Mesa/Boogie Rocket 44

This is a new model and I bought it in Feb 99. It's basic but does have all the features I need: effects loop, headhpone jack, channel switching, reverb...I haven't tried the effects loop yet.
It's got 44 watts (i presume)--and it's a LOUD little sucker. I use it for recording and playing live.
Lots of glowing tubes that I love.

I use an old Frank Zappa-lookin SG and a fender squier strat...as well as my beloved Les Paul Jr. 58. It does very nice things to all three. It's clean sond is OK, not great. I like the distortion for rhythm ..and it's fair for lead, I guess. You can really tweak this amp to get lots of nice tones...and if you don't tweak it, you might get some very harsh and mediocre sounds. Tweak away.
The big problem is the noise when not picking away. It's noisy ..plain and simple.
Overall I dig the sound a lot...though live I combine it with a Fender Princeton to give things a little more variety...I LOVe the combination of the two.

After one week I noticed a loud buzzing sound when I hit certain notes at certain volumes (particually the b on the a string)..and out loud volumes TONS of that noise on every string.
This was a bummer. I took it back to where I bought it and they fixed it up (bad driver) in one day. But I was really bummed that I had problems with a 700 dollar amp within one week. I'm holding my breath. I don't want to give it up...but if I continue to have problems it's time to sell.

I used the local service center and they did a great job. But let's face it, it's a pain in the ass to take it in, pick it up, etc...

I've been playing 20 years in punk bands (real hostages) alt bands (smokin dave) and now in a I don't what it is band...(Apelife).. This amp is a great amp despite the buzznin' and the fact I had to haul it down for service in less than a month. I love the power and the tone (though it is a unique tone, and use other amps to compliment it when the need calls) of this amp.
however, if it gives me problems I'm putting it out for sale...

This is a all tube single channel, Tri-Modal amp that puts out a suprising big sound for such a small package. There are three footswitchable sounds(Modes)to choose from. The rhythum & lead modes have separate gain & master controls but share the same EQ (Treble, Middle, Bass). The amp comes with reverb (definately not Fender) that's not very impressive. The front panel has three switches: Contour, standby, & power. The contour switch set in the middle position allows you to change modes with the footswitch (included). The back panel includes a parallel effects loop with a FX mix control and a record/phones jack with arecording mute switch. There are 1-8 ohm & 2-4 ohm speaker jacks. This particular amp came with 1-12" Celestion V-30 (the owner's manual says it comes with their custom- designed magic ten inch speaker). The V-30 sounds great with this amp. I've had this amp 6 weeks and have used it at 4 gigs. I'm in a blues/ rock band that has a propensity to play loud at times. The Rocket 44 has more than enough power (40W) for my use.

I have a ES-335, G & L Legacy, & a G & L Asat Classic. I use a Fulldrive II & volume petal in the front and a Boss CE-5 Chrous in the effects loop. The 335 definately sounds the best with this amp. I've dialed up a good clean sound and use the Fulldrive for soloing. The lead channel can be made to sound good (at the expense of the clean). The contour mode is gain boosted way louder than the lead. Too much so in my opinion. The HR & HM people might like this sound. This amp will do a good job for rock, blues, country, & maybe HR-HM. One really annoying thing about this amp is the humm, whoosh, hiss when not playing. Anyone that has played or owned a Line 6 Flextone amp knows this noise. Even though the amp has a great lively clean sound, because of the hum noise and the reverb it gets a 7.

I have used this amp at 4 gigs. I would have used it at 5 but it came off of standby completely dead! Luckily it was a backyard jam instead of a club gig. I took it back where I bought it and the tech found a cracked 12AX7. Bummer. I used it at a club gig this weekend with no problem. Because I've only had this amp 6 weeks and missed a jam because of the tube, I'm giving this one a 6.

I had the tech repair the tube problem locally. He didn't charge me but he didn't think Mesa would cover it under warranty. Something about their policy on tube replacement. When I bought the amp it didn't have a owners manual. I called Mesa three times for one. I received two owners manuals last week.

I have been playing for 20 years and have owned Fender Twins, Supers, Marshalls, & Peaveys. I currently have a Fender HR DeVille, Marshall JTM 312, and the Rocket 44. Although the Rocket 44 sounded good with it's single 12" V-30, I added another single 12" V-30 in a bottom cabinet. This was a huge improvement at higher volume level. From the way I rated the amp above you might think I don't like it. I like it alot! It's small, lightweight, easy to haul, and has a great punchy, clean tone. Stick a good overdrive pedal in front of it (Fulldrive II is my favorite) and you have a good lead tone. The effects loop works super and easily tamed my chorus. Before I bought the Rocket 44, I bought a Line 6 Flextone Duo w/floorboard. After 2 weeks and realizing I didn't need the whole box of crayons, just a blue one, I returned the Flextone to GC. Our bass player worked at a music store that was going out of business, called me and suggusted I come down and check out the 44. I took my guitar down, tried it out and bought it. I was mainly wanting something small to haul to practice and to have a backup for the DeVille. Since I've bought it it's the only amp I use. Just wish it didn't hum and the reverb sounded better. I don't know if I would replace it if anything happened to it or try something else.