Express 5:25 10" - poor bass response... help!

[ifailedshapes]

Have you spent much time learning the Contour control? It's been a while since I sold my 5:25, so I don't claim to be an expert anymore. Also, this amp's heritage is the Mark side of the Mesa family. With that in mind, you can get a good bass response by keeping the Bass knob relatively low (too high and it gets flubby) and dialing the Bass back in with the Contour control. It doesn't take much Contour to make a noticeable difference.

 

[Krek13]

yeah, I have 5:25 head and the bass pot acts the same, over 12 o'clock its too much, I can get stoner rock FUZZ sounds that way...the amp has a lot of bass under 12 o 'clock so I don't really think that's a problem...but yeah, the bass control really is exaggerated...

 

[Krek13]

yeah I dont completely understand the use of bass pot too..its practicly not very usable past 12 o'clock..thats a bit dumb..

I use my amp with engl pro 2x12 v30 closed back so I have enough bass...maybe you should consider another speaker or bigger cabinet...

 

[EtherealWidow]

I use a thiele cab, so bass isn't a problem for me. Where are you? I know it's not America, cause we don't say "cheers" or "mates." Not like how you mean it anyway. Haha. Maybe you could find some local dude who builds cabs and get a thiele from him? It will be way cheaper than getting a Mesa one, especially if you're in Australia, God forbid. :shock:

 

[Release]

Try throwing an EQ pedal in front of it. I'm new to Mesa's and found that putting a Danelectro Fish & Chips EQ in front and pulling the frequencies around just a bit helps considerably. Maybe I haven't played with the amp enough yet but it seemed to do exactly what I needed it to do. Plus, the EQ pedal was really inexpensive. The pedal was only 35 bucks new. It's definitely worth a shot.

 

[ifailedshapes]

Try throwing an EQ pedal in front of it. I'm new to Mesa's and found that putting a Danelectro Fish & Chips EQ in front and pulling the frequencies around just a bit helps considerably. Maybe I haven't played with the amp enough yet but it seemed to do exactly what I needed it to do. Plus, the EQ pedal was really inexpensive. The pedal was only 35 bucks new. It's definitely worth a shot.

An EQ pedal is a good idea, but it will probably be even better in the effects loop.

 

[EtherealWidow]

Haha. I didn't think you were Australian. I was hoping you weren't, because the Aussie's pay out the butt for Mesa gear. Europe's prices are already bad enough. A cathode cap mod might be a good idea, but that would be modding it and thus voiding the warranty. I totally get that you don't want to bulk up for a little combo, however, a 10" EL-84 based combo is going to be limited in the amount of bass it can produce. A 12" Thiele would be a really good way to go.

 

[Reif]

I have no bass issues with mine, but it definitely likes humbuckers better than singles.

 

[Krek13]

Thanks for all the opinions so far guys! I had a look at thiele cabs, I've also got a book (remember books!) that has tutorials on how to make different cab types and thieles are in there - very complicated! Again though I didnt really want to add another cab to a combo that shouldnt really have any issues in this price bracket.

Yesterday I took it round my mates house (the one who's the tech) and he had a look inside the chassis with me... First of all I must say what beautifully designed and made these amps are, so neat, tidy and well thought out and built, top marks to Mesa for that! We looked at that first cathode cap and its 10uf, which is about mid-value acording to him, so that shouldnt be the problem. Then, my earlier theory was completely blown away when we plugged it into one of his marshall 4x12"s... Bloody hell! Instant big fat bass response, and an awsome old school metal chunk/crunch sound that I have never been able to get, also beautifully warm yet sparkley scooped fender type clean tones also... and everything inbetween just had more warmth, deep bass, and presence.

Now I know what your all thinking, its going into a 4x12, of course theres more bass!... But having tried that big open-backed 1x12 at the start and not heard much difference I just assumed there would be only a slight difference with a 4x12, but the difference was dramatic. Also, my mate said that 4x12s arent actually all that efficient at producing bass response, and their perceived bass is more to do with the amount of air they are pushing. His advice was to either get an efficient closed back 1x12 extension cab (a thiele for example :wink: )... or sell it and get a 5:50....

Oh well, anyone interested in a mint 5:25 10"?

I told you
you cannot expect big amount of bass from any 10" speaker, especially in the open back combo...
you don't even need 4x12 cab, just get 2x12 closed back cab with good speakers and you'll be fine..probably 1x12 closed back will work too, but you should try it first...also try selling that combo and get yourself a head version, heads are always better

 

[Krek13]

just buy an external cabinet...you'll have more options...putting other 10" speaker won't help...

 

[ifailedshapes]

Yeah, I know! Thing is now I'm unsure what to do with it... all the options I have involve either spending more money, and/or, losing money. I could always just keep it but I'll always be disapointed with that lack of low end - especially since I plugged it into that 4x12! :roll:

Does anyone know if a speaker change will help at all? ...I thought I read somewhere that a guy put a 10" bass driver in a 5:25 and it sounded amazing?

There is no such thing as a perfect piece of gear. The sooner you realize this, the better, plus both your wife and your savings account will be much happier with you.

Bass response has a lot to do with speaker AND cab selection, as you've heard from other people on here. Also, another poster had a very valid point that humbuckers react very differently than single coils. I don't know what type of guitar you're using. (If you've already said what it is, I apologize for missing it!)

The guy to talk to around here for speaker swaps is soundchaser59. He's tried almost every 10" speaker on the market. The open back will always be fighting against you, though; plus there is a noticeable difference between 10" speakers and their 12" counterparts.

What I would personally do in your situation is keep your combo as-is and look for a closed-back 1x12" or 2x12" cabinet. Mesa cabs are super expensive, so they may not be your best option. Sure, they're built to a high standard, but there are other companies that make cabs just as well. Also, in the UK, there are other manufacturers who will be cheaper for you than they are here in the U.S.

I hope all this rambling makes some sense. I had a 5:25 1x10" combo that I sold, and I regret it.

 

[Krek13]

btw Orange cabs definitely have a great bass response so try those, ppc112 or ppc212...those are some of the best cabs around...

 

[EtherealWidow]

Sweet! Glad things worked out so well for you. A happy ending for an Express love story

 

[Reif]

I do use a compressor: an EH Soul Preacher from their Nano series. It puts a really nice edge to my tone.

 

[edward]

Another devotee of the Mesa Thiele cab ...loaded with the EVM12L, of course!

I've had this cab for well over a decade, almost parted with it a couple of times when strapped for dough, until a buddy of mine said whatever paltry sum I get for it will never make up for the tone it adds. Never wiser words spoken! I have used this as an extension cab for many an amp, Mesa and others, and it always delivers tight bass in spades that is always focused and never flubby; but also clean mids and crisp highs. Alone, I don't care for its tone, but as a supplement, the EVM/Thiele cab delivers easily as good as a 2x12 halfstack, and practically like a 4x12, no exaggeration.

So on to the 525, which like you I have the a 1x10 combo. Short answer: the Thiele cab is a fix! It does not mask anything, but instead adds bottom and crisp top-end definition to the 10's core tone; together they are greater than the sum of two parts, truly. As an added bonus, it looks just right as the Thiele's dimensions are a perfect fit for underneath a 525.

Look at it this way: you will lose more money trying to sell this amp and buying another. Mesa sells a new version of this sealed cab ...they just can't call it a "Thiele" but the tonal principle is the same. And of course, there are others ...Port City comes to mind. Cheaper and better to find yourself a good, ported cab like a Thiele/EVM or otherwise, and have it as a supplement to any amp you own. You won't regret it!

Edward