Bassman LTD VS. Mesa Blue Angel

[SirJackdeFuzz]

So, you have a Gibbo LP Studio & Tele Jaguar as guitars !

You can get a brand new Fender Bassman LTD for $1100.00, or a Mesa Blue Angel 4x10 (in perfect +10 cond.) for $900.00.
I mean this thing looks like it came from the factory yesterday !

With a your personal choice of FX-pedals, which one would YOU go for ?
(and why ?)


Just want to pick your brains.


Thanx Guys

 

[Skoora]

Re: Bassman LTD VS. Mesa Blue Angel

The Bassman for me but if you're the one who can A/B them in person none of us can tell you. Which one sounds better to you? If you can't try out the Mesa in person and you like the Bassman, get the Bassman. Mesa'a Fender like amps have always been nice but there's just something missing compared to the real deal.

I tried a 4x10 maverick that had a pretty nice clean channel but the OD channel was overly compressed and had no spank or space. It was weird to go from one big open and sweet sound to such a small sound with the flick of a switch.

Oh, you asked why. I've always hated the way Boogie's EQ doesn't "work" except for the treble knob. The Fender bassman has a much more responsive EQ which will make dialing in a Gibson or a Fender guitar a piece of cake.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Bassman LTD VS. Mesa Blue Angel

I've directly compared them, even owned them, and for overall quality of tone, when it comes to clean/pushed, the Bassman LTD beats the Mesa, but I think you should search for a better price on the LTD. You should be able to find one for closer to $800 used.

The Mesa has a looser and more compressed sound, and a bit more gain on tap, and a good idea of the tone is to listen to Kevin Eubanks from the Jay Leno Tonight Show Band. It's a good sounding amp that covers a bit more ground than the Bassman. However, for punchy glassy and big tone, I think the Bassman is better.

Another thing to consider is that I think humbuckers may fare better on the Blue Angel, while single coils will definitely prefer the Bassman LTD.

 

[Curly]

Re: Bassman LTD VS. Mesa Blue Angel

the Blue Angel CAN be a good sounding amp, but it does color your sound, and the bottom can lack a little fullness in the combos

for someone like me who is used to Fenders, the EQ takes a little getting used to, and even the documentation warns you that the EQ is different

they can be good amps, but I'd get the LTD -- assuming that your playing gigs where you can open up a 50 watt amp... that's a whole other consideration, since the BA is 15/33/38 watts.

 

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Re: Bassman LTD VS. Mesa Blue Angel

The Mesa has a looser and more compressed sound, and a bit more gain on tap, and a good idea of the tone is to listen to Kevin Eubanks from the Jay Leno Tonight Show Band. QUOTE]


Thanx, i'll look into him/them asap !


Also thank you very much to everyone else !
Great info guys !
Thanx !!!


. . . and keep it commin' !

 

[Rushfan2112]

Re: Bassman LTD VS. Mesa Blue Angel

Bassman with a boost, fuzz, trem, verb and delay.

 

[Baltar]

Re: Bassman LTD VS. Mesa Blue Angel

still gas for a bassman, which would be my choice.

 

[Hot _Grits]

Re: Bassman LTD VS. Mesa Blue Angel

I'd go for the Blue Angel. But then, I would say that, as I own one.

The advantages a blue angel has are a great reverb, and more tonal versatility. it has two distinct characters, as you can run it on 6v6s and EL84s just by flicking a switch. It's a great 'swiss army amp' in the studio for that reason. The BA also has a more tactile feel under the fingers than the bassman, which I tend to find a bit stiff. I've gigged and recorded my BA for more styles than you can count on your fingers over the last five years, and it's been a great amp to have. It's also completely unlike any other Mesa amp, and that's almost certainly why I like mine so much.

Mine also recently fell four feet onto a wooden floor and survived. I picked it up, checked the valves, turned it on, and it worked fine. Try doing that to a tweed fender reissue with pcb-mounted pots...

But they're very different amps. Try them and see what you like. Personally I'm not a tweed bassman guy, but you may be. The bassman may also be the better choice if you need more wattage.

But be warned: there are few things more satisfying in life than plugging into a Blue Angel, switching to EL84s and strumming an A7sus4 chord.

 

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Re: Bassman LTD VS. Mesa Blue Angel

Thank you guys !

. . . i'll try to test both as soon as i get to the States !

 

[Guitar Guy]

Re: Bassman LTD VS. Mesa Blue Angel

A friend of mine has the blue angel and it does sound pretty killer. The cool thing is that you can change the tubes that are in use from 6v6 to el84. Sounds good with pedals. Haven't heard/tried the bassman though it is also supposed to be a good amp. Personally i would take the blue angel but you sould really try them both to see what you like.

 

[OlinMusic]

Re: Bassman LTD VS. Mesa Blue Angel

HEY GUYS & HEY JOE

WOULD you use the BLUE ANGEL as a nice substitute for a Vox AC 30? How about an all in one Vox and Fender Deluxe Reverb substitute?

 

[Mincer]

Re: Bassman LTD VS. Mesa Blue Angel

i have a blue angel (with blue leather covering!) 1x12, and I love it...it likes pedals, and is the most touch sensitive amp i have ever used. mostly i use the 6v6 setting, but sounds great on any setting.

 

[Hot _Grits]

Re: Bassman LTD VS. Mesa Blue Angel

HEY GUYS & HEY JOE

WOULD you use the BLUE ANGEL as a nice substitute for a Vox AC 30? How about an all in one Vox and Fender Deluxe Reverb substitute?

It doesn't sound exactly like either amp, though I've fooled engineers in the studio. I used to take the Blue Angel and a Vibrolux into the studio and have three different tones at my disposal with just two amps.

And there's one major advantage a BA has over a Vox: reliability. I've seen more AC30s die at gigs than any other amp. My BA hasn't so much as crackled in five years, even after it's recent fall.

 

[34029324079]

Re: Bassman LTD VS. Mesa Blue Angel

bassman blackface head. old circuitry. = the shiznit

 

[drew_half_empty]

Re: Bassman LTD VS. Mesa Blue Angel

i'd go for the bassman

there's a reason it's one of the most famous & sought after amps ever made

 

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Re: Bassman LTD VS. Mesa Blue Angel

i'd go for the bassman

there's a reason it's one of the most famous & sought after amps ever made

Any hear to look into ?

Are there any Bassman heads that is on par with the 4x10 combo's ???

If i buy in the States, it MUST/WILL be a head, due to weight and size and excess airport restrictions !

Onve paid $330 excess for my suitcasses - never again !!!

 

[drew_half_empty]

Re: Bassman LTD VS. Mesa Blue Angel

the blonde heads are gonna be closest to the tweed combo

look for an early one with a tube rectifier, they'll sound the most like one. The ones with the ss rectifier are awesome, too

also blonde bandmasters are ballpark

 

[OlinMusic]

Re: Bassman LTD VS. Mesa Blue Angel

uuuuuuuugh I have always been so intrigued by Mesa amps

but everyone I have owned had me tweaking and tweaking because I couldn't get the good old Fender/Marshall sounds I live for.

As far as reliability, I agree as stated, they are built like TANKS

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Bassman LTD VS. Mesa Blue Angel

uuuuuuuugh I have always been so intrigued by Mesa amps

but everyone I have owned had me tweaking and tweaking because I couldn't get the good old Fender/Marshall sounds I live for.

That's the thing....I like the Blue Angel because it's one of the most organic sounding Mesas, but it still has a Mesa type sound to it. Fender, Vox, and Marshall have their individual sounds too.

I can't tell you how sick I am of hearing people say something like "I want that Marshall sound, but I don't want a Marshall. I want that Fender sound...what other companies sound like Fender? ETC ETC ETC. Stop mulling over copycats, is my only advise for them.....and buy exactly what you want. I sympathize with players in countries that have limited access to good gear though. I guess clips on the net would be their only recourse.

As for everyone else, LEARN WHAT SOUND YOU WANT, and then go buy the EXACT amp that spearheaded that sound. Or, try everything in the store, pick the one you can afford today, and be selling it in a year, to buy what you should have saved up for in the first place.