How much "Vox" is in Mesa Express 2:25?
- Thread starter borisson
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Newysurfer
Well-known member
borisson said:
Imo there's similar amount of Voxy tones in the 5:25 as there is in a Lonestar Special, or a Mark V with EL84's set on 10w :mrgreen:
It will be interesting to see what the others say, but I'd have to say no. The 5:25 does not do Vox to well. I bought a Vox AC4 to get some Vox sounds. Still not quite like an AC15 or AC30, but still good.
The 5:25 (1x12) can get plenty bright and right into ice pick land, but it does not have a lot of presence. The very top end always seems rolled off to me.
I like using a boss GE7 to boost slightly in the presence zone, but that still doesn't quite do it.
Maybe if the speaker was changed to a Celestion gold it would get there. I have tried the Mesa C90 and it does seem to have more presence than the stock V30, but the less pronounced mids also make it sound darker.
The 5:25 (1x12) can get plenty bright and right into ice pick land, but it does not have a lot of presence. The very top end always seems rolled off to me.
I like using a boss GE7 to boost slightly in the presence zone, but that still doesn't quite do it.
Maybe if the speaker was changed to a Celestion gold it would get there. I have tried the Mesa C90 and it does seem to have more presence than the stock V30, but the less pronounced mids also make it sound darker.
With single coils we have no problem getting chime. But I can't say I have enough experience to compare it fairly to VOX chime. But that's exactly why I brought it, chime and bell. I demo'd the vox, but didn't want Chinese.
soundchaser59
Well-known member
If Brian May tone is a good characterization of the Vox sound, then I doubt you can get Vox out of Mesa without using at least a couple three good pedals and a darker sounding speaker.
soundchaser59 said:
The key word is if.
Saying Brian May is the signature of Vox tone with all the stacking and mods and changes he does is not very accurate IMO. I doubt the way Brian uses the Vox is comparable to what we might consider a vox ac30 vs. a mesa 5:25.
Comparing this way is as useful as a discussion on what motor oil is best.
A better question would be can we get a vox tone like some example sound on a 5:25. As it stands it's pretty subjective.
I call vox tone the chime. What is it to the op? Maybe a definition would help the conversation. Like I said, I demo'd both and took the mesa over the vox for chime, bottom, tightness and loudness over the vox ac series.
J.J said:My answer is still no
I just noticed your signature says you have a Mark 5. I don't believe the Express can do anything the Mark 5 can't.
borisson said:
Thanks for your reply but the Mark V has nothing to do with my question. There is no convincing vox chime in the mark V to my ears. So i was just wondering if the express 225 with el84s can get closer...but im still very very happy with my mark v...
Newysurfer
Well-known member
borisson said:J.J said:My answer is still no
I just noticed your signature says you have a Mark 5. I don't believe the Express can do anything the Mark 5 can't.
borisson said:
Thanks for your reply but the Mark V has nothing to do with my question. There is no convincing vox chime in the mark V to my ears. So i was just wondering if the express 225 with el84s can get closer...but im still very very happy with my mark v...
I don't think it can. That's why I said the 5:25 will sound no more Voxy than a Mark V with EL84s.
Mesa & Vox are 2 entirely different beasts. I prefer Mesa's myself and they don't make any Vox clones I'm aware of.
There's other amp makers that do though if you want AC30 tones - or there's always the real thing :mrgreen:
borisson said:
That was my point, if you can't get it with the Mark 5 then you can't get it with the Express. The El84 tubes don't give an amp that "magic Vox" chime by themselves. Power tube overdrive is where the different tube types really show their hands. Sorry for not previously being clear enough.
I tried for an hour last night and just could not get a jangly top end thing going. Turning the bass and mid controls off and leaving the trebble at 12:00 still lets plenty of mids and low mids through and even some bass. If you turn the trebble off too then the amp makes no sound which shows that the trebble really does let through a large range of frequencies.
I suspect that there are trebble bleed capacitors taking top end out along the way and that the presence is clamped rather low in range (there is no separate presence control).
I have also noticed that when I have had the grill off that the sound if much brighter. Mesa state somewhere that the Jute grill "filters" the top end for "Sweeter" highs. This will sound silly, but perhaps changing the grill for Vox grill cloth would help :shock:
soundchaser59
Well-known member
is the same as.......soundchaser59 said:
I didn't realize......I should have checked my translation program more carefully. :lol:FXR said:
May is the only name that comes immediately to mind when I hear the word "Vox"......grown up on Fender for 30 years, don't know any better. I think I saw Tom Petty on tv recently with several vintage Vox rigs on stage. I don't think the Mesa Express will do that sound, either.....Didn't the Beatles start out with some Vox gear? I cant say I hear much Mesa in that sound......and how much of that sound was the speakers and the cabs they were in? Has to be a factor...
ifailedshapes
Well-known member
When I think of Vox, I think Edge from U2.
EtherealWidow
Well-known member
From what I hear, the Transatlantic can get pretty Voxy. Although no loop and no 'verb.
I think Soundchaser's comments about a speaker change are right on.
My experience is with a 5:25 with a 10" speaker.
To get rid of the low end flubbing out, I installed a Celestion G10 Gold Alnico.
That change fixed the problem and the unexpected result was the chime that speaker produced was astounding! The last thing I did was to install 4 SPAX7A tubes to make the blues channel better suited for my style.
It sounds so good to me, all I'm using outside is a Barber Tone Press for some compression to add a little chunk for the country stuff. ( and a Blues driver & Delay for lead work )
Just my opinion, good luck!
My experience is with a 5:25 with a 10" speaker.
To get rid of the low end flubbing out, I installed a Celestion G10 Gold Alnico.
That change fixed the problem and the unexpected result was the chime that speaker produced was astounding! The last thing I did was to install 4 SPAX7A tubes to make the blues channel better suited for my style.
It sounds so good to me, all I'm using outside is a Barber Tone Press for some compression to add a little chunk for the country stuff. ( and a Blues driver & Delay for lead work )
Just my opinion, good luck!
THE TUBENATOR
Well-known member
I probably shouldn't throw my opinion into this post but here goes...... My very first tube amp was a Vox AC15, way back in the day. I "moved" up to a Vox AC30 thinking that more wattage would put me closer to the sound I was after. No! Anyway, the reason I'm writing this post is because I had an old Vox AC30 and I was not personally pleased with the Vox tone. Personally, I prefer the deeper darker fuller tone of the 6L6 output tubes. But getting to the 5:25 amp. Before I purchased my 5:50 I tried out the 5:25 and I was surprised to actually play though a "EL" tube amp and not get annoyed at its ultra bright chime, even at clean settings! With that said, I will tell you as a former Vox AC-30 owner, no Mesa amp will EVER give you that signature Vox AC-30 chime. If you want to drink a Pepsi, drink a Pepsi; but, if you want to drink a Coke then reach for a Coke! I take Coke over Pepsi any day! The Mesa 6L6 amps have their very own place in the sonic signature of rock history; as does Marshall, Fender and Vox. I regret getting rid of my old AC-30. I also regret getting rid of my old Marshall Artist 3203 amp head and 4x10 cab. But then again, with limited space and resources I made the best decision I could when I purchased the biggest BANG for my dollars.......Mesa Express 5:50 LH with 4x12 Mesa Cab! You need to focus on what you really want and decide if you should purchase a Mesa or a Vox, but don't buy a Pepsi thinking it will ever taste like a Coke!!!! Just my thoughts....
Great comments Tubenator. I am hoping that I can push a 5:50 into Vox territory with the right pedal...maybe a Bad Monkey? Have you heard the TranAtlantic? It does a nice Vox sound...maybe not 100% Vox but boy I ure liked it. Has me up in the air on whether to buy a 5:50 or the TA just for that one sound, but I have been advised the 5:50 is the much better amp and the Vox sound isn't my primary bag...the stoner rawk thing is with the dark mids, lower mid presence and strong clean fundamental that can take a fuzz and run with it.
soundchaser59
Well-known member
Whatever you do, I heartily and emphatically recommend never using the terms "Mesa" and "Bad Monkey" in the same breath. :shock:
It's the only pedal I've ever bought and returned in the same day, about 3 hours later actually, wasn't soon enough.
No better way to corrupt the gorgeous tone of a perfectly beautiful Mesa amp. (note: I personally hate the bad monkey pedal with a very distinct passion and believe it to be the absolute worst od pedal ever made.....so note my bias and take my opinion with a grain of sea salt...save up a few more dollars and get a real pedal.)
It's the only pedal I've ever bought and returned in the same day, about 3 hours later actually, wasn't soon enough.
No better way to corrupt the gorgeous tone of a perfectly beautiful Mesa amp. (note: I personally hate the bad monkey pedal with a very distinct passion and believe it to be the absolute worst od pedal ever made.....so note my bias and take my opinion with a grain of sea salt...save up a few more dollars and get a real pedal.)
wow, I love the Bad Monkey. It has performed wonderfully with my VT40, Oranges and Crate V16 as well as a Montgomery Wards Airline 2X12 with dual 6L6GC power sections. I just use it for a slight push...nothing more but I have turned the gain all the way up and it works great.
