Boogie Bill
New member
Re: Mesa vs. Mesa
I am a big fan of both of these amps.
I have a DC-3 112 V30 combo, terrific amp. It has a 4xEL84 power section, yet it is very dynamic and sounds like a bigger amp. The DC-5 combo is similar, in a wider cabinet, with a 2x6L6 power section. I think these came with the Celestion C-90 speaker, and it differs from the DC-3 in that it has a pull switch in the preamp. The clean channel of these amps was reportedly based on the Mark IV preamp, and the LEAD channel on the Recto. It is high gain; I rarely ever run my gain past 6, but I think it falls tonally in the Mark camp, rather than Recto. I have long thought that the DC-5 is just about the perfect amp for the guys that play classic rock, blues and country in a bar band. They listed for $1099 USD when they were introduced. There is also a 2xEL84 model, the DC-2 112, and a 4x6L6 212 fire-breathing monster--the DC-10. Most of these amps were available as heads, as well as the combo versions.
The great features of the amps are: the assignable 5-band Graphic EQ, a super-duper mid-range control on the clean channel, an overall Output Level control, a Silent Recording speaker muting switch, and a parallel EFX loop. The mid-range control on the clean channel acts as a normal mid-range knob that you would find on any other amp from 0-4. Above 4, it starts adding gain, which is very handy if like a "pushed" blues tone. And I love the Graphic EQ, it just adds tremendous tonal variation.
The Express 5:50 and 5:25 amps are direct descendants of the Dual Caliber amps, aimed at that mid-market. Again, really tremendous versatility, and great amps for the club musician. Each channel has a 2-way voicing switch, and can set varying power levels. Reverb is improved over the DC amps, as are the clean tones. (I've NEVER had a problem with the clean tones from ANY of my Mark Series or DC amps, BTW.) They do miss the Graphic EQ, and the overall Output Level control, and these are big minuses in my book, but they still bring a lot of features to the table, and I think they are excellent values.
These amps have been upgraded to the 5:50 Plus, adding a couple of other features, including the Graphic EQ. Winner! If I were in the market for an amp, this is one that I would look long and hard at. I did have a chance to buy one, but decided to go all in for the Mark V combo and I couldn't be happier. I bought a Mesa 112 Wide-Body Closed Back cab with the optional V30, and it is an amazing rig.
This cab would be a great addition to either the DC-5 or the 5:50. I'm even going to sell off one of my Mark III combos with its 112 Thiele cabinet, I love this amp so much.
The tone controls do work very differently on these amps, and you'll need to keep the owner's manual within reach until you fully understand the controls. It is not a "...set every thing to 10!" amp. And sometimes you won't get EXACTLY the tone you're looking for--I've gone to jams and not felt like I had great tone--and guys will come up to me and RAVE about the Boogies. There's a difference in an amp sounding BAD, and an amp that still sounds great, even if it's not quite what you were looking for.
The amps are really forgiving as to pickups and weird guitars like old Harmonys, Kays and Teiscos, and they handle pedals well. They are PCB, but they are the best in the biz, and their cabs are top notch and totally professional.
Neither the DC or the 5:50 is designed for heavy metal, IMO.
I hope this helps. Let me know if you have any more questions.
Bill
I am a big fan of both of these amps.
I have a DC-3 112 V30 combo, terrific amp. It has a 4xEL84 power section, yet it is very dynamic and sounds like a bigger amp. The DC-5 combo is similar, in a wider cabinet, with a 2x6L6 power section. I think these came with the Celestion C-90 speaker, and it differs from the DC-3 in that it has a pull switch in the preamp. The clean channel of these amps was reportedly based on the Mark IV preamp, and the LEAD channel on the Recto. It is high gain; I rarely ever run my gain past 6, but I think it falls tonally in the Mark camp, rather than Recto. I have long thought that the DC-5 is just about the perfect amp for the guys that play classic rock, blues and country in a bar band. They listed for $1099 USD when they were introduced. There is also a 2xEL84 model, the DC-2 112, and a 4x6L6 212 fire-breathing monster--the DC-10. Most of these amps were available as heads, as well as the combo versions.
The great features of the amps are: the assignable 5-band Graphic EQ, a super-duper mid-range control on the clean channel, an overall Output Level control, a Silent Recording speaker muting switch, and a parallel EFX loop. The mid-range control on the clean channel acts as a normal mid-range knob that you would find on any other amp from 0-4. Above 4, it starts adding gain, which is very handy if like a "pushed" blues tone. And I love the Graphic EQ, it just adds tremendous tonal variation.
The Express 5:50 and 5:25 amps are direct descendants of the Dual Caliber amps, aimed at that mid-market. Again, really tremendous versatility, and great amps for the club musician. Each channel has a 2-way voicing switch, and can set varying power levels. Reverb is improved over the DC amps, as are the clean tones. (I've NEVER had a problem with the clean tones from ANY of my Mark Series or DC amps, BTW.) They do miss the Graphic EQ, and the overall Output Level control, and these are big minuses in my book, but they still bring a lot of features to the table, and I think they are excellent values.
These amps have been upgraded to the 5:50 Plus, adding a couple of other features, including the Graphic EQ. Winner! If I were in the market for an amp, this is one that I would look long and hard at. I did have a chance to buy one, but decided to go all in for the Mark V combo and I couldn't be happier. I bought a Mesa 112 Wide-Body Closed Back cab with the optional V30, and it is an amazing rig.
This cab would be a great addition to either the DC-5 or the 5:50. I'm even going to sell off one of my Mark III combos with its 112 Thiele cabinet, I love this amp so much.
The tone controls do work very differently on these amps, and you'll need to keep the owner's manual within reach until you fully understand the controls. It is not a "...set every thing to 10!" amp. And sometimes you won't get EXACTLY the tone you're looking for--I've gone to jams and not felt like I had great tone--and guys will come up to me and RAVE about the Boogies. There's a difference in an amp sounding BAD, and an amp that still sounds great, even if it's not quite what you were looking for.
The amps are really forgiving as to pickups and weird guitars like old Harmonys, Kays and Teiscos, and they handle pedals well. They are PCB, but they are the best in the biz, and their cabs are top notch and totally professional.
Neither the DC or the 5:50 is designed for heavy metal, IMO.
I hope this helps. Let me know if you have any more questions.
Bill
