Today I played a Mesa F-30...

[StratTom]

So I went to guitar center today and I saw one of these. Someone from here told me to check the F-series out, so I grabbed a guitar and plugged in. Let's ust say that I was very impressed. I was starting to think that I would never find an amp out there with what I was looking for. Let me tell you, this amp does it for me....a small combo, with high gain and best of all...it has TUBES! The one I was playing just happened to be used.A few marks here and there but nothing that bothered me. It was going for $725. I asked a salesman how much they run new, he told me about $900. Then he told me that he could give the used one to me for $650! That's actually lower than I thought I would spend on an amp, which I think is great. I'm hoping to see if I can afford it, but I'm going to need to sell gear most likely to get it. Any F-30 or F-series users out there care to share their experiences I'd appricate it.

Tom

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: Today I played a Mesa F-30...

I've played one at Guitar Center and it was an affordable alternative to the more expensive Mesa stuff.

I can't say that it was as good as a Recto, but it is a decent distortion oriented amp.

Look around for price comparisons online and on eBay to be sure I think I did see that at GC for 900 myself though.

Hey, if it encourages you to pick up your guitar and play, go with it

 

[B2D]

Re: Today I played a Mesa F-30...

The F-series are some of the most toneful clean amps I've come across recently. 650 for the f30, which is 900 new, is a great steal. put it on layaway before someone else does!

 

[StratTom]

Re: Today I played a Mesa F-30...

I'm thinking of possibly buying it, if they are still running their "no interest/no payments for one year" promo. If that's the case, I'll buy it ASAP and then worry about selling my Crate. Plus, the sales guy told me that I have 30 days to try it out at home to see if I like it. It would be nice to try it out with my guitars and in my house before I go and sell what i already have.

 

[Dom L]

Re: Today I played a Mesa F-30...

I have a F-50 ( in Red tolex, baybee)
Very versatile , the clean is the best Iv'e heard from a boogie, and there is more than enough gain on the dirty channel. I didn't like the F-30, because of the EL34's. They sound too swampy or something, but the 6l6's in the F-50 can sound pretty much like a Fender. BTW I traded a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe and a Mesa DC-3 for this amp so that should tell you that I wanted both those sounds in one box. Right now It's the best of both worlds for me. But I have not tried the Lonestar....yet

 

[StratTom]

Re: Today I played a Mesa F-30...

I have a F-50 ( in Red tolex, baybee)
Very versatile , the clean is the best Iv'e heard from a boogie, and there is more than enough gain on the dirty channel. I didn't like the F-30, because of the EL34's. They sound too swampy or something, but the 6l6's in the F-50 can sound pretty much like a Fender. BTW I traded a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe and a Mesa DC-3 for this amp so that should tell you that I wanted both those sounds in one box. Right now It's the best of both worlds for me. But I have not tried the Lonestar....yet

Glad to hear you like your F-50. I haven't tried the 50 watt yet, maybe I should, but I am looking for something that I can crank the volume and not distrub the rest of the family. Won't hurt to try it out though. BTW, that's gotta look sweet with the red tolex.

 

[Norman_T]

Re: Today I played a Mesa F-30...

StratTom,

I think it may have been who suggested to try out the F series. I do think that it may be better for you to try out the F50 as this has far more options for you than the F30. The F50 gives you the ability to change and put in different power tubes, whereas the F30 does have the EL34 tubes in them for that classic marshall sound. I don't think the additional power will be too much for you to handle - who ever said that(!) and it is the ideal power rating. The F50 does go back to what Mesa did well and their clean channel is knockout. If you can wait and get a F50 for good money then I suggest go for it. But if you have to pull the trigger on that F30 then $650 is a good price.

FWIW I have a Nomad 55 1x12 combo and also an ext speaker and when I was in the market for one, I could not find a F50 anywhere in stock some 4-5 months ago, hence the reason why I went for the Nomad. I may be thinking about trading this in for the F50, but may wait a little longer.

Norman

 

[jrmercer]

Re: Today I played a Mesa F-30...

Tom, the F 30 is a great little amp.....however, I don't believe it will have enough horses to compete with drums & bass......I bought the F 50 1 1/2 years ago & it has plenty of horses & sounds magnificent.....This amp has replaced all of my Fender amps, & I've got a bunch of them......I also bought the F 100 head plus Mesa extension cabnet, but haven't found it necessary to use on a gig......The F-50 is magnificent......jrmercer

 

[StratTom]

Re: Today I played a Mesa F-30...

Tom, the F 30 is a great little amp.....however, I don't believe it will have enough horses to compete with drums & bass......I bought the F 50 1 1/2 years ago & it has plenty of horses & sounds magnificent.....This amp has replaced all of my Fender amps, & I've got a bunch of them......I also bought the F 100 head plus Mesa extension cabnet, but haven't found it necessary to use on a gig......The F-50 is magnificent......jrmercer

Welcome to the forums jrmercer! Glad to hear you like your F-50. I haven't had the opportunity to play one yet, but I hope to soon. I thought the F-30 would be a good choice for me since I only play in my bedroom...plus, at the time, there was a good deal. I am considering the F-50 now, since many including yourself have said that its a great amp.

 

[Blueline]

Re: Today I played a Mesa F-30...

I played on once - but briefly - isn't the f-30 equipped with el-84s not el 34s
i htought it had a pretty decent mesa tone
but it was only a quick play
i'd like to hear the difference in tone between the f-30 adn the nomad 45

 

[StratTom]

Re: Today I played a Mesa F-30...

isn't the f-30 equipped with el-84s not el 34s

I think your right Blueline.

 

[Dom L]

Re: Today I played a Mesa F-30...

I played on once - but briefly - isn't the f-30 equipped with el-84s not el 34s

You are right... I had a typo, EL84's not EL34's are in the F-30 my mistake
:blackeye:
Dom L

 

[StratTom]

Re: Today I played a Mesa F-30...

You are right... I had a typo, EL84's not EL34's are in the F-30 my mistake
:blackeye:
Dom L

It's cool Dom.
BTW, how much extra was it for the red tolex?

 

[Falstaff]

Re: Today I played a Mesa F-30...

Based on what I experienced with a Boogie Studio 22, the F30 will be plenty loud to hang with a band.

 

[DeadSkinSlayer3]

Re: Today I played a Mesa F-30...

Woah...this really has my ears perked...Would this thing, or the 50, have enough gain to do death metal? like The Haunted, In Flames, Cradle of Filth, Kataklysm, etc??

 

[FenderBoy]

Re: Today I played a Mesa F-30...

StratTom,

I think it may have been who suggested to try out the F series. I do think that it may be better for you to try out the F50 as this has far more options for you than the F30. The F50 gives you the ability to change and put in different power tubes, whereas the F30 does have the EL34 tubes in them for that classic marshall sound. I don't think the additional power will be too much for you to handle - who ever said that(!) and it is the ideal power rating. The F50 does go back to what Mesa did well and their clean channel is knockout. If you can wait and get a F50 for good money then I suggest go for it. But if you have to pull the trigger on that F30 then $650 is a good price.

FWIW I have a Nomad 55 1x12 combo and also an ext speaker and when I was in the market for one, I could not find a F50 anywhere in stock some 4-5 months ago, hence the reason why I went for the Nomad. I may be thinking about trading this in for the F50, but may wait a little longer.

Norman

Norman_T , check your Private Msgs please. I have a nomad 55 question for you

 

[some_dude]

Re: Today I played a Mesa F-30...

From what I've read the F-series uses the old blackface Fender tone circuit in the clean channel, and a Fender tone circuit with Rectifier values on the dirty channel.

It sounds like a really nice combo, I'd like to test drive one someday.

 

[Norman_T]

Re: Today I played a Mesa F-30...

Norman_T , check your Private Msgs please. I have a nomad 55 question for you

FenderBoy,

Check you private msg, I have replied and if you have anymore questions let me know

Norman

 

[Dom L]

Re: Today I played a Mesa F-30...

BTW, how much extra was it for the red tolex?

It was part of the deal , I traded a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe and a Mesa Boogie DC-3, because this 1 amp sounde like both of those. The F-50 has quite a bit of gain on the gain channel I only have the gain at 11:00 with plenty to go on the clean I have it a 2:00. I'm hooked until the next amp, maybe a Lonestar or something, has to be a versatile 2 channel though
Dom L

 

[Mike_D.]

Re: Today I played a Mesa F-30...

I have also test driven the F-30 at my local dealer. I plugged a Les Paul Jr with a dog ear P-90 in the bridge and let her rip. To my ears, it sounded remarkably like my good buddies Mesa Mark IIc+. That's a good thing as far as I am concerned.