Is it just me, or is Mesa really putting out the goods?

Binnerscot

Binnerscot

New member
Yeah, we know of the Mark I, the Mark IIC+, the Mark IV, the Recto. All are a bit iconic, but it just seems that Mesa keeps getting better.

It seems the range, quality, and price points of their wide line of amps is just tough to compete with. The more I read of the Electrodyne, the more I want to test drive one. It seems to have ended up in direct competion with the Bogner Shiva. Their bass amps are awesome (I have a Bass 400+ myself), and I really want to check out the M9 (though the V12 Titan is a monster it would need its own circuit at high volume).

It seems they have designed an amp for nearly every tone need that I have ever heard (well they could do a one channel amp with only one knob for volume and it would sound like VH1 though 1984, but the Stiletto gets me close enough).

It is getting harder and harder define the "Mesa" sound, they are all good, but very different from one another.
 
Re: Is it just me, or is Mesa really putting out the goods?

Yeah, they really have their bases covered. The Lone Star will get you those cleans, the Stiletto is a rock monster, the Recto series are as metal as it gets, the Electradyne (which I had the luck to try out) is a beautiful amp. They even have ''Jack of all Trades'' amps, like the Express series, for people like me that need every majoy tone type in a small package. Also, I really dig the range of cabs they have, from closed back, open or half, with great speakers, that just sound huge.

Also, I am not super familiar with Mesa even though I own one, but I will say that people tell me they have a reputation for being super reliable. Mine has been going strong for a year, and it has not let me down yet.

Also, freakin' props to Mesa as a company for their customer service! I had to deal with them, they are epic
 
Re: Is it just me, or is Mesa really putting out the goods?

I like the fact that Mesa is trying not to get locked into a certain sound or voice-they are trying to meet the needs of all guitar players. Other amp builders should take the same approach.
 
Re: Is it just me, or is Mesa really putting out the goods?

I tried out an Electradyne head a few weeks ago. all I can say is wow. I was never really a mesa fan but that amp changed my mind. I am not sure if it was the cab or what but the cleans were just as good as the Dr.z's I have owned. Thats says alot to me. I have been wanting to try the Stiletto ace but no one has one in stock.
 
Re: Is it just me, or is Mesa really putting out the goods?

man-in-moon said:
I tried out an Electradyne head a few weeks ago. all I can say is wow. I was never really a mesa fan but that amp changed my mind. I am not sure if it was the cab or what but the cleans were just as good as the Dr.z's I have owned. Thats says alot to me. I have been wanting to try the Stiletto ace but no one has one in stock.
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I'm no tone guru, but it's the best rock amp I've ever tried. Great volume control for home use, easy to dial in, and plenty of gain if that's what you need.

(I only try mainstream amps, no experience with stuff like Dr. Z's, etc.)
 
Re: Is it just me, or is Mesa really putting out the goods?

I've tried a few Mesas that I didn't like (a Mark III combo, a 5:50 combo, and an F50 combo) but in every case I found no fault with the quality of the amp in any way. I could see how someone would really enjoy any of them.

That said, I think Mesa's been knocking it out of the park lately. The Stilettos and the Lonestars are easily some of the best amps they've ever made. I also really dig the 5:25 (it's a much nicer amp than the 5:50). I've not played an Electra Dyne or a Mark V, but I've heard good things about both. And of course the Rectifier amps are modern classics.

My dream rig is my current Stiletto paired with a Lonestar combo. All the best aspects of 6L6 amps and EL34 amps in one four channel rig.
 
Re: Is it just me, or is Mesa really putting out the goods?

ratherdashing said:
I've tried a few Mesas that I didn't like (a Mark III combo, a 5:50 combo, and an F50 combo) but in every case I found no fault with the quality of the amp in any way. I could see how someone would really enjoy any of them.

That said, I think Mesa's been knocking it out of the park lately. The Stilettos and the Lonestars are easily some of the best amps they've ever made. I also really dig the 5:25 (it's a much nicer amp than the 5:50). I've not played an Electra Dyne or a Mark V, but I've heard good things about both. And of course the Rectifier amps are modern classics.

My dream rig is my current Stiletto paired with a Lonestar combo. All the best aspects of 6L6 amps and EL34 amps in one four channel rig.
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+1 to everything. The Stiletto is my dream amp. It might not be the most expensive or fancy amp out there, but it is pure rock.

I'm happy someone finally gets why I didn't get '' 25 extra watts on my express'', as a friend of mine had stated. The 5:25 is a completely different animal.
 
Re: Is it just me, or is Mesa really putting out the goods?

I found the F-30 to be for superior to the Express series for harder sounds. The F-30 has more gain than the 5:25 and was a little darker, the 5:25 as niice for rock/blueses type sounds.

I loved the rectoverb i played, dream would be a Rectoverb and Stiletto.
 
Re: Is it just me, or is Mesa really putting out the goods?

Top Jimmy said:
I found the F-30 to be for superior to the Express series for harder sounds. The F-30 has more gain than the 5:25 and was a little darker, the 5:25 as niice for rock/blueses type sounds.

I loved the rectoverb i played, dream would be a Rectoverb and Stiletto.
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Agreed. The F-30 sounds more like what you would expect from a modern amp, while the express sounds very, very vintage, even in the metal tones it puts out.
 
Re: Is it just me, or is Mesa really putting out the goods?

boogies are good. no doubt about it. Just choose the style of music you like and match up the amp. You can get more expesnsive, but not better.
 
Re: Is it just me, or is Mesa really putting out the goods?

Some day I'll have a lonestar in furniture grade wood to go along with the future Anderson or PRS in equally furniture grade wood that will actualy BE a piece of furniture in my living room. ;)

Until then I'll be content with my Road King.
 
Re: Is it just me, or is Mesa really putting out the goods?

PFDarkside said:
Some day I'll have a lonestar in furniture grade wood to go along with the future Anderson or PRS in equally furniture grade wood that will actualy BE a piece of furniture in my living room. ;)

Until then I'll be content with my Road King.
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Lol, and I would be 'content' if I drove a BMW M3.
 
Re: Is it just me, or is Mesa really putting out the goods?

man-in-moon said:
I tried out an Electradyne head a few weeks ago. all I can say is wow. I was never really a mesa fan but that amp changed my mind. I am not sure if it was the cab or what but the cleans were just as good as the Dr.z's I have owned. Thats says alot to me. I have been wanting to try the Stiletto ace but no one has one in stock.
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I really wish someone sould make a good long Utoob clip of the Electa Dyne.



James
 
Re: Is it just me, or is Mesa really putting out the goods?

SlowGroove said:
I really wish someone sould make a good long Utoob clip of the Electa Dyne.



James
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The demo video on the mesa site for the electra dyne is excellent. But then, you'd expect it to be... :approve:
 
Re: Is it just me, or is Mesa really putting out the goods?

357mag said:
Their stuff is way too expensive.
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Really?

Well, I guess it depends on what you are looking for. Mesa is meant to be a performer's amp, or a studio amp (in the case of some of their smaller models). You can easily get into mesa for around 2k, which isn't all that bad considering what you would be getting in that price range from other amp makers.

Sure, if you are looking to play in your living room they are expensive. But if you want something that will stand by you every gig, they aren't that bad in terms of price.
 
Re: Is it just me, or is Mesa really putting out the goods?

Heck, you can get into Mesa for less than $1k if you are patient enough to shop around for a good deal on a used amp.
 
Re: Is it just me, or is Mesa really putting out the goods?

Two thousand dollars is a huge amount of cash. You can get all tube Marshalls for under a thousand that will stand by you gig after gig just as well.
 
Re: Is it just me, or is Mesa really putting out the goods?

Mesas are expensive, yes; and not for everyone. Even so, they cram a lot of value into their amps.

I've owned vintage Marshalls and Fenders and Peaveys and Mesas. Hands down the best made amps of that group are the Mesas.

Factor in their overall desireability (which) keeps resale values high; and their low maintenance--the Mesa gives you more. That's VALUE.

Bill
 
Re: Is it just me, or is Mesa really putting out the goods?

my fav Mesa is still the RectoVerb combo with the 1x12 combo. I got a good Jazz tone out of the clean and the distortion was good as well. To me it did several things well.
:beerchug:
 
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