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Jakedog · October 7th, 2009, 11:48 PM

If so, how hot does it run?

I just received my Rocket 440 today, bought online. Sounds like a horny angel, everything I hoped it would be. But good grief does it run hot. I've never owned any amp that ran this hot. All the tubes look good, no red-plating or anything, and it sounds amazing. Everything works right, and it's not noisy.

I know EL84's tend to run hot, and I've had lots of amps powered with those tubes, and they were cookers. But not anything close to this. after about an hour of playing, the chassis is hot enough to be extremely uncomfortable to the touch, and the tramsformer could blister you. No joke. It's hot as blazes.

The dealer I got it from is extremely reputable, and says they just had it totally re-done at the Boogie shop before they put it up for sale, and it has a clean bill of health from Boogie and is in tip-top shape. But it's running so hot it scares me. I hate to sound like a broken record, but I've been playing tube amps for 20 years, and have never experienced anything like this with a healthy amp.

Am I just paranoid? Does anybody else have an EL84 Boogie that runs this hot?

Scott S · October 8th, 2009, 12:20 AM

Wish I could help, but I would like to correct the "EL84's run hot" thing -- most amp designers run them hot, but this isn't because the tubes like to.

There are a couple of enlightened designs out there that not only run EL84's on the cool side, but manage to get impressive wattages (20-35W per pair) out of them. But they are far outnumbered by the Vox clones.

- Scott

Jakedog · October 8th, 2009, 12:31 AM

This one runs a quartet of EL84's for 45 watts. So it's over 20 watts a pair...

I understand what you're saying though, even the hotter '84 amps I've had in the past ran quite a bit cooler than this one.

ac15 · October 8th, 2009, 12:38 AM

I had a Mesa Blue Angel, which ran on 4 el84's and it never got that hot.

Jeru · October 8th, 2009, 01:32 AM

I have an F30, 2 '84s, it runs warm, but not all that hot, certainly nothing like you describe.

BluezyBruce · October 8th, 2009, 08:55 AM

I have owned 6 or 8 boogie amps even a couple using el84's, and none of them where hot like you mentioned. Just like an average tube amp.
Feeling like Gollum and want to touch the pretty bottles in the back until I was burned but that's my fault.

If I were you I would call Mesa and talk to a rep about that. Their great about answers.

Bruce

3 Chord · October 8th, 2009, 09:11 AM

My PV C30 runs hotter than my .22 Boogie did. As others say, I think most EL84 circuits are designed to get the tubes cookin'.

Chicago Slim · October 8th, 2009, 09:17 AM

I had a Mesa DC-3, with 4 X EL84's. It was in a short cabinet, so it had 2 row's of tubes, for a total of 10 tubes. It ran so hot that pre-amp tubes, were always burning out. I had to always carry a back up amp, and use it pretty often.

The DC-3 sounded good, but I could get more distortion out of the clean channel,than I needed for my type of music. I never used the Lead channel. The DC-3 was a heavy combo, as was my back up amp. I soon tired of the weight and heat problems. I sold the amp because, it wasn't a good match for me.

drdos · October 8th, 2009, 11:24 AM

I have a mesa Caliber .50 head w 4 EL84's and 5 12ax7's. It does running hotter than my other el84 amps, but I don't think as hot as your reporting. Call Mesa tech support. Those guys are great and they may help you..

Singin' Dave · October 8th, 2009, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drdos

I have a mesa Caliber .50 head w 4 EL84's and 5 12ax7's. It does running hotter than my other el84 amps, but I don't think as hot as your reporting. Call Mesa tech support. Those guys are great and they may help you..

Studio .22+ here and I have not noticed it running unusually hot, nor has my bandmates Subway Rocket. I agree a call into Mesa might be in order.

klasaine · October 8th, 2009, 04:56 PM

.22 that does run pretty warm but I don't think unusually hot. I've had it since 1990 and it doesn't 'eat' tubes. When I was was using that amp all the time I re-tubed (pwr tubes) about once every 9 months or so.

JD0x0 · October 8th, 2009, 09:21 PM

Mesa amps are always biased on the low side which causes the tubes to run hotter

speedy mcfeely · October 8th, 2009, 09:36 PM

I have a lonestar special that has a built in fan. It does get warm, but not super hot.

therhodeo · October 9th, 2009, 10:57 AM

Maverick owner here. Amazing sounding amp.

stantheman · October 9th, 2009, 12:38 PM

I think you've got a problem, as in PROBLEM!!!
I'd get it or ship it to a factory authorized Mesa repair facility.

I think it's that dangerous.
-stan

October 7th, 2009, 11:48 PM	#1 (permalink)
Jakedog Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Cleveland,OH But my heart's still in TX Posts: 4,574	Anybody else got an EL84 powered Boogie? If so, how hot does it run? I just received my Rocket 440 today, bought online. Sounds like a horny angel, everything I hoped it would be. But good grief does it run hot. I've never owned any amp that ran this hot. All the tubes look good, no red-plating or anything, and it sounds amazing. Everything works right, and it's not noisy. I know EL84's tend to run hot, and I've had lots of amps powered with those tubes, and they were cookers. But not anything close to this. after about an hour of playing, the chassis is hot enough to be extremely uncomfortable to the touch, and the tramsformer could blister you. No joke. It's hot as blazes. The dealer I got it from is extremely reputable, and says they just had it totally re-done at the Boogie shop before they put it up for sale, and it has a clean bill of health from Boogie and is in tip-top shape. But it's running so hot it scares me. I hate to sound like a broken record, but I've been playing tube amps for 20 years, and have never experienced anything like this with a healthy amp. Am I just paranoid? Does anybody else have an EL84 Boogie that runs this hot? __________________ It's not that I lack focus, it's just that I'm musically schizophrenic...

October 8th, 2009, 12:20 AM	#2 (permalink)
Scott S Friend of Leo's Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: SW CR IA US NA PE Age: 29 Posts: 2,875	Wish I could help, but I would like to correct the "EL84's run hot" thing -- most amp designers run them hot, but this isn't because the tubes like to. There are a couple of enlightened designs out there that not only run EL84's on the cool side, but manage to get impressive wattages (20-35W per pair) out of them. But they are far outnumbered by the Vox clones. - Scott __________________ "The chorus pedal is God's gift to the untuneable guitar." - Peter Holsapple

October 8th, 2009, 12:31 AM	#3 (permalink)
Jakedog Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Cleveland,OH But my heart's still in TX Posts: 4,574	This one runs a quartet of EL84's for 45 watts. So it's over 20 watts a pair... I understand what you're saying though, even the hotter '84 amps I've had in the past ran quite a bit cooler than this one. __________________ It's not that I lack focus, it's just that I'm musically schizophrenic...

October 8th, 2009, 09:21 PM	#12 (permalink)
JD0x0 Tele-Meister Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Massapequa, New York Age: 19 Posts: 169	Mesa amps are always biased on the low side which causes the tubes to run hotter __________________ It's true i've lost my marbles and I can't remember where i've put them

October 8th, 2009, 09:36 PM	#13 (permalink)
speedy mcfeely TDPRI Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: orland Ca Age: 29 Posts: 34	I have a lonestar special that has a built in fan. It does get warm, but not super hot. __________________ Temporary... unless it works!

October 8th, 2009, 12:38 AM	#4 (permalink)
ac15 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: May 2005 Location: CHICAGO, IL. Posts: 1,113	I had a Mesa Blue Angel, which ran on 4 el84's and it never got that hot.

October 8th, 2009, 01:32 AM	#5 (permalink)
Jeru Tele-Meister Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Chicago Age: 32 Posts: 184	I have an F30, 2 '84s, it runs warm, but not all that hot, certainly nothing like you describe.

October 8th, 2009, 08:55 AM	#6 (permalink)
BluezyBruce Tele-Meister Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Ontario, OR. Posts: 206	I have owned 6 or 8 boogie amps even a couple using el84's, and none of them where hot like you mentioned. Just like an average tube amp. Feeling like Gollum and want to touch the pretty bottles in the back until I was burned but that's my fault. If I were you I would call Mesa and talk to a rep about that. Their great about answers. Bruce

October 8th, 2009, 09:11 AM	#7 (permalink)
3 Chord Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Billings MT Age: 43 Posts: 428	My PV C30 runs hotter than my .22 Boogie did. As others say, I think most EL84 circuits are designed to get the tubes cookin'.

October 8th, 2009, 09:17 AM	#8 (permalink)
Chicago Slim Tele-Meister Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Sebastion FL Posts: 444	I had a Mesa DC-3, with 4 X EL84's. It was in a short cabinet, so it had 2 row's of tubes, for a total of 10 tubes. It ran so hot that pre-amp tubes, were always burning out. I had to always carry a back up amp, and use it pretty often. The DC-3 sounded good, but I could get more distortion out of the clean channel,than I needed for my type of music. I never used the Lead channel. The DC-3 was a heavy combo, as was my back up amp. I soon tired of the weight and heat problems. I sold the amp because, it wasn't a good match for me.

October 8th, 2009, 11:24 AM	#9 (permalink)
drdos Tele-Meister Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Denver, CO Age: 43 Posts: 133	I have a mesa Caliber .50 head w 4 EL84's and 5 12ax7's. It does running hotter than my other el84 amps, but I don't think as hot as your reporting. Call Mesa tech support. Those guys are great and they may help you..

October 8th, 2009, 04:56 PM	#11 (permalink)
klasaine Friend of Leo's Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: los angeles, ca Age: 47 Posts: 2,450 10 Photos	.22 that does run pretty warm but I don't think unusually hot. I've had it since 1990 and it doesn't 'eat' tubes. When I was was using that amp all the time I re-tubed (pwr tubes) about once every 9 months or so.

October 9th, 2009, 10:57 AM	#14 (permalink)
therhodeo Tele-Meister Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Stillwater OK Posts: 117	Maverick owner here. Amazing sounding amp.

October 9th, 2009, 12:38 PM	#15 (permalink)
stantheman Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: White Mountains Posts: 5,945	I had to sleep on this before commenting. I think you've got a problem, as in PROBLEM!!! I'd get it or ship it to a factory authorized Mesa repair facility. I think it's that dangerous. -stan __________________ Somebody Loan Me A Dime

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