Mesa Boogie Mark Tones on a Budget
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Boogie Bill
New member
Re: Mesa Boogie Mark Tones on a Budget
I've never had ANY problem running pedals in the loop of any of my Mesas. Delays, pitch shifter, tremolo...but I run my PH-1r into the input.
And I don't get the "too many knobs" comment about Mesas. Jeez, people...got a smart phone? A computer? A car? A pedal board with more than two pedals? I'm no Einstein, but I can figure it out. And the Mark 5:25 was maybe the easiest of all--I had both channels producing great tones in under five minutes. I jam with a guy who has about 1.2 acres of pedals, spends HOURS (if not DAYS) setting it up and tweaking them, yet he constantly rails against my amps because they are "TOO COMPLICATED!" He's defeated before he even starts because of his attitude. I won't let things like this beat me.
And his tone is okay, but to me it's a little flat and blah, and not as organic as my amps. He plays a Hot Rod Fender, and it's been in the shop so many times, he easily could have afforded a pro-quality amp.
So, keep an open mind. I've used a Mesa amp since about 1994, and couldn't be happier, but I know that they're not for everyone or every situation. But if they interest you, don't let a few extra knobs and a defeatist attitude stop you from trying one or two.
Bill
I've never had ANY problem running pedals in the loop of any of my Mesas. Delays, pitch shifter, tremolo...but I run my PH-1r into the input.
And I don't get the "too many knobs" comment about Mesas. Jeez, people...got a smart phone? A computer? A car? A pedal board with more than two pedals? I'm no Einstein, but I can figure it out. And the Mark 5:25 was maybe the easiest of all--I had both channels producing great tones in under five minutes. I jam with a guy who has about 1.2 acres of pedals, spends HOURS (if not DAYS) setting it up and tweaking them, yet he constantly rails against my amps because they are "TOO COMPLICATED!" He's defeated before he even starts because of his attitude. I won't let things like this beat me.
And his tone is okay, but to me it's a little flat and blah, and not as organic as my amps. He plays a Hot Rod Fender, and it's been in the shop so many times, he easily could have afforded a pro-quality amp.
So, keep an open mind. I've used a Mesa amp since about 1994, and couldn't be happier, but I know that they're not for everyone or every situation. But if they interest you, don't let a few extra knobs and a defeatist attitude stop you from trying one or two.
Bill
Ascension
Well-known member
Re: Mesa Boogie Mark Tones on a Budget
Boogies are well know to be very effects friendly amps it's sort of like the Duncan/Dimarzio thing. Duncans / with few effects and Marshalls for more the purest tube tones Boogies effects and Dimarzios for a more high tec tone.
I run both set ups depending on the gig.
Same here Bill. In fact I always run my 2 Boogies with time effects in the loops like digital verbs , Delays and Chorus and don't care so much for the crunch tones of these amps WITHOUT effects!!
Boogies are well know to be very effects friendly amps it's sort of like the Duncan/Dimarzio thing. Duncans / with few effects and Marshalls for more the purest tube tones Boogies effects and Dimarzios for a more high tec tone.
I run both set ups depending on the gig.
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uOpt
Something Cool
Re: Mesa Boogie Mark Tones on a Budget
Mercedes shouldn't be taken as a typical example of German car engineering for reliability. They had... unusual... patterns during long periods of time.
I take a honest BMW leaking coolant twice a year or a Porsche blowing up the engine with the IMS bearing failing any time over those stunts that Mercedes pulled.
Mercedes shouldn't be taken as a typical example of German car engineering for reliability. They had... unusual... patterns during long periods of time.
I take a honest BMW leaking coolant twice a year or a Porsche blowing up the engine with the IMS bearing failing any time over those stunts that Mercedes pulled.
SirJackdeFuzz
New member
Re: Mesa Boogie Mark Tones on a Budget
To hand build/hand wire a Super Lead / Bass, JCM800, JTM45 is easy for a reputable amp builder.
But trying to hand build/hand wire a Mesa Road King, or even a Mesa MK5 . . . well, i dont think it is possible.
To hand build/hand wire a Super Lead / Bass, JCM800, JTM45 is easy for a reputable amp builder.
But trying to hand build/hand wire a Mesa Road King, or even a Mesa MK5 . . . well, i dont think it is possible.
SirJackdeFuzz
New member
regan
New member
Re: Mesa Boogie Mark Tones on a Budget
Perhaps too complicated was a poor choice of phrase it's not so much theres too many knobs for me to figure out, more that I can't stop meddling, & the more controls on the amp the less time I spend on the guitar.
I asked about the fx loop because in the express manual it recomends rack mount fx only in the loop, I'm not a fan of multi fx for the reasons above & like to have only 2-3 pedals max, most pedals sound ok in front of the amp except delay
Perhaps too complicated was a poor choice of phrase it's not so much theres too many knobs for me to figure out, more that I can't stop meddling, & the more controls on the amp the less time I spend on the guitar.
I asked about the fx loop because in the express manual it recomends rack mount fx only in the loop, I'm not a fan of multi fx for the reasons above & like to have only 2-3 pedals max, most pedals sound ok in front of the amp except delay
treyhaislip
Well-known member
Re: Mesa Boogie Mark Tones on a Budget
Mesa DC-5–Clean channel of a Mark series and Gain channel of a Rectifier. Great amp and can be found used for that figure
Mesa DC-5–Clean channel of a Mark series and Gain channel of a Rectifier. Great amp and can be found used for that figure
Boogie Bill
New member
Re: Mesa Boogie Mark Tones on a Budget
Here's a few that might work:
The DC-2, -3, -5. As suggested above. Killer amps, I have a -3 combo and with my matching 112 EVM Thiele cab, there's very few styles or venues I can't cover. There's also a 100- watt DC-10.
NOMAD series was the next-gen of the Dual Calibre amps, with three channels. Gain channels can be a little fizzy, but I see club guys use these amps all the time and they sound pretty good. The 45 and the rare 100-watt 112s are my favs.
F-SERIES amps have a Fender BF-based preamp in the clean channel, yet the drive channel still sings like a Mesa. Another great club amp for classic rock, blues or country; these are one of the simplest Mesa amps to set-up.
Maverick, Heartbreaker, Trem-o-verb, Stiletto Ace and Lonestars will be available will be available in the $700-1,000 range. Stiletto has a definite Marshall flavor. Heartbreaker is close to a Fender and a Marshall in the same cab. Maverick is Class A and probably has the least gain in the drive channel. I have the 212 combo, and it will get AC-30, Twin and Plexi tones. And I push the LEAD channel with a boost, and it will sing like a Mark Series. Trem-o-verb is another amp that can cop the vibe of several other amps. A real classic.
Mark IV's will run a little more, but they have tremendous versatility, especially in controlling the power amp. I love my Mark IV. You should be able to find a Mark II-B in your price range, but I prefer the Mark III. I have a red, a blue and a no-stripe Coliseum head. If you get a III, try to find one that is "loaded"--EQ, REV, EVM, and Simul-Class. Most guys will only use two channels live, but if you find the sweet spot all three channels are very usable. Use the recommended settings and you WILL have great tones. My only nit with the III is that the reverb is a little weak, but since I don't do much "surf", it's fine for what I do.
The .22 and the .50 Calibres are not my favorites for live use, but in the studio they work very well. The + models are better live, but the shared controls require some compromise. My III's also share controls, but with the AUTO EQ and the PULL SHIFT controls, it's easier to dial in tones and move between single coil and 2HB guitars.
I've also bought a Mark V combo that I use with a 112 V-30 Wide-Body cab, and recently bought a Mark V:25 mini stack. The mini was incredibly easy to set up. The big Mark V is definitely more complicated. Dialled in the Clean channel instantly, but the Crunch and Lead channels have made me work harder to find EXACT tones. BUT...all the settings I've tried sound really good. Each channel has three modes, and each channel can go from 10--45--90 watts. So it's really like having 27 different amps. It does take time and commitment to suss it out, but it's worth it...I'm really digging the tones.
Bill
Here's a few that might work:
The DC-2, -3, -5. As suggested above. Killer amps, I have a -3 combo and with my matching 112 EVM Thiele cab, there's very few styles or venues I can't cover. There's also a 100- watt DC-10.
NOMAD series was the next-gen of the Dual Calibre amps, with three channels. Gain channels can be a little fizzy, but I see club guys use these amps all the time and they sound pretty good. The 45 and the rare 100-watt 112s are my favs.
F-SERIES amps have a Fender BF-based preamp in the clean channel, yet the drive channel still sings like a Mesa. Another great club amp for classic rock, blues or country; these are one of the simplest Mesa amps to set-up.
Maverick, Heartbreaker, Trem-o-verb, Stiletto Ace and Lonestars will be available will be available in the $700-1,000 range. Stiletto has a definite Marshall flavor. Heartbreaker is close to a Fender and a Marshall in the same cab. Maverick is Class A and probably has the least gain in the drive channel. I have the 212 combo, and it will get AC-30, Twin and Plexi tones. And I push the LEAD channel with a boost, and it will sing like a Mark Series. Trem-o-verb is another amp that can cop the vibe of several other amps. A real classic.
Mark IV's will run a little more, but they have tremendous versatility, especially in controlling the power amp. I love my Mark IV. You should be able to find a Mark II-B in your price range, but I prefer the Mark III. I have a red, a blue and a no-stripe Coliseum head. If you get a III, try to find one that is "loaded"--EQ, REV, EVM, and Simul-Class. Most guys will only use two channels live, but if you find the sweet spot all three channels are very usable. Use the recommended settings and you WILL have great tones. My only nit with the III is that the reverb is a little weak, but since I don't do much "surf", it's fine for what I do.
The .22 and the .50 Calibres are not my favorites for live use, but in the studio they work very well. The + models are better live, but the shared controls require some compromise. My III's also share controls, but with the AUTO EQ and the PULL SHIFT controls, it's easier to dial in tones and move between single coil and 2HB guitars.
I've also bought a Mark V combo that I use with a 112 V-30 Wide-Body cab, and recently bought a Mark V:25 mini stack. The mini was incredibly easy to set up. The big Mark V is definitely more complicated. Dialled in the Clean channel instantly, but the Crunch and Lead channels have made me work harder to find EXACT tones. BUT...all the settings I've tried sound really good. Each channel has three modes, and each channel can go from 10--45--90 watts. So it's really like having 27 different amps. It does take time and commitment to suss it out, but it's worth it...I'm really digging the tones.
Bill
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allbutromeo
New member
Re: Mesa Boogie Mark Tones on a Budget
I also forgot about the Mesa Trans Atlantic series. Channel 1 has normal and Top boost modes. They are both Vox based, but sound good. Channel 2 has 3 modes, Tweed which can go from clean to classic od, Hi 1 which is a high gain Brit (Marshall) tone, and Hi 2 which is a Boogie based high gain channel. TA-15s(25w) can be found in your price range and sometimes the occasional TA30 (40w).
I also forgot about the Mesa Trans Atlantic series. Channel 1 has normal and Top boost modes. They are both Vox based, but sound good. Channel 2 has 3 modes, Tweed which can go from clean to classic od, Hi 1 which is a high gain Brit (Marshall) tone, and Hi 2 which is a Boogie based high gain channel. TA-15s(25w) can be found in your price range and sometimes the occasional TA30 (40w).
Boogie Bill
New member
Re: Mesa Boogie Mark Tones on a Budget
TAs are very cool!
Bill
TAs are very cool!
Bill
MkIII Renegade
New member
Re: Mesa Boogie Mark Tones on a Budget
I think it's worth saving a little longer to go for the mighty MkIII. True, it takes some time to tweak it enough to use all 3 channels at once, but the tones it produces are as good as any. In fact, I like the MkIII lead channel better than my MkIV's. And it's insanely LOUD. It's a pro-level amp. :argh::headbang:
I think it's worth saving a little longer to go for the mighty MkIII. True, it takes some time to tweak it enough to use all 3 channels at once, but the tones it produces are as good as any. In fact, I like the MkIII lead channel better than my MkIV's. And it's insanely LOUD. It's a pro-level amp. :argh::headbang:
