OT: Mesa Express

[greenwizard]

Dear knuckleheads,
Anybody have any thoughts on the Mesa Express amps (any configuration is fine).
Tried them? Owned one? Loved it? Hated it? Advice?
Anything would be useful. I'm looking for an amp to match my JP. I don't really need to do too much metal, but I do need something that handles cleans to blues to hard rock. And good breakup at low volumes is definitely a plus.
Thanks in advance,
greenwizard

 

[GuitarHack]

FWIW, just yesterday I played a BFR Luke through the 5:50. It's definitely a great amp, and you do get great sounds at lower volumes.

I also tried the Stiletto Ace (also great), but truth be told, the Lone Star had me with one of those grins you can't stop. It's probably the most versatile of the three.

 

[greenwizard]

I had the opportunity to try a Lonestar Classic a while ago and was totally blown away, but it's definitely out of my range.
What configuration was the Express you tried (head+cab, 1x12 etc.)?
Thanks,
greenwizard

 

[roburado]

I didn't like the 5:25 so much. I haven't tried the 5:50.

I prefer the F-Series that the Express Series replaced.

 

[GuitarHack]

I had the opportunity to try a Lonestar Classic a while ago and was totally blown away, but it's definitely out of my range.
What configuration was the Express you tried (head+cab, 1x12 etc.)?
Thanks,
greenwizard

Express was the 5:50 212 combo, as were the Stiletto and the Lone Star. Hard to go wrong with any of them, I'd think, given the requirements in the first post. But, I agree, the Lone Star was just stupid good.

And yup, they are all on the spendy side! But, not as bad as some of the boutique brands out there that may do just one sound really well.

 

[GuitarHack]

I didn't like the 5:25 so much. I haven't tried the 5:50.

I prefer the F-Series that the Express Series replaced.

I didn't get to try a 5:25, but the salesperson said the 5:25 (EL84s) and 5:50 (6L6s) are different animals. FWIW.

 

[greenwizard]

I didn't like the 5:25 so much. I haven't tried the 5:50.

I prefer the F-Series that the Express Series replaced.

I'm in a similar boat. I was in love with the F50 but it's discontinued. Would you mind elaborating on why you prefer the Fs over the Expresses?

 

[roburado]

Maybe, I just didn't really get a handle on how to dial in the tone I wanted on the Express. I feel that my F-30 has a more "open," more full-range tone, which I prefer. As far as 6L6 power sections go, you know...I think I have tried the 5:50. It wasn't really a memorable experience for me, obviously. I certainly liked the F-100 combo I tried at Make 'N Music.

But, you know, everyone has a different idea of their ideal tone and how to get there. I'm sure a lot of people like the Express Series.

I think that it's probably going to be good if you're doing the blues and hard rock things. It's just not metal enough for me.

 

[greenwizard]

Thanks rob!

 

[73h Nils]

I second what Rob said. I test drove an Express 5:50 against an F-50. The F-50 just, I don't know, works better for me. The Express seemed kind of stale...

 

[JeffreyB]

I like the 5:50 MUCH better....tighter low end...much better amp for rock and high headroom clean tones. It is a much different sounding amp than the 5:25.
Definitely one of the best sounding amps on the market for the money.
Tone is VERY subjective, though...

 

[John C]

I'm watching this post with interest - I'm thinking of replacing my Rivera Clubster 25 with the Express 5:25. I like the el-84 sound - I tend to gravitate toward those amps as I've had a Mesa DC-3 (I guess the Express 5:25 is the "two generations newer" version of the DC-3), a Marshal DSL-401, and although I've never owned one I've always been impressed with the DR Z Maz-18 Jr - all el-84 amps. I like the 5:25 when I tried it out earlier this year.

However, I also am pretty much a single-coil player. I tried the 5:25 with a couple of Strats ('62 RI, Custom Shop '66 RI), a couple of Les Pauls ('57 Goldtop RI, '60 Special RI w/soapbars), an historic SG ('61 maybe?) and an ES-335. I only liked it with the Strats; I didn't like it with any humbucker or soapbar guitar. It seemed to take to the Strats right away and would need a lot of tweaking with the other guitars.

I also tried and liked the Lone Star Special - the lower wattage el-84 Lone Star model, but for my needs it was pretty much overkill so I'm contemplating the 5:25. I'm going to go back and try them again now that I have my Silo Specal; I never did try them with theMM90s-equipped AL after I made the decision to move back to Strat-type single coils.

 

[greenwizard]

Do you really think the 5:25 can't handle humbuckers, or are you just looking for that single coil tone anyway (since you are a "single-coil player")?
Thanks,
greenwizard
PS: I've never tried the 5:25 so Im interested in whatever you have to say about it.

 

[TwAn]

I have an Express 5:50 212... Works great for me! I haven't played an F50 or anything, but this amp sounds very good to my ears...

I mainly play funk, rock and blues and it can pretty much cover most of the sounds that I'm looking for. The posibility to switch from 50 to 5 Watts is a very cool feature, you can get awesome sounds at very low volumes...

Before the Express, I had a Fender Deville 410 (which I still own), but the Express is much more versatile, the clean sounds are great with MM90's and the single coils in my Silhouette Special... The gain channel is just great too, this is the first amp where I actually use the gain channel...

One downside to the amp: it's HEAVY!!!!!!

There's only one rule really when buying an amp: play as many amps as possible and choose the one you like best... That's it!

 

[greenwizard]

^^Thanks Twan!

 

[John C]

Do you really think the 5:25 can't handle humbuckers, or are you just looking for that single coil tone anyway (since you are a "single-coil player")?
Thanks,
greenwizard
PS: I've never tried the 5:25 so Im interested in whatever you have to say about it.

Greenwizard - sorry, that was just my take on the amp. As they say "tone is subjective" and I just couldn't get it dialed in with anything but strat-type single coils the day I played it. Also, I preferred the "clean" to the "crunch" and the "blues" to the "burn" - i.e. the lower gain settings for either channel. I would have thought the settings I was using would have worked with mild output humbuckers like the '57 Classics in the historic SG, but it just didn't grab me that day.

I think that the Express 5:25, like all Mesa's, has to be dialed in somewhat. I just immediately found my "sweet spot tone" with the Strats and couldn't get past it when I tried it out with the other guitars. Right now my favorite humbucker guitar that I've tried is a PRS Mira (which has low output humbuckers and was just "alive" through a Maz 18 Jr.) and I'm planning on using an Express 5:25 when I audition a Mira with a regular neck carve (all the ones around here have the wide/thin neck which I hate).

 

[greenwizard]

By the way, if anyone else is considering the Express series, Guitar Player has done a great little demo of the 5:25 combo.
Guitar Player TV: July Gear Review - Mesa Boogie
Imagine what that might sound like with a better guitar!! =)
greenwizard