Grateful Dead Music Forum

Easier for a good deal or stay away? Any experience with floor models?

Tomorrow I'm going back to a local store with my guitar to see how the amp I've been considering handles the humbuckers. I posted earlier inquiring about the Princeton and Deluxe. I couldn't really find them anywhere around and ended up plugging into a few Mesas. I wanted to avoid this due to the prices being considerably more than I initially budgeted for an amp, but the LoneStar Special was just sooo sweet sounding I haven't been able to get it out of my mind all week.

I'm worried the only one in store is the floor model, and I'm not sure I'd like to drop that kinda money and not be bringing home something new. The fact that it's a class A also has me about worried about the state of the tubes.

Am I being paranoid or is there some legitimacy in my concern? Any advice on how to proceed?

Many thanks

Steve

I'd have no problem. The amp is already broken in so if there was odd early issues they'd have been found out by now!

It's a reasonable concern but considering it's in a music store I'm sure people weren't cranking it up to 10 nor giving it hours of continuous use. If they're giving you a discount (which you usually don't get from Mesa Boogies) then I would think it would be fine. Those things are built to last so I wouldn't worry too much if it's the amp you want.

strumminsix wrote:I'd have no problem. The amp is already broken in so if there was odd early issues they'd have been found out by now!

Valid point. I've heard of rectifier tube issues on those with a serial number below 4500, so I'll be sure to check that out. If it got there somewhat recently, all the better. The versatility of this amp seems like it'll suit my current needs, but I believe the purchase after this will be a Fargen. I've heard too much good stuff about those since you recommended not to own one...

tcsned wrote:It's a reasonable concern but considering it's in a music store I'm sure people weren't cranking it up to 10 nor giving it hours of continuous use. If they're giving you a discount (which you usually don't get from Mesa Boogies) then I would think it would be fine. Those things are built to last so I wouldn't worry too much if it's the amp you want.

The guy did crank it up a bit when I was giving it its first test run, but it was only for a short while and it didn't hit max. I'm not sure if I'll be able to talk the price down at all, but I'm gonna hit the bank on the way up and roll in with cash. I'm hoping all that green will make them more willing to drop the price a little.

Which Mesa? What issue? I've had shot rect tubes and the first was shitty poweramp tubes the second was a legit shot rectifier tube. They only cost $10,. If you are worried have them give you another one!

My current bass amp was a floor model at Guitar Center and it's been great, or at least it was for the first 5 years of it's life... and I'm quite confident that it's recent issues are from my abuse, not theirs.

From what I remember Mesa doesn't allow dealers to cut their prices so list price is it - a floor model might be different. They may have changed that policy. I can't imagine the tubes wearing out in a store situation. I would've have strangled someone who sat around cranking the shit out of an amp for hours on end - or strangled myself

My '87 Mark III had some minor issues but has survived 1500+ gigs with 3 tube changes - one was because I robbed the tubes when it was having a fuse blowing issue (those tubes are still working in another amp). A lot of those gigs I was young and stupid and playing way too loud.

strumminsix wrote:Which Mesa? What issue?

The Lone Star Special. I read on the grailtone forum that up to ~SN4500 the amps had issues with rectifiers blowing. I guess adjustments have been made.

tcsned wrote:From what I remember Mesa doesn't allow dealers to cut their prices so list price is it - a floor model might be different.

I did find it odd that nearly everywhere I looked online displayed the SAME price for the amp. I found only one spot that had it for $50 less.