Mesa Boogie DC-5 opinions?

Matt42

Matt42

New member
There's one in a local pawn shop for $500, it's 1x12 wide body combo. I'm thinking about this for my girlfriend's fiddle (see my other posts about the reasons for wanting something like this, please don't tell me to just use a preamp or keyboard amp or whatever).

Mostly I'm curious about the cleans and the reverb, plus the overall build quality and value at $500. Being a Boogie, I'm sure it's excellent, but just want to cover my bases before we attempt to play it.
 
Re: Mesa Boogie DC-5 opinions?

i had one of those. Super clean sound. superb reverb. Loud too. Pretty awesome on all counts really. It had a superb singing lead tone too. plus you could switch the eq in and out on either channel.
In the end i sold it cos it was too good, too loud, too clean. I know that sounds stoopid but i wanted less headroom than the boogie offers and a warmer tone, so i downsized to a 22watt amp for straight ahead jazz tones. The only thing the booger could not do was a low wattage tweedy power tube saturation kind of tone. Actually thats not true---it could not sound like a marshall either, but i guess neither sound are really relevant in your case. The thing about all amps is no matter how good they may be...its all about being the one that best delivers your personal preferences right?
So as far as being an amazing amp....heck yes! that thing would be amazing for violin - especially with the eq being there - you'll have clarity, response and defintion by the truckload.
Do not hesitate! buy that amp!
 
Re: Mesa Boogie DC-5 opinions?

I have one, the Head version, reverb it's all tube but not very good in revision A, in rev B it's improved, cleans are great in both... B version is cleaner, A version is gainier. I can't believe they're 500$ over there.
 
Re: Mesa Boogie DC-5 opinions?

I poked around on Ebay to see how much they were selling for, and couldn't find anything. I'm going to go in tomorrow and see what I can work out with him as far as holding/demoing or something since my g/f wont get to try it out until this weekend, but I'm afraid that it will sell at that price.
 
Re: Mesa Boogie DC-5 opinions?

mine cost 2,000 aussie dollars. Sold it for 2,000 aussie dollars too! lol
just buy the ferkin thing!
 
Re: Mesa Boogie DC-5 opinions?

I had that amp for awhile when they were new. Very versatile, slightly compressed vs Mark series, probably something that makes it even better for your application.
 
Re: Mesa Boogie DC-5 opinions?

If that was in a pawn shop near me for that price I would have my wallet out in record time. I have five Mesa amps, including a DC-3, and they are just excellent. I always get positive comments on my tone.

It's a great club amp for the gigging guitarist, and it will provide years of service and many versatile tones.

Still, I don't think it is going to be right amp for amplifying that fiddle if you are seeking a natural tone, due to the high-frequency emphasis inherent in guitar amps. There are other ways to get tube tone, using more appropriate equipment. However, the built-in graphic EQ could be a big help in shaping the tone and eliminating feedback.

You won't really know until you try it.

But in my opinion, that is a heck of a deal on a great amp--even if it is the wrong one for your application.

Bill
 
Re: Mesa Boogie DC-5 opinions?

I use one as my main amp. It's pretty heavily modified, but still the same core amp.
The DC-5 is one of the most reliable amps you can find. Not quite the same build quality as the Mark I, II, & III, but still leaps and bounds better than modern Fender or Marshall.

I would buy it in a heartbeat for that price!
The EQ knobs are very expressive. If it doesn't sound right, try turning the treble and mids down with a violin. There is no wrong way to turn the knobs, you can't break anything.

Look on the Boogie Board www.forum.grailtone.com
There is a really great "Settings" database and lots of DC information.

When/if you get it, try the EQ knobs all set to 5 for starters. Don't try to max any of them out until you have tried the amp. I'm guessing that you will end up with something like this on the clean channel:
Gain - 3-5 (pushed in)
Treble - 3-5
Mids - 4-6
Bass - 5-7
Presence - 5 (this knob is very useful in taming highs)
Reverb - 4-5
Master - 3

I really don't think you can go wrong with a DC. They are extremely versatile and sound great!
If she is going to use FX in the loop, look on the Boogie Board for the "Loop Mod." It will turn the loop from parallel to series and make it much more useable.
 
Re: Mesa Boogie DC-5 opinions?

gibson175 said:
just buy the ferkin thing!
Click to expand...

After checking completed listings on ebay, I can likely flip it for what we are going to pay for it if for some reason it's not working. I'm taking in some trade fodder to see if I can work out a down payment.
 
Re: Mesa Boogie DC-5 opinions?

I went down and sold him my RC-20XL that I never use and some cash and put it on layaway. Good thing I did too, cause they only other guy who was interested was also in trying to barter a trade.

For $500, if my g/f doesn't like it, I'll let her use my HRD for a while and I'll take it! I plugged into it before buying, and man, it was awesome.
 
Re: Mesa Boogie DC-5 opinions?

I have the head version that was modded by Monsta Tone and it's fantastic. When I first got it I thought the gain on the lead channel was too grainy but that was probably due to my ignorance on how to EQ the thing.

The clean channel is very good and it has that pull on the gain that gets you into a good territory.

I've had mine since it was new in 97 and haven't had any issues with it. I gigged with it plenty of places and it's super reliable.

Good thing you grabbed it.
 
Re: Mesa Boogie DC-5 opinions?

Indeed. I feel like this will be a lifer amp. Especially at that price.

Two questions, what exactly does the pull on the gain do? I pulled it, and it seemed to just add a little bit to the gain. That seems logical, but I've long since learned not to take things at face value.

Also, I saw a 3 button footswitch on ebay that added reverb to the channel and EQ buttons, anyone used one of those? It has a 2 button, but I'd love to be able to switch the reverb off and on.
 
Re: Mesa Boogie DC-5 opinions?

check the back of the amp, you should find the input for any footswitch to turn on/off the reverb, BTW you have revision B... I know it because of your description of the FS
 
Re: Mesa Boogie DC-5 opinions?

I have a DC-5 widebody combo. It was a gift from my parents and will never be sold.

Great amp. LOTS of cool tones in that thing. Louder than hell though.
 
Re: Mesa Boogie DC-5 opinions?

I played through one when jamming with a friend. I really didn't like it. At the lower volume we played it really didn't do any good, neither with the cleans nor crunch. Some acceptable lead could be obtained but only with high gain. Overall it sounded very in-your-face.

I have seen them for $500 several times before.

I speculate that a different speaker might make it more acceptable to me but I have no reason to buy one in the first place.
 
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