Mesa Madness - does it have to be this way?

[Gwardar]

Agreed this negativity you are spewing is quite emotional but at least you made it to the list.

I was pointing out high prices and poor customer service for Mesa products outside the US. If this is the negativity you're talking about than yeah alright I made it .... to some list

 

[Gwardar]

Yeah Mesa prolly told em not to answer ur emails. Most likely cause they knew it was you.

I knew it

Note to self: must change name to buy more Mesa.

 

[vin*tone]

Actually I don't mind the size and weight. These were obvious from when I first saw the amp, so I can't imagine how I could be unhappy about any of that now.

No I was talking about why they are out of production. By modern standards they are mammoth so not in vogue.

Look if I had paid Australian retail I would be pissed off too. RRP is INSANE. but that doesn't mean that all units are unreliable because of one experience.

 

[Gwardar]

No I was talking about why they are out of production. By modern standards they are mammoth so not in vogue.

They could put a D-class power section in it. I think there was more than just the size and weight that was an issue.

Look if I had paid Australian retail I would be pissed off too. RRP is INSANE. but that doesn't mean that all units are unreliable because of one experience.

Fair call. Please note that contrary to some belief I am not slamming Mesa as being crap. I'm pointing out that they are nothing special especially taking price into account.

 

[teemuk]

The only "design issue" the M-Pulse has is that it is pretty big and bulky in a class D micro bass amp world.

That.

And the overheating-related failures that forced Mesa to "redesign" their 900W amps, basically by converting them to 600W and never informing anyone about it.

Nice work Mesa! Thumbs up!

 

[R Baer]

Yip... I get the impression MESA don't really care too much about sales and service outside of the US.

There are probably many reason why Mesa don't make their amp with a user switchable voltage selector. It's all based on design choices and not their unwillingness to help their customers by putting a switch on the amp. Every design choice involves compromise. Keep in mind that if the amp isn't using something like a class D module that switches automatically, any type of voltage selector switch opens the door for someone to screw up the amp by having the switch in the wrong position. My guess is that they made the decision to not let users switch the voltage themselves after having to deal with a few irrate customers who fried their amps by having the switch in the wrong position.

Their current setup takes the ability out of the users hands and forces customers to seek professional help for something as important as changing the input voltage on their amps.

 

[tubster]

Think we have lost our way a bit here guys, The OP (that's me) was moaning that Mesa would not convert his amp in the USA prior to a tour in Europe. Simple stuff really but they will not do it.

Service in lands afar seems to have dominated the responses.

IMO, MESA should take a look at how their international customers feel - that is it!

 

[Gwardar]

Think we have lost our way a bit here guys, The OP (that's me) was moaning that Mesa would not convert his amp in the USA prior to a tour in Europe. Simple stuff really but they will not do it.

Service in lands afar seems to have dominated the responses.

IMO, MESA should take a look at how their international customers feel - that is it!

Very true. Did you get an answer to your original question? I think quite a few responders (including me) recommended a step-down transformer. You mentioned that you had bad experience with them, can you elaborate? From what I know it's a good solution if you don't mind lugging a few more kgs (say 10-15 pounds) in addition to your rig. Other that that they should work like a charm. Also when you're back to US you won't need to mess around your amp again.

 

[i_got_a_mohawk]

Though why have 6 power tubes when you can have 12 with more power, headroom, and low end hence the 400 plus.

The move to 12 power tubes (6L6) in the 400+ will give you a similar power output to the 6 power tubes (6550) used in the 400 - though the 400 could also run on 6L6s, which would put it in the ballpark power range of the D180.

 

[wateroftyne]

There are probably many reason why Mesa don't make their amp with a user switchable voltage selector. It's all based on design choices and not their unwillingness to help their customers by putting a switch on the amp. Every design choice involves compromise. Keep in mind that if the amp isn't using something like a class D module that switches automatically, any type of voltage selector switch opens the door for someone to screw up the amp by having the switch in the wrong position. My guess is that they made the decision to not let users switch the voltage themselves after having to deal with a few irrate customers who fried their amps by having the switch in the wrong position.

Their current setup takes the ability out of the users hands and forces customers to seek professional help for something as important as changing the input voltage on their amps.

All fair points, but my comment was a reply to its preceding post, not the OP.

 

[xfgjsjia]

Mesa is probably one of the worst offenders. [/img]

 

[spankdaplank]

They don't need a user switchable voltage selector. Mesa should be using a dual primary power transformer and have the voltage taps changable on the PC board inside. Many manufacturers use this arrangement. Oh yeah, it would be a lot cheaper to manufacture than having an external switch.
I passed on buying a Walkabout for this exact reason when I moved from the U.S.

 

[Red Planet]

Mesa will build you a multi-tap amp. It is a custom order though. Here is one. This one looks to have been modded hence the sticker.

 

[pfschim]

They could put a D-class power section in it. I think there was more than just the size and weight that was an issue.

For the Walkabout at least (which I use every day) I think this approach would take the magic out of it. For many WA users there is a strong sense that it's the iron tranny and tube driven mosfets that give the WA much of its tonal goodness, so slapping a class D power section into it would probably not be the best answer.

Fair call. Please note that contrary to some belief I am not slamming Mesa as being crap. I'm pointing out that they are nothing special especially taking price into account.

cut the crap, you are in fact pretty much slamming Mesa gear as "nothing special", and those who feel that Mesa IS special are somehow "(sic)socially engineered - like Apple " into thinking so. You also offered an uninformed opinion on their engineering/design and history of sunsetting certain models. Then you offered up the Ampeg SVT as shining example of "just getting it right". There are obviously those here who feel that Mesa gear IS something special and do not appreciate or agree with your POV. You are welcome to your opinion of course, but please don't start taking it as truth.

 

[pfschim]

Think we have lost our way a bit here guys, The OP (that's me) was moaning that Mesa would not convert his amp in the USA prior to a tour in Europe. Simple stuff really but they will not do it.

Service in lands afar seems to have dominated the responses.

IMO, MESA should take a look at how their international customers feel - that is it!

To the OP. You seemed to have got Mesa's answer already, they told you how to achieve what you were seeking, and you don't like the answer. You also seem to have painted yourself into a pretty tight corner:
- won't use an external transformer (bad experience in the past ?)
- "presume" it will be too costly (even though one poster described his own experience)
- want it right away, so not willing to wait for a custom order

not sure that this is all on Mesa. They certainly have their limits/challenges in non-US markets, and I think much of that has to do with how small of a shop they are overall. But, you have also set a pretty high bar in terms of what you are willing to deal with. Not sure you would get any manufacturer to jump through those hoops.

It may be that using another amp brand may be the easiest answer under the circumstances.

 

[tubster]

Thanks for your response but it is a little off the mark. It is usually best to read the original post before pontificating

I own a Walkabout, I would like to have it converted to 220volts here in the USA so I can play on arrival.

Mesa does not have a dealer in the country I am going to.

Quite how a "custom order" comes into things is totally irrelevant. I have no idea what you are talking about.

However, thanks to all for the suggestions.

 

[B-string]

Tried to find a schematic but failed. I guess the unanswered is does the unit even have a multi-tap power trans primary?

 

[pfschim]

Thanks for your response but it is a little off the mark. It is usually best to read the original post before pontificating

I own a Walkabout, I would like to have it converted to 220volts here in the USA so I can play on arrival.

Mesa does not have a dealer in the country I am going to.

Quite how a "custom order" comes into things is totally irrelevant. I have no idea what you are talking about.

However, thanks to all for the suggestions.

Thought I did read your post. Sorry for the misread, gettin' a little carried away. As I mentioned, this does resonate with me to a certain extent, as I lived in Europe for a while and really wanted to bring my WA. Was frustrated then too .. although not so much at Mesa specifically.

best of luck, safe travels

 

[BassmanPaul]

There are probably many reason why Mesa don't make their amp with a user switchable voltage selector.

There's also the local electricity codes to consider as well. When I first arrived in Canada in '73, I took a job in the service department of a upper class stereo store. One of the tasks I was assigned was to replace all the tapped primary power transformers in Sansui equipment. The replacements had fixed 120V primaries. The CSA banned the switchable primaries.

 

[tubster]

Pschim - a man with a Lull 4V and a Walkabout can't be all bad!

Thanks for your encouragement. No, I am not down on Mesa at all, love my Scout and would much to prefer to gig it but hey, we do what gotta do. I have bought a TC Electronic BH 250 from a TB member so hope that will do a decent job.

all the best