F-100 Head Review

Following the highly successful Studio and Dual Caliber series amps of the Eighties and Nineties, the new F-100 head delivers exceedingly rich tone and easy control, at a price that can?t be beat.

Features:	7.5
Sound:	8.5
Reliability:	9.5
Impression:	9
Overall rating:	8.6
Users rating:	9.6
Comments:	13

overall: 8.5

Reviewed by: vitchb, on may 16, 2008

Price paid: $ 915

Purchased from: Ebay

Features: This is a USA hand built amp, as are all mesa's I believe, which has all the essentials, 2 main channels, clean and Drive (Drive has a countour Switch). Each main channel has 3 band EQ, gain level, master vol, and reverb. Plus, 100/60 watt Switch, FX loop (with level) recording output, 3 speaker outs, and a line out. All in all, probably one of the simplest Mesa units to date, making it easier to dial in your tone and generally use. However, some may desire a 3rd channel, or other features, but does me fine. // 7

Sound: I use a Washburn X50PRO with EMG 81, and Ibanez RG350, and run the head through a Marshall 1960A cab. I play metal mostly for band practice and gigging (not home use) and a bit of clean every now and again. For both these tone areas I think it's great for me, the clean has been comparible to the old fenders which is great. The reverb is pretty nice, nothing special, but generally warm and full with plenty of head room, but crank the gain and you get that little bit of break up which is nice for all you blues players. The gain has a pull Switch for a brighter sound, and there is a nice 3 band EQ with it too, overall, I was suprised at how nice the cleans on this was. The Drive channel is very versitile, and most of that comes from it's gain control. I've found it great for anything from mid gain rock, to a more punchy punk tone, up to the iconic mesa american metal tones that I bought it for. I found it's high gain tone great for a Metallica type of sound. it's full, powerfull and very responsive due to it's shorter and simpler signal path. I think the only area where I think this can quite top it is for a very brutal, super high gain sound, as when the gain is near maxed, it becomes slightly too fuzzy and undefined, so a tube screamer may be in order for that.
But still, a very tight versitile crunch sound (I tighten it up a bit more with a DS-1 with the dist off) Oh plus there is a contour Switch (footswitchable) which boosts the mids and highs, which I use for solos, really cuts through well. // 9

Reliability & Durability: I could depend on this, more because I have to actully. But I feel safe with it, I know mesa make their products with great care and quality parts, and this is no exception. It definitly feels solid, mainly due to it's weight (in a flightcase it's about 40kg). However, due to it's long life (and toured with it's previous owner) the leather on the handle has come apart on one side, but the metal is still solidly attatched so I would call is 'broken') // 9

Impression: I've been playing about 7 years I think, and use this amp for my metal band and for me, is perfect, can't seeing me really needing another amp. I used to own a cheap Laney LX halfstack, obviously this blows it away, but that is no contest really.
Anyway, if it were stolen, I'd love to try and get another one, but sinse I could only afford it because it was a real bargain, and the fact that these are pretty rare, I don't think I'd be able to get one. So I'd prehaps experiment with something else (id like to try another mesa). But over all, I love it's solid build, and great versitile sound, but I might like another channel, and prehaps just a bit more gain if I ever needed it. Anyway, I'm glad I invested in this, and if you want a unique, well bult, great sounding amp, that is now cheaper than most of the mesa range, go for it, can't see why you would regret it. // 9

overall: 8.8

Reviewed by: MESAexplorer, on may 23, 2006

Purchased from: Ebay

Features: I'm not sure exactly what year this amp was made in, I bought it used and have owned it for a little over a month. It didn't come with an instruction manual, and because of that I found the bright switch just a few days ago. My initial reaction when I opened the box was that it is much larger than normal heads, very deep and quite long, not as much on the tall side though. That being said, your gonna want to measure the top of your cabinet to make sure the head will fit perfectly. It has a very basic, simple and foolproof layout. The F-100 features a 100/60 watt switch (louder than 200 watt flextone II, 150 II's, and Marshall TSL by far), 3 channel footswitch, FX loop, 1/4 output, 4 ohm and 8 ohm speaker outputs, and 2 sets of knobs (clean and distorted). The distorted channel has a "contour" channel which adds much more scoop and balls and takes it from the blackface Fender to a rectifier sound. The biggest complaint with this amp I have is that the volume knob is extremely sensitive, I'm not joking when I say 1mm is the differece between I can't hear you and turn that damn thing down. This amp is fixed bias and only uses 6L6 power tubes which disappointed me because I prefer the warmth and a little more distortion EL-34's provide, and it's a feature I would definatley like to have; along with a bold/spongy sound option. // 8

Sound: I use a squire strat, Gibson Explorer and a few 7 strings one with an invador in the bridge. I use very heavy strings(10-70 6 string 12-90 7 string) which might cause a little muddiness with distortion but a much smoother clean sound. I run the F-100 through both a Carvin Bass 810 and B-52 412. This amp was really hard to adjust to at first from using solid state. You can feel your playing, everything you do is picked up and heard through the amp very defined and clear (even with the gain at max). It has some hum, quite a bit as the volume gets high and it will put you in a feedback hell if your guitar isn't grounded properly. I would recommend a noise supressor, not necessarly for this amp but it's something everyone should have unless you play an amp with a noise gate. This amp is very straightfoward and isn't extremely versatile; extra bright clean, clean, distored channel (sounds like an older Marshall or a hotrodded overdriven Fender), or contour which sounds very intense but ranges from a bright AC/DC style distortion to an older Metallica (Ride the lightning ESP.). I was expecting to get a Dream Theater and more mondern tone but I haven't really found it yet. By adjusting the EQ and gain you get some variation in the distortion but it gets fairly muddy with high bass. At a practice volume the notes get blended together but don't really sustain much but when you raise the master volume the distorted channels become clearer and will give you a better "feel for the sound." The clean channel is by far what stands out. You could put it against a Roland Jazz Chorus and I would place my money on the F-100. It can get extremely loud without getting distorted. The gain knob on clean acts a little more like a volume knob which is really handy in situations where the extremely sensitive volume knob can be a hassel. // 8

Reliability & Durability: Its a Mesa Boogie. I would definately trust it on a gig, and I've never had any problems with it so far. It has fallen off of a 412 and had no problems other than I about had a heart attack. // 10

Impression: I play prog, thrash, death, and speed metal and this amp is an ok match. If someone stole it I'd replace it with the Carvin V3 or Mesa Nomad because of this amps lack of different tones and their ablilty to use EL-34's. My first impression was this thing gets loud. The volume knob sits on a fine line between too loud and too quiet. This amp is what I can think of as a Fender with more balls would sound like. It has a great clean and the distortion is great too if you like a sound simialar to Metallica's ride the ligtning. I usually run the MXR Dime Distortion with the gain at 1 and output at max and it improves the tone a lot because there is a lack in sustain. This is probably the most affordable new Mesa out there. It has a professional tone, its just not quite the tone I want all the time. // 9

Comments

[CHILLIN__DT]

looks nice, mesa the best!

[DaBlackE]

These amps are simple and straightfoward. They're also the most affordable out of Mesa's lineup. Definitely worth checking out.

[HavokStrife]

Good review and everything man, but you hit me with a peeve that I've been seeing a lot lately. You're reviewing a Mesa Boogie product, contriversally the best amp company in the world, used by professionals across all genres. Do you have to bring up your Squire Strat in the review? What's the point? I have a Sammick strat and I don't go on about it when I review at Harmony Central..

[MESAexplorer]

This was my first review, i've only been a member since yesterday, i figured i'd include the equiptment i use to give you and understanding of what i have to work with.

[MESAexplorer]

I should also add i paid $750 for it on Ebay which saved me about $350-$400 from getting it brand new. i dont know why the price paid doesn't include that.

[cerveza]

ya i rented a combo 2x12 once and the volume knob was really toutchy, i didnt really like the distorted channel, either, lots of feedback and buzz. I'm buyin a dual rectifier!!!

[MESAexplorer]

Why not a single rectifer, just as good and the volume is much more controllable.

[cerveza]

really?
i heard that its not as good as the dual, not as powerful
just what i was told

[cerveza]

really?
i heard that it wasnt as powerful as the dual rec.
thats just what i heard, i havent played the single yet

[MESAexplorer]

Well, the 100 watt dual rectifier, it should have a 50/100 or 60/100 wattage switch. Its gonna cost more (easily $300 more) and thats about it. The difference in volume from the 60/100 watt mode is barely noticible. There is a tone difference, it does sound a little bit more ballsy on distorted mode with 100 watts, but clean, it sounds better on 60 watts with the gain knob cranked up a bit more (adding warmth).

I'm 100% sure i'm gonna sell this amp for either a Line 6 HD-147 (don't give me your line 6 bashing BS, i love that amp) or a Carvin V3(the boutique amp killer)

[Phag Anselblow]

it would be nice if you told us the price god damn it you son of a bitch i need to know

[MESAexplorer]

I put the price, it just didn't post it. You can get them for $750+ used or $1,200 + tax new.

[powerlord]

This amp is has more balls than my dual rec or my JCM800 2203.Werd