Chronicles of a Mesa Boogie Fillmore 50 combo

[TSJMajesty]

The only other thing I could offer is something I read on Eurotubes. They claim that many, many issues (and they also claim they've seen it fix things a lot) can be dealt with by hitting the tube pins with electrical parts contact cleaner, then working the pins in and out of the sockets, to get them making full contact.

But since you already swapped tubes, you probably in essence, already accomplished what this troubleshooting fix would do. But anyway, just sayin'...

 

[gearJunkie]

... hitting the tube pins with electrical parts contact cleaner, then working the pins in and out of the sockets, to get them making full contact.

great suggestion, did it for the power tubes and V4 & V5 preamp tubes as I swapped out the originals for known working "backup" tubes from my collection.

No

Still whisper quiet output, no change. Going to swap in the originals and then try replacing V1 - V3.

 

[Frodebro]

Just touching on the obvious here, but is the speaker cable firmly plugged into the jack on the chassis? I'm pretty sure it's soldered to the lugs on the speaker itself, but sometimes it's the stupid little things that are easily overlooked.

 

[gearJunkie]

Just touching on the obvious here, but is the speaker cable firmly plugged into the jack on the chassis? I'm pretty sure it's soldered to the lugs on the speaker itself, but sometimes it's the stupid little things that are easily overlooked.

One of the first things I checked. Also tested with an external cab with same results.

 

[la szum]

Did you try this yet?

 

[gearJunkie]

OK, the problem is a bad tube in V1, V2, or V3. Now I'm going to swap the originals back in one at a time until we have a winer (or loser really).

Good news is that it's just a bad tube.

 

[gearJunkie]

A bad 12AX7 in V3 (driver/phase inverter) was the cause of the failure. Replaced it with a spare Mesa tube and all is well.

Finally have time to get back to playing.

Thanks for all of the suggestions and emotional support through this difficult time.

 

[paisleywookiee]

Glad you got it worked out!

 

[la szum]

Sweet!

 

[gearJunkie]

The retailer directed me to call Mesa for a new replacement preamp tube. I'm now waiting for a call back from Petaluma.

 

[TSJMajesty]

The retailer directed me to call Mesa for a new replacement preamp tube. I'm now waiting for a call back from Petaluma.

Ok, sure. So I fixed the amp for you, and ok, I guess I can make that phone call as well.

 

[gearJunkie]

Ok, sure. So I fixed the amp for you, and ok, I guess I can make that phone call as well.

I left a message with MB customer support around 12:00 PM EST and they called me back at 1:20 PM. A new tube is now on its way to me.

If you want to get things done quickly, you've got to do it yourself.

 

[TSJMajesty]

If you want to get things done quickly, you've got to do it yourself.

No, I get it. Was just halfway joking.

 

[gearJunkie]

The Fillmore crapped out on me again. Played for several hours last night without issue. When I powered everything up this afternoon, no sound at all.

Started rolling in a known working preamp tube, and the amp came back to life after swapping out V2. The previous issue was a bad preamp tube in V3.

I have already been in contact with Mesa support and I am expecting a call back when they open for business tomorrow.

Hopefully it was just a bad batch of tubes and not something inherently "broken" within the amp.

 

[gearJunkie]

Mesa tech believes the amp was unlucky and left the factory with a bad batch of preamp tubes.

They are sending a replacement tube. Hopefully there are no more failures.

 

[Frodebro]

Mesa tech believes the amp was unlucky and left the factory with a bad batch of preamp tubes.

They are sending a replacement tube. Hopefully there are no more failures.

Hopefully that is the problem. I’ve never had any problems with Mesa amps, currently have seven of them.

 

[gearJunkie]

Hopefully that is the problem. I’ve never had any problems with Mesa amps, currently have seven of them.

I have played my Triaxis + 2:90 for 30 years without issue, and my Mark VII and Badlander 100 have been stellar performers.

 

[ucnick]

Not giving me a warm fuzzy felling...

 

[gearJunkie]

Not giving me a warm fuzzy felling...

My confidence in this amp has wavered, but Mesa has been quick to respond and send replacement tubes. If the V3 tube had failed both times I would have had my doubts about the amps reliability, but since the second failure was a different preamp tube, it's easier to blame bad luck in QC of their tube supply chain.

I'm still loving this amp, and even more so since adding the Jensen Blackbird loaded 2x12" cab to the mix.

 

[gearJunkie]

Good amp day today! The replacement preamp tube arrived from Petaluma this morning, followed by the arrival of the Weber Z-Matcher.

Played for a few hours mixing & matching the internal 8 Ohm MC-90, a 16 Ohm V30 loaded closed-back 1x12, and a 4 Ohm Seismic Audio "Traditional" 2x12 loaded with Jensen Blackbirds.

Oh so good, regardless of the combination.