Question about Mesa Boogie F50

[Tom Troughton]

Hello,

I'm wondering if anyone here has any experience using the Mesa Boogie F50 with pedal steel? It's a long drive to go look at, so I'd appreciate hearingf about any red flags before I make the trip. It will be used for practice and perhaps small low-volume gigs.

Thanks, Tom

[Dave Stagner]

Mesa amps have excellent cleans and generally sound very good at low volume. Reverb might be disappointing, but that's what pedals are for.

[Fred Treece]

It weighs 50 pounds.
No graphic EQ, the secret sauce for psg into a Mesa
Agree with Dave S - Mesa reverb is a dog
As with any tube amp, stock preamp tubes may not be optimal for clean headroom
As with many stock combo amp speakers, it may not be psg-friendly

On the positive side, I played a Carter S12 through a Mark II-C with an EV12L speaker and it sounded better than any of my guitars ever did through it. The F50 has two distinct switchable channels. Mesa amps are versatile and roadworthy. I played that Mark II for about 20 years.

[Tom Troughton]

Thanks to both of you. The weight is not really a problem for the next few years. I'm more concerned that it will just be too loud. I suppose I could look into an attenuator, but probably spend that money on an amp I would like. I'll think about it.

[Patrick Huey]

Tom
If the Mesa has an effects loop you can stick a graphic eq in there. Also easy to stick lower value preamp tubes 12at7 12au7 in for more clean less drive as well.

[Pat Dixon]

I have an F50, but can't answer your question fully because I don't have a PSG yet (my Sho-bud is due any day now). I did try it with a lap steel & it sounds fine to my ears, comparing it to a Blues Jr and a Princeton. The reverb is okay, I wouldn't say it's a dog but maybe not as sweet as say a Twin reverb.

These amps are notorious for being complicated to get good tones out of but it's doable if you're willing to get your hands dirty. I keep the reverb pretty low because it's a lot. The only thing other than weight that I don't like is a hiss at idle (even with no lead plugged in). Probably wouldn't hear it on a stage but in my tiny bedroom it's noticeable. The two Fenders are dead quiet.

Of the three I actually prefer the Princeton but got slammed when I said that on the Princeton FB page, due to the 10" speaker. Maybe the PSG will have way more low end requirements (I have no intention of ever playing BE type jazzy stuff on the low strings). I'll report when the Sho Bud gets here. My intention was to use the Fillmore with one channel guitar & the other PSG, we'll see...

[ajm]

Pat Dixon wrote: "My intention was to use the Fillmore........."

You lost me.
This topic is about the Mesa F50, NOT the Mesa Fillmore series.
They are not the same amp.

[Pat Dixon]

Pat Dixon wrote: "My intention was to use the Fillmore........."

You lost me.
This topic is about the Mesa F50, NOT the Mesa Fillmore series.
They are not the same amp.

I didn't realize that- please disregard my comments above, & accept my apologies. What Mesa amp is the F50?

[Pat Dixon]

Edit/update- I looked up the F50; clearly not a Fillmore. However, AJM's comment led me to find a thread about the Fillmore 50 here, which inspired me to try it out when my Sho-Bud arrives, so thank you!

[Tom Troughton]

Well I've hummed and hawed, and I'm off to see it tomorrow. Hope the clean channel lives up to my expectations. Thank you to everyone who chimed in with their comments.

[Charlie Thompson]

I had an F50. I bought it as a guitar amp and liked it and then used it for steel and liked it as well . It's great clean tube amp.. very Fenderish. Takes pedals well. I used hall reverb pedals and Earth drives with it. If you can get a good price on it I would say.. go for it.

[Tom Troughton]

So I bought it. It has a very nice clean channel, and also a very good clean sound on the dirty channel. Reverb is what it is. Biggest selling point - I can plug in headphones and turn off the speaker so I don't drive my family mad when practising. Not common on tube amps.

Thinking of replacing the stock Mesa-Celestion ceramic speaker with a Celestion Cream (https://celestion.com/product/celestion-cream/) Anyone ever used one of these?

[Len Amaral]

I had the Mesa F-50 head and regretted selling it. The clean channel was definitely in Fender territory. For the guys who like to double on guitar it was nice fit.