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Originally posted by Tommi Inkila
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Yep, I've found that Mesa picture also... looks really nice... I wish someone would order F-amps with every possible combination so we could get more pics
save picture as...
Yep, I've found that Mesa picture also... looks really nice... I wish someone would order F-amps with every possible combination so we could get more pics
hal9000! I just couldn't let this go without commenting about your posts in this thread - they are probably the best posts I've ever seen at HCAF, and undoubtedly the most beautiful.
I had hoped that you would join in this thread because you always make such valuable contributions. However, I was completely blown away by your hand-drawn works of art! Neil - you rule!
Big smiles,
Andy.
I had hoped that you would join in this thread because you always make such valuable contributions. However, I was completely blown away by your hand-drawn works of art! Neil - you rule!
Big smiles,
Andy.
My chronological attempts at Home Recording my Mesa F-50... Comments? Tips? Advice?
Video Clips from Gospel Gigs
I'm loving my Custom F-50. Although, I've gone through two sets of power amp tubes in two months. Hopefully it's just a run of bad tubes, but we'll see.
DansTheMan, your post's and enthusiasm contributed to my interest in this amp, thanks very much, it's a tone machine. Thanks also for creating the "Lounge".
Hal9000, I'm considering a POD XT Live, to use in front as an effects processor. Have you tried that configuration? And also, I'm looking for a stand that can put the F-50 as low as possible while facing it almost straight up, similar to a monitor. Can the Quick-Lock stand do that?
Thanks Guys
UJ
DansTheMan, your post's and enthusiasm contributed to my interest in this amp, thanks very much, it's a tone machine. Thanks also for creating the "Lounge".
Hal9000, I'm considering a POD XT Live, to use in front as an effects processor. Have you tried that configuration? And also, I'm looking for a stand that can put the F-50 as low as possible while facing it almost straight up, similar to a monitor. Can the Quick-Lock stand do that?
Thanks Guys
UJ
Originally posted by UconnJack
Hal9000, I'm considering a POD XT Live, to use in front as an effects processor. Have you tried that configuration? And also, I'm looking for a stand that can put the F-50 as low as possible while facing it almost straight up, similar to a monitor. Can the Quick-Lock stand do that?
Thanks Guys
UJ
Hal9000, I'm considering a POD XT Live, to use in front as an effects processor. Have you tried that configuration? And also, I'm looking for a stand that can put the F-50 as low as possible while facing it almost straight up, similar to a monitor. Can the Quick-Lock stand do that?
Thanks Guys
UJ
2) The PODxt Live is very good for live effects, but I prefer to use time-based stuff in the loop. If your aim is to use the stomp boxes out front for OD, compression, etc, then you’re on the right track.
3) The Quik-lok stand can very easily lean the amp almost parallel to the floor. It is very well constructed with good welds and strong steel. I highly recommend one for anybody with a combo. I use mine so I'm in the bore sight about 10 ft. away and 6 feet up. At close to horizontal, the amp would be about 6 inches off the ground at the lowest point.
Back to the PODxt Live: I've used the XTL in front with all amp models running and it sounds ok, I much prefer to run the XTL (sans cab models) into the FX return if I'm only using the F-100 as a power amp. One really interesting use of the PODxt Live is a setup I have been considering for some time. Imagine if you will what an XTL running in the loop would give you:
1) An F-Series amp where all three channels are directly footswitchable only using the XTL (more on this later).
2) Each channel has independent volume control (where contour is +3 dB now), making the F into a legitimate 3-channel amp.
3) The FX loop could be attenuated so the master can be turned higher than 9:00 and each patch would use midi to switch channels on the F by employing a CFX4 or equivalent:
4) The XTL could then give you tons of time based effects like reverb, delay, modulation, and tremolo, more control over final volume, additional level for solo boost, no need for the existing foot switch, plus you have your backup already on stage with you.
Many people like the Boss GT-6/8 and Tonelab SE so have a look at them as well. Personally, I preferred the PODxt Live as it had the right features, sound, and price.
BTW, I thought you guys could appreciate a little manipulation:
I don't really have any secrets per-se, but I would like to reiterate some things that prospective F series buyers should know that have been mentioned in past threads.
Being that the F series amps are MESA's least expensive, I believe it's the "Gateway drug" for those who want a MESA but have never owned one before and/or cannot afford the Recto's, Marks, etc. If you are coming from a Marshall, Peavey, Laney, Fender or other similar amp it's VERY important to note that ALL the controls on the F series (and MESAs in general) are MUCH more interdependant on each other than you may be used to.
The amp requires tweaking. You cannot run all the tone controls 3/4 to full and expect it to sound decent like you can with a Marshall. It will sound like @$$. Flubby low end, harsh fuzzy top. Its best to set everything at 11-12 o'clock (including gain), and the Master at 8-11 o'clock and tweak from there.
If you are thinking about buying an F-series, chances are the manual will not be readily available when you are playing at the store. Download it for free from the MESA site beforehand and read it. There's alot of really useful info in there how everything interacts (unlike most amp user manuals).
As a longtime Marshall fanatic, I had some difficulty when I first got home with the amp because I was control happy (spinal tap mentality I guess). Once I read the manual and understood exactly how interactive they were, I started getting some absolutely incredible sounds out the amp.
Also don't ignore the Channel 2 plus contour and the gain set very low (8-10 o'clock). You can get some very nice vintage Marshall crunch type sounds with proper mid/treble/bass tweaking.
The F series are voiced a bit "dark" on the gain channels. A somewhat bright guitar and/or somewhat bright pups help.
Oh and finally. If you are looking at an F-30 combo. I would recommend a speaker swap, or jes get a head and 1x12 cab. The V-30 speaker in the half-open cab in a F30 combo makes the amp sound quite nasily and somewhat harsh. Of course tone is subjective. But thats the general concensus I hear re: the 30, so I must not be the only one. I intitially dismissed the 30 because of that. But once I played a head version through a closed cab with Black Shadow 90's, it was a totally different animal. Brutal if need be, smooth and sweet if thats your thing.
Great thread
Being that the F series amps are MESA's least expensive, I believe it's the "Gateway drug" for those who want a MESA but have never owned one before and/or cannot afford the Recto's, Marks, etc. If you are coming from a Marshall, Peavey, Laney, Fender or other similar amp it's VERY important to note that ALL the controls on the F series (and MESAs in general) are MUCH more interdependant on each other than you may be used to.
The amp requires tweaking. You cannot run all the tone controls 3/4 to full and expect it to sound decent like you can with a Marshall. It will sound like @$$. Flubby low end, harsh fuzzy top. Its best to set everything at 11-12 o'clock (including gain), and the Master at 8-11 o'clock and tweak from there.
If you are thinking about buying an F-series, chances are the manual will not be readily available when you are playing at the store. Download it for free from the MESA site beforehand and read it. There's alot of really useful info in there how everything interacts (unlike most amp user manuals).
As a longtime Marshall fanatic, I had some difficulty when I first got home with the amp because I was control happy (spinal tap mentality I guess). Once I read the manual and understood exactly how interactive they were, I started getting some absolutely incredible sounds out the amp.
Also don't ignore the Channel 2 plus contour and the gain set very low (8-10 o'clock). You can get some very nice vintage Marshall crunch type sounds with proper mid/treble/bass tweaking.
The F series are voiced a bit "dark" on the gain channels. A somewhat bright guitar and/or somewhat bright pups help.
Oh and finally. If you are looking at an F-30 combo. I would recommend a speaker swap, or jes get a head and 1x12 cab. The V-30 speaker in the half-open cab in a F30 combo makes the amp sound quite nasily and somewhat harsh. Of course tone is subjective. But thats the general concensus I hear re: the 30, so I must not be the only one. I intitially dismissed the 30 because of that. But once I played a head version through a closed cab with Black Shadow 90's, it was a totally different animal. Brutal if need be, smooth and sweet if thats your thing.
Great thread
Hey guys, I'm not an F-series owner, but i've got a relevant experience.
I'm planning on going on a month or two long tour this summer, and I'm looking for a backup for my main amp, an Orange AD30TC and 2x12 Orange cab w/V30's. I wanted something with two channels, EL84's, big sound, takes up little room, and doesn't weigh too much (since it would be a backup). Poking around yesterday at GC in West Palm I saw that they had just gotten in a bunch of Lonestars (like 6 of them), a couple of tridents, and one F-30 combo.
Now, i had played the Trident before, and knew it wasn't for me at all, but from what i had heard, i was really interested in playing the lonestar. But when i saw the F-30 sitting there i plugged into that first. I hadn't even considered the F-30 despite the fact that it pretty much fits all the criteria that i wanted for a backup amp.
Long story short, I sat there and played the F-30 for an hour straight, and never plugged into anything else. Man that little amp was killer. I love the simplicity of the controls (other than the reverb, the control setup is the same as my Orange, although from what i've read the knobs interact differently, maybe). I love the versatility of the amp. So many sounds were available from just two channels. I like to set my Orange up live with one channel being a lightly overdriven clean, and the other being a fuller overdriven sound. That capability was there in the F-30. The addition of the contour boost was even better. I can imagine as a solo boost or as a slightly different voicing option, there are very few sounds that wouldn't be available in this amp.
My only complaint (which is not a big one by any means) was that, as i turned the gain knob up, the overdrive became more "compressed" at higher levels. I think this is mainly due to the fact that the F-series is mean't to do much higher gain than my Orange. With the Orange, the gain stays very open sounding and uncompressed, even at high volume and gain settings, but the gain from the F-30 was almost twice the level of what my Orange is capable of.
Either way, I think i've found my backup/next amp. If the sounds that i was getting out of it semi-cranked in the loud room at GC, and through the 1x12 V30 in the combo are any indication, this amp will absolutely destroy running through my Orange 2x12 V30 loaded cab.
I've got half a mind to drag my cab and guitar back down to GC, just to check it out. *rant* I had to use some Hum-equipped LP standard, because for some reason, that GC doesn't have ANY P-90 equipped guitars at all. Nor do they have ANY sets of guitar strings from ANY brand with a wound G string.
*rant*
I'm planning on going on a month or two long tour this summer, and I'm looking for a backup for my main amp, an Orange AD30TC and 2x12 Orange cab w/V30's. I wanted something with two channels, EL84's, big sound, takes up little room, and doesn't weigh too much (since it would be a backup). Poking around yesterday at GC in West Palm I saw that they had just gotten in a bunch of Lonestars (like 6 of them), a couple of tridents, and one F-30 combo.
Now, i had played the Trident before, and knew it wasn't for me at all, but from what i had heard, i was really interested in playing the lonestar. But when i saw the F-30 sitting there i plugged into that first. I hadn't even considered the F-30 despite the fact that it pretty much fits all the criteria that i wanted for a backup amp.
Long story short, I sat there and played the F-30 for an hour straight, and never plugged into anything else. Man that little amp was killer. I love the simplicity of the controls (other than the reverb, the control setup is the same as my Orange, although from what i've read the knobs interact differently, maybe). I love the versatility of the amp. So many sounds were available from just two channels. I like to set my Orange up live with one channel being a lightly overdriven clean, and the other being a fuller overdriven sound. That capability was there in the F-30. The addition of the contour boost was even better. I can imagine as a solo boost or as a slightly different voicing option, there are very few sounds that wouldn't be available in this amp.
My only complaint (which is not a big one by any means) was that, as i turned the gain knob up, the overdrive became more "compressed" at higher levels. I think this is mainly due to the fact that the F-series is mean't to do much higher gain than my Orange. With the Orange, the gain stays very open sounding and uncompressed, even at high volume and gain settings, but the gain from the F-30 was almost twice the level of what my Orange is capable of.
Either way, I think i've found my backup/next amp. If the sounds that i was getting out of it semi-cranked in the loud room at GC, and through the 1x12 V30 in the combo are any indication, this amp will absolutely destroy running through my Orange 2x12 V30 loaded cab.
I've got half a mind to drag my cab and guitar back down to GC, just to check it out. *rant* I had to use some Hum-equipped LP standard, because for some reason, that GC doesn't have ANY P-90 equipped guitars at all. Nor do they have ANY sets of guitar strings from ANY brand with a wound G string.
*rant*
Originally posted by thriftyshirt
I've got half a mind to drag my cab and guitar back down to GC, just to check it out. *rant* I had to use some Hum-equipped LP standard, because for some reason, that GC doesn't have ANY P-90 equipped guitars at all. Nor do they have ANY sets of guitar strings from ANY brand with a wound G string. *rant*
I've got half a mind to drag my cab and guitar back down to GC, just to check it out. *rant* I had to use some Hum-equipped LP standard, because for some reason, that GC doesn't have ANY P-90 equipped guitars at all. Nor do they have ANY sets of guitar strings from ANY brand with a wound G string.
*rant*
I'm really happy that this thread is becoming alive and kickin'!
There's a lot of good information exchange here... so keep it coming guys.
I don't have anything spectacular to add at the moment.
What comes to tone controls of the F: Surely there is some Mesaisms on those knobs, but I think F is their easiest amp to work with... actually, the amp sounds really good if everything is set to 12 o'clock... can any other amp do that?
PS. Thanks hal for your offer... if I want to see some combinations that do not exist I'll contact you... keep up the good work... those pics are excellent.
There's a lot of good information exchange here... so keep it coming guys.
I don't have anything spectacular to add at the moment.
What comes to tone controls of the F: Surely there is some Mesaisms on those knobs, but I think F is their easiest amp to work with... actually, the amp sounds really good if everything is set to 12 o'clock... can any other amp do that?
PS. Thanks hal for your offer... if I want to see some combinations that do not exist I'll contact you... keep up the good work... those pics are excellent.
Originally posted by Tommi Inkila
What comes to tone controls of the F: Surely there is some Mesaisms on those knobs, but I think F is their easiest amp to work with... actually, the amp sounds really good if everything is set to 12 o'clock... can any other amp do that?
What comes to tone controls of the F: Surely there is some Mesaisms on those knobs, but I think F is their easiest amp to work with... actually, the amp sounds really good if everything is set to 12 o'clock... can any other amp do that?
It IS easy to dial in a great sound on the amp (like you said, everythin at 12 is pretty damn good). I just meant that if you start to dial everything pretty high (especially gain/mids/bass), like you would/could on a non-MV Marshall, the F series will not sound very good.
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