Express 5/50

[nerfherder]

Hi


I'm new to this forum and Mesa Boogies in general. I recently purchased a 5/50 which is a great amp but for one annoying problem.
I don't know if it is just a quirk with boogies but when I have the 2nd channel on burn with the gain between 12 to 3 o'clock and the Master past 9 o'clock the amp squeals with the most unmusical feedback. This happens with a guitar in or not and with all types of guitars( Prs, Strat) and on both 50 and 5 watt settings.
As you can see the I'm not maxing the controls at all though I have found lowering the eq settings below 12 o'clock helps a bit.

Any ideas?
Al

 

[Don]

That's not right. My 5:50 does not do that.

I'd try different tubes in V1 and V2.

 

[nerfherder]

Thanks

I've retubed the amp in different combinations many times. I put in a standard gain cryo kit made Watford valves with two Harma 6l6's plus
I've tried combining it with two jj telsa 6l6's( which sound great) and going back to the original valves but it still has the same problem.
It's been back to Mesa twice, once to try to cure this problem which they
partially did and once when the amp developed a problem mid gig where
it sounded like it had a bad tremolo pedal working( this was cured, something to do with an arm?) but the problem came back.
I tried a 5/50 at a local music shop and this seemed to have the same problem, could it be a problem with the export amps going to Europe
maybe?

Thanks
Al

 

[Newysurfer]

Nerf - your amp is faulty.
My 5:50 has never done this on any setting with any of my 5 guitars.

 

[MrMason]

I have a quick, kind of unrelated, question regarding the 5:50. I've noticed that the bass and treble are extremely finicky on this amp. If I get a really good tone with the bridge pickup, it sounds too muddy on the neck. And if I get a really good tone with the neck pickup, it sounds too shrill with the bridge. I get a compromise, but is there anything to help correct this? Different tubes maybe?

 

[Don]

Speakers can make a big difference. I tried an Eminence Tonker in mine and it made the amp louder, brighter and more articulate.

Combine this with lowering the treble control and the amp sounds more balanced.

On the other hand, the stock c90 is warmer and fatter sounding.

 

[MrMason]

Speakers can make a big difference. I tried an Eminence Tonker in mine and it made the amp louder, brighter and more articulate.

Combine this with lowering the treble control and the amp sounds more balanced.

On the other hand, the stock c90 is warmer and fatter sounding.

What about a Vin30? I have one of those laying around. What do you think it would sound like paired with c90? I love how the blues channel sounds, and would hate to lose that by changing speakers, I just have a hard time getting a balanced sound with the crunch and burn modes. Is it possible that my speakers just haven't broken in yet? I've only had the amp for about a month.

 

[wilerty]

Remembering from threads here last summer, there seemed to be a batch that went to the UK that had a lot of problems. I would definately take it back. After twice back, I would tell them you want a new one. I had no problems with my 5:50.

 

[Newysurfer]

I have a quick, kind of unrelated, question regarding the 5:50. I've noticed that the bass and treble are extremely finicky on this amp. If I get a really good tone with the bridge pickup, it sounds too muddy on the neck. And if I get a really good tone with the neck pickup, it sounds too shrill with the bridge. I get a compromise, but is there anything to help correct this? Different tubes maybe?

Hey - this totally depends on 2 things,

a) which guitars with which PUP's,
b) your own subjective judgement as to what constitutes "muddy" & "shrill" etc.

All I can say is that I use my 5:50 with a Gretsch Jet with Filtertrons, a Strat with Lace Sensors, a Gibson SG with Humbuckers, an Epi Sheraton 2 with Gibson Classic 57's and a Godin acoustic with piezo's and I've not heard a single muddy or shrill tone from my 5:50. I also play it thru the C90 speaker plus a 2x12 cab with V30's. I've heard plenty of muddy and shrill tones from other cheaper amps, pedals and MFX's though. But my tonal nirvana may be your mud

 

[BMcA]

I am also in the UK and I have the 5:50 1x12 and my amp does exctly the same thing. Shortly after getting the amp I was wanting to hear how noisey it would be and when I turned the burn channel gain up full and turned the master to about 12 o'clock it squealed like a pig even with no guitar plugged in. Not that I would be using this sort of volume but the fact is I would never be able to use this amp at max volume even if I wanted to. I even put new tubes in it from Doug's tubes and it still squeals.

 

[Don]

All I can say is that I use my 5:50 with a Gretsch Jet with Filtertrons, a Strat with Lace Sensors, a Gibson SG with Humbuckers, an Epi Sheraton 2 with Gibson Classic 57's and a Godin acoustic with piezo's and I've not heard a single muddy or shrill tone from my 5:50.

I should've mentioned that my 5:50 is not muddy or shrill either.
My guitars range from a USAGC T-Style blackguard style Tele clone with Fralin Blues Special pickups to a Gary Moore Signature Les Paul with Duncan Seth Lover (un-potted) pickups in it.

 

[nerfherder]

Thanks Bmca


I bought mine last year when they first came out, so I wonder if the first batch were faulty?
I going to ask for a new one today.


Nerf

 

[MrMason]

I have a quick, kind of unrelated, question regarding the 5:50. I've noticed that the bass and treble are extremely finicky on this amp. If I get a really good tone with the bridge pickup, it sounds too muddy on the neck. And if I get a really good tone with the neck pickup, it sounds too shrill with the bridge. I get a compromise, but is there anything to help correct this? Different tubes maybe?

Hey - this totally depends on 2 things,

a) which guitars with which PUP's,
b) your own subjective judgement as to what constitutes "muddy" & "shrill" etc.

All I can say is that I use my 5:50 with a Gretsch Jet with Filtertrons, a Strat with Lace Sensors, a Gibson SG with Humbuckers, an Epi Sheraton 2 with Gibson Classic 57's and a Godin acoustic with piezo's and I've not heard a single muddy or shrill tone from my 5:50. I also play it thru the C90 speaker plus a 2x12 cab with V30's. I've heard plenty of muddy and shrill tones from other cheaper amps, pedals and MFX's though. But my tonal nirvana may be your mud

I'm using 3 different guitars, all Carvins, each with different construction and different pickup configurations, and they sound much more balanced on other amps. It doesn't sound muddy or shrill on one pickup, but will on another...I'm just trying to figure out how to get them both to sound good. I got a compromise, but feel it could be better.

 

[mh2001]

Did you ever resolve the issue with the feedback and your express amp? I have the same issue with my 5:25 bought in the US

 

[mh2001]

Did you ever resolve the issue with the feedback and your express amp? I have the same issue with my 5:25 bought in the US

 

[nerfherder]

Hi


I'm still waiting for a reply from the shop who sold it to me, they were going to talk to Westside ( Mesa's Uk distributer) about the problem and let me know. So far nothings happened.
The shop did make noises about replacing it for me no problem, It's whether I get another 5/50 or something else like fender supersonic( I had a prosonic before), I love the amp but I'm fed up with the problems.
The owner also said that two 5/25's had been sent back with tube problems....
I'm sure a while ago someone posted something saying that inside the express some of the wires are a little close together which may cause noise problems this might be our problem any ideas?

Nerf

 

[Don]

Have you e-mailed MESA directly?

 

[nomad100hd]

i don't know if you can email them but you can call them. My experience with them was pretty good.

 

[Don]

I've e-mailed them with a few questions and Kris Dilbeck got right back to me.

 

[Newysurfer]

Hi
I'm still waiting for a reply from the shop who sold it to me, they were going to talk to Westside ( Mesa's Uk distributer) about the problem and let me know. So far nothings happened.
The shop did make noises about replacing it for me no problem, It's whether I get another 5/50 or something else like fender supersonic( I had a prosonic before), I love the amp but I'm fed up with the problems.
The owner also said that two 5/25's had been sent back with tube problems....
I'm sure a while ago someone posted something saying that inside the express some of the wires are a little close together which may cause noise problems this might be our problem any ideas?

Nerf

Hey Nerf,
If you like the amp I suggest you try a new one.
Mine runs like a dream. Zero prob's.
You've just been unlucky with the shipment of dud's Mesa sent to Europe.