I have had this amp for about a year now after I bought it off of Craig's list. It has taken me a while to get the hang of it, but I think I finally found an overdrive tone that I have been searching for. On the Blues Channel, if I dime the gain, it produces one of the best touch sensitive screaming lead tones I ever heard with my strat. This is counter-intuitive for me because I typically keep the gain low on my amps and crank the master volume to get more of a power tube distortion and avoid fizz. I think this amp was made to have the gain cranked. There is no harshness or annoying fizz and the sound is still touch sensitive and dynamic. I should mention that I recently changed the speaker to a Celestion Vintage 10, which I think is a huge improvement on the overdrive tones. The jury is still out on whether the speaker is an improvement on the clean tones, but in fairness it is not even broken in yet. I may finally be able to ditch my overdrive pedals!
Found my favorite overdrive sound on my Express 5:25
- Thread starter Sukodil
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Since I have been using Mesa amps, I have mostly stopped using Drive pedals. Most sound kind of fake to me in comparison to the amp overdrive. Still, I have a few favorites that get some use.
Increasing the gain definately thickens things up in all modes with the Express which will tend to reduce and fizz.
Since I have been using Mesa amps, I have mostly stopped using Drive pedals. Most sound kind of fake to me in comparison to the amp overdrive. Still, I have a few favorites that get some use.
Increasing the gain definately thickens things up in all modes with the Express which will tend to reduce and fizz.
THE TUBENATOR
Well-known member
Welcome to the Board! I agree with you, the Express sounds amazing with the gain maxed out. Depending on your guitar and the tone and volume settings on your guitar the Express also sounds amazing with all the pre-amp dials maxed out!
ifailedshapes
Well-known member
mtodd6 said:
That's certainly one opinion. I see OD pedals as different flavors. If chocolate is your thing and you know you'll never want anything else, that's great, but sometimes I like some vanilla thrown in. Then I'll get in the mood for some strawberry, and sometimes I'll even want to throw some sprinkles on top.
It's a childish analogy, but do you see my point? Amp alone works for some people, but not for everyone.
nopicknick
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I just recently bought a Express 25 and right now couldn't be any happier with it. I've owned a TA15, ED and a Mark I and the 25 is the most fun to play in my opinion. The amp is new to me and so far have no problems finding the tones that work for me very quickly. It is a 112 combo but I'm running through a 212 Morgan open back. Loaded with a pretty old and well broken in Marshall labeled Celestion Vintage 30 and a WGS Green Beret. For now the gain down around 9 oclock has plenty dirty for me. Switching between crunch and burn is really working well. Funny thing is the 25 was the least likely Mesa I was thinking about buying. I sold my ED last year and missed it a lot. Tried a few other amps in between before deciding to go back to Mesa. Went to my closest dealer to try out what they had. I had called ahead and since their guitar tech was giving a clinic they had moved all their Mesa's into a smaller room in the back for me to try. I considered the ED again but man it is a heavy amp. The Express 50 was nice and TA30 sounded really good too. But when I tried the 25 I almost new immediately I was leaving with that one.
ifailedshapes
Well-known member
nopicknick said:
Kudos, man. I miss my 5:25.
EtherealWidow
Well-known member
HA! 5:25 FTW! Sorry. I just feel like the 5:25, and Expresses in general, are HUGELY underrated by other high end amp users. Glad to hear that you miss yours, Shapes. And also glad to hear that you chose it over the ED, Mark 1, and TA-15, Nick. I wanted a M1 and was almost gonna look into a TA-15, but I keep talking myself out of it.
twally
Well-known member
Does everyone gig with their 5:25? I have one for Church use but never played it in a gig. I am looking to down size and it would be nice to have another 5:25 for that purpose-it's a pain to get the 5:25 since I don't have a key to the Church. The few times I played my LSS out I always used the 15 watt setting and played with a heavy handed drummer, so it makes sense the 5:25 is loud enough for gigs.
Thanks,
Thanks,
I gig with mine. The 5:25 1x12 has been loud enough for every bar I have played at and also plenty loud for an outdoor bar I gig at regularly. I use it to play "Race For The Cure" every year now and outside on a city street playing for 70,000 folks (at about 2-300 at a time) it is fantastic. It gets reflected back from the buildings across the street a bit and standing in the middle of the road with a wireless with it cranked near max is the best tone I have ever achieved.
By the way....to each their own with pedals. I have a Wampler Pinnacle, TIM, MXR DIII, BYOC Large Beaver and a Dano Orange fuzz. I often play without pedals but that Wampler and Dano can really add some awesomeness at times.
By the way....to each their own with pedals. I have a Wampler Pinnacle, TIM, MXR DIII, BYOC Large Beaver and a Dano Orange fuzz. I often play without pedals but that Wampler and Dano can really add some awesomeness at times.
twally
Well-known member
Wolfboy1 said:
Thanks,
I am glad to learn the 5:25 can keep up gigging.
TW
In my experience, the 5:25 is absolutely capable of hanging with an average rock band - as long as you don't need spanky, pure cleans. Not needing pristine cleans, being in a quiet rock band, or with additional cabs, or miking it up would all probably push it over the top.
twally
Well-known member
I'd really like to open this amp up in a true band situation. I've only used it at home and at Church.
