Mesa Boogie Mark V: 25.

[ohdamnitsdevin]

So MESA has released a little brother to the Mark V, the Mark V:25. It's basically everything you know and love about the Mark V already, but condensed down to a lighter, smaller package. Whats even more exciting is that it's roughly HALF the cost of a traditional Mark V head. The main difference is that the Mark V: 25 is limited to outputting 25 WATTS. Being a guitarist who doesn't gig or play with a band, this sounds like it would be ideal seeing as how my Roland Cube-20XL is only 20 WATTS, is not a tube amp and it is already VERY loud for home use.

I'm not saying that I don't ever plan to gig or play with a band, that would be ideal, but, I really think that if I had the Mark V: 25 MIC'd correctly, and the venues sound system wasn't crap, I'd be alright.

I've never really felt that my musical abilities justified the 3k investment in the Mark V head but, the Mark V: 25 is only 1300. To me, this kind of investment is more practical and logical given my circumstances. I'm really grateful that they're presenting solutions to those of us balling on a budget to get that "sound in our head". I'm definitely sold on the Mark V: 25 and will be making it down to the Holloywood Mesas Boogie store to try one out this weekend!


What was your very first all tube amp?

I hear theres a very big difference going from digital to tube, can anyone go into detail what the pros and cons are of an all tube amp?

Are there any "best practices" to ensuring the amp functions correctly for as long as possible? I've heard you have to let the tubes warm up or "break up" before turning it on completely or turning it up... something along those lines. I'm completely ignorant to that world and its verbiage.


Thanks for reading!



Heres an official video from the guys at Mesa reviewing the Mark V: 25 if anyone is interested:
MESA/Boogie Mark Five: 25 Official Demo Video - YouTube

 

[roburado]

My first tube amp was a Mesa .50Cal+. Unfortunately, I don't have it anymore. Wonderful amp, but I had to let it go after 20-plus years. I regret it, and it broke my heart to let it go. The manual that I got with the Mesa was really great about teaching what to do, what not to do IIRC. If you don't abuse it, a Mesa will last for decades. My Mesa F-30 shows no signs of being any different from the .50Cal+ in quality. As far as warming up the tubes, well...just turn it on with it on standby. Go get your guitar, plug in, maybe tune up with a tuner; just kill time for about 30 seconds. The amp won't do a damn thing until it's warmed up. Take it off standby, and you should be ready to roll.

What you don't want to do is move the amp before it cools down some. You could damage the hot little bits in the tubes by doing so.

 

[xjbebop]

http://forums.ernieball.com/general...-music-man-guitars-mesa-amps-mark-5-25-a.html

Get this amp and a proper matching cab (or 2) and you'll be set for life...

 

[joe web]

my 1st tubeamp wa an engl rackhead with 2x35 watts....used it 9 yers or so. switched to marshall heads for a longtime ( have had quiet a few) and about ten years ago i discovered mesa for me. dual recto head and just a year later got my roadster - which is still my main amp!
have had a lot of other amps, but no other amp could beat my roadster head.

the 25 markV looks cool and maybe i'll give it a try.

 

[DrKev]

Are there any "best practices" to ensuring the amp functions correctly for as long as possible? I've heard you have to let the tubes warm up or "break up" before turning it on completely or turning it up... something along those lines. I'm completely ignorant to that world and its verbiage.

Nah, for home use, just plug and play. If the amp has a stand by switch, you turn main power on first then wait a minute or so for the tubes to get up to temperature, then rock out. If the Dead easy.

Every few years you may need to change the tubes but Mesa make it pretty easy, (bias and so on) and there is less messing with Mesa amps compared to other tube amps.

Looks like a great amp!

Hey guys, since when did two EL84s produce 25 Watts of power? Is that a marketing porky?

 

[ksandvik]

Mesa amps are self-biased! So anyone could replace tubes in them. As long as they are of the right type, of course.

I have a Mesa Mini Rectifier 25W EL84s and is loud, loud... Usually run it in 10W mode at smaller clubs. Just get a good 2x12 speaker and it's loud enough.

 

[Spudmurphy]

Mesa amps are self-biased! So anyone could replace tubes in them. As long as they are of the right type, of course.

I have a Mesa Mini Rectifier 25W EL84s and is loud, loud... Usually run it in 10W mode at smaller clubs. Just get a good 2x12 speaker and it's loud enough.

.... .... and the valves have to be matched.
When my mate gets a new order (very large box) of valves, they all have their ratings/measurements on the side of the box, so he can use matched pairs.

 

[davidclayson]

A few months ago, I found myself without an amp, out of the need for some funds and the fact that I didn't like my JCM 800 a whole lot anyway, so began looking (just for fun and curiosity) for a well round suited amp that could kind of do it all. I eventually came to the conclusion a Mark V was where I needed to be looking, but like yourself, wouldn't be able to reach for that sort of money anytime soon. So when the Mark V 25 was eventually announced I was pretty much sold!

I would plan on using the 25 for gigs, although mainly home and recording. My biggest concern would be with clean headroom, as over here in England, it doesn't seem to be common practise to mic up amps, at least not in pub gig situations and certainly not with the apparent 'luxury' of fitting in and using stage monitors too. The portability factor would be great tho. Please let us know how it goes the test drive goes! I have read a lot about these amps and have been watching all the little sound demo video's that Mesa have been slowly releasing; and I have been very impressed so far.

Compared to your experiences with digital, I think the biggest different you will notice is feel when playing through a valve amp, especially when you are able to crank the power amp on the Mini a little bit more than on a 100 watter. I don't think the later Mesa's (or a lot of the other modern day amp designs) are particularly known as having a lot of power amp gain and compression, but you will definitely notice some at least. Digital emulations can sound really, really great, but when you play through a slightly cranked valve amp, that's when the other half of the experience comes in and begin to see what all the fuss was about.

 

[DrKev]

My biggest concern would be with clean headroom, as over here in England, it doesn't seem to be common practise to mic up amps, at least not in pub gig situations and certainly not with the apparent 'luxury' of fitting in and using stage monitors too. The portability factor would be great tho.

Here in Paris, I've been gigging with small Laney LC15s since since 2001. 2 x EL84s, 15 Watts, 10" speaker, 10 kg. Yes, it's very portable (public transport friendly) and even un-mic'ed can handle a reasonably loud band but on the loudest stages keeping it clean is impossible. If mic'ed I generally tilt it back and have it pointing at my head, so it really is a monitor for me and the mic'ed signal helps fill the rest of the room appropriately. On small stages the rest of the band can hear me OK without monitors. Fortunately, bands I play with here are usually not silly loud either.

But that's a 10" speaker and not very efficient either. With an efficient 12" speaker, there would be more clean head room.

BTW, the Mark Five 25 has a built in DI Out, with their patented speaker simulator built in. You can send a great sound direct to the desk without actually using a mic. Nice!

 

[nick_in_STL]

My first all tube amp was a Marshall TSL100. A few months after I bought it I had problem after problem, and because I had a great relationship with my local retailer he let me trade that in on a brand new Peavey JSX and I've played that for the last 8+ years.

As far as going from digital to all tube, encyclopedias worth of material could (and probably have) been written on the subject. Highlights for me were the sonic warmth, touch sensitivity, and signal clarity. Plus finally sounding like my heroes was a nice bonus too.

That Mark V:25 is certainly appealing for a number of reasons, but since I still play some larger gigs (150-250+ people) on a regular basis, I doubt it would cover everything I need. My cleans need to stay distortion free, and I doubt that would be the case when I really open that amp up. But for bedroom/house rehearsal and small gigs that thing would be killer.

 

[AJS]

I've never really felt that my musical abilities justified the 3k investment in the Mark V head but, the Mark V: 25 is only 1300. [/url]

The Mark V head is $2249 new, I picked one up recently in like new condition with 4 years of warranty left on it for $1600. I do think the Mark V 25 is a good deal at $1299, but I personally would wait for a used one. I also think there will be more used Mark V's popping up used when people buy the 25 in the next couple of months.

 

[Magic Jason]

I so hope they'll release a V 25 Combo!

 

[Warg Master]

I also think there will be more used Mark V's popping up used when people buy the 25 in the next couple of months.

Maybe... I might have a used Mark V for sale.....

 

[ohdamnitsdevin]

What you don't want to do is move the amp before it cools down some. You could damage the hot little bits in the tubes by doing so.

This is exactly the content I was searching for! Thanks for the advise brother. \m/

 

[ohdamnitsdevin]

.... .... and the valves have to be matched.
When my mate gets a new order (very large box) of valves, they all have their ratings/measurements on the side of the box, so he can use matched pairs.

You're a wealth of knowledge sir! Thank you.

 

[ohdamnitsdevin]

A few months ago, I found myself without an amp, out of the need for some funds and the fact that I didn't like my JCM 800 a whole lot anyway, so began looking (just for fun and curiosity) for a well round suited amp that could kind of do it all. I eventually came to the conclusion a Mark V was where I needed to be looking, but like yourself, wouldn't be able to reach for that sort of money anytime soon. So when the Mark V 25 was eventually announced I was pretty much sold!

I would plan on using the 25 for gigs, although mainly home and recording. My biggest concern would be with clean headroom, as over here in England, it doesn't seem to be common practise to mic up amps, at least not in pub gig situations and certainly not with the apparent 'luxury' of fitting in and using stage monitors too. The portability factor would be great tho. Please let us know how it goes the test drive goes! I have read a lot about these amps and have been watching all the little sound demo video's that Mesa have been slowly releasing; and I have been very impressed so far.

Compared to your experiences with digital, I think the biggest different you will notice is feel when playing through a valve amp, especially when you are able to crank the power amp on the Mini a little bit more than on a 100 watter. I don't think the later Mesa's (or a lot of the other modern day amp designs) are particularly known as having a lot of power amp gain and compression, but you will definitely notice some at least. Digital emulations can sound really, really great, but when you play through a slightly cranked valve amp, that's when the other half of the experience comes in and begin to see what all the fuss was about.

I seriously cannot wait now! I've never played through a valve amp before! I'll try and make sure to record myself demoing the amp this weekend! I should have a buddy with me who can record.

 

[Eric O'Reilly]

Tube amps are the best, i use a line 6 pod with headphones for practice and it sounds great, but my marshall amps are great, my jtm 30 has 2 6l6 power tubes and 3 12ax7 pre, and is 30 watts and loud, then i have a class 5 which is class A with no master volume, so you have to crank it loud to make is distort. I think the little mark v would be an awesome first tube amp and you will probably keep it forever, it has loads of gain, and all the eq you could dream of, i would try to play as many types of tube amps as possisble, there are so many different sounds, there are fender cleans, marshall dirt, peavey 5150 drive, and boogie gain, all of which sound diff, and the main thing about tubes is the FEEL! Not just sound, the compression the sag and squish that some high gain tube amps are awseome! And really over driven marshalls sound like nothing else! Try em all!

 

[mikeller]

Mesa amps are self-biased! So anyone could replace tubes in them. As long as they are of the right type, of course.

I have a Mesa Mini Rectifier 25W EL84s and is loud, loud... Usually run it in 10W mode at smaller clubs. Just get a good 2x12 speaker and it's loud enough.

True - BUT as I understand it they have to be Mesa tubes in order to adhere to warranty terms. If you put in non-Mesa tubes, then warrantied repairs are not covered.

 

[ksandvik]

True - BUT as I understand it they have to be Mesa tubes in order to adhere to warranty terms. If you put in non-Mesa tubes, then warrantied repairs are not covered.

Oh, didn't know that, good to know (or let me check with a Mesa rep.) Anyway, Mesa tubes are fine, I'e used them before and they are affordable. AFAIK they purchase tubes from JJs and similar places and re-test them and re-release them with their logo.

 

[mikeller]

Oh, didn't know that, good to know (or let me check with a Mesa rep.) Anyway, Mesa tubes are fine, I'e used them before and they are affordable. AFAIK they purchase tubes from JJs and similar places and re-test them and re-release them with their logo.

Yeah, the tubes are fine, quality is good. I have had great luck with them. Let us know if I am incorrect.