Hendog
Well-known member
I am looking at getting an F30.
Anyone have any experience with this amp?
Anyone have any experience with this amp?
roburado
Well-known member
What do you want to know?
Hendog
Well-known member
Anything you can tell me!
I am particularly interested in the high gain sounds for lead work. Are the cleans any good?
roburado
Well-known member
First of all, I have a combo. It would be plenty for small bar gigs.
Overall, I think that the amp sounds a bit dark when it comes to cleans. I prefer a brighter, more full-range sounding tone. The cleans are very mid-rangey. I feel like there's a lot of tone left in my EBMMs that I can't seem to coax out of the clean sounds of this amp. I think an F-50 or F-100 would do that job better.
The dirty channel is pretty good. There's ample gain here. It sings just fine. Some of the more extreme metal heads might not feel it's metal enough, but I think it does just fine with the Contour control on. With the Contour off, I find the dirty channel a bit anemic.
The effects loop is a nice parallel affair with a conveniently reached mix knob. It works pretty well.
The reverb is okay and footswitchable. I hardly use it, but that's my personal preference.
The build quality is typical Mesa: bullet-proof.
Overall, I think that the amp sounds a bit dark when it comes to cleans. I prefer a brighter, more full-range sounding tone. The cleans are very mid-rangey. I feel like there's a lot of tone left in my EBMMs that I can't seem to coax out of the clean sounds of this amp. I think an F-50 or F-100 would do that job better.
The dirty channel is pretty good. There's ample gain here. It sings just fine. Some of the more extreme metal heads might not feel it's metal enough, but I think it does just fine with the Contour control on. With the Contour off, I find the dirty channel a bit anemic.
The effects loop is a nice parallel affair with a conveniently reached mix knob. It works pretty well.
The reverb is okay and footswitchable. I hardly use it, but that's my personal preference.
The build quality is typical Mesa: bullet-proof.
Spudmurphy
Well-known member
I would go the F50 route too.
There is a NOS F50 for sale in Cardiff.
There is a NOS F50 for sale in Cardiff.
MusicManJP6
Well-known member
I've owned an F-30 combo and F-50 as well. I liked the 30 better. The cleans were maybe a little better on the 50, but the gain channel on the 30 had more character. If you like Recto type loose gain structure then the F series will fit the bill. I prefer the DC series though because they are a tighter, more tube-like sounding amp IMO.
roburado
Well-known member
I really liked the DC-5 when I had the opportunity to try one. I still love its predecessor the .50Cal+, which I left at my mom's house.
