Imported Mini Rectifier - Voltage Converter

MoTheO

Hi

I just imported a Mesa Mini Rectifier from the US and had it delivered yesterday. I need a step down converter before I can use it though.

I read the manual and checked the back of the amp but it doesn't show what the power consumption/input wattage is. From what I read, I believe I should get a transformer that can handle at least 1.5 or 2x the power consumption of the amp.

Seeing that I'm having issues getting the power consumption figures of the amp, do you think that a 500w step down transformer is safe enough?

Also, the amp states that it's 60hz. Should I take this into account at all when looking for a step down transformer?

Thanks!

AlanRatcliffe

I see the 120V version draws 1A current. There should be a way to work it out from that, but I can't remember how and it's not something you guess. I'm sure someone else will chip in. I'm fairly sure that 500W will be overkill.

epictring

When you get that thing running, post pics!!!

And tell us how it is.. I'm seriously interested in those.
Also, if you don't mind me asking, how much was it incl. all extra costs?

MoTheO

Sure, will post a pic tomorrow or so once it's up and running, and assuming I don't blow the thing before then!!!

The amp retails for $999 in the US. All costs included, I had to fork out about R11000 to get it here (there goes my life savings). That's without the voltage converter though. I ordered it just before the Rand appreciated so it would be less if you order now. Also, considering that amps like the Mesa Transatlantic costs $899 and retails for R12999 locally at Marshall Music, I thought my overall cost wasn't way out of line with local prices.

Regarding the voltage converter, I emailed the Mesa store in Hollywood about this issue as well. They just replied to me now saying that I should get a converter that can handle at least 200v.

Super excited to finally get it working! I'm just praying it doesn't pop when I connect it!

Nicholas-L

500W should be more than overkill enough ? ... the secondary of the step down should be able to handle 1A or a little more. The guys wherever you get the step down should be able to provide you with the info on what the secondary can handle. the 50Hz will affect the amp a little bit but the Caps in the power supply should cover up enough for that.

Airguitar

Power consumption would be 120W. (Volts x Amps) so even a 250 Watt converter would be adequate. 500 watts is plenty good enough.

epictring

Pics!!

MoTheO

Thanks for the replies. As promised, here's some pics of the amp and my setup.

So I eventually got a voltage converter a few weeks ago and got the system up and running! I got a 300w converter and it seems to do the trick.

The clean channel sounds great and it works with a Boss ME50 very nicely.

Much to my HUGE disappointment though, the channel 2 (which I was most looking forward to) is sounding terrible!!! It doesn't even sound remotely close to what it sounds like on the demo clips on Youtube, even after I match the equalizer settings exactly to the demos. I'm convinced there must be something wrong somewhere. It's sounding very muddy and doesn't give a good "chunk" sound at all. I would actually describe it as more of an overdrive sound instead of a high gain sound. My old Spider III amp had a better high gain tone than my current channel 2 sound from the mini rectifier.

I have no idea what the problem may be though. I'll take it to a guitar shop in the week to see if maybe they can help me out.

Anyone have any ideas?

epictring

MoTheO wrote: Thanks for the replies. As promised, here's some pics of the amp and my setup.

So I eventually got a voltage converter a few weeks ago and got the system up and running! I got a 300w converter and it seems to do the trick.

The clean channel sounds great and it works with a Boss ME50 very nicely.

Much to my HUGE disappointment though, the channel 2 (which I was most looking forward to) is sounding terrible!!! It doesn't even sound remotely close to what it sounds like on the demo clips on Youtube, even after I match the equalizer settings exactly to the demos. I'm convinced there must be something wrong somewhere. It's sounding very muddy and doesn't give a good "chunk" sound at all. I would actually describe it as more of an overdrive sound instead of a high gain sound. My old Spider III amp had a better high gain tone than my current channel 2 sound from the mini rectifier.

I have no idea what the problem may be though. I'll take it to a guitar shop in the week to see if maybe they can help me out.

Anyone have any ideas?

Wow what a letdown man.. Hope you get it sorted out easily, hopefully it's not something big.

But she looks awesome ?

karoo

What type sound are you looking to get from that channel? I gave a dual rectifier and must say that I can get almost any tone from that, even with my strat. So it must be some setting somewhere.

Scorched

Boogies are infamous for being difficult to tweak when you don't know the amp. The Mesa manuals are always exceptionally well written to give you insight how to tweak the amp.

My advice would be just to read the manual and play around with the amp until you've found that sound you were looking for!

MikeM

I assume you've tried the 2nd channel without the ME50?

Copying the video exactly? Do you have the same guitar?

karoo

MikeM wrote: I assume you've tried the 2nd channel without the ME50?

Copying the video exactly? Do you have the same guitar?

Thats true hey, you should first get to know the amp by itself if ur not using stomp boxes. Plug the guit straight into the amp. That could make a difference...

ezietsman

karoo wrote:
MikeM wrote: I assume you've tried the 2nd channel without the ME50?

Copying the video exactly? Do you have the same guitar?
Thats true hey, you should first get to know the amp by itself if ur not using stomp boxes. Plug the guit straight into the amp. That could make a difference...

Where's the facepalm smiley? I need one! ?

There's little point in buying a Mesa for chug chug chug then using a pedal to do the chugging (if you ask me). I have also found the Mesas can be tricky to dial in, apparently one good trick is to start with the bass control on 0 and do the rest first.

MoTheO

I've tried the amp without the processor, I'm not that slow ? I agree that one of the appeals of such an amp is the raw tone it delivers. I've had an ME50 from a couple of years back already and just added it to my current setup mainly to experiment with some reverb/chorus on the clean channel.

Regarding matching the youtube clips I've seen, I haven't tried it with exactly the same guitar as in the clip as this is the only one I have. But I thought the EMGs in my guitar would have at least helped with reaching a good modern distorted tone out of channel two.

Thanks for the advice regarding dialling in a tone. I'll try experimenting more with the bass knob as you mentioned as well.

This amp is so damn loud though, especially on channel two! I'll have to wait until tomorrow when I have the house to myself so I can crank it up a little.

selbydoodl

Could the 60Hz v/s 50 Hz be contributing to the problem?

karoo

I don't think that its because of the 60/50Hz issue. The first basic step is that the sine wave is rectified anyway. And I would think Mesa will be smart enough to design filters in the power supply that can handle the 50Hz ripple. SO from then on its basically DC.

Nicholas-L

True what you say karoo the PSU section should be able to compensate for the difference in Hz ripple, but unfortunately that is usually not the case. Even those amps that have the 120/240V selection tend to sound a little bit different because of the 20Hz difference in ripple rectification. Ex for those who would like to know what I'm referring to. Input voltage of 120V/60Hz once rectified the freq doubles to 120Hz before the smoothing caps and thus 240V/50Hz gets has a 100Hz freq once rectified. Now the smoothing caps are generally designed around the freq of the country and even though the voltage gets rectified it's still not pure DC (hence the ripple), but for all intense and purposes it's a DC signal. So with the freq being 100Hz there is a slight bigger voltage decline in the ripple for the caps to work with. However not too sure if it should be unable to produce the chug chug chug mesa tone though, infact it should feel slightly more spongy.

Pierre-Cronje

Alan Ratcliffe wrote: I see the 120V version draws 1A current. There should be a way to work it out from that, but I can't remember how and it's not something you guess. I'm sure someone else will chip in. I'm fairly sure that 500W will be overkill.

That works out to 120VA so any bigger transformer would do. Look fir 150 to 200VA for a bit of a safety factor.

xcpointx

Get rid of the step down and just get the transformer changed to 240V. Ive done this to my Mesa Triaxis preamp and Mesa SimulClass poweramp. It cost me around R700 to do each one. And that's nothing compared to what you've spent on this amp. Look up transformer rewinders in the yellowpage, you should find quite a few in Gauteng.
The most important part of your sound is power, if you're getting bad power your tube amp is going to SUFFER.