Greetings from SW Florida. Been smoking with a series of ECBs (electric and charcoal) over the course of a 26 year Army career. Semi-retired now teaching in a local High School. My better half bought me a new smoker at Bass Pro last year for Christmas and while I would have researched that purchase for far too long she just went and got one that fit her price range.
Turns out it is a MES 30" Gen 2 based on my research on this site. First problem was that it came without any of the hardware required for assembly. Once I was able to contact CS they ended up sending me the wrong hardware kit. Eventually around early February I had my smoker put together and started trying it out. While it has not been without frustration we have really enjoyed the quality of Q we have produced; especially the ribs.
About three months in (using the smoker almost every Sunday- Q just goes with NASCAR) the LCD panel started wonking out such that I could not read the temp or time set points. I was already using a Maverick ET-732 so I just got in the habit of pre-heating early and knocking the temp to where I wanted based on the ET reading. Eventually, however, the controller began to fail and the heating element would not come back on without me unplugging and restarting. Contacted MB CS and ordered a new controller (well past the warranty) for less than $20. I am now moving the unit back and forth from the Florida room to the patio to keep the unit out of the weather, even though it was always covered before. Working great so far.
Since my wife also purchased several large bags of wood chips for my birthday a couple months ago I don't believe I will be transitioning to pellets any time soon. Might look into the MB cold smoker attachment so I can go more than 30 minutes without checking the smoke.
Happy to be here and I will do my best to remember to take pictures for all the addicts on here.
John
Turns out it is a MES 30" Gen 2 based on my research on this site. First problem was that it came without any of the hardware required for assembly. Once I was able to contact CS they ended up sending me the wrong hardware kit. Eventually around early February I had my smoker put together and started trying it out. While it has not been without frustration we have really enjoyed the quality of Q we have produced; especially the ribs.
About three months in (using the smoker almost every Sunday- Q just goes with NASCAR) the LCD panel started wonking out such that I could not read the temp or time set points. I was already using a Maverick ET-732 so I just got in the habit of pre-heating early and knocking the temp to where I wanted based on the ET reading. Eventually, however, the controller began to fail and the heating element would not come back on without me unplugging and restarting. Contacted MB CS and ordered a new controller (well past the warranty) for less than $20. I am now moving the unit back and forth from the Florida room to the patio to keep the unit out of the weather, even though it was always covered before. Working great so far.
Since my wife also purchased several large bags of wood chips for my birthday a couple months ago I don't believe I will be transitioning to pellets any time soon. Might look into the MB cold smoker attachment so I can go more than 30 minutes without checking the smoke.
Happy to be here and I will do my best to remember to take pictures for all the addicts on here.
John
