Mesa M6 sounds like blown speaker

Matt Dean · #1 04-24-2011, 10:23 AM

Well, I was at a rehearsal the other night and by the end of the rehearsal, it sounded like I had blown the speaker in my 3015 loaded Diesel 115... sounded very raspy and crackly, just like a blown speaker.

So yesterday, I hooked up my amp to another cab (a PH 212) and to my surprise (and chagrin) it sounded the same. So I am now assuming that it's my amp that is not working properly.

So, does this sound like a simple tube replacement or do y'all think maybe it's something more series?

lomo · #2 04-24-2011, 10:25 AM

Could easily be the tube-only 1 way to know fer sure.....

Matt Dean · #3 04-24-2011, 10:27 AM

Yea, I'm going to replace it later today and see what happens.

Calaverasgrande · #4 04-24-2011, 01:58 PM

Yeah, when a tube gets old/cranky it will sound very oddly distorted. Chinese pre tubes seem to have less life in them than their russian/slavic counterparts. Except power tubes. I have never had power tubes wear out as fast as EHX/New Sensor. I had one EL84 last me only 6 months! a sextet of 6550's last me about 18 months.
If a tube swap doesnt work call up Mesa. Or hey, I live in the Bay Area as well. Craig Mueller is very good Mesa tech. He is located in the Fruitvale/Kennedy area of east Oakland. Nice weather today eh?

murphy · #5 04-24-2011, 02:06 PM

Interested to hear your results

as I see an M6 Carbine in my future

Matt Dean · #6 04-24-2011, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calaverasgrande

Yeah, when a tube gets old/cranky it will sound very oddly distorted. Chinese pre tubes seem to have less life in them than their russian/slavic counterparts. Except power tubes. I have never had power tubes wear out as fast as EHX/New Sensor. I had one EL84 last me only 6 months! a sextet of 6550's last me about 18 months.
If a tube swap doesnt work call up Mesa. Or hey, I live in the Bay Area as well. Craig Mueller is very good Mesa tech. He is located in the Fruitvale/Kennedy area of east Oakland. Nice weather today eh?

Re: weather... yes! I am getting ready to go hiking with my wife and some friends out at Willow Creek Preserve (West Sonoma County).

Re: the M6, I'll do a tube swap when I get back... if that doesn't do it, I have a pretty good relationship with the folks at Mesa, which is about 20 min from where I live (Sebastopol). Mesa has always treated my right when ever I've had problems I couldn't deal with myself. It's especially convenient that I can just drop off my gear and usually, pick it up within 1-2 days. This is why I keep buying Mesa gear... going local has many advantages.

Woodwolf · #7 04-24-2011, 03:15 PM

First off; I love Mesa amps! I own 4...but they aren't without err or issues. This sounds very similar to my problem and experience, and so I'll pass it on...hoping it will help. I'm daring enough to open up an amp and have a look inside because the amp worked laying horizontally but did not verticle. I suspected a loose cap, and I did find just that. A large orange drop cap coming off a power tube socket. It was severed yet attached enough to work via gravity. The sound was caused by electrical arcing, possibly by vibration? In any case...I had it repaired once and that repair failed. The second repair involved replacing the entire cap. The cost was about $130. The amp sounds better that ever! I believe its a manufacturing defect that eventually reveals itself. It's worth fixing. Good luck.

Sneakypete · #8 04-24-2011, 03:34 PM

Woodwolf - what's a "drop cap"? You can't mean a capacitor surely - not for 130 bucks?

Woodwolf · #9 04-24-2011, 03:52 PM

Yes, a $4 cap was broken. I brought it to a Pro repair shop. He did other mindful tweaks. It's actually a time consuming repair. To me, it was worth the money for his expertise...might not be to others? I'm happy, and I trust the work. No regrets.

MuzikMan · #10 04-24-2011, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sneakypete

Woodwolf - what's a "drop cap"? You can't mean a capacitor surely - not for 130 bucks?

"Orange Drop" is a brand right?

Woodwolf · #11 04-24-2011, 04:46 PM

Orange drop is a term used to describe the old Sprague caps common in older amplifiers, which are now made by Vishay. They look like an orange piece of Chicklet chewing gum with wire leads coming out the bottom.

Matt Dean · #12 04-25-2011, 10:12 AM

Well, I just did a tube swap and nada. So, it's off to Mesa for repair.

BassmanPaul · #13 04-25-2011, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Woodwolf

Yes, a $4 cap was broken. I brought it to a Pro repair shop. He did other mindful tweaks. It's actually a time consuming repair. To me, it was worth the money for his expertise...might not be to others? I'm happy, and I trust the work. No regrets.

Time consuming?? Less than five minutes I estimate.