Odd amp/cab issues and a rant

[Jwar]

So I have been waiting and waiting for my Mesa Bass Prodigy to get fixed. Turns out the tech I took it to cannot fix it as he has no clue how to work on it and Mesa won't offer any support. Since all he's done is check the biasing of my tubes, my warranty is still in tact. It's making static out of the output but the tubes are fine (fuck my life). So I tried to contact Mesa for a solid two months and they only way I've got a hold of them was by PM'ing the dude that originally had helped me on Talkbass the first time and actually got me my replacement amp since my originally took a shit on me.

So I have called and called and did not ever receive a response until I contacted the guy again on Talkbass and told him I've left message and have not heard back and am sitting on a 1800 dollar broken amp and am extremely upset.

I received a call from their repair guy. He informed me that I never left any messages and was pretty rude about it. I told him "look man, I just left you a message 15 minutes ago". He then informed me that he had just gotten in and hadn't checked his messages yet today, however I did not leave him any prior messages. To which I responded "I'm not sure what happened with the messages, but my amp is broken and I'd kind of like it to be fixed". He was very abrasive most of the conversation and talked to me like I was a POS, but I only responded with niceties and didn't cave because I think he was looking for an excuse to write me off as a customer. I wouldn't play the game. So I have two options. Take my amp to Preston Audio which could take for fucking ever to fix it or send it to Mesa. I decided to take it to Preston because at this point, it doesn't matter, I've already purchased a back up amp. So whatever.

The whole experience however has made me decide to sell my Bass Prodigy when I get it back. I will not be treated like that by anyone, and I cannot believe what poor customer service I experienced. Especially since my first issue with the amp (2 years ago) broke the shit out of it and they replaced it with NO issues and bent over backwards to make me happy. I don't expect the world, just for them to be nice and help me when I need help. I don't think that's too much to ask? What do I know though.

So the Mesa story aside, I am STILL getting feedback noise from my cabs. I cannot get a solid answer from anyone on whether there could be a correlation between the amp fucking up and the cabs fucking up at the same time. Not even Mesa could give me a definite answer or and made it sound impossible. BUT! If a capacitor blew, isn't it possible that the charge could have fucked my drivers?? I mean, I went from zero noise to constant noise all in the same day. I've tried three amps with the same results. I've moved the cab/amp all over my home too. Change cables, checked my bass, tried other basses...just about everything. Tomorrow I'm going to lug it to my parents house and try it there. I did have my outlets check and they are giving out the right amount of power, but I suppose it could be a filtering issue on the breaker? But how common would that be in a house that's 20 years old?? I don't think it's very common at all.

I'm extremely frustrated with the whole situation. I don't have money for a new cab and am going to be pissed if it's that, but at the same time, I would rather it be that than my actual breaker box or wiring in my home. FUCK.




Any thoughts?? Also would you sell the Mesa like I'm planning on or am I overreacting?

[space6oy]

kinda shady but buy another one and return it.

[space6oy]

i'm guilty of having done that w/ a red ring of death once upon a time.

[D.o.S.]

What sort of 'constant noise' are you talking as far as the cab goes?

[crochambeau]

So the Mesa story aside, I am STILL getting feedback noise from my cabs. /snip/ I mean, I went from zero noise to constant noise all in the same day. I've tried three amps with the same results.

Curious about the noise. You say feedback noise, is it a sort of whine? Steady hum? A speaker death rattle?

If there's a constant sound, I'd include the pedal board PSU as a potential candidate. If you're running a SWPS (ala 1spot, most of the shit out there) bear in mind that the power outlet floats, so if there is not a solid common/ground path you stand a chance of hearing a lot of noise. Example: if I let my input channels float and have a stomp box powered by a SWPS I have measured somewhere in the range of 40-50 volts differential between "common". Plug it in and it *usually* goes away, but without a solid common/earth path your signal line might be fucking you too.

BUT! If a capacitor blew, isn't it possible that the charge could have fucked my drivers??

It's unlikely. Caps in the power supply will either short (blowing fuse) or open (increasing hum), but I'm not entirely clear as to what has gone wrong with the Mesa.

Static on the output could be many things, arcing across sockets, resistor failure, preamp tube failure, other worse things and some more unlikely things. You don't live in 100% humidity all the time though, right?

[rfurtkamp]

Did you contact normal warranty channels, or just random phone call and forum PM?

Edit: or swap tubes beyond just test them?

[crochambeau]

Do you move/gig your tube amp, and if so let it cool down completely before tossing it around?

[Jwar]

Did you contact normal warranty channels, or just random phone call and forum PM?

Edit: or swap tubes beyond just test them?

Sure did! Called them direct and called the number I was advised to call from the forum PM. The guy who I was talking to via the forum is a sales manager for Mesa and put me in contact with their tech.

I did swap tubes to no avail. The noise is still there. Plus it's making it with other amps, which leads me to believe it's either the cabs or my actual homes power. What are the odds of all my gear failing at the same time though? Especially after years of no problems?

I don't gig, so I'm not throwing the amp around and have always ran it at half power and only use it 30 minutes on average a day. So it's not like I'm abusing my gear by any means.

Re-the noise. It happens when plugged direct or through a board. It doesn't matter. I've tried several basses too. It's not the amp in that case, but it just so happens that my Mesa amp does have an issue again. I am using GK amp right now and there's feedback, humming. On a fucking solid state that was dead silent only a week ago. Makes no sense at all.

[crochambeau]

Makes no sense at all.

Grab an outlet tester.

[rfurtkamp]

Could be line noise in the neighborhood, something shifted.

If it's more than just the Mesa, I'd look past it.

Take it to a music store and try out some basses there...see if there's an issue, etc.

[D.o.S.]

cosigning the last two posts, for sure.

This is I think the first time I've heard of someone having a bad experience with Mesa, though.

[Jwar]

Makes no sense at all.

Grab an outlet tester.

Already had that done! The outlets are fine!

Could be line noise in the neighborhood, something shifted.

If it's more than just the Mesa, I'd look past it.

Take it to a music store and try out some basses there...see if there's an issue, etc.

See this is what my father in law said and he said that a neighbor could be using a ton of power and causing the noise. He's an electrician and tested my outlets. They were all fine. He said it's rare that the noise issue could come from the neighborhood, but it's possible. Kind of annoying because it was fine until recently, so I wonder what changed?

I'll try it at a music store. I am going to take my amp/cab to my parents today to see if that solves the issue. If it does...sigh. FML right? LOL!

Are there any things that you can do to lower it? Like a power conditioner of some sort???

[Jwar]

cosigning the last two posts, for sure.

This is I think the first time I've heard of someone having a bad experience with Mesa, though.

Same here! I was shocked man. That guy talked to me like I was a jerk for even bothering him. It really pissed me off, but I guess maybe he was having a bad day??? I dunno.

[rfurtkamp]

Depends on how you described it and how it was passed to him as well.

Realistically, see what happens on another power source before chasing more phantoms.

[rfurtkamp]

(and that includes trying to solve non-specific issues!)