marshall or messa boogie?

[MDS]

Re: marshall or messa boogie?

I'll echo much of what has been said. I'm a huge fan of Mesa amplifiers. Well made, super versatile(depending on the model, of course), and flat out great tone. I've used mine in myriad professional environments for 10 years and swear by it. That said, it does not do Marshall tone.

I'm jonesin' for a JCM of some kind so I can get that Marshall lead sound. My current solution is a Tonebone Hot British, which is a good approximation. If I were to do it again I'd still go for the Mesa. Most Marshalls don't have a clean sound I like, though I was suprised by a recent run through a JCM2000.

Bottom line: Apples vs. Oranges. If you tend to like bands that use the Marshall sound, go for a Marshall. If you're into bands that use Mesa's, use a Mesa. If you're not sure, I'd recommend the Mesa because of its versatility and ultra reliability.

Good luck!

Mike

 

[Tom M]

Re: marshall or messa boogie?

I'll take Marshall guitar amps over Mesa guitar amps, but I'll take Mesa bass amps over anything.

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: marshall or messa boogie?

Honestly, both. I like both Marshall and Mesa amps and I respect each for their different territory.

Marshalls have *the* classic rock tone to my ears. They also kick for a lot of modern rock and roll too!

Mesa amps are after more high gain oriented stuff. I hear it on a lot of metal recordings that I like and a lot more modern rock stuff is being played with them. If you like those styles at all, you'll tend to like Mesa. Some Mesa I don't care about, some other ones (like the Tremoverb or F series), I tend to dig more.

It's easy to bash one or the other, but they're both capable of some fantastic tones and should not be dismissed because they are "popular".

 

[Mephis]

Re: marshall or messa boogie?

Marshall! I like mesa, but its not verstile enough.

 

[Robert S.]

Re: marshall or messa boogie?

I've never heard anyone claim that Marshalls were more versatile than Mesas. I'd be interested in hearing that opinion expanded.

Historically Marshalls have been single channel amps for the most part. True the 2205/10s the 900s and now the DSL and TSL lines are multi-channel but IMHO the best of those is the DSL and the clean tones on those while quite useable doesn't touch most Mesas clean channels. I'm still holding on to the opinion that the best sounding Marshalls are the single channel pre-1985 amps. You only get one channel but the tone is usually all there. Those earlier Marshalls aren't high gain monsters but add a OD or distortion pedal in front of them and they get mean sounding very quick.

Most Mesas are channel switching with the exception of the Mark I and another model or two and their product line is far deeper than Marshall offers. Sure Marshall has their less expensive AVT and MG lines among others but comparing those amps to thier older cousins or anything in the Mesa line is a stretch. Short of sounding like a Marshall, if you can't find killer tone and versatility in Mesa amps you haven't played enough of their line.

I love both makers and I own a Marshall 2203 as well as a fairly substantial Mesa rack. I wouldn't trade or sell either of them as they both sound incredible.

I just wouldn't call the 800 versatile. Wicked, evil, obnoxious, child-scaring, infertility-causing and deafening perhaps but not versatile.

 

[Naps]

Re: marshall or messa boogie?

I've never heard anyone claim that Marshalls were more versatile than Mesas. I'd be interested in hearing that opinion expanded.

+1

Also, I kind of feel that Marshalls have been the staple of most of the rock music for the past 40 years. It's a tone that has been done and over done, and Marshall hasn't really improved/change it much. Marshalls, IMO, help you sound great. It's just that great sound that makes it really easy to imulate a common genre since you're getting that sound. With Mesa (and I know that they are use alot also) they are more versital and can offer a player/writer a new avenue that a Marshall can't. Marshall is like Main St. and Mesa is like the the main roads to the subdivisions, it can just take you more places.

 

[jake_xms3_punk]

Re: marshall or messa boogie?

if you could only buy one which one? i play a lot of punk/ska/reggae in my band so i need a good versatile amp with good cleans and good distortions! what make/model would you recomend?

 

[Hot _Grits]

Re: marshall or messa boogie?

Well, for your needs I'd check out the mesa f50/f100, the single/dual rec and the Marshall dsl 50 to start.

It all depends on what sound you like. You basically need to get to a shop and try them out for yourself. Do a little research by finding out what the guitarists in the bands you like use.