rv7garage said:According to Humbucker Music, next year will be the last year of production.
https://www.humbuckermusic.com/collections/mesa-boogie-express-plus-amplifiers?mc_cid=85e30407a4&mc_eid=4a154d97c9
Can anyone confirm this?
SFBay-James4 said:I am disappointed by Mesa cancelling the Express series.
I own an Express Plus 5-50. I have played through an Express 5-25. I believe I have typical needs. The Express Plus line fit those needs better than any other Mesa product.
#1 need is to manage loudness. The Express Plus 5-watt setting was ideal for practice and 25-watt was ideal for rehearsal/gigging. (In hindsight, I wish I had bought the Express Plus 5-25 because 5-15-25 seems to be the ideal power scaling combination. I rarely go to 50 watts.
#2 need is to manage appropriate gain. I am on the clean and blues settings on my Express Plus. Honestly, metal is not mainstream.
#3 need is to have a single-note or solo-boost. The Express one was difficult to dial-in but it was there
#4 need is signal chain simplicity. That is why I picked a Mesa even if it is more expensive a traditional pedalboard + amp combination. I wanted to put my $$$ into the amp rather than a pedalboard. Needing a microphone rather than DI contributes to complexity.
#5 need is weight reduction. The 5-50 is 55lbs. My two main rehearsal spaces have two flights of stairs and no elevator. This aspect makes me curse my Mesa.
The only things that the Express Plus 5-50 missed on is weight and Cab Clone. The only thing that the Express Plus 5-25 would miss on is Cab Clone. Well, honestly, there is a brand-deficit using Mesa. People assume you are either a shredder or more-wealthy-than-talented (“PRS Syndrome”).
Mark V: More expensive and even worse for my needs.
#1: Manage loudness. Nope. 10/45/90 watts settings are all too loud for practice/mic-ed gig/rehearsal. Do the math for the wattage on top of a 99dB speaker. Total overkill.
#2: Manage Gain. Maybe. However, the third channel has exclusively metal tone stacks. Every guitarist I follow is moving to Nashville. Not much metal in Nashville.
#3: Solo Button. Yes, it has this
#4: Signal Chain simplicity. Nope. No Cab Clone. Given the price, it should have this.
#5: Weight reduction. Nope. 65lbs
Mark 5:35. More expensive for the [different but same number of] misses.
#1. 25 watts work for rehearsal/gigging but 10 watts is too loud for practice. Still going to be over 103-105dB with the 99dB speaker.
#2: Manage Gain. Yes
#3: Solo Button. Yes, it has an even better solution.
#4: Signal Chain simplicity. Yes.
#5: Weight reduction. Yes. (However, do we really need an 11lb speaker?)
Lonestar Special: So close but damn the ridiculous weight. It thankfully omits the unneeded the 5-band EQ that pops when engaged.
#1. Yes. Ideal power scaling
#2: Manage Gain. Yes
#3: Solo Button. Yes, the same somewhat difficult to dial-in solution as the Express
#4: Signal Chain simplicity. Maybe. No Cab Clone.
#5: Weight reduction. Nope. Even worse. 60lbs? For a 30 watt amp? Wha?
The Express Series was ideal. As I said...disappointed.
QualityMusic said:What replaced the Express series?
That's been my understanding as well. So very glad I bought my Express 5:25+ when I did. In my view, nothing else in the Mesa line beats it for versatility.Don said:I see the Fillmore as the nearest thing to a replacement for the Express.
rgordon7 said:That's been my understanding as well. So very glad I bought my Express 5:25+ when I did. In my view, nothing else in the Mesa line beats it for versatility.Don said:I see the Fillmore as the nearest thing to a replacement for the Express.
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