Looking to buy my first Mesa Boogie

[Charlie]

So after spending some time looking through this board and drooling over the Mesa Boogie website I've decided it's time to purchase my first Mesa amp. I've been a Marshall guy for some time but let's face it they are making crap these days. I love the Marshall sound but I'd really like something that is more versatile and I like the direction Mesa has been going in the last few years. So I'm looking into selling off my JTM-45 Reissue (I'm keeping my JCM800! =) to fund the purchase of either an Express 5/50 or an F-50. I really like the idea of having the 5 watt setting on the Express for playing at home and the separate voicings (blues/burn etc) for each channel but unfortunately the clips I've heard so far haven't impressed me.

So I am wondering if anybody out there can post more clips of the Express?

Also, if I can still find an F-50 head in a store does anybody have an idea of what it would go for? If I don't go for an Express I may buy the F-50 and an attenuator for home use.

Thanks!

 

[polaris20]

Here dude:

http://forum.grailtone.com/viewtopic.php?t=10267

I'm in the same boat as you, and NuSkool was kind enough to post some stuff with his 5:50.

I got a kid on the way and am doing some massive shuffling of gear: selling a Peavey head and a couple guitars, and buying one nice amp head. That'll be the Mesa.

The 5:50 with it's 5 watt mode, coupled with a Hot Plate will be perfect baby-friendly tube tone! :lol:

 

[bonchie]

If you like the marshall sound but want something versatile then the stiletto ace is perfect for you.

Amazing amp.

 

[JPIndustrie]

Yeah, I was about to recommend the stiletto. Marshall-like tone, with M/B building, reliability, and voicing.

 

[Charlie]

Hey everybody thanks for getting back to me.

I may check out the Ace but if I want english style crunch I still have my JCM800. After 15 years of Marshall it's time for something new. I really want something with reverb and channel switching. I listened to the clips that NuSkool posted of the Express and I liked the clips of the F50 that Hal9000 posted much better. But who knows.. maybe the Express can do what I want and NuSkool is going for a sound that I'm not looking for.

It would be cool if somebody posted some more Express clips but I probably need to get my *** down to the guitar store at this point and try it out for myself!



And as far as bedroom/apartment volume is concerned I've learned that anything other than headphones is too loud. I built a 1.5 watt amplifier from a kit called the Tiny Tone (Torres Engineering) and even that thing is really loud when it's dimed. I can get away with playing it on the weekend but that's about it.

Thanks again.

 

[Joshusama]

I'll tell you, nothing like the golden 5 S/E watts as Mesa has equipped these newer amps with. It's not a crunch per se, but more of a "glow" that really makes high-gain solo passages shine and clean arpeggios bounce. Will not get that in an F-series. The 50 P/P watts from the 6L6s sound great for cutting through just about any mix with use of the countour. Much more musical than I had anticipated.. Undoubtedly, this amp's dynamic voicing and All-American output stage will get you into fun new territory not ventured by your Marshies, methinks...

 

[Charlie]

Dammit.

I went down to the San Francisco Guitar Center today on my lunch break and all they had were a bunch of Rectos and a couple of Nomads. No Express amps, no F-Series, no Stillettos or Aces and not even any Lonestars. I'll have to keep looking around..

 

[Charlie]

Well I just 'won' an F-50 head off of Ebay. Got it for $750 and it's in mint condition. The guy still had the tag on the handle!

I can't wait to get this thing!!

:twisted: :twisted: :twisted: