Mesa discontinues the Express line

[dr0]

I was looking to get a picture for another thread and went to the Mesa page and discovered, much to my surprise, that they have discontinued the Express line of amps, all of them.

They don't show up on the "Amps" home page, and if you search for "Express" you will find the pages clearly marked "Out of Production".



They were on my short list, maybe still are, I'm not totally opposed to buying used, but the attraction was the low price for a new amp. In a used Mesa I might look for something else.

I wonder why they discontinued these? Were they cannibalizing the sales of their higher end models?

In any case, RIP Mesa Express Plus!


Mesa 5:50 Express Plus head, recently deceased!

 

[CaptainWhizz]

Re: Mesa discontinues the Express line

Can you pick up an end-of-run clearout bargain?

 

[Swampy]

Re: Mesa discontinues the Express line

I absolutely loved my Expeess 5:25 combo, but now it has a strange crackle that no one can figure out. I’ve had it to two local amp techs. One is an authorized dealer/repair. Both amazing at what they do. But appearently Mesa is a real pain in the a$$ when you try to get answers and “accurate” schematics. I now have to send it to the next closest authorized Mesa tech in Tampa.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Mesa discontinues the Express line

I absolutely loved my Expeess 5:25 combo, but now it has a strange crackle that no one can figure out. I’ve had it to two local amp techs. One is an authorized dealer/repair. Both amazing at what they do. But appearently Mesa is a real pain in the a$$ when you try to get answers and “accurate” schematics. I now have to send it to the next closest authorized Mesa tech in Tampa.

My 5:25 has the same crackle. Not there until you hit a note. Was actually gonna take it in to the Boogie shop tomorrow (if they are open).

 

[Swampy]

Re: Mesa discontinues the Express line

Please let me know what they find out. Like I said, the guys I had look at them are stumped.

 

[justFred]

Re: Mesa discontinues the Express line

Have you tried running a cable directly from effects loop in to effects loop out?
Common problem in some MBs, connectors on effects loop get grunge.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Mesa discontinues the Express line

Please let me know what they find out. Like I said, the guys I had look at them are stumped.

I will let you know. I'm warning you now, though, I might not actually get around to it for a while, though.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Mesa discontinues the Express line

I have to ask...what was the Express line's "thing"? What was it known for?

 

[dave74]

Re: Mesa discontinues the Express line

I always considered them a scaled-down simplified mark,,,,,,,but now since they have several smaller mark-versions the express is no longer filling a hole.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Mesa discontinues the Express line

I have to ask...what was the Express line's "thing"? What was it known for?

For me:

- Wide palette without being cumbersome. Goes from sparkly clean up to tons of gain...yet because each of the two channels has two sub-channels, the super high gain sub-channel (which I will never use) doesn't get in the way or sit there taking up panel space with knobs I'll never use.

- Power switching: 5W class A and and full power class AB on the original models. Plus models added a half power class A mode as well. I never use the 5W mode, but the 25W class A mode on the 5:50 Plus is one of the most wonderful and glorious sounding amp circuits I've ever played. The 15W class A mode on the 5:25 is really good too (but doesn't have the spine tingling wallop of the 25W class A mode on the 5:50).

- Easy to suss controls, for a Boogie. I hate knob fiddling generally, but I like it on this amp. The layout is great, and the controls work very intuitively to shape tone.

- All the good features with none of the excess: solo boost via foot switch, two foot switchable channels (each with two hand switchable "sub-channels"), reverb. On the Plus models: foot switchable graphic e.q. is a HUGE feature. I can make great use of ALL that stuff...and it doesn't have a thing on it I don't use.

- Relatively inexpensive.

- Good looking.

It's like all the stuff I want from a highly featured amp, and nothing more...so I didn't feel like I was overpaying for stuff I didn't need.

They replaced the F Series, which I also loved. The Express made that better, then the Express Plus just took the cake with its awesome extra features (half power class A modes and foot switching graphic e.q.).

The only thing it lacks for my taste is tremolo...but I have my Shape Shifter for that, which is a great sounding pedal (and which is actually reliable now that I replaced most of the craptastic basic electrical components like switches, jacks, etc.).

I'm sad the Express Plus line is going away. I really really wanted to custom order a 5:50 some day. Of course I can still get one, but not to spec any more.

 

[Swampy]

Re: Mesa discontinues the Express line

I will let you know. I'm warning you now, though, I might not actually get around to it for a while, though.

That’s fine. This has been going on for almost two years, so.....

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Mesa discontinues the Express line

I had a Carvin MTS 3212 that had that problem. would hit a note and it would crackle. had it retubed and had a local tech work on it for several months . never could figure it out. sold it... curious to see what you guys find out..

 

[Ben1962]

Re: Mesa discontinues the Express line

Excellent info as always

 

[stratguy23]

Re: Mesa discontinues the Express line

I'm not surprised. I had an Express 5:25+, and while it was certainly good, it was fiddly and time consuming to dial in, in classic Mesa fashion.

I feel that the Rectoverb 25 and 50 covers the same wide ground (pristine cleans up to high gain) but with much more simplicity and user-friendliness.

Used Rectoverbs are readily had now at Express prices, i.e., entry level for Mesa amps, rendering obsolete the Express for that purpose.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Mesa discontinues the Express line

For me:

- Wide palette without being cumbersome. Goes from sparkly clean up to tons of gain...yet because each of the two channels has two sub-channels, the super high gain sub-channel (which I will never use) doesn't get in the way or sit there taking up panel space with knobs I'll never use.

- Power switching: 5W class A and and full power class AB on the original models. Plus models added a half power class A mode as well. I never use the 5W mode, but the 25W class A mode on the 5:50 Plus is one of the most wonderful and glorious sounding amp circuits I've ever played. The 15W class A mode on the 5:25 is really good too (but doesn't have the spine tingling wallop of the 25W class A mode on the 5:50).

- Easy to suss controls, for a Boogie. I hate knob fiddling generally, but I like it on this amp. The layout is great, and the controls work very intuitively to shape tone.

- All the good features with none of the excess: solo boost via foot switch, two foot switchable channels (each with two hand switchable "sub-channels"), reverb. On the Plus models: foot switchable graphic e.q. is a HUGE feature. I can make great use of ALL that stuff...and it doesn't have a thing on it I don't use.

- Relatively inexpensive.

- Good looking.

It's like all the stuff I want from a highly featured amp, and nothing more...so I didn't feel like I was overpaying for stuff I didn't need.

They replaced the F Series, which I also loved. The Express made that better, then the Express Plus just took the cake with its awesome extra features (half power class A modes and foot switching graphic e.q.).

The only thing it lacks for my taste is tremolo...but I have my Shape Shifter for that, which is a great sounding pedal (and which is actually reliable now that I replaced most of the craptastic basic electrical components like switches, jacks, etc.).

I'm sad the Express Plus line is going away. I really really wanted to custom order a 5:50 some day. Of course I can still get one, but not to spec any more.

All of these points sound reasonable, and something I dig in amps, too. Is there another line replacing them?

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Mesa discontinues the Express line

That’s fine. This has been going on for almost two years, so.....

I'm assuming your amp shop already tried new tubes. These amps seem to destroy tubes with a vengeance. I am on my fourth set of power tubes, and I haven't put all that many hours on the amp. Yet another reason why I wish I had got the 5:50 instead. 6L6's are far more hearty than EL-84's IME.

 

[mwalluk]

Re: Mesa discontinues the Express line

Not totally surprised by this, seems like that's what Mesa does. They release some killer amps (if it's not a Recto or Mark series), it'll probably get discontinued.

Examples Blue Angel, Eletra Dyne, Express, F series, Lone Star, Nomad, Verb (Tremoverb/rectoverb), Road King, Roadster, Stiletto, Transatlantic, etc.

 

[PAPADON]

Re: Mesa discontinues the Express line

Here's a photo of the deceased.