Mesa F-30 questions.

[Top Jimmy]

So I went to GC last weekend and tried a bunch of amps. I tried the Peavey Valveking, ehh not great. JSX, gain beast. Etc. Then I tried the Mesa F-30 1-12 and it was one of the best plug and play amps I've tried. Simple controls and fricken loud for it's size, and nice gain.

I don't know enough about Mesa amps, but is this a mid to semi-hi gain amp in the lineup vs. say a Lonestar, Recto, roadkings, stilletto, etc? What is the gain progression on the Mesa lineup anyway?

Anyone own one of these? Can you use a attenuator on these to lower the volume to apt practice levels?

I see that the Express series is coming, should I wait on those since it does have the 5:25 or 5:50 power switching?

I don't need a diverse unit, I just want a very nice crunch and lead tones, I can handle cleans with something else.

If I get this new job, I think I'll be treating myself to one of these, or a legacy, or something recommended by you folks. :fingersx:

 

[Tor]

Re: Mesa F-30 questions.

Waiting for Boogie Bill to chime in, he is THE Mesaologist of the forum... But this is my 0.02 cents on it, (I have the F-50, haven't tried the F-30, but)....

I'd say the F-series covers most of the bases fairly well.. You can get it up to a Recto-like sound, it might be good enough for you...

You can use an attenuator (I have one myself)... However, I don't use it to keep it at bedroom levels anymore - the amp sounds good enough for me without for practicing, and it doesn't eat tubes so fast this way either... Now I'm using it for fine adjustments the few times I'm on stage...

I've not tried the F-30, but I think the sounds you describe you want from the amp are right in that F-30, even the cleans... Don't shoot me if I'm wrong though...

At last, you might want to check out the F-series Lounge. There's quite a lot of folks over there that have great experience and knowledge with respect to the F-series...

 

[Binnerscot]

Re: Mesa F-30 questions.

I have an F-30. In the current line up of Mesa amp, the F-series is higher gain than the Lonestar series and Stilettos (at least the first interation of Stiletto). I haven't tried the 5:XX series to compare. I am aware that the 5:XX series is a taken from the F-Series with some tweaks and features for the contour. The F-Series has massive low mids and seems to favor strats and teles on the lead channel. I think it works well at low volumes, but certainly does like to to be wound up.

Depending on your tastes, this may be the crunch/lead amp you are looking for, but its best feature may be the clean on the F-Series. It happens to be my favorite out of all of Mesa's amps (even the Lonestar).

 

[paytojt]

Re: Mesa F-30 questions.

Get the F 30 and you'll be happy. It has more than enough gain on the second channel and the cleans are nice and fat. Similar to a Fender, but better in my opinion. I have yet to try it with an extension, but I think a nice sealed 2X12 cab will fill all my needs perfectly. Takes pedals very well, also. If you buy it, JJ EL84's are an improvement over the stock tubes.

 

[Nite_Maresz_25]

Re: Mesa F-30 questions.

So I went to GC last weekend and tried a bunch of amps. I tried the Peavey Valveking, ehh not great. JSX, gain beast. Etc. Then I tried the Mesa F-30 1-12 and it was one of the best plug and play amps I've tried. Simple controls and fricken loud for it's size, and nice gain.

I don't know enough about Mesa amps, but is this a mid to semi-hi gain amp in the lineup vs. say a Lonestar, Recto, roadkings, stilletto, etc? What is the gain progression on the Mesa lineup anyway?

Anyone own one of these? Can you use a attenuator on these to lower the volume to apt practice levels?

I see that the Express series is coming, should I wait on those since it does have the 5:25 or 5:50 power switching?

I don't need a diverse unit, I just want a very nice crunch and lead tones, I can handle cleans with something else.

If I get this new job, I think I'll be treating myself to one of these, or a legacy, or something recommended by you folks. :fingersx:

I can help ya out with this one!
Okay...The F-series is about on par with the Lonestars in terms of gain. I'd say its a semi hi-gain amp. Great clean, super good overdriven tones, and more gain then most people really need.
IMO, gain progression of Mesas goes like this(currect production models and f-series only):
Mark I
lonestar special(el84 tubes)
f-30
Lonestar(6l6)
f-50/f-100
Mark IV
Stiletto
rectos

express models are replacing the F series, so it might not be a bad idea to try them out to see if you like them better than the f-series. They also might be easier to find then the discontinued Fs.

If the F-30's what you want and is a good price(it sould be less than 800 cause its discontinued) I'd go for it. They're awesome sounding amps and are super versatile too!

Hope this helps.

 

[Top Jimmy]

Re: Mesa F-30 questions.

4 killer posts, thanks folks.

I'll probably wait until the Express series hits the shops (that 5watt:XXwatt mode would be really nice) then compare. Then if the F-30 can be had on the cheap I'll have some options on used/new/etc.

I was happy to find an amp I just plugged in and liked the tone so quickly for once. Some of them can be such a struggle.

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: Mesa F-30 questions.

The 5:xx Series amps are going to be really nice, and everyone I 've talked to who's played one really liked it. But,....

If you like the F-30, then find a closeout price and jump all over the F-30. If you need a little more headroom and like the tone of the 6L6s over EL84s, then grab an F-50!

This really is an amp that you'll keep for a long time. Yeah, someday you may need a 100-watt full-stack, but a good practice and recording amp--a good small venue amp--can be one of your best friends. A life-long friend.

And personally, I wouldn't bother with an attenuator for this amp. If I need ed to use a small amp in an apartment (i.e., HEADPHONES)--I'd grab a Tascam CD-1 Guitar Trainer. It sounds decent enough for practice, and it's a great tool for learning licks and songs.

But,...if you are planning on gigging...I would keep my eye out for a good deal on a 112 matching extension cab for the F-30. You could go for one of the open back cabs, or even a Theile cab. The Theile in particular, will give you some nice chunky bottom tones and project like a 412--making for a potent (and portable!) little mini-stack.

Good luck!

Bill

 

[jclogston]

Re: Mesa F-30 questions.

Hi -

I'm looking at both the F-30 and the express 5:25 as well. The 5 watt option is nice on the express but comes with a price; the express is almost 2x the cost of the f-30. I'm wondering how the older subway rocket compares among these two?

Jeff

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: Mesa F-30 questions.

Hi -

I'm looking at both the F-30 and the express 5:25 as well. The 5 watt option is nice on the express but comes with a price; the express is almost 2x the cost of the f-30. I'm wondering how the older subway rocket compares among these two?

Jeff

The Subway Rocket is an older design and these are cool little Mesas, too. The F-30 is a little bigger, and I would choose it over the SR--based on the separate tone controls for the two channels, and the 12" speaker.

Bill

 

[bungalowbill]

Re: Mesa F-30 questions.

I gigged with an F-30 for a year or so. It's a great little amp, good clean and a good hi gain sound. The one thing I hoped it would do, but didn't, was a nice slightly overdriven blues tone.......at least at a volume that didn't rip your head off. It is the LOUDEST 2 X EL84 amp, that I have had the pleasure of playing through.

 

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Re: Mesa F-30 questions.

So I went to GC last weekend and tried a bunch of amps. I tried the Peavey Valveking, ehh not great. JSX, gain beast. Etc. Then I tried the Mesa F-30 1-12 and it was one of the best plug and play amps I've tried. Simple controls and fricken loud for it's size, and nice gain.

I don't know enough about Mesa amps, but is this a mid to semi-hi gain amp in the lineup vs. say a Lonestar, Recto, roadkings, stilletto, etc? What is the gain progression on the Mesa lineup anyway?

:

I think it is something like this :

Lonestar -->F-series -->Stilletto -->Recto's -->RoadKings