Mesa Rack or Mesa Combo? whats better?

[Grandor]

I'm looking at boogie gear. :32:

I'm wondering , what would be better? :dance:

Mesa Mark 3 simulclass?
Mesa Mark 4?
Mesa 50:50 and Triaxis?
Mesa 2:90 and Triaxis?

:smack:


I'm thinking of the long term (would i want to be lugging around a half-rack down the track (bulkiness etc), and obtaining a 4x12 cab etc.

The main issues are VERSATILIY but above all else - TONE.

Some votes and comments/help please?

 

[ishmun]

Re: Mesa Rack or Mesa Combo? whats better?

2:90 and triaxis is the best option man

most versatility

but also quite costly

the 2:90 used to be the flagship poweramp of boogie - but i think its still the msot versitile. i find the 2:100 is catered more to the metal market. the 2:90 can do the lot!

Ishan

 

[lastwinj]

Re: Mesa Rack or Mesa Combo? whats better?

none

germ

 

[Zerberus]

Re: Mesa Rack or Mesa Combo? whats better?

I personally don´t like anything that came after the Mark series, notable exceptions are the V-Twin preamps (rack + floor), Bottle Rocket and F-series

 

[Jeff5]

Re: Mesa Rack or Mesa Combo? whats better?

I have a Mesa 50/50 and I love it. Honestly I don't know how you can even come close to using the power of a 2 90/2 100! 50/50 is about equivalent to a 100 watt head as its 50 watts per cab, which a 100 watt head will give you, unless I'm mistaken. Also, Mesas are insanely loud. I usually play mine on the 15 watt setting, and for jamming on my own I can't go past 5 or 6 without it being overwhelming. (and breaking all the dishes in my house!) I have no experience with the triaxis unfortunately. I've always been a rack kind of guy, just what I grew up with. Nothing wrong with heads etc. though.

 

[Burkwieser]

Re: Mesa Rack or Mesa Combo? whats better?

I have a Mesa 50/50 and I love it. Honestly I don't know how you can even come close to using the power of a 2 90/2 100! 50/50 is about equivalent to a 100 watt head as its 50 watts per cab, which a 100 watt head will give you, unless I'm mistaken. Also, Mesas are insanely loud. I usually play mine on the 15 watt setting, and for jamming on my own I can't go past 5 or 6 without it being overwhelming. (and breaking all the dishes in my house!) I have no experience with the triaxis unfortunately. I've always been a rack kind of guy, just what I grew up with. Nothing wrong with heads etc. though.

I agree with Jeff5 about 50 watts being enough.

I would suggest an Egnater M4 or a Randall RM4 preamp. There is some much versatility there you can't even imagine. I really try to stress that everytime someone is asking about what preamp they should get. Trust me, and try it.

As far as a power amp I think you would deffinently want something 2 channel. I run a two channel with 6L6 and EL34s. One that I would sugest is the Randall RT2/50. Randall is known for there solid state, but this is a tube power amp designed by Bruce Egnater and Randall. Really I don't even consider it a Randall made product. It is in its own class. The two things that makes this power amp shine above the rest, is that you can easily bias it yourself. You even know which tube has gone bad. If you play live you can change the tube, have it biased, and you are ready to rock again in 5 minutes. I wish more amps were like that. The second according to Bruce, is the reliability. He said that is the beauty of the product.

So, check them out. Hope that helped.

 

[crazytooguy]

Another great combination - TriAxis and 20/20

Another great combination - TriAxis and 20/20

I use this setup and I've never wanted for more power. You would think that 20W a side would be feeble - Wrong! Unless you're playing to stadiums, I doubt you'll ever need more power than the 20/20 produces. And I like its sound better than the bigger power amps. The TriAxis is THE preamp - nothing I've tried comes even close to its sound and versatility. I play a lot of different styles, so being versatile is really important. I use a stereo 4-10 cabinet, which gives me more punch and bite than a 4-12 does. If you look around for used Mesa stuff (which there is a lot of) you can get the Triaxis and 20/20 for around $1500 for both - about what a good head costs. I really like rack separates. I think they help define a sound that you can set up to be all your own.

 

[mrid]

Re: Mesa Rack or Mesa Combo? whats better?

I've owned a Mesa Mark 4 and a Mesa Quad (Mark IIC+ and Mark III preamp), and I have to say that I prefer the Mark 4.

 

[Metalman_666]

Re: Mesa Rack or Mesa Combo? whats better?

I think you can't beat a good mark head and cab. Mark III's are supposed to be great, too

 

[Robert S.]

Re: Mesa Rack or Mesa Combo? whats better?

I have had a few amps come and go over the years and the Triaxis/2:90 is the only amp I wouldn't consider selling, ever.

For me it does it all, and does it all extremely well. Great cleans, awesome pushed tones, killer Mark tones and I'd be absolutely lost without the lead I red channel.

Seemless silent switching, sweepable parameters in real time, 8 preamp channels and 9 poweramp voices. Everything from beautiful to brutal.

With the Mesa shock mount racks, wireless unit and effects I have over $7k into that amp and I can hear every dollar. If I could find a better amp I would buy it , but it aint out there.

 

[Grandor]

Re: Mesa Rack or Mesa Combo? whats better?

I'm leaning towards the triaxis and SimulClass2:90 and a Behnringer midi board (to change triaxis patches).

Are there any downfalls to this setup?

 

[some_dude]

Re: Mesa Rack or Mesa Combo? whats better?

I run the Recto Pre and 2:100.

I really like the 2:100, but I think it's definatly voiced for the Recto Pre.

If I was looking to buy the Triaxis I'd go 2:90, but that's just me....

 

[Hot _Grits]

Re: Mesa Rack or Mesa Combo? whats better?

have you thought about the road king?

 

[Robert S.]

Re: Mesa Rack or Mesa Combo? whats better?

None Grandor though I prefer the Rocktron MidiMate as a controller.

 

[ishmun]

Re: Mesa Rack or Mesa Combo? whats better?

I'm leaning towards the triaxis and SimulClass2:90 and a Behnringer midi board (to change triaxis patches).

Are there any downfalls to this setup?

theres no probs with that midi controller at all man - its cheap and it works great

my main concern with the unit is how it interacts with effects units - it was limited to how many on/off changes it could make, but if u wanna kno more, do a bit of ringing around and see if theyve upgraded the software


i think this feature is also important because the triaxis' controls can also be manipulated by ur midi controller - so the more expandable/versitile the controller, the more on the fly options with your amp setup


cheers

Ishan

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: Mesa Rack or Mesa Combo? whats better?

Considering that the Mesa Triaxis is one of the few great preamps around (along with the CAE 3+ SE and Soldano X88), I'd definitely choose that.

 

[Grandor]

Re: Mesa Rack or Mesa Combo? whats better?

Does the poweramp matter that much?

Would it matter if I went Triaxis - to a $500 dollar poweramp like a marshall or somethin?

 

[ishmun]

Re: Mesa Rack or Mesa Combo? whats better?

Does the poweramp matter that much?

Would it matter if I went Triaxis - to a $500 dollar poweramp like a marshall or somethin?

hey man

the power amp does ALOT

its where the power and ball some from
the preamp is only 1/2 the job IMO

if ur not too fussed and u have a limited budget, get a 50/50
but if u want the best, i must say go the 2:90

Ishan

 

[Dooogz]

Re: Mesa Rack or Mesa Combo? whats better?

Cant say im much of an expert on mesa gear, its reasonably rare over here, but of the ones ive played, the mark 4 combo just blew me away!!

 

[Jeff5]

Re: Mesa Rack or Mesa Combo? whats better?

Does the poweramp matter that much?

Would it matter if I went Triaxis - to a $500 dollar poweramp like a marshall or somethin?

Power amp definately makes a huge difference. I went from using a Crest solid state Power amp to my Mesa 50/50 and its night and day. Especially the fact that I put the Mesa on low power at 15 watts and crank the sucker to 5-7. (depending on if my wife's home!) You can probably pick up a used Mesa 50/50 for 500 or 600 bucks. I got mine on Ebay for around 600, but it was new out of the box, never even opened.