Tried a Mesa-Boogie Today

[Vincent]

This DC-5 Combo was selling for AUD$2000+ and I never tried a boogie before. So I plugged it in and boy, I don't see what the hype is all about. In Australia where I live, Boogies command a price premium over other amplifiers such as Marshall / Fender etc etc.

I was surprised that no matter how I tweaked it, it lacked clarity, punch and tone!! It sounded 'farty' and 'woofy' but didn't have very much high-end definition or 'cut' as they say. I then plugged into a Marshall TSL 100 head / 4x12 cab, and man, that was like a 100% improvement in tone. The Marshall was crunchier, tighter and yielded more of a shred tone than the Boogie.

I know i should have compared apples with apples and compared the TSL to say, a Stilletto/Dual Rec, but as far as price is concerned, the TSL head was selling for AUD$2000+ and the Stilletto was AUD$5499 or something ridiculous.
(Yes amplification is expensive here in Australia)

Is there anyone else who feels the same way about Boogies?

 

[Mincer]

Re: Tried a Mesa-Boogie Today

i hated the DC series when they came out. I never liked the mark series either, but then I heard the dual rect blue angel (kind of an anti-boogie) and was hooked. their amps can sound wildly different, so don't judge it by 1 or even two models.

 

[Stringmachine]

Re: Tried a Mesa-Boogie Today

Those amps are as you say really two different animals. That said, I am not much of a Mesa fan myself, except for the Lonestar and the Stilletto. But those are smashing!

 

[tonejam]

Re: Tried a Mesa-Boogie Today

The only mesa I have spent time with is the rectoverb. I have to say if I was playing in a cover band that would be a great amp to have. It covers all the ground for various tones.

 

[Zerberus]

Re: Tried a Mesa-Boogie Today

I personally don´t really like the DC or Rectumfryer stuff, but a lot of teh other stuff Mesa makes was / is great, very versatile, and with a bit of fiddling (that´s what you have to do on any mesa, spend rtime with te amp and see what it can really do) can sound absolutely astonishing

BTW, IMO discontinuing the V-twin rack preamp and now the pedal was a huge mistake..... The Rectifier Recording Pre and Triaxis just don´t sound the same.....