Do you think Mesa/Boogie amps are overpricd?

[GuitarGuy503]

Re: Do you think Mesa/Boogie amps are overpricd?

If anything Marshalls are overpriced. i had a 2005 DSL for a short period of time and the quality wasn't great. Thinking back before they got discontinued they were $1200+ amps. The stock transformers in those things are noisey and just plain junk. On the DSL I had the gold face plate in the back was starting to separate from the chassis. Not to mention the push buttons were wimpy and cheap. If anything I'd say Marshalls are overpriced new.

 

[apj]

Re: Do you think Mesa/Boogie amps are overpricd?

Mesas may carry a big price tag but the build quality is top notch
I had a DSL 40 that used to overheat big time and eventually it ended up shorting out and stopped working.
THe DSL 100 I had was fine, but for a $1000 combo overheating is unacceptable

 

[guitarded]

Re: Do you think Mesa/Boogie amps are overpricd?

They are known to be pretty reliable...... I think break downs that never happen are worth a few hundred bucks more than the other leading brand

 

[phil_104]

Re: Do you think Mesa/Boogie amps are overpricd?

I will not gig with anything else than a Mesa. They are a solid, reliable product that is backed by a company that values my loyalty. I've had issues with an amp once (a footpedal), and not only did they ship me a bran new one within a week, they also included a bonus pouch for it, and an extra cable for plugging it in.

I play a Stiletto Ace. I bought the floor model, as it was in 100% perfect condition, minus a bit a dust and a missing amp cover (I need a hard shell case for it anyways). It cost me 1650$, with taxes, out the door. I can't get a decent Marshall for near that price around here (2200 for the Marshall equivalent), and this one runs with the best of them. Best brit amp I have played.

And also, something I love about Mesa amps, specially those based on EL34 or EL84 tubes : the distortion is godly. I don't need to push it with anything else. The amp is made to be a gigging musician's workhorse, and is designed to stand on it's own.

They are not inexpensive. I will agree to that. But dollar for dollar, they might be one of the best values on the market. Sure you can get companies like Traynor that will give you a GREAT 100 watt head for under a grand, but the sound I am able to get from my Mesa is worth every penny. Actually looking at the Lonestar or Lonestar special right now... you know, for some different tones....

 

[Stef]

Re: Do you think Mesa/Boogie amps are overpricd?

yes

 

[UCSDBoy]

Re: Do you think Mesa/Boogie amps are overpricd?

I don't think it's over-priced at all for the build quality and the quality of tone. Back in the 80s, before jeans started getting made overseas, a new pair would run you over $50; that's just how much it costs to make things in America. Now I'm paying $30 for jeans, but I can tell you I don't think they're as good in quality and they're certainly not made here.

I don't think anything Seymour Duncan makes is overpriced, but if you compare it to what I would pay for a cheap stock pickup ripped out of a bargain guitar, then yeah it's expensive.

 

[UberMetalDood]

Re: Do you think Mesa/Boogie amps are overpricd?

I played around on the amp and it sounded pretty good, but not good enough to justify the price tag on it.QUOTE]

When you said this I immediately thought here we go again. Playing an amp at low volume inside a music store usually doesn't equate to a life changing experience. Especially Mesa Boogies. I had a Rectoverb that I ended up trading towards a Mark V and I wish I still had the Rectoverb.

It's not an easy amp to dial in. My Engl Screamer is easy, I just put all the controls at 12:00 and it sounds good. It was not that easy to dial in my Rectoverb. At the time I had my Mark V I started to want an easy amp, but now I can appreciate Mesas a lot more than I used to. I think the Rectoverb is one of the most overlooked great amps of this day and age.

I don't think Mesa Boogies are overpriced. I think they're a bargain compared to boutique brands. The Express 5:50 has got to be the best USA made amp you can buy for the money.

 

[Kam]

Re: Do you think Mesa/Boogie amps are overpricd?

Over here? Hell yeah.

 

[The JEM Ghost]

Re: Do you think Mesa/Boogie amps are overpricd?

I have liked Mesa for a pretty long period now, since I was a freaking teenager even, but up until today, never owned one, and that is mainly because of the pretty high prices they sell for.
"Over here" as Kam says above, in Europe, they are priced with heavy pricetags without doubt, you won't find much second hand, and if so, they do keep their value pretty well it seems.
That said, Mesa makes quality amps and I bet their customer service is pretty serious, as it needs to be as well (in contrary to many other firms).

 

[Uk Ant]

Re: Do you think Mesa/Boogie amps are overpricd?

Over here in Europe mesa's (and other overseas top notch brands) are just too expensive to even consider an option.
The cheapest one is the transatlantic TA-15 and that's £900 which about $1400, for a 15w amp. So would you buy that or for less money you could have an Engl fireball, Marshall JVM, vintage modern, DSL, TSL... which are all at least 50w. Ok, the Marshall's are not top notch quality by any standards. But, from what I've heard, those Engl's are built like tanks.
Now I do like my little Mesa express, but it's being chopped in for probably an Engl Thunder... I'll probably make money on that deal. Second hand 30W for a brand new 50w of almost comparable quality! Ok, the Mesa has more whistles and bells, which is great if you need em but it does make them complicated to use.
So in Europe they are just too expensive next to European competition, reverse the stakes and I'd probably be saying the same about Engl.
If, say,, an Engl Screamer and Mesa Express 5:50 were the same price I'd have to think long and hard about which to buy (and I the price would have to include Eng's footswitch baord, which adds an extra hundred notes). If it was between The mesa and say a Marshall... the Mesa would probably win mainly on build quality rather than it's versatility. There is no way I'd pay a premium for a Marshall... I think it's the cheap plastic dials.

 

[MesaDCLP]

Re: Do you think Mesa/Boogie amps are overpricd?

Everything Mesa makes is professional class. They tailor to the artist and not the crowd. The price is justified when you consider the quality of the build, tones possible, and features that will keep the amp versitile as you evolve your tastes over the years. Most features, you will find a happy place and live there for a while. Then as the years go by you go back and fiddle with the features and find a new happy place. This makes the amp never get boring. Considering the cost of a full tube change, the price margin between Mesa and other amps in the same class becomes nominal.

 

[eschoendorff]

Re: Do you think Mesa/Boogie amps are overpricd?

Nope. MESA/Boogie invests heavily in R&D and in their product. They deserve to make a healthy profit.

 

[Dirtyking]

Re: Do you think Mesa/Boogie amps are overpricd?

I love my rectoverb. It took some knob turning for sure, but once I got there HOLY ****!

 

[phil_104]

Re: Do you think Mesa/Boogie amps are overpricd?

I love my rectoverb. It took some knob turning for sure, but once I got there HOLY ****!

I think that's a big thing with Mesa. You gotta understand that it's a precise tool, and that you won't be able to just turn it on and have it sound exactly like you want. But if you do the research, pick the right model for you, and get to know it.... well, it could be the last thing you ever have to buy.

 

[eschoendorff]

Re: Do you think Mesa/Boogie amps are overpricd?

For me...Just too many switches and push/pull pots and knobs and I don't use their amps....I don't feel the products are overpriced though.

Another way to look at this... and, personally, this is what impressed me with my DC-5:

Yes, there are a ton of controls and, yes, you need to do some tweaking to get your sound. But what I found is that I discovered a LOT of really cool sounds in the process. I had no idea that any amp was capable of making so many different cool sounds!

Keeping a "tone journal" or using a camera to take pics of your settings - or - using an ipod touch or an iphone to take some video of your settings with some sounds in the background can all make the process easier to navigate and WAY more fun!

A Mesa amp is an amp that can grow with you as a musician.

 

[gordon_39422]

Re: Do you think Mesa/Boogie amps are overpricd?

For me...Just too many switches and push/pull pots and knobs and I don't use their amps....I don't feel the products are overpriced though.

There price isn't my chief complaint, although their gear is pricey... I hate that everytime Randall or someone on his team comes out with a new mod, it's patented... I don't see anyone being able to use his ideas and knock them off the block... In the world of music, musicians are rather generous and share ideas... I used a few different mods over the years, but only recently found that almost EVERY switch/button/pot on a MB is patented and buy selling the amps I breached several laws protecting his ideas... Maybe his extensive team of lawyers won't come after me! LOL!

 

[Luke Duke]

Re: Do you think Mesa/Boogie amps are overpricd?

There price isn't my chief complaint, although their gear is pricey... I hate that everytime Randall or someone on his team comes out with a new mod, it's patented... I don't see anyone being able to use his ideas and knock them off the block... In the world of music, musicians are rather generous and share ideas... I used a few different mods over the years, but only recently found that almost EVERY switch/button/pot on a MB is patented and buy selling the amps I breached several laws protecting his ideas... Maybe his extensive team of lawyers won't come after me! LOL!

If someone puts all the money and TIME (time=$$$) into developing a product how can you blame them for wanting to be the only company to use that product for as long as the law allows?

Additionally it makes NO business sense to allow someone to "knock you off the block". Smith's job is to make amps and does NOBODY favors by going out of business.

Finally musicians might be generous about helping one another learn a lick or riff, but Smith is not a mere musician. Smith is a President and CEO of a successful company employing many people, people who rely on him to keep their jobs to some extent. Besides....in the 70s EVH turned around toward Alex where no one could see what he was doing because he wanted to keep his edge.

Luke

 

[misterwhizzy]

Re: Do you think Mesa/Boogie amps are overpricd?

There price isn't my chief complaint, although their gear is pricey... I hate that everytime Randall or someone on his team comes out with a new mod, it's patented... I don't see anyone being able to use his ideas and knock them off the block... In the world of music, musicians are rather generous and share ideas... I used a few different mods over the years, but only recently found that almost EVERY switch/button/pot on a MB is patented and buy selling the amps I breached several laws protecting his ideas... Maybe his extensive team of lawyers won't come after me! LOL!

I don't know much about your playing style, but I think Bugera may just have the sound for you.

 

[glassman]

Re: Do you think Mesa/Boogie amps are overpricd?

There price isn't my chief complaint, although their gear is pricey... I hate that everytime Randall or someone on his team comes out with a new mod, it's patented... I don't see anyone being able to use his ideas and knock them off the block... In the world of music, musicians are rather generous and share ideas... I used a few different mods over the years, but only recently found that almost EVERY switch/button/pot on a MB is patented and buy selling the amps I breached several laws protecting his ideas... Maybe his extensive team of lawyers won't come after me! LOL!

You're safe. Nearly all of Mesa's patents have expired or are due to expire within the year (IIRC). I researched all his patents a year and a half ago to make certain I wasn't stepping on any toes with my amps.

Mesas are pretty well made...there are a few things I would change if it were up to me but all in all, they are very durable. They are remarkably engineered though. For a high gain amp, you won't find a more stable circuit. I will admit that my opinion of current Mesa amps is tainted because I have been servicing amps long enough to have been inside quite a few of the very early Mesa amps...the ones in Fender chassis. Those amps could survive a nuclear explosion! 1/4" glass epoxy boards with huge traces. The new amps don't stack up to those early ones durability wise...neither do any of the other amps out there.

 

[Kam]

Re: Do you think Mesa/Boogie amps are overpricd?

I don't know much about your playing style, but I think Bugera may just have the sound for you.

:lmao: