Would I be crazy to trade in my Mesa Blue Angel?

[metropolis74]

I've had a Mesa-Boogie Blue Angel 2x10 with Jensen RI P10Q's for over two years and its been great onstage and at home, but I have an urge to unload it to help fund something else. I got the Blue Angel on a whim because it was such a bargain. I got a line on a Bassman RI LTD, or a made in UK Vox AC30TBX and both are giving me GAS because I've wanted either one ever since I was a kid. I had no qualms about selling or trading in the Blue Angel, but the more I research on the net about the Blue Angel and what it is worth, the more I find comments like "I hate all Mesa's except the Blue Angel" or "the Blue Angel is Mesa's best, or second best amp ever". I ask my musician buddies and they never heard of a Blue Angel before.

Are Blue Angel's really that highly regarded? Would I be nuts to dump it for a run-of-the-mill Bassman LTD or AC30?

[Tim Armstrong]

I've had a few friends who owned Blue Angels, and they did nothing but rave about how good the amps are. Forget for a moment that you've always wanted those other amps. How do YOU feel about YOUR Blue Angel???

I don't know if you'd be nuts to dump it for another amp, but I do think you'd be crazy to do it based on anything other than a careful tryout of the other amp first. Doing it based on reputation alone just doesn't make any sense!

Tim

[jumpnblues]

I had a Blue Angel and I like it the best of all the Mesas, however, it still wasn't all that great IMHO. Once I lost my "infatuation" for Mesas 15 yrs ago or so I found there is a whole new world of amps out there. And I've since found many amps I like far better. But, once again, that's just my opinion. If you like your B.A. then you like it and that's all that counts. My 2 cents.


Tom

[Old Cane]

Who cares what anybody else thinks? All I hear is how complicated Boogies are to use. And these same people can drive a car?

If this was a 112 BA I would say you definately need to get rid of it. That's the one I've been looking for.

[metropolis74]

Originally Posted by Old Cane

If this was a 112 BA I would say you definately need to get rid of it. That's the one I've been looking for.

...I bet the 2x10 and 1x12 share the same size cabinet. Just put in a new baffle and speaker...

[Old Cane]

I tend to leave stuff alone once I get it.

So, is it for sale?

[metropolis74]

Thanks for the reponses so far.
Reality check; so the BA is not a holy grail of tone, but it certainly ain't no slouch either. Some love 'em, and some hate 'em. Maybe I don't know where I fit in. I'll have to spend more time letting my ears do the deciding tonight.

[Wally]

Originally Posted by Old Cane

Who cares what anybody else thinks? All I hear is how complicated Boogies are to use. And these same people can drive a car?

If this was a 112 BA I would say you definately need to get rid of it. That's the one I've been looking for.

LOL, Old CAne. There are some folks sitting behind a wheel that really aren't doing a good job of driving a vehicle, right?

[ac15]

Originally Posted by metropolis74

I've had a Mesa-Boogie Blue Angel 2x10 with Jensen RI P10Q's for over two years and its been great onstage and at home, but I have an urge to unload it to help fund something else. I got the Blue Angel on a whim because it was such a bargain. I got a line on a Bassman RI LTD, or a made in UK Vox AC30TBX and both are giving me GAS because I've wanted either one ever since I was a kid. I had no qualms about selling or trading in the Blue Angel, but the more I research on the net about the Blue Angel and what it is worth, the more I find comments like "I hate all Mesa's except the Blue Angel" or "the Blue Angel is Mesa's best, or second best amp ever". I ask my musician buddies and they never heard of a Blue Angel before.

Are Blue Angel's really that highly regarded? Would I be nuts to dump it for a run-of-the-mill Bassman LTD or AC30?

I've got a Blue Angel also (4x10 combo) and like you, I bought mine on a whim. I had heard about it and found one in practically brand new condition for $800, by chance at a local music store. It looked like it had never left this person's house. I had never owned any Mesa before, but this amp is unlike anything they make. Extremely simple, no master volume etc. Fantastic reverb. I really like mine, but have occasionally toyed with the idea of selling it as well, but not because I don't like it...just to free up funds and thin the herd (I have 5 amps including the Blue Angel). For some reason I always decide to keep it though. If I sell it, it'll be because a 4x10 combo is ridiculously heavy and I could just bring one of my 1x12 combos.

To answer your original question, no gear is sacred (unless it has sentimental value) and anything can be sold, so you're not crazy to sell it. It will sell. I asked the local high end "boutique" music store if they'd be interested in mine, and they said it's "the best amp Mesa ever made." Dunno how true that is, but I hear that a lot.

[franchelB]

I wish I had a Mesa Blue Angel...

[Wally]

The MKIIC+ is generally considered the most desirable Boogie of all time....if you are going by value. Value is general a clue as to what the playing consumer thinks of the sound. The hardwood cab MKIIC+ I had brought a premium for its final salse. OF course, I had bought or traded for it 2 or 3 times. IT, a mint Wide Panel PRo adn I had a dance going for awhile. A couple of friends were involved. These two amps kept changing hands and going up in value. I had the last word and made final sales to someone 'outside of the circle'.
I have never heard another Boogie match a IIC+ for my ear. I have never heard a bad Boogie at all, for my ear. OF course, I like to turn knobs and see what they do. There are a lot of possibilities with some Boogies. A IIC+ will do almost anythign you want it to do.
I once gave a Blue Angel a thought and should have bought it. IF I had played through it, I probably would have. IT was only $350-400 in a pawn shop. I always regretted not trying that one out.

[Big John]

I have a MKIIb and still crave a Blue Angel but ..... repeat after me "My-amplifier-my-decision"

[nosuch]

wrap it up, I take it.

[stantheman]

I'll take it off Your hands.
A Blus Angel 410 and a Studio 22 should cover most of the bases for any kind of a gigging situation. If - I meant WHEN I win Powerball I'll need a hanger where I can keep all of the Amps - because Amps are like Ice Cream - never met a flavor I didn't like. Don't EVEN get me started on Gellato!

[vjf1968]

Defintiely try out the Bassman RI and the Vox to see if they sound good to you. If you like the Blue Angle than keep it but I would think the build quality of the Mesa will outshine the Bassman RI. The Vox AC-30 is a great amp but it is also very heavy and changing tubes is a major PITA and I'm not saying that to turn you off the Vox but that is a reality with that amp. At least with the Fender and the Mesa you can easily swap out pre-amp tubes to get a different sound or do a quick repair at a gig.

[metropolis74]

I'm keeping the Blue Angel for a while. The AC30 was snatched up before I could get to it. I missed out on another local AC30TBX too. I'm not surprised that they went quickly since they were priced to move fast, ~$1,100 for a UK AC30 with Celestion Blues seems a good deal. Maybe they were in poor condition? I just take it as a sign to be happy with what I got.

[vjf1968]

Originally Posted by metropolis74

I'm keeping the Blue Angel for a while. The AC30 was snatched up before I could get to it. I missed out on another local AC30TBX too. I'm not surprised that they went quickly since they were priced to move fast, ~$1,100 for a UK AC30 with Celestion Blues seems a good deal. Maybe they were in poor condition? I just take it as a sign to be happy with what I got.

Well look at it this way. You were choosing between two very different amps and tone stacks. It seems the Blue Angle is the right amp for you.

[Bluesbend]

Take the Blue Angel to the store and a/b it with whatever amp you may be interested in.

[johnnylaw]

Blue Angels are way cool, and not so easy to come by.

Dump it only if it doesn't light you up in the live performance setting.

[bosstone]

Originally Posted by Wally

The MKIIC+ is generally considered the most desirable Boogie of all time....if you are going by value. Value is general a clue as to what the playing consumer thinks of the sound. The hardwood cab MKIIC+ I had brought a premium for its final salse. OF course, I had bought or traded for it 2 or 3 times. IT, a mint Wide Panel PRo adn I had a dance going for awhile. A couple of friends were involved. These two amps kept changing hands and going up in value. I had the last word and made final sales to someone 'outside of the circle'.
I have never heard another Boogie match a IIC+ for my ear. I have never heard a bad Boogie at all, for my ear. OF course, I like to turn knobs and see what they do. There are a lot of possibilities with some Boogies. A IIC+ will do almost anythign you want it to do.
I once gave a Blue Angel a thought and should have bought it. IF I had played through it, I probably would have. IT was only $350-400 in a pawn shop. I always regretted not trying that one out.

I have had two MKIIC+s over the years. One was the 60/100 the other was a simul class. They are without the most highly regarded Boogies. I sold the last one last year on eBay for over $3.3K. I have also had a Blue Angel 4 X 10" combo that was also an excellent amp but the ONLY thing they have in common is that they were made by Mesa Engineering. The Blue Angel has much fewer features, most notably is that they have no preamp/master volume circuit. It is a very clean sounding amp unless it if cranked. The right tubes is important in the Blue Angels and they have much more of a Fender type tone. They have a better sounding reverb than any of the MK series of Boogies.