Getting a little annoyed with my Recto

[Zach Trowbridge]

Ok, so as some of you may or may not know, my Recto's been in the shop for the last month, since I dropped it off the last time I visited my parents and just went back again this weekend. I took it in because it was having chronic popping when channel switching, especially when going from channel 1 or 3 to channel 2. Also, I was noticing some early breakup on channel 1 even after having all-new power and preamp tubes, as well as a brand new 4x12 to put it through.

So, I took it in to the shop and they said they'd open it up and see what was going on. When I went in to pick it up, everything seemed good for the most part. After apparently 2 hours of fixing bad solder joints, they fixed everything. The channel switching wasn't popping anymore, just a slight "click" sound that wasn't too audible. And the clean channel seemed like it was working again.

To make a long story short, I've had it for three days again, and now today all of the old channel switching symptoms are back. The popping's back again, except before it would go away after the initial switch, and now it pops at random.

So I have a question: do you think I'd be justified in asking either them or Mesa for a new amp? I say "or Mesa" because Mesa customer service had told me that if this particular store couldn't fix the problem, to send it back to them. I really don't want to be without my head another month, only to get it back and have it still be screwy.

Ugh.

[Big Mike]

You could ask, but I doubt Mesa will give you a new amp.

Did you have it repaired by the shop that sold it to you? If so, I would think they could arrange some type of loaner amp while Mesa is repairing yours. That's only fair.

Mesa has good service, and really does a good job. I would give them the chance to repair it myself.

Good luck!

[PaulO]

I know this is not the same situation, but I once I ordered a Blus Angle thru a music store in Alabama. They did not have it so they ordered it thru Mesa. After 3 months of waiting I got impatient and I called the music store to cancel. The music store called Mesa, and Mesa told the store too bad, eat it. The store had my credit card and was going to go thru with a sale to me for something I no longer wanted. I called several people at Mesa, and finally the regional sales manager convinced the store to take it.

Bottom line is, Mesa must think they are gods or something. I dumped my triple rect for a DSL100 because I thought the Mesa's tone was one dimentional - all rect and no clean tone. I ams SO SO happy with the DSL100.

If you think Mesa is going to help you, I wish you luck. I hope you have better success than the music store who got a Blue Angle jammed down their throat.

[Baba]

I heard Mesa's service was pretty good, I had to call them one time, very knowledgeable and informative. I seriously doubt they will give you a new amp, but I would call them about the situation.

Another thing, I'm not sure which series or which models, but some of those are known to "click" or "pop" when changing channels. I've seen some ebay auctions will actually say, "this one doesn't pop". I don't know what's up with the clean channel thing.

[jbird]

I would send it back to them! I once had a problem with mine (two channel type, treble on the red channel was acting like a volume control?). Fortunately, I don't live too far from Petaluma so I made an appointment and drove it down myself! Got a factory tour and within two hours they had it fixed! Funny thing is, they said it all checked out OK! But I could see that they had worked with the treble pot. Hmmm, oh well, have'nt had a problem since. Call them, tell em it's coming, you want it fixed right, free of charge! Want it back ASAP, I'm in the middle of a recording!

[PRSKILLER]

My first Mesa, a 2ch Dual had problems with the sound cutting out. I had my dealer send it to Mesa and when I got it back it was even better than before. There was like more gain to be had. It didn`t take to long, if I remember correctly it was less than a month. Send it to Mesa to get it fixed right.