Mini rectifier vs Express vs Mark V 25

[guitarplayer100]

After doing some research I am buying new Mesa amp since I play lots of heavier stuff lately but also lots of cleaner stuff. I need 1 amp that will do everything from blues to hard rock or metal to gig with. So weight is important too. I'm mainly looking at heads and pair them with 1x12 or 2x12 cab. So I choose between Mini rectifier, Express 5:25 and Mark v 25. Mini rec is really light but no reverb and single footswitch but cheaper, Express has really many features, is heavier and looks similar to mini Mark and Mark V 25 is really light too and sounds great. Help me decide please since I can't try them localy and I don't wanna mess with returns too much.

 

[allbutromeo]

Re: Mini rectifier vs Express vs Mark V 25

You forgot the Rect-O-Verb 25, basically a Min Rec with reverb

 

[guitarplayer100]

Re: Mini rectifier vs Express vs Mark V 25

Thanks for reminding me, this one is in game now.

 

[guitarplayer100]

Re: Mini rectifier vs Express vs Mark V 25

Anyone?

 

[Jeff5]

Re: Mini rectifier vs Express vs Mark V 25

I only have experience with the Mini Recto but it can do everything you want. Nice and portable too, especially if you pair it with a Mini Recto cabinet. Just sounds amazing. The Mark V 25 can get you there too, but it is more expensive. If price isn't the issue, it will depend on if you like the Mark sound or Recto sound better.

 

[Lampy H]

Re: Mini rectifier vs Express vs Mark V 25

Out of those, I really want a Mini Rec. I've seen some decent secondhand prices online for em too.

 

[Matzanias]

Re: Mini rectifier vs Express vs Mark V 25

I think the mini Mark V is versatile.

 

[RustInPeace]

Re: Mini rectifier vs Express vs Mark V 25

It depends on what flavor of gain you like. The mini Mark is very tight and focused yet dry, where the recto has more gain but feels a lot looser. I prefer the marks gain. Both should have a great clean channel. I've played one of the older Express amps and it didnt do high gain very well at all.

 

[hydro]

Re: Mini rectifier vs Express vs Mark V 25

I have an Express 5:50+ and I love it, but I agree with the post above that its high gain tones may not suit everyone's taste. It is almost fuzz-like, very grainy. Lots of mids. Very different from the scooped recto tone. But I have grown to love it, and I find it's great for leads, very rich sounding and responsive.

I'm assuming the 5:25 is voiced similarly; feature wise it's pretty much the same except for the power stage (EL84 for the 25 instead of 6L6 like the 50)

 

[some_dude]

Re: Mini rectifier vs Express vs Mark V 25

I bounce back and fourth between a Dual Recto and a Mark V.

Either will achieve the description in the OP, and I think it's safe to say the mini versions will as well.

As for which is better, it's all personal taste. At the moment I generally prefer a Recto, but I've been known to change my mind.

 

[hydro]

Re: Mini rectifier vs Express vs Mark V 25

I think from the OP's specs the Mini recto verb would be perfect. Heavy tones no problem, cleans will be great plus you will have nice spring reverb on the cleans. I have played on one and was really impressed. That being said if the mini mkV came in a combo I would have already bought one!

 

[the toad]

Re: Mini rectifier vs Express vs Mark V 25

I've just been considering several of those, and a few others, the Recto Verb ended up as my favorite Mesa, it's got that warm vintage chunk thing going on that everyone loves, plus a portable 1x12 combo with reverb, fx loop, etc...

But I think personally I'm just gonna spend another few hundred bucks and get a Splawn.

 

[guitarplayer100]

Re: Mini rectifier vs Express vs Mark V 25

Rectoverb combo is pretty sweet and cheaper than Mark mini. I probably won't buy Express. I like both, Dual Rec and Mark V, each in it's own way. Mark is really tight and cuts really well but Rec sounds super sweet too, seems fatter to me.

 

[guitarplayer100]

Re: Mini rectifier vs Express vs Mark V 25

Is Mini Rec/Mark loud enough with 2x12 for medium sized venues?

 

[guitarplayer100]

Re: Mini rectifier vs Express vs Mark V 25

Is it worth getting Mesa 1x12 ?

 

[the toad]

Re: Mini rectifier vs Express vs Mark V 25

The poll total doesn't add up to 100% lol... Was 99.90% at last check.

 

[Hank-]

Re: Mini rectifier vs Express vs Mark V 25

Is Mini Rec/Mark loud enough with 2x12 for medium sized venues?

I think it would be more important to have high sensitivity speaker(s) than the number of speakers, look up on what mesa is using in their cabs and see if its like 99dB+ or in that range to be really loud for medium sized gigs

 

[Lucy Diamond]

Re: Mini rectifier vs Express vs Mark V 25

Hi there,

Of the 3 you are choosing, the mini mark V will take you the farthest.

All will give you excellent clean and raunch.

Having said that. Based on what you are specifically looking to get out of an amp, I feel (based on 15 years of Mesa Experience and still owning 9 Mesa Amps) that you should just go straight to ebay and get a 1x12 Mark IV combo.

End of story. Any Mesa you are going to get is going to sound good at lower volumes if that is what you need. If you are stuck on the lunchbox thing because of the size....then...ok....enjoy in good health. But on paper, everything you need is in a Mark IV combo.

Take care,


~LD

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: Mini rectifier vs Express vs Mark V 25

I like LD's idea of a Mark IV, head or combo. But it it is heavy. The IV has a lot of power amp options that affect the output and the FEEL of the amp.

The Mini-Recto is great for metal, but does cleans very well, too. The Express Plus covers the clean/blues/rock areas. The Mark V 25 is supremely flexible. Check out the video of Petrucci testing this amp..it screams.

One of each?

Bill

 

[guitarplayer100]

Re: Mini rectifier vs Express vs Mark V 25

Hi just had some money issues last month and I'll be getting new amp now. Can rectifiers do rock/blues good? I can get mini rec 500$ cheaper than mark v 25.