HEP!!! Mesa Triple Rectifier noise on channel 3

  • Thread starter Thread starter DonS
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DonS

New member
Hey,

I was just jamming on channel 3 of my triple rec, probably for a couple of hours, and suddenly I have this strange noise. Like "Bzzz!!" KInd of like a ground loop. I ran and put it on standby and then powered off. I turned it back on and it was fine on default channel 2 and then I switched back to 3, played for a little bit and the same noise. Kept the power on and switched to 2, no noise, switch back to 3 (same noise) "bzzz" and :eek:- Eek"!!!! This amp has been at home for a couple of years I don't gig or have a band. I never play it loud and it's only powered on during the weekend.

I NEVER use channel 3 at all, EVER!!

Sorry, if this isnt enough info. I'm sure you can understand I'm freaking out about the noise. I know very little about tube amps.

Any ideas or should I search the forum?


Thanks,
Don
 
DonS said:
KInd of like a ground loop.
Click to expand...

Kind of like a ground loop, or like a ground loop?

What are your settings on channel 2 and on channel 3? It's not just preamp hiss from the gain stages, but something more than that, right? I'd need to hear it, but I know Mesa advises against cranking the gain and running the treble high in Modern mode because it can cause preamp tube microphonics due to the levels of saturation the amp can produce, could it possibly be preamp tube noise?
 
Thanks for your response.

No, I don't believe this was preamp tube noise. the sound just cut out and the amp was buzzing. I have to say that I used the term "ground loop" because that is the closest to what this noise sounded like not because that is what it was. What I did overlook in my original post was that there was also this clicking noise accompanying the buzz, and when "it" happened again I noticed that the channel 2 light was barely lit & flickering on and off. The amp "tilted" like a pinball machine is really more acurate discription if that makes any sence. So I thought about it for a few seconds and started thinking that the amp just didn't switch channels properly (?) so I checked the connection to the foot switch unplugged it replugged it. After that I played on channel 3 exclusively for another hour and no more noise. I do also notice slight volume swells on either channel which could possibly be power tubes, but that's been going on for quite a while.

Thanks,
Don
 
I remember reading that treble and gain issue in the manuel. I guess I do have these a bit high.

My amp settings are modeled but modified slightly from the factory recomentaions.

I tried to follow the specs.

Anyway, here is what I have going on settings wise:

Output:
7 o'clock

Settings On channel 3 (modern mode)
Presence= 12 0'clock
Master = 12 o'clock
Gain = 2 o'clock
bass = 11 o'clock
mid = 1 o'clock
treble = 2 o'clock

Settings on channel 2 (vintage mode)
Presence = 11 o'clock
Master = 3 o'clock
Gain = 3 o'clock
Bass = 8 o'clock
Mid = 12 o'clock
Treble = 1 o'clock

Thanks,
Don
 
I think you better let a professional engineer take a look at it.
My guess is an old/broken condensor or a broken tube.
Lend some tubes from someone or buy some tubes ;)

Or you can remove 2 tubes if it's 100 watts and listen if the sound still goes on. If it's still there, remove the other 2 tubes. If it's still there, swith some tubes. Do this systematically untill you come to the conclusion that:
It's either 3 broken tubes, 4 broken tubes or no broken tubes :)
It can never be 2 broken tubes since you switched them systematically ;)


Aside from your question: I also own a Dual rectifier trichan.
I bought a TS9 from Ibanez as a tip from a professional studio engineer.

Put the gain on the TS9 on zero, output max and tone at 12 o'clock.
Turn your mesa boogie gain on 11 o'clock MAX and you'll have THE sound you are looking for, I promise !
I'm not a salesman or related to Ibanez in any way , I even think the pedals are but ugly but It made my Boogie increase in value dramatically !!!
 
i suspect that you're gonna need a real tech to work this out... i have seen similar problems with a couple of boogies before.... IIRC it ultimately came down to a bad series of parts and i thought they had it all worked out.... i dont have a schemo or parts list available so can't be too specific but it came down to the silicon used to switch the channels... it was real time consuming to troubleshoot so a lot of guys would simply replace basicly everything in that part of the circuit... (was cheaper than spending 3-4 hrs of time)
 
DonS said:
No, I don't believe this was preamp tube noise. the sound just cut out and the amp was buzzing.
Click to expand...

Yeah, if it literally "cut out," then you want to bring it to someone. Is it still within warranty?
 
Yes, I definitely want to play it safe with this amp and take it to a tech
:( - $$$.

The amp is out of warranty for a few years already. I bought it in 2004.

Does anybody know of a good/trustworthy tube amp repair around the Chicagoland area?


Thanks for all of your responses,
Don
 
DonS said:
Yes, I definitely want to play it safe with this amp and take it to a tech
:( - $$$.

The amp is out of warranty for a few years already. I bought it in 2004.

Does anybody know of a good/trustworthy tube amp repair around the Chicagoland area?


Thanks for all of your responses,
Don
Click to expand...

Mesa has a 5-year transferrable warranty. Did you buy it new? If so, you're covered for another year...

Off the Mesa site, he're the authorized repair shops in your area:

Dealer Address Phone

Midtown Instruments 4104 N. Elston Ave Chicago IL 60618 (773)588-7377
Musicians' Custom Electronics 921 W 193rd Place Chicago Hts IL 60411 (708) 755-6960
Luthier Shoppe 1717 Wabash Avenue Springfield IL 62704 (217)546-1615
Deltronics 2003 75th Street Woodridge IL 60517 (630) 910-6630

Also, have you tried calling Mesa yet? Their phone customer support is actually quite good... Just a heads up though, they're closed on Fridays (yet another reason I'd love to work there, lol).
 
Blor007 said:
Aside from your question: I also own a Dual rectifier trichan.
I bought a TS9 from Ibanez as a tip from a professional studio engineer.

Put the gain on the TS9 on zero, output max and tone at 12 o'clock.
Turn your mesa boogie gain on 11 o'clock MAX and you'll have THE sound you are looking for, I promise !
I'm not a salesman or related to Ibanez in any way , I even think the pedals are but ugly but It made my Boogie increase in value dramatically !!!
Click to expand...

yes! the tube screamer will turn any tube amp into a metal machine! i set the drive at 11:00 to get that little extra bit of meat grinder in my tone.
 
castlerock said:
yes! the tube screamer will turn any tube amp into a metal machine! i set the drive at 11:00 to get that little extra bit of meat grinder in my tone.
Click to expand...
Or one from the plethora of viable alternatives....TS808, Fulltone OCD, bad monkey, Zakk Wylde OD.... not to mention the 10 billion various modification that can be done....:eek:
 
castlerock said:
yes! the tube screamer will turn any tube amp into a metal machine! i set the drive at 11:00 to get that little extra bit of meat grinder in my tone.
Click to expand...

I use a modded TS9 - Bodenhamer Electronics Chaos mod, he tweaks them especially for the purpose of OD'ing the front end of a Mesa for low-tuned guitars - but I definitely DON'T crank the Rectifier's gain. On modern, I personally like it fairly low - 11 o'clock to noon - and then add just the tiniest amount of grit on the tube screamer, tone wherever you think it sounds good (I tend to go a hair above noon), and level at unity, so you don't hear a volume change when you go back and forth between it on the clean channel. The effect on your cleans is VERY subtle, maybe a slight touch of grit, but it really changes the way the amp overdrives for some reason. I go back and forth on which I prefer, but it's certaintly a pretty awesome sound.
 
cellardweller said:
Or one from the plethora of viable alternatives....TS808, Fulltone OCD, bad monkey, Zakk Wylde OD.... not to mention the 10 billion various modification that can be done....:eek:
Click to expand...

mmmm, perhaps. but i've had my TS-9 for 25 years so it will always be a tube screamer to me. ;)

DrewPeterson7 said:
I use a modded TS9 - Bodenhamer Electronics Chaos mod, he tweaks them especially for the purpose of OD'ing the front end of a Mesa for low-tuned guitars - but I definitely DON'T crank the Rectifier's gain. On modern, I personally like it fairly low - 11 o'clock to noon - and then add just the tiniest amount of grit on the tube screamer, tone wherever you think it sounds good (I tend to go a hair above noon), and level at unity, so you don't hear a volume change when you go back and forth between it on the clean channel. The effect on your cleans is VERY subtle, maybe a slight touch of grit, but it really changes the way the amp overdrives for some reason. I go back and forth on which I prefer, but it's certaintly a pretty awesome sound.
Click to expand...

this page has a good description of how the tube screamer works it magic. it's focused on the 808 but still interesting.

like i posted above, i've been using this thing for 25 years and i haven't found another OD pedal (except maybe copies) that can come close to the way the tube screamer makes an amp sound. i'm using it with a carvin V3 loaded with JJ ECC83S's and it really sweetens up the distortion. i'm getting some great iron maiden like tones.

i'm thinking about an analogman mod because i find myself turning the tone know down to about 9:00 to take out the bright bite it has. (never was a problem on solid state amps.)
 
castlerock said:
mmmm, perhaps. but i've had my TS-9 for 25 years so it will always be a tube screamer to me. ;)
Click to expand...
Not sure of the time frame exactly, but would that be one of the original TS's?

Vintage is always better...right? :rolleyes:;)
 
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