Off Topic A little help

[Gio_Force_One]

I have a marshall jvm combo and someone wants to trade a 1995 mesa boogie dual rec head rev G for it and im not sure what to do. I like mesa boogie and have a dc5 head and 2x12 cab. was wondering if you guys had any opinions on this. I have heard the older mesa boogies are really good and some like them better than the the newer ones . but honestly not really sure what i would want to do.

 

[xjbebop]

We've recently become big Boogie fans. Got a smokin' deal on a TA30 head last year which has turned out to be an incredible amp.
Then we recently acquired an old original Mark I (1978!) in good working condition, that sings like an angel as is. It' going back to meet it's maker next week for a major tune up so that it can be happy & healthy for a long time to come.
The Mesa customer service is easily equal to EBMM... They are more than happy to refurbish this old amp at a reasonable cost.
Picked up a Mini Rec last week for Mrs. Bebop...still getting acquainted but it's equally impressive already. The dual rec is way more versatile than I imagined!

Like EBMM instruments, these amps aren't 'cheap', but you absolutely get your money's worth. They are still hand built in the USA, built like tanks, and are supported by the manufacturer. The company's history is very impressive as is their attention to detail. Owning a Boogie is low risk.

All that being said, some folks just don't care for the Mesa sound...nothing wrong with that. You gotta play what makes you happy.
If you can, play both amps side by side. The Mesa's I've played tend to be somewhat transparent...you can really hear the nuances of different guitars and guitar settings more so than the Marshalls and Oranges I've played, so keep that in mind.
Let your fingers and ears decide...

 

[QuietSpike]

The worst thing about the Dual Rec is the tread plate front… because that automatically makes it a "metal only" amp, when it is actually extremely versatile. I have been a boogie fan for a looong time, and I trust anything tone-wise with my boogies. Amazing machines.

Paired with an EBMM, it is just a match made in heaven.

 

[sixstrings]

I recently switched from JVM 410 head to Boogie Express and amp wise it was best decision I made in years. Way better cleans and dirty channel sounds so sweet with ebmm guitars.
I know we're talking different model here but my overall impression is that Boogies have that something I've never managed to find in any amp before.

 

[Eric O'Reilly]

I like boogie but, keep the Marshall, it's a better amp imho.

 

[Spudmurphy]

IMHO, if it's an amp that you just have to have (e.g. I just had to have a MMRD50) then go for it.

However, you do have a Mesa and I feel that keeping the Marshall will mean another tool in your kit bag.
It's wierd, sometimes I'll go ages without playing one of my amps, and when I do go back to it I ask myself why I left it so long? I fall in love with it again. I think down the road you'd regret getting rid of it?

However ..... if the Marshall is an amp that you really don't like - swap it. If you like it don't.

Mesas=great amps with their own tone
Marshalls=great amps with their own tone.

 

[Gio_Force_One]

i do like the marshall but the one thing i noticed with this marshall and actually one that i played in the recording studio last week is that they start off sounding good and after they are warmed up they seem to feedback more.
I know for me live the jvm gets a little annoying with the feedback, and its not like my gain is that high it is between 11 and 1 o' clock most times.
I may try another set of tubes on it maybe marshall uses crappy tubes im not really sure.

 

[DrKev]

I don't see this as an "either or" dilemma. Two questions...

Do you need anther Boogie?
If the Marshall was abducted by aliens never to return, would you miss it enough to buy another one?

If the answer to both questions is "no", sell the Marshall and buy a new guitar.

 

[Gio_Force_One]

i am not sure i would buy this amp again, i got it used at a really good price so its the only reason i have it.

I have been trying to sell it also but no takers on it at all ,only trades. I really dont need to buy another guitar, i have my Pdn Morse and its usually the only one i use besides my 1977 les paul.

I do like how you think Dr Kev.

I guess i dont need another boogie and who knows it may not even sound that good.
Maybe i will record with both the amps and see how it sounds.
Right now i have the jvm combo , and old jcm800 combo that needs some work the mesa dc5 and a crate palomino head and cab. I also think the simplicity of the boogie is great and the jvm has a ton of options but i am not one that sits and just plays with all the options on amps. maybe I will just keep it

 

[Guitardom]

I have owned many boogies, including multiple Recto's. IMO to get the most out of them, you need a tube change to some nice matched sets. I personally always go through Eurotubes and get matched sets depending on what I am after for that amp. For me it really brings them to life. I for whatever reason have ended up selling all my Recto's and only using my Mark V, but I do miss them and will probably snatch another dual up if it comes around and the price is right. I am saying this under the reason that I would check what tubes are in the Recto and if they are the boogie tubes, just know that it can sound better. Getting the distortion tighter is one of my main reasons. They can get a bit to flabby at times!

 

[Eric O'Reilly]

Keep the Marshall! Better sound, especially the jvm, I like Mesa, if it were a mkV then I'd say do it, but dual recs aren't my favorite. I'm A Marshall fan from way back, and the jvm is a good amp, it does so much.

 

[ZeroFivefour]

Marshall and Rectos are both killer tools.

IMHO, if it's an amp that you just have to have (e.g. I just had to have a MMRD50) then go for it.

However, you do have a Mesa and I feel that keeping the Marshall will mean another tool in your kit bag.
It's wierd, sometimes I'll go ages without playing one of my amps, and when I do go back to it I ask myself why I left it so long? I fall in love with it again. I think down the road you'd regret getting rid of it?

However ..... if the Marshall is an amp that you really don't like - swap it. If you like it don't.

Mesas=great amps with their own tone
Marshalls=great amps with their own tone.

Spud is right on the money here.

I have owned dc 5, combo version, toured recoreded etc with it in the early 90s. Nice amp but nothing at all like a dual or triple rectifier. Not even the same ball park. No where near the same imho. Very different animals.

I currently own a mesa triple rev f. and a dual rackmount rev f. I have toured and recorded with the triple. Killer amps. The dual is in my 2nd rack rig.

I currently own a CAE 3+SE preamp, which is John Suhr's take on a JCM 800 for channel 2 and a full on hot rodded Marshall/soldano/vibe on channel 3. It is modded by JS tech, (john suhr tech). Best amp set up Ive ever had. It sits in my main rack full of goodies powered by a mesa 2:90 power amp.

These are all very different amps with there own "thing" going on for them. They all excel in certain areas. I could write a few paragraphs on how to dial in the rectos, which boost to use, which of the channel cloning options I used etc...

These early rectos, imho, the early dual channel models, like the g you mention are fabulous workhorse amps with a lot of mojo, going on. They are not one trick ponies. The question that needs answering is whether or not it is the right tool for you. They do not behave like marshalls, the eq'ing is more interdependent than a marshall eq. They can sound decent at low volumes using the fx loop active master control in front.

Pair them with a proper boogie 2x12 or 4x12 v-30 loaded closed cabinet and they are enormous tone machines with so much character oomph and sustain. Definitely not as tight as a marshall. You can boost them with a range master, or tube screamer to get them to track fast solos etc... I always used a slight bass cut pedal to achieve the tight solo tracking when needed. The convey a lot of bass if you desire. The silicone diode rectifier is another really nice feature. They have a lot of features on the back panel. They are killer amps for their application.

It all comes down to whether or not it's the right tool for the job.
A recto is not a marshall and a marshall is not a recto. They both have their place in my book.

Cheers,

Tom

 

[ksandvik]

Rectifiers are indeed sleepers as they have very good clean and crunchy/blues tones if dialed in.

I looked at a JVM a year ago but I think I've had enough of Marshalls in this lifetime.

 

[paranoid70]

I bought a JVM215C combo earlier this year. It was a decent amp, but quite noisy I must say. About a week later I tried out a Mesa Express 5:50+ and instantly new that was the amp I really wanted. I quickly returned the Marshall and bought the Mesa. Totally was the right decision for me. (Actually the Mesa was even a few hundred dollars cheaper!)

 

[Gio_Force_One]

Noisy is one of the main issues I have had with it too.

 

[sixstrings]

JVM can be a great sounding amp but only if you apply a long list modifications to it. Being stock it's just fine.
Seriously I can't remember how many times I opened mine to tweak things inside, remove or add components etc. It was a good fun at first but I ended up selling it once I heard Mesa.
My boogie is a plug n play machine, no step back really just like with musicman guitars.

 

[paranoid70]

Noisy is one of the main issues I have had with it too.

And adding a Noise Suppressor pedal in the Effects Loop made it worse! It squealed like dying pig when I activated it. Not sure if my amp was a lemon, but screw it, the Mesa is 10x better for me.

 

[ksandvik]

The Satch version of the JVM has built-in noise suppressors... Most likely a big reason Joe Satriani wanted that mod.

I have to mentally think if my Mini Rectifier has noise.... Nope, nothing dramatical.

 

[xjbebop]

Been spending more time with the mini rec, discovering the amount of feel and bounce it adds to single notes...
I'm getting more attached to every day!

 

[Gio_Force_One]

And adding a Noise Suppressor pedal in the Effects Loop made it worse! It squealed like dying pig when I activated it. Not sure if my amp was a lemon, but screw it, the Mesa is 10x better for me.

The effects loop on the amp is garbage nothing sounded right going through it.

If i can sell it I have been thinking about the mini rec. the reviews are more than positive and the line samples sound great.