Issues with / Options for Mesa Boogie DC-3

ipressrecord · Post by **ipressrecord** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 9:22 am

Hello All.

I have a early-mid 1990s Mesa Boogie DC-3. This has been my main amp since 1998, and I just picked up a 1977 Super Reverb, so this thing isn't seeing much use. It's has has some issues that have plagued it for many years.

The second channel (LEAD, distortion) has been micro-phonic and pretty much unusable as a result, even at lower volumes. It is impossible to get the same volume out of it as the RHYTHM channel, so setting the amp up for channel switching has proved impossible. I have had a tech replace all of the tubes twice since I have owned it, and this still hasn't solved the problem. I was even told that everything is fine. I'm not sure if it is a problem with the power tubes jacks being bad, as I hear that the heat from these amps combined with the fact that they are circuit board-based can cause problems with the mounting. I like the LEAD channel, and would love to use it for some things in my project studio, however, like I said, in the present state it is not going to happen. Any ideas what could be the problem???

The RHYTHM channel is fine. I've been using it in combination with a modded Tube Screamer for years, and I also set the DC-3 built in Graphic EQ as a mid boost for a lead channel. However, after picking up the Super Reverb, I have noticed that the DC-3 sounds dull and boxy. It has a Celestion vintage 30 12" (Greenback) in there. Obviously, this speaker is in this amp in regards to the LEAD channel. I feel that the RHYTHM channel is "suffering" as a result, and I would like something in this amp to clean it up a little. The other solution, I think, would be to pick up a 2x12 or 2x10 extension cabinet that I can use with a variety of 8ohm amps, including my to-be-modded Magnasync Moviola Squawkbox, which I am going to have modded for guitar this year and plan on adding a speaker out to.

Any ideas? Thoughts? Anyone else on here own a DC Series Mesa?

Jeff