Hi! First post:

[Reif]

Hey everyone!

I'm Reif, a guitar freak in my 50's. I've had a 5:25 1x10 for just over a year. I got it as a backup to my modded '53 Gibson amp, but its modern features, portability, and KILLER TONE have moved into main amp status. I gig heavily with it, and have yet to find a venue it can't cover. Naturally it's mic'ed in larger rooms, just like any rig a human can lift, but tonally it can hang with any amp I've seen. I love my old hand-wired Gibson stuffed into a Fender cab that originally housed a POS SS Stage Lead amp. The Mesa is just more practical and convenient.

Just now, the Express has started cutting in and out, which I hope is just output tubes. It's been living in the trunk of my car, and getting jostled and bounced around. It's about 2 years old, and I'm surprised it may need new tubes this soon. Can anyone chime in with their experiences with this amp?

 

[Krek13]

well if youre gigging it hard and keeping it in the trunk of your car then I'm surprised that those tubes didnt' die half a year ago :lol: also, combos can spend tubes much faster because of the vibrations of the speaker that affect the tubes itself...

I have a head 5:25, it's more than 3 years old and the original tubes still work, but I dont really use it as much as you, especially not playing gigs, and I don't keep it in my trunk...although I already bought a pair of JJ el84s which were tested to match the express bias and put them in the amp cos they just sound better than the mesa(sovtek) tubes...its not a big deal, these cost 20$ on eurotubes + shipping...

 

[Don]

I'd replace the power tubes. It sounds like they've worked hard! Make sure that you ask for a set that will match Mesa's fixed bias.

That Gibson in the Fender SS cab sounds like a sleeper! Got any pics of it?

 

[Reif]

Not great pics - it's a GA-75, I think. Originally housed in a Gibson cab with a 15, it now has the 12 that came with the Fender amp, is heavily bastardized; SS recto, 6L6's, extra caps, 2 prong plug with a polarity switch instead of a ground....the madman who built it did several secret tweaks....it has 2 blend-able channels, which is why you see the short patchcord in the first pic...

 

[Don]

Frankenstein! How's it sound? I'd put a faux Fender faceplate and knobs on it!

 

[Reif]

Sounds amazing, breaks up like a Plexi, but ya can't stay in the room with it by then. I'm sure it kicks out 50 watts or so.

 

[Reif]

Replaced the output tubes with Mesa EL84's(the old ones rattled like blown light bulbs), and she sounds wonderful again! :mrgreen:

 

[twally]

I'm so glad all your amp needed was tubes. I've had my 5:25 for a couple of years now and it's my favourite amp. I actually like it more than my 4/10 LSS. It just has those "woody" tones, similar to a Fender-but on steroids.

Have fun,

TW