I bought a used Rocket 44 back in 2019 - my first tube amp after 10 years of playing. The power transformer blew out on me TWICE before I stuck a small computer fan in the back to alleviate the heat issues. I see a lot of people shitting on this amp for design reasons (rightfully so), but to me it offers a an amazing sound at LOUD volumes for just a light 1x12 combo making it one of the best amps to gig with. Plus the tone you get from that contour setting - it's perfect for playing lead without needing pedals. I recently purchased a Blackstar HT 60 212 and it doesn't get nearly as loud with volume dialed halfway up while the Rocket's volume is still on 2.
Thanks for making this vid -- it's good to have service info out on the web. I have had one of these since 2011 -- it's (over)due for a recap actually. It's a verstaile amp -- super loud and not too big or heavy. The Mesa EQ works best where as you turn up gain you need to back the bass way off to stop the woof. The mid pots are more like another gain knob after about 3 on the dial. It does mention most of this sort of thing in the product manual and it works once you get your head around their way of doing things. The EQ knobs are pretty interactive too and yes can be a bit touchy -- especially the treble where it's sometimes too much or not quite enough but it depends on the overall volume and other factors. The amps are really made to be played pretty loud and don't sound so great until the power section is opened up a bit. They excel next to a drum kit in a band mix. Overdive and distortion is really their forte though. There are other vids that demonstrate the sound better than this: th-cam.com/video/thjrjWWCdyE/w-d-xo.htmlsi=ZD2DUeldDGuq5e0_
Dude, I have owned a triple rectifer, a stiletto, an Electra dyne 2x12 combo and I don’t understand why Mesa is so damn popular. My Marshall’s almost all sound good. I compared a DrZ maz 18 to my Electra dyne.. not even close. The Dr Z was so much better
Thanks for sharing! What the piss is it w/ Boogies and that !ow end woof!? My C+ acts up a lot and does that. No consistency tho. Lowering eq rolls off but that woof can still be heard if that makes sense. Ugh! Anyway there's a pull shift function on a C+ when engaged, brings into play a 750 pf ceramic cap. Just like that amp, very microphonic when engaged. I put new Vishay in, same thing. I put a CDE mica in, no microphonics. Wasn't sure what to do . the mica was so much bigger physically. So I put old one back in and just said f it! Love your videos. 👍👌
Operative word: "had". Good work, mate! They can be wrangled, but they do serve a certain taste in their stock form. Just not my taste. But I'm not one to judge.
The main issue with these Mark style amps is the EQ is in the first gain stage, that’s why they’re woofy at the normal settings we’d expect. That’s why the graphic EQ was such a popular option. They basically need to have the mids boosted in in regular eq and then cut out in the graphic. They didn’t get the hand of actually designing inter stage filtering until the Recto.
The snubbing caps throughout most of their models to address the oscillation caused by the pathetic PCB layout is the real dealbreaker for me. No top end detail or air to speak of.
What you don't understand, and many people don't, about the Mark amps is that the design concept is that the tone stack determines the overall harmonic character of the signal going into the overdrive stages, and then you use the EQ (always order a mark with EQ, it should have never been optional, and standard equipment instead) to adjust your overall tone. When you really understand how it works, it's much easier to find your tone.
@@Turboy65 thank you for explaining to me, someone who studied electronic engineering at a tertiary level and owns a music shop and also repairs amps and guitars for a living, how the Mesa mark series amps work. I never knew that. Thank you.
@@BradsGuitarGarage RIP, Doc and Rick. My buddy and I were into them in college, and no one else had heard of them. I moved across the U.S. and one of my new work buddies turns out to be a huge fan.
All these amps cost so much money, especially Bass ones. But yet they are built with the cheapest parts and assembled like crap. It's hard to spend 2 grand on something and then it just doesn't work right. This should never be a thing I tell ya.
Those Pots Mesa used there are a POS and it's dramatically complicated to find replacement. You can easily replace the tone stack as they are available, even with D-Axis, from good vendors but if it goes into the Gain Pots it goes down the hole...At all no Mesa at all impressed me in quality of its build, they all are cramped, layouted with no brain at all have poor quality parts.
It's high praise for the design when a tech says:"at least it hasn't caught fire"..😏
I bought a used Rocket 44 back in 2019 - my first tube amp after 10 years of playing. The power transformer blew out on me TWICE before I stuck a small computer fan in the back to alleviate the heat issues. I see a lot of people shitting on this amp for design reasons (rightfully so), but to me it offers a an amazing sound at LOUD volumes for just a light 1x12 combo making it one of the best amps to gig with. Plus the tone you get from that contour setting - it's perfect for playing lead without needing pedals.
I recently purchased a Blackstar HT 60 212 and it doesn't get nearly as loud with volume dialed halfway up while the Rocket's volume is still on 2.
"Mesa - It's Technically An Amplifier"
"Mesa - It's sorta usable"
-BGG
Hey, that was me trying not to sound like a cynical old whining prick. Lol!
Thanks for making this vid -- it's good to have service info out on the web. I have had one of these since 2011 -- it's (over)due for a recap actually. It's a verstaile amp -- super loud and not too big or heavy. The Mesa EQ works best where as you turn up gain you need to back the bass way off to stop the woof. The mid pots are more like another gain knob after about 3 on the dial. It does mention most of this sort of thing in the product manual and it works once you get your head around their way of doing things. The EQ knobs are pretty interactive too and yes can be a bit touchy -- especially the treble where it's sometimes too much or not quite enough but it depends on the overall volume and other factors. The amps are really made to be played pretty loud and don't sound so great until the power section is opened up a bit. They excel next to a drum kit in a band mix. Overdive and distortion is really their forte though.
There are other vids that demonstrate the sound better than this: th-cam.com/video/thjrjWWCdyE/w-d-xo.htmlsi=ZD2DUeldDGuq5e0_
Samick solid state amps have just gone through the roof in value
I've never played a Mesa I like. The sound of this one made me like 'em even less, which I didn't expect to be possible.
Dude, I have owned a triple rectifer, a stiletto, an Electra dyne 2x12 combo and I don’t understand why Mesa is so damn popular. My Marshall’s almost all sound good. I compared a DrZ maz 18 to my Electra dyne.. not even close. The Dr Z was so much better
Thanks for sharing! What the piss is it w/ Boogies and that !ow end woof!? My C+ acts up a lot and does that. No consistency tho. Lowering eq rolls off but that woof can still be heard if that makes sense. Ugh! Anyway there's a pull shift function on a C+ when engaged, brings into play a 750 pf ceramic cap. Just like that amp, very microphonic when engaged. I put new Vishay in, same thing. I put a CDE mica in, no microphonics. Wasn't sure what to do . the mica was so much bigger physically. So I put old one back in and just said f it! Love your videos. 👍👌
I had one of these. As an amp it made a great paperweight..
Operative word: "had".
Good work, mate!
They can be wrangled, but they do serve a certain taste in their stock form.
Just not my taste. But I'm not one to judge.
@@BradsGuitarGarage nha, you’re just the silly sod left to repair the blessed things 😂
I'm sure you're up to date with Lyle and what's involved with making one pass muster. If not, check it out.
The main issue with these Mark style amps is the EQ is in the first gain stage, that’s why they’re woofy at the normal settings we’d expect. That’s why the graphic EQ was such a popular option. They basically need to have the mids boosted in in regular eq and then cut out in the graphic.
They didn’t get the hand of actually designing inter stage filtering until the Recto.
The snubbing caps throughout most of their models to address the oscillation caused by the pathetic PCB layout is the real dealbreaker for me. No top end detail or air to speak of.
What you don't understand, and many people don't, about the Mark amps is that the design concept is that the tone stack determines the overall harmonic character of the signal going into the overdrive stages, and then you use the EQ (always order a mark with EQ, it should have never been optional, and standard equipment instead) to adjust your overall tone. When you really understand how it works, it's much easier to find your tone.
@@Turboy65 thank you for explaining to me, someone who studied electronic engineering at a tertiary level and owns a music shop and also repairs amps and guitars for a living, how the Mesa mark series amps work. I never knew that. Thank you.
Was that “Marseilles” by Angel City? (The Angels)
Yes it was.
I wasn't aware until recently that they had to be marketed as "Angel City" to avoid legal issues in other countries.
@@BradsGuitarGarage RIP, Doc and Rick. My buddy and I were into them in college, and no one else had heard of them. I moved across the U.S. and one of my new work buddies turns out to be a huge fan.
Rick is still going, mate.
Still gigging, too.
Dave Gleeson is now fronting The Angels as well as The Screaming Jets.
He's a busy boy.
@@BradsGuitarGarage I’m glad to be mistaken, then. I thought I had read he passed.
was Mesa ever designed well?
This amp is destined to have thermal issues. No heatsink on the rear face of the chassis. 😀
HAHA! That was my first impression, too! I stick them to my bonnet to cool my engine down.
Mine sounds nothin like this ,mine sounds amazing .. strange
Shit design makes “the evil 👿 spirit of art in technology “…🤣😂🤪😜
Mesa is an acquired taste like Greek olives only not as tasty. Very little top end sparkle that I heard.
All these amps cost so much money, especially Bass ones. But yet they are built with the cheapest parts and assembled like crap. It's hard to spend 2 grand on something and then it just doesn't work right. This should never be a thing I tell ya.
Those Pots Mesa used there are a POS and it's dramatically complicated to find replacement. You can easily replace the tone stack as they are available, even with D-Axis, from good vendors but if it goes into the Gain Pots it goes down the hole...At all no Mesa at all impressed me in quality of its build, they all are cramped, layouted with no brain at all have poor quality parts.
Putting a ceramic cap in the signal path is not a good idea anyway. Even new they're piezoelectric effect is a problem.
Nothing wrong with ceramics if you choose good quality ceramics.
Typical Mesa. Gotta have the bass on 2 or less to get rid of the woof. Shit design, shit tone, shit amps.
That is one lifeless sounding amp