Mesa Boogie F-50

[eugewong]

Hi all,

Am looking at one of these to downsize my current rig (Triaxis/MPX-1/2:90/2x12 Recto Cab/Boss GT-6) It's just too much power and too many things to lug to a gig.

Anyone has any opinions on the F-50? I think Jo has one?

For the record, I play jazz, rock/fusion, Top 40s.

Thanks.

Eugene Wong

[Jo]

Yup, I've got one. The clean channel is absolutely sparkly. I really like it. However, with the gain channel I've not managed to get the high gain sounds that I want and normally end up using a pedal (Boss Distortion DS-1 or Metal Zone). However, I get a nice low gain sound with the gain knob at about 8 o'clock (yeah really low). Just a enough just to break up the sound. Makes my ATII sound wonderful.

As far as power goes, it's still really, really loud. I've never really got the volume levels above 9 or 10 o'clock. While my F-50 was being repaired I had the F-30 on loaner which seemed to be just as loud too. I think the 30 had a slightly nicer tone, (EL84s?) but the 50 had an overall warmer/smoother sound.

But having said all of that, I've just started using my Boss GT-6 straight into the PA and I'm really liking the tones I'm getting from that, so the amp hasn't been switched on in the last couple of weeks. :rolleyes:
I haven't tried the GT-6 into the front of the amp which I keep meaning to (I tried the loop and 4 cable method, neither of which worked for me). But I like the stereo that the PA let's me get on the FX.

I play mainly Top 40 modern rock stuff too.

FWIW, Guitarist magazine gave it it's top 5Star award, which very few amps have ever received.

[jkornel]

I have an F100 head and 212 mesa cab. I love it. The cleans are great and the dirty channel screams ROCK!!! Check out my latest recordings...

http://www.rosettastone.ca/music/Rosetta_Stone_-_OK.mp3
http://www.rosettastone.ca/music/jesus_short.mp3

Or the others at www.rosettastone.ca (http://www.rosettastone.ca) in the music section.

These were done with the gain at 4 !!

It is a simple yet versitle amp imho.

Jeremy

[MCG]

I tried one of the F-50's out at a shop months back. I'm not a huge Mesa fan, but I thought the amp sounded pretty good. At the time I was playing a Rivera R-100.

The clean channel sounded decent, though not a sparkely as a fender. And the gain channel was nice without sounding too high gain. Nice Rock & Roll amp IMO.

MCG

[eugewong]

Thanks for the replies so far guys. I'll keep them in mind.

Just checking Jo, what is the list on a new F-50?

And Jeremy, I'm downloading those clips as i type this!

Eugene

[Jo]

I paid $999 for mine from GC.

[cr8z4life]

When I gave them a test ride I liked the f100 but it was too much for what I needed...the f30 had some nice tones....actually the f50 I liked the least....but thats just mho

[eugewong]

Just called my local Boogie dealer today..

Seems that the F-30 and F50 are out of stock. He's not very helpful with letting me know when the new shipment will be coming in...seems to more to be on a marketing campaign.. "I don't know, all handmade. They like to fill the rest of the world's orders before they fill mine. All Handmade...Handmade items are all like that"

Geez...

Anyways, He's asking $2K+ (I'm guessing around $2300) Singapore dollars, which is kind of fair considering the prices that most items get inflated to here, after adding in S&H and profits....so that comes out to about $1200 US dollars. If i can find a cheap shipper, I might just buy one from the states and ship one over myself....hmm..

Eugene.

[Aldwyn]

Anyways, He's asking $2K+ (I'm guessing around $2300) Singapore dollars, which is kind of fair considering the prices that most items get inflated to here, after adding in S&H and profits....so that comes out to about $1200 US dollars. If i can find a cheap shipper, I might just buy one from the states and ship one over myself....hmm..

Eugene. $1200 US is not bad, actually, for an overseas buy.

Here in the states, Mesa puts a price on their gear and no one can sell it for a different price (unless you have a good relatonship with your dealer!). That price for a F50 here in the states is, you guessed it, since it's already been mentioned... $999.99.

So an extra $200 US is not bad considering!

Peace,
Aldwyn, who STILL wants to try out Jo's F50! :D

[Jo]

Aldwyn, who STILL wants to try out Jo's F50! :DJust say the day Aldwyn, and you're welcome to come over anytime.

[Aldwyn]

Just say the day Aldwyn, and you're welcome to come over anytime.
Thanks, Jo! I know it's my bad... :(

How about the UK meet this weekend makes a stop by your place... then we can all try your F50! ;)

Peace,
Aldwyn

[Jo]

Thanks, Jo! I know it's my bad... :(

How about the UK meet this weekend makes a stop by your place... then we can all try your F50! ;)

Peace,
AldwynYup, that's fine with me :dude:

[Aldwyn]

Seriously?? That's be way cool!

Does Rog have your number? How do we get in touch with you? I can give you my cell phone # if you'd like.

That's be way cool since you have a drum kit, etc, as well... we could do some real jamming.

Thanks!
Aldwyn

[Jo]

Seriously?? That's be way cool!

Does Rog have your number? How do we get in touch with you? I can give you my cell phone # if you'd like.

That's be way cool since you have a drum kit, etc, as well... we could do some real jamming.

Thanks!
AldwynAldwyn, sigh, you're so fickle.. you've lost my phone no. already ;)

Check your email.

[Turbo Gerbil]

I really like the F50 I have. Unlike most Mesas, it doesn't take nearly as much tweaking to sound good. OTOH, it pretty much has it's voicing and you really can't tweak it as much as say a Mark IV. The amp can get quite heavy sounding, although not quite into Recto territory.

[eugewong]

Well, I posted up a WTB ad on a local classifieds, and lo and behold, i picked up a F50 in Mint condition for $1800 Singapore dollars. That's probably something like $1000US. So Looks like i saved on the shipping :D

I haven't had the time to really run it through it's paces, but you guys are right, the clean channel is absolutely gorgeous! Really fat and 3d, just great for some solo jazz guitar type stuff. I bet i could get it to funk-territory real well too. I'm really really impressed with Channel 1, this is probably one of the best clean tones I've ever played with.

Channel 2 i didn't quite fall in love with immediately. In fact, I thought it sounded quite buzzy, but when i was messing with the EQ, i did manage to get a pretty smooth lead tone, though without the cut that i would normally like. Will probably take some time for me to get used to the EQ and the amp. I can hear the potential though. (Jeremy, I listened to your clips, and man! That's some great crunch tones you've got there!)

Dissapointments so far...

Pouch at the back for cables fit the cables alright... But not enough clearance for the footswitch?! There looks to be enough space in the back, but the opening is a too small.

Knobs for channel 1 are a little hard to get to, i think they're a tad too close to the top baffle.

Knew this before-hand, but what the heck... Lack of a solo boost for a pseudo 3rd channel. Nothing that a pedal or 2 can't fix, but it would be a useful addition that shouldn't be too complicated or expensive to include. (I think)

All in all, nothing too severe, I'm looking forward to really putting the amp into it's paces. I'm really excited about the F50, it really does sound great! Thanks for all the help so far!

Eugene

[jkornel]

Congrates on the amp, you will love it!!

And thanks for the compliment, it is a great Rock amp but also very versitle.

[Jo]

Ditto on the congrats! Aren't the cleans fabulous.

There should be a pocket in the back of the amp for putting the footswitch in (if I remember correctly it fits standing up??... not too sure). The major hard thing was trying to get the footswitch plugged in up inside the amp.

Does the contour not give you enough boost on channel 2 for soloing? That's your pseudo third channel there. I've found that when plugging in a pedal on the gain channel made it too muddy tho'. I did recently get a blues driver, but I haven't tried it with the F-50 as yet since I've been plugging straight into the PA with the Boss GT-6.

[eugewong]

Hi Jo,

The footswitch on mine won't go in the back any way, unless i remove the metal grill, which i believe is there to protect the tubes. Again, it's not that big a deal for me, just a little peeve...

As for the contour, I think it'll take a little more experimenting, but i did not notice too much of a boost when i demo'd the amp, a character change yes, but not much of a boost. I'll need to mess around somemore with the amp. Will have to wait till the weekend though, this week is all work in the day, and classes in the nights, all i get to do when i get home is email, a little bit of forum and sleep.

Eugene

[jkornel]

I use the Contour as a solo boost all the time. I have found it boost the volume and changes the tone and it fits nice for what I do. In fact I have had a sound guy got p--sed off at me because it was too much of a boost and it was hard for him to control (he was an idiot) but the point is I think you will find at higher volumes it is a real good boost.

I haven't tried pedals on the gain channel either. I do run my Jeckel&Hyde over drive on the clean channel for different tones and it sounds great. It is very "pedal friendly" as they say.