Big question about Mesa amp...

[Dave666]

Hi all!

I now own a mesa 20/20, rocktron piranha an a 2x12 roadking bottom.

I'm now thinking to change the pre and power amp section of my gear for a Mark IV.

Here is the question. Buy a Mark IV head with my 2x12 or a combo alone or keep my 2x12 with a combo???

Many thanks!

P.s. Can't wait for my new Bfr Jp6 Ruby Burst.

[marduke]

get the head i rekon, i have the combo and its damn heavy, loving it though. so many possible tones out of this thing. be prepared for spending afew weeks finding your desired tone.. plus the head will sound better with that cab then what the combo by itself will sound.. but hey thats my opinion, in the end its upto you, which ever way you choose you cant fail, its a great amp.

[Dave666]

And what do you think of using the combo + the 2x12 cab?

Do you think it will be better than the head or equal or less good?

Thanks.

[wired]

And what do you think of using the combo + the 2x12 cab?

Do you think it will be better than the head or equal or less good?

Thanks.

Buying the combo will give you more flexibility, where you can use it alone or w/ the cab, depending on the situation. The Roadking cab is outstanding too, with 1/2 open, 1/2 closed. Genius.

[73h Nils]

I second getting the head. Your back will thank you for it!

[marduke]

not sure on the combo+cab thing, i was thinking of going down that path later aswell (getting a thiele cab) but yeah as wired said going the combo and cab give more flexibility. my opinion was based more on the weight issue.. i dont think it will be any worse tone wise.

[roburado]

I think it's a bit counterintuitive, and maybe, I'm just imagining things. I think that combos can sound different from the head. I've heard a Mesa head that sounded different from combos version of the amp while driving ostensibly the same cabinet. I think the length of the chassis can sometimes make a difference. Like I said, though, I could be imagining things.

You might want to ask your question on the Boogie Board. http://forum.grailtone.com/

[beej]

What do you need it for? Small/large gigs? Jamming somewhere? At home?

I'm in favour of a head & 2x12 cabs - good portable solution (and you can have different cabs for different sounds, but that might be overkill). But it's still a lot of gear and heavy. This is what I take to gigs, and for jamming/smaller gigs I take my Guytron 1x12 combo - doesn't sound the same as my head, but it's waaay portable.

So a question of function really.

[Tim O'Sullivan]

From a weight perspective, I say go with the head and cab.

[CudBucket]

It's funny how many JP fans are buying Mark IVs now since he used one on the new CD.

[beej]

It's funny how many JP fans are buying Mark IVs now since he used one on the new CD.

And JPs for that matter

[Norrin Radd]

From a weight perspective, I say go with the head and cab.

Definitely true. HOWEVER, if the weight is not an issue (85 lbs.), and a combo suits your needs better - than go that way. The combo does come with those nice easily removable Mesa casters too.

The speaker in the combo is very nice but quite unique as well. Mine sounds totally different when I plug in a cab with V30s.

[Spudmurphy]

Combo + 2 x 12
- covers all bases.