Need Help Deciding... Express 5:25 OR Lonestar Special?

[TimeSignature]

I play mostly metal... however with my Rivera Knucklehead, Laney and Mark IV I think I've got that covered.

I dont need super gainy amps... I played an Express 5 25 and really like it ( I sold my 5:50 about a year ago ) but I also played the Lonestar special recently which has really really awesome cleans and a nice crunch - nicer than I thought.

I like the fact that both are relatively low watts.... both have black shadow speakers.

The Express is much cheaper....

Help me decide.

Can anyone think of any pros or cons? I heard that some of the LSS's seem to have reliability issues... ???

 

[JC 1911]

I'm just a little bias, Ive had a Express 5:25 for somewhere near four years an other than tubes no problems.I'm not a Metal player but I do play in two different bands an the amp has excelled in both bands.I do play lead in a Church band and also lead in a blues and classic rock band. Hope this helps.

 

[savage8190]

When I was trying to decide which way to go I tried out both these amps. I thought the Lonestar was very similar to the Express, except that you could pull more gain out of the express, which is why I went home with a 5:50. If your just looking for great cleans I'd go for the Lonestar.

 

[sted]

Hard to ignore the price difference, the express is **** good and very versatile but i would prefer the LS, but at the extra cost??? I just dont know!
I use a mark V which is capable of all these sounds, maybe consider one of those?

 

[edward]

Well if I read you correctly, you compared a 525 (I assume a 12" cab) to an LSS, and you seem to like the cleans better in the LSS, and don't need the extra gain of the 525. The LSS has the larger cab which also can make all the difference, a difference you can offset later by having the smaller/lighter footprint of a 525, and an extra 112 cab for when you want to. The price of another cab (especially used) would still be less than an LSS, I think, not to mention the sonic footprint of an add'l cab will make any 112 combo shrink by comparison! Unless, of course, the LSS really has that tone you prefer where the 525 can't deliver. IMHO, it is worth a try going back to the store and plugging that 525 into another cab and re-evaluating.

That said, the extra expense may hurt now, but in the long run of total satisfaction, you don't want to be that guy regretting his purchase later. Even worse, then you sell one at a loss which makes that LSS even more expensive later. If I were you, I'd get the one that really does sound better to your ears ...wait, save up, or get one used (great bargains out there used, especially in this economy). They are clearly both great amps. But "settling" for less than what you really want only yields regret later.

Edward