Any Tips For Used Mesa Amps? (I'm shopping!)

[soundchaser59]

I want to find a used Mesa amp. Had a Subway Rocket 1x10 (undisclosed issues from the seller), toyed with F30 and F50 for a short while, messed with a single rec and a dual rec and a triple rec for an evening each, then kinda regret letting go of the 5:25 Express I had (but it was a 1x10).......

So now I want another. Which model would you guys suggest looking for?? Anything except heavy metal and polka, otherwise all genres are possible with me. Most interested in build quality and reliability, I assume great tone will not be an issue!

Which Mesa amps (if any) were made as 1x15 combos??

Thanks!

[twangjeff]

I don't think that Mesa made any 1x15s, Mesa's are heavy enough as is anyways ;-).

I have owned quite a few Mesa amps. Probably the most flexible tonally is the Mark 4. You can get really super super clean, crunch, and hi gain all in one package, and it has the 5 band EQ that folks like on Boogies.

If you want a more vintage tone, I really like the Blue Angel, it's a snigle channel amp and it takes pedals well. Class A power section with 6V6s and EL84s. Very cool amp.

On the budget side of things I really like the Rocket 44. It is a 30 watt 1x12 with two channels and reverb, plus it has a "Contour" boost which works similar to a V on the EQ.

My favorite that I have had personally is a DC-3. It was another 30 watt 1x12. The clean channel goes from clean to AC30ish crunch, and the drive channel goes from bluesy to as high gain as you want. The reverb was really nice, and it had the footswitchable 5 band EQ. I could get an almost dumble-ish sound out of it fairly easily. If that thing had more headroom for playing with loud drummers it would be my perfect amp. I tried the DC-5, but I just perfered the EL-84 sound in that amp in the end. I still use it for recording quite a bit.

[naveed211]

The Blue Angel and the Maverick both have really awesome chimey cleans, really cool vintage sounding amps, and come in a variety of speaker configurations.

I had a Mark IV. I liked it. Very articulate and versatile amp. Just wasn't MY sound...not raw enough.

The DC series is nice, but might have to change the stock speaker. I found it to be a bit muddy, personally.

[Singin' Dave]

If you liked the Subway Rocket, its big brother, the Studio .22 is a great amp, specifically the Studio .22+. The + is key here as those allowed you to balance lead and rhythm channel volumes via s separatre knobs (i.e. gain and clean).

Excellent cleans, nice tube overdrive (which can be tamed a bit off crazy Mesa gain via some lower gain preamp tubes in V1 or V2), nice compact 1x12 config. Really good amp and can be had for under $500. The .50 Cal is a pretty nice too if you want more volume.

[SamClemons]

I had a Dual Caliber go through my hands. Nice, nice amp with a vast range of sound and plenty of power. Compact package, but heavy.

[gitold]

I have a Express 5X50 with one 12 and it's a great amp. Headroom for days and a sweet reverb. Mesa is coming out with a newer version of the Express series so watch for the remaining old models to go for cheap.

[jmontgomery]

Originally Posted by gitold

I have a Express 5X50 with one 12 and it's a great amp. Headroom for days and a sweet reverb. Mesa is coming out with a newer version of the Express series so watch for the remaining old models to go for cheap.

This would be my advise as well. These amps were underpriced compared to the rest of Mesa's line IMO. One of the best amps made. Now that they have been changed up a bit you should be able to get a really good deal on the outgoing models.

Edit: What I ment was they are a bargain compared to the price of Mesas other amps. The tones they put out can hang with anything Mesa makes.

[soundchaser59]

Thanks, great info so far.

Of all the details so far, I think the footswitchable graphic EQ would be an awesome trick to have.

When did they start doing the power selection options? The thing I really liked about the 5:25 I had was the 5 / 25 watt power switch. Unfortunately, it was global, one choice for both channels.

I'm getting some people saying save more (another $300-400 maybe?) and get a Lonestar Classic.

But I notice nobody ever recommends the Nomad??

[gallred]

If got a 94 Mark IV head that I ordered direct from the factory. At the time, I was playing in a rock band and it was a thing of beauty. As I've gotten older and mellowed with age, it still sounds great. It has served as a rock amp, blues amp, country amp and just about everything in between. Funny thing is, whenever I've played in a band with another guitarest, no matter what the style, it has always held its own and usually results in a "revolving amp" situation with the other guitarist. Never had a single problem with it, not one.

It does have a steep learning curve. But every tone that I have taken the time to look for was in there.

And yes the footswitchable eq is nice to have. I've always used it as a lead boost for each if the three channels.

Boogie has a rep for gain monster type amps, but there's a lot more under the hood than Santana or Metalica.

[mefgames]

Check out the Lonestar. They don't make a 15, but they do have multi watt capabilities, 10/50/100. It a great amp.

http://www.mesaboogie.com/Product_In...r/Lonestar.htm

[Pup Tentacle]

I have a Nomad 45 and think it's a great amp. It does weigh a ton though.

[still_fiddlin]

Originally Posted by Singin' Dave

If you liked the Subway Rocket, its big brother, the Studio .22 is a great amp, specifically the Studio .22+. The + is key here as those allowed you to balance lead and rhythm channel volumes via s separatre knobs (i.e. gain and clean).

Excellent cleans, nice tube overdrive (which can be tamed a bit off crazy Mesa gain via some lower gain preamp tubes in V1 or V2), nice compact 1x12 config. Really good amp and can be had for under $500. The .50 Cal is a pretty nice too if you want more volume.

+1 on the .22. Great amps. I'd put one up against a current Dr Z, easily, and a bargain if you can find one at $500. I haven't seen one locally in a couple of years of looking. I believe they did make 5:25 1x12, which might be worth a 2nd look. (I was going to go check out a 1x10, but it slipped away before I had the chance.)

[bullfrogblues]

I've heard some real good comments on the mini rectifier:
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/deta...FQHznAodBGUAmQ

[soundchaser59]

Originally Posted by bullfrogblues

I've heard some real good comments on the mini rectifier:
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/deta...FQHznAodBGUAmQ

Yeah, that is tempting, enough that I might drive to Omaha to play one. Been testing a few other used Mesa amps, and so far nothing has really struck me. The used F50 at GC was a total pizza crap! I was shocked how bad it was. I have to assume the previous owners ruined it some how, surely it didn't come from the factory sounding like that?

The single rec 50 I tried last night has a deadly 1 second delay when foot switching channels, definitely a deal breaker and pretty obvious and embarrassing design flaw, imo.

Still can't get the great experiences out of my head that I had with the Express and the old Subways. I wonder if the mini rec can duplicate any of that? Of course, the retailer in Omaha says the mini rec blows the Express clean outa the water......

[BoogieManSC]

I once had a Mesa Express 5:50 212 combo (6L6's) that I stupidly got rid of because I HAD to have the Road King II v2 212 combo I currently own. Well, I've always regretted selling that Express....just an AWESOME freaking amp. Took pedals like no other...sounded great on its own too.

Due to my regret, I just picked up the new 5:25 Plus model (I play it through a Recto 212 cab)...now each channel has power-switchable toggles (5/15/25) as well as a reconfigured clean channel and 5-band EQ, in addition to their contour control, etc, etc. I'm SO happy to have the express again and the EL-84 configuration of the 5:25 is an awesome compliment to the RKII. I actually think I like the 5:25 better than I did the 5:50. It has a rich sustain that I cannot dial in from the RK. I've been definitely playing it more than the recto-based Road King II lately.

I'd say go with the Express. One of the best they've ever made.

[Paul in Colorado]

I think a used Express would be a great amp. A 5:25 with a 12" speaker would be a good place to start.

I have a MK 1 RI and a Studio .22+. The Studio is the amp I gig with the most. The MK 1 is heavy and loud, but it has a hardwood cab and an EVM-12L speaker.

[Telesavalis]

I've had a Lonestar for 7 years and it's a road worthy -built like a tank - versatile amp.