemons because somebody was hung over one day, someone was covering someone else's maternity leave and not on their best station, etc. and QA in any kind of modern industrial process is really really hard. The amp will come off the line sounding fine and working fine but there's a wacky solder joint in there that isn't going to go for like 30 hours.

Ain't that the truth!

My Bogner XTC crapped out on me the other night. Thought I'd have to sell my Marshall just to send the Bogner out to CA for repairs. As it turns out, there was a bad solder joint on one of the bias resistors....

After soldering it back, it was awesome again like usual!

 

[soundchaser59]

do you think Mesa's are really worth handing out all that cash for?

Set up a bunch of booteek amps all with similar features (tubes, power, one speaker cab for all, etc) and a similar Mesa, then have some famous guitar player (fill in the blank) bring in his guitar and fx and set up "his favorite sound" on each amp the way he likes it, trying to make them all sound the same. Then you sit there blindfolded and just listen to him play and switch between the amps, do you really think you would be able to tell by ear alone which one is the most expensive one? Do you think the sound of the Mesa would be obviously worse than the others because it is less expensive? Or would you start rethinking your definition of the phrase "all that cash" because the Mesa sounds as good as the amps that are 2 and 3 times the price?

Start at the bottom of the Mesa heap. A 1x12 5.25 Express runs about $1300 new. Do your homework and tell me what else you can get new that sounds as good and is as versatile - and as reliable - for that same amount of money....... the only brands I've seen that even begin to approach this quality for less money might be things like Carvin or Traynor or maybe Laney or something I'm not totally familiar with? And they aren't really even close. If I were in a budget pinch, then $800 for a new YCS100 might seem like a good compromise. But if I can save another $500 bucks, I'd wait and go for the Mesa every time.

Of course, your taste may vary......

 

[Old BF Shred]

All manufacturers eventually produce some lemons...lets call it "Lemons per thousand(K)" units made...or just "LPK".

Mesa's LPK ratio is among the best of any in the industry, yet they cost less than most other "high end" amps.
And deliver tone comparable to those "high end" amps with usually, much greater versatility.

Mesa also has great customer support with service centers in most larger cities.

This adds up to value.
Almost no one else can approach, let alone match Mesa's record in this regard!
It's your money, choose wisely! 8)

 

[fishyfishfish]

I would have to say Mesa has the best build quality out there. One look at the board after I opened up my amp had me convinced of that. Sure there a lot of Booteek builders doing great things (I am looking at getting a Shiva soon) but for the price I haven't found anything that comes close.

 

[phyrexia]

My coworker's Shiva died on him. I saw it at a local shop when I dropped off a part for my Marshall. In terms of build quality Mesa and Bogner are on equal footing as far as I can tell. The insides of the amps look similar.

 

[ryjan]

Just my $.02, I've been playing (used) Mesa amps for a few years now and haven't even had a tube issue. I have several friends that regularly gig Mesa amps and have had zero problems. Maybe its the thin air in Denver, I dont know. Relative to any other amp out there I believe Mesa has their **** together in the qc department.

 

[dragonworks]

I am new to the site and just bought a used Nomad 45. None of the tone controls work. When asking questions on the site I was "informed" that nomads were notorious for bad pots?

 

[gonzo]

my mark2B, which i bought brand new in 1981, has never failed.
it remains my main go-to recording amp, and performance amp.

it even fell on it's face from the top of a 4x12 cab, onto a carpeted drum riser, and the only thing that happened was two of the GEQ fader knobs got broken off. everything STILL worked perfectly.

that's a testament, right there.

 

[Geiri]

Sorry I didn't bother to read the whole thread.

But to give some sort of answer to to the question. There are guitar techs who wouldn't touch an engl with a 30 feet pole. Much due to their complexity. But that's another story. I'm playing through an mesa mk 4 that's been around the world a few times and I've had two recto's a f 50 express 50 and a couple of triaxis rigs and have never been let down by mesa. Mesa is probably the only company in the world that answers the phone and solves your problem no matter if you are playing their latest product or something outdated like my mk4. I live in iceland and for a couple of times I've had to contact mesa regarding minor issues, once a recto and once a mk4. They deliver. So you can bet your bottom dollar that if you buy mesa you're in good hands. I also have a ENGL screamer at home but have never had to deal with their customer support.

Also I've had quite a few beers tonite so forgive me if my post is incoherent
:mrgreen: :mrgreen:

 

[thejay]

I've never had an issue with Mesa but I have emailed a couple of questions via email and I have always received an email back answering my question - that says alot right there. They take the time, listen and respond. Not many companies do that anymore. I also have to say that I've emailed Gibson and MXR quite a bit and they have always responded as well.

 

[212Mavguy]

Randall Smith learned a lot from a guy that designed circuits for US Navy Submarines. His story is inspiring! Desire, dedication, and discipline...Mesa amps are well built, durable, and hold their value very well.

 

[Elixir]

Sorry gonna have to say the build quality sucks.

Lately all i hear are people having problems. And i had tube issues with both my boogie amps.

 

[Anonymous]

Sorry gonna have to say the build quality sucks.

Lately all i hear are people having problems. And i had tube issues with both my boogie amps.

- 1

Can't blame faulty tubes on the amp.