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MCBTunes

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Which? They are 2 obvious front runners in guitar amplification.

Have mesa under zakk wylde and mesa with John pet.

Are these 2 like apples and oranges?
 

Spudmurphy

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MCBTunes said:
Which? They are 2 obvious front runners in guitar amplification.

Have mesa under zakk wylde and mesa with John pet.

Are these 2 like apples and oranges?

Mesa are awesome amps but ridiculously expensive over here! (I know, damn Limeys complaining about getting ripped off again !!:D )
Marshall being manufactured in the UK offer "us" a more affordable alternative.

If I could get a Mesa for the same price as a Marshall I would.
I can't.
So I won't!
Spud
EDIT: Ummmmm, I didn't understand your question but I thought I'd have a whinge anyway!
 
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lenny

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MCBTunes said:
Which? They are 2 obvious front runners in guitar amplification.

Have mesa under zakk wylde and mesa with John pet.

Are these 2 like apples and oranges?

I like my MARSHALL but i am biased because i own one :D BUT i have had my hands a few Mesa's and i found them way to complicated for my puny brain too many dials and knobs and push pulls for my liking:(
 

lenny

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skabassist13 said:
I think its apples to oranges. The Mesas are generally more round, fat, and heavy, whilst the marshalls are more high end, tonally.
i have a TSL60 JCM2000 and i am not thin a little bit i call it "thick n zesty"!
BUT it also depend what your playinng threw it and how u have it set up:)
 

nad

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I've never been inspired by any of the majority of things that Marshall are putting out - JCM2000's to me sound sterile, AVT's extremely wirey and brash, and Mode Four's similarily.

Stick a JCM800 or JCM900 in front of me though, and we'll agree very muchly.
 

Spudmurphy

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lenny said:
I like my MARSHALL but i am biased because i own one :D BUT i have had my hands a few Mesa's and i found them way to complicated for my puny brain too many dials and knobs and push pulls for my liking:(
Yeah too many damn tubes too !!!
Spud
 

sandman@midlife

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I had ,until last week, aMesa MkII. It was absolutely killer! I'm a bass player for several years now, so my son used it. He's gone to a Marshall combo and likes it better. I think it depends on the sound you hear in your head. Lots of hits have been recorded with both of them.
 

Dakine

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Neither :p LOL
Marshall are kinda like Gibsons, gota try sooooooooooo many to get a good one. And really only JCM 800 900 SLX count anyway.
Mesa are too costly.

My money is with Engl.
All tube, German made, kickbutt rock ampage :)
 

slukather

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Yes it's hard to compare them, 2 different amps, it just depends what music you play. I have got a Mesa Dual Rec., i don't think they are worth the money, by a long shot, $4600 (aud) :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:, what can l say l feel for the hype, and at the time the band l was in wanted me to get one, as they wanted that high gain Nickelback sound. But l found replacing the stock tubes, as they are complete junk, and put jj's in, huge improvement.

Scott.
 

Big Poppa

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boys...first off I dont like the "vs" I prefer "or" Both of these companies have a rich heritage and make great stuff. I would normally say Mesa for me, but I just got this three channel Marshall combo that rocks. I also was very tempted to buy this flame maple mesa road king at wild west....WOW!
 

mhorse

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I would have to go with neither, but that's just me. I never came across a current Marshall that I liked. I liked Mesa for a while (I have DC-5 right now), but I grew sick of it. Trading mine in for a Rivera this week, I think.

As far as apples and oranges - they are probably not. They obviously have very different tonal personalities, but can be compared, tone-wise and feature-wise. But you will have to decide for yourself which one is yours.
 

pauldogx

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I used a Mesa Mk2 for years and I came to the conclusion that --to me---It has what I would call a "compressed" sound. Its Fendery but compressed. I don't get along well with Marshalls--they always sound Harsh to me. That being said I know David Grissom uses a 20 watter and it sounds like god!!!! Speakers have to be adressed as well----I used Vintage 30's with the Mk2 and I liked those much better than the EV that was in it. Marshalls also have a great clean sound----remember--SRV used his Marshalls for his clean sound and Fenders for his dirty stuff. For me-----I will one day own a Dumble.I hope. Maybe.........Yeah right.:D
 

Jonny Dubai

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If i had to choose it would be Messa. I prefer the tonal range and responsiveness (is that a word???).

Gimme a Peavey 5150 any day!!!!


Jonny
 

LasagneFTW

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Big Poppa said:
boys...first off I dont like the "vs" I prefer "or" Both of these companies have a rich heritage and make great stuff. I would normally say Mesa for me, but I just got this three channel Marshall combo that rocks. I also was very tempted to buy this flame maple mesa road king at wild west....WOW!

i agree with you Mr. BP. both companies have there place, and its really a matter of personal taste. (oh noes rhyming haha).

that roadking sounds gorgeous just from your description.

-ross
 

Antoine

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I've had many amps, and always had selled them for buying another one, since i've bought my Mesa MarkIV head in 1998, i've never changed anymore, world top class instrument !
 

slukather

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mhorse said:
I would have to go with neither, but that's just me. I never came across a current Marshall that I liked. I liked Mesa for a while (I have DC-5 right now), but I grew sick of it. Trading mine in for a Rivera this week, I think.

As far as apples and oranges - they are probably not. They obviously have very different tonal personalities, but can be compared, tone-wise and feature-wise. But you will have to decide for yourself which one is yours.

Man l love the Rivera Knucklehead (el-34 version), l played one a little while ago, loved it straight away, went to go get some money to buy it, by the time l got back, it was sold, l was cursing, and l haven't found another one so far. Although l'm probably gonna get a line 6 flextone 3 xl soon, as l don't play out much anymore, and the mesa is way too loud.

Scott.
 

MCBTunes

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kind of what i expected.... a generally balanced view on each, with a little bit of sway towards Mesa. I honestly havnt played through much of Mesa's stuff, or Marshall's for that matter. The one marshall I do rememebr playing through quite vividly was a little harsh, and "fuzzy".
 

Dugger

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For years I've always played Marshall's, and over the last few, I've coverted to Mesa's. I have to agree with earlier posters that QC on Marshall's have been dodgy, which is what sent me over to the Mesa camp for a while.

Just recently I decided I really like both in their own way, so I got a JSX, and feel like I've got a little of both. I never...EVER... thought I'd admit in public that I owned a Peavey, but times sure have changed. :eek: The crunch on the JSX is really close to a modded Marshall, and the Ultra channel is similar to a Mesa.

just my $.02...
 
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