My mark iv is a unreliable POS why?

[lessarti]

I JUST F&^$KING GOT THIS THING FIXED 3 weeks ago and it is red plating AGAIN on the outside right el34 (operating in class A)

the tech JUST replaced the fixed bias resistor and it was fine until tonight it pops and goes "HUMMMMMMM" and i see a red plating el34 tube outside right! WTF man?! I just spent $200 fixing this, i cannot afford to do this and im stuck with this POS..

 

[RectoStudioGuy]

Hmmm never seen that happen. Been around tons of MkIV's to.

 

[lessarti]

Well that is always nice to know my problem is something that is rare to see.. seriously.. the fixed bias supply resistor and resistor in driver ccts were replaced. REPLACED 3 WEEKS ago... now the same problem occurs??? Guys im ready to GIVE this thing away free.. im NOT kidding..

 

[JOEY B.]

Guys im ready to GIVE this thing away free.. im NOT kidding..

I will send you my mailing address in a PM. :wink: I feel your pain, as I have experienced this kind of shock, frustration and disbelief with one of my Mark II's a few years ago. What kind of power tubes are you using?

 

[RectoStudioGuy]

Have you called Boogie? It's been my experience with them that they try to help in any way they can. I live about an hour south from them and have dropped stuff off and they'll have it up and running in a week or two. (though last time was about 3 weeks on a trashed power amp) Anyways, it's worth a phone call.

 

[danyeo1]

Send it to Mesa Boogie.

 

[MrMarkIII]

Send it to Monsta-Tone.

 

[lessarti]

I have mesa tubes in it.. str440 and str447 el34s.. i live in canada and i dont have money to ship an amp down there.. this is pretty much my choice(s).

Sell it broken to someone willing to take it and fix it locally

Or get it fixed again same way and hope it doesn't break down 3 weeks again same story... wtf is one to do? This **** isn't supposed to happen AFTER you fix the problem.. how the hell can the exact same problem occur right away?? I just got my cars transmission fully rebuilt slamming me back thousands i dont have and now this.. **** me man this is a nightmare.

 

[MrMarkIII]

So, the guy who "fixed" it three weeks ago offered no warranty? He doesn't stand behind his work?

 

[swbo101]

Are those the same tubes you used when you first had the problem? If so maybe it was a bad tube? Then I'd get new tubes as well. If those are new, I'd go back to the guy who fixed it and tell him that it didn't work and see if he has some sort of warranty on his work. Most electronics parts are usually warrantied for at least 30 - 90 days.

 

[ryjan]

I'd be willing to bet that either the "fix" wasn't done properly or something else was missed in the diagnostic.

 

[lessarti]

The tubes are brand new i got them 3 weeks ago when the amp was first fixed.

If it is the same part that was just replaced it might be under 30 day warranty but still.. what is to say i have to keep getting the thing fixed every 3 weeks then? I dont understand too much about electronic parts but to me it is peculiar. To fix the same parts does not solve the problem if it happened again, so that logically means something was missed or this amp is a pos.

 

[markwayne]

Well, while I understand your frustration, I can tell you one thing with certainty: over the last twenty years I have used a number of Mesa Boogie amps extensively including a Mark III and a Mark IV (which I still have). And, while there are a number of negative comments I could make about Boogies in general, unreliable is nowhere on that list. These are simply the most reliable amps I've ever played.

It sounds like you have an issue that was incorrectly diagnosed by a tech who may not be familiar with Boogies. Is there a Mesa-certified amp tech near you?

Wayne

 

[ryjan]

Yeah, all Mark IV's are pos's. I'll take it off your hands for $100. (and I'll pay for shipping) :wink:

 

[Neptical]

Absolutely misdiagnosed then... and you should absolutely have it fixed at no cost.
Call the show ASAP.


~Nep~

 

[RectoStudioGuy]

It sounds like you have an issue that was incorrectly diagnosed by a tech who may not be familiar with Boogies. Is there a Mesa-certified amp tech near you?

+1

 

[swbo101]

Well, while I understand your frustration, I can tell you one thing with certainty: over the last twenty years I have used a number of Mesa Boogie amps extensively including a Mark III and a Mark IV (which I still have). And, while there are a number of negative comments I could make about Boogies in general, unreliable is nowhere on that list. These are simply the most reliable amps I've ever played.

It sounds like you have an issue that was incorrectly diagnosed by a tech who may not be familiar with Boogies. Is there a Mesa-certified amp tech near you?

Wayne

+1.....I've owned my Mark IV A for 19 years....extremely reliable. I agree 100% with the "incorrectly diagnosed by a tech" statement though. I'd go back and call ASAP. Best of luck with it.

 

[lessarti]

Thanks for the support guys, i understand the comments about reliability mark ivs etc but it doesn't hold water right now with me im sorry!! i wish it did but RIGHT NOW it doesn't until i see the amp walk the walk.

I took the amp back to the shop to be sent to a DIFFERENT place to be fixed NO charge. HOPEFULLY they dont just replace the fixed bias resistor as well or else i think the amp is really back in square one.

I dont know of any mesa repair people here.. i am in toronto canada area.. i sent the amp initially through L&M to "amps plus" whom probobly misdiagnosed the amp replacing a driver ccts and fixed bias supply resistor. THe amp was FINE after they fixed it but 3 weeks after the red plating now continues.. so fast forward to today i send the amp BACK to L&M to be sent out to yorkville in pickering to be looked at and repaired at NO cost to me due to store warranty. I am thankful they are footing the bill but for god sakes there is NO way im paying another $200 dollars.

I have NO clue when the amp is due back but i'll keep everyone reading updated as i did before, all i can say is this, I PRAY that they dont JUST replace the same parts and find something else! Otherwise if i get it back i'll be paranoid of the problem reocurring very near and be tempted to sell the damn thing for worry of being a lemon.

 

[phyrexia]

Authorized Service Centers in Ontario (courtesy of mesaboogie.com):

Amplifiers Plus 124 Ottawa Street South Kitchener ON N2G3S9 (519) 744-7554

Matt's Music 67 Wellington St. London ON N6B2K4 (519) 433-2434

Tube Amp Technologies 1184 Concession Road D-E (near Casinorama) Sebright ON L0K1W0 (705) 833-1234

 

[Restless Rocks]

First of all if the fixed bias resistor shorted the bias supply to ground ALL OF THE TUBES WOULD RED PLATE NOT JUST ONE. Sounds like you have a single bad tube or even tube socket. The 220K grid resistor may now be open. Anyway most techs like myself warrant their work and parts for typically 30 days. It's not all that unusual to see brand new tubes fail these days.