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[Anonymous]

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[Newysurfer]

Curious about the Express 5:50 but can't try it out around here.

- How's the hiss? -
ALMOST SILENT. THIS IS A VERY QUIET AMP COMPARED TO VOX, MARSHALL, FENDER AND OTHER MESA'S I'VE USED

- How's the fizz (compared to ROV)? -
NO FIZZ I'VE HEARD

- What's the story about all these Expresses failing? :shock: -
NO PROB'S WITH MINE

- Any foot switching delays etc.? I'll accept the usual voice switch pops. :lol:
NO DELAYS ON MINE

- How's the build quality? Same sturdy PCB-spring mounted tubes as usual? I'd hate if they went all Marshall on us to produce cheap amps. -
STURDY AS YOUR AVERAGE BRICK. USES HIGH QUALITY COMPONENTS ALL ROUND

- Hard to find replacement tubes? I hear it's biased very hot, "but cold enough not to damage the amp". Cold enough for non-Mesa approved tubes as well? :lol:
HOPE I NEVER HAVE TO REPLACE ONE

- How much gain on tap? I've heard some F-series clips that amazed me. Pure Metallica goodness.

PLENTY OF GAIN. HARDENS UP MORE WITH A CAB CONNECTED. COVERS EVERYTHING UP TO HEAVY ROCK. THIS IS NOT A METAL AMP THOUGH. FOR METAL SHRED BUY AN F-50, A RECTO OR STICK A PEDAL IN FRONT OF THE 5:50. CLEAN/CRUNCH TONES ARE BETTER THAN ANY OTHER MESA AMP I'VE HEARD AND DISTORTION EQUALLY SO

- If there'd be a series 2, what do you think would change? It looks complete to me. 2 modes on both channels, individual contour control, awesome cleans, awesome reverb, 5/50 mode.

ADD THE ABILITY TO FOOTSWICH BETWEEN ALL 4 VOICINGS

Basically I'm afraid this is a rockabilly amp that hisses. I'd like a Mark hybrid similar to DC-5 with aggressive drive and smooth highs. I want the clean channel, the reverb and Mark-like distortion! People seem to call it "hotrodded Lonestar" though which scares me.

I OWN ONE AND I DON'T AGREE. 5:50 IS THE MOST VERSATILE AMP I'VE EVER HEARD WITH 4 GREAT & ORIGINAL VOICINGS. PEOPLE WHO MAKE THESE COMMENTS ONLY WANT A ONE TRICK PONY METAL AMP. THIS IS NOT A ONE TRICK PONY LIKE THE MARK'S AND F-50.

 

[recto-robbie]

Hey Kapro, Ive tried the 5:50. Matter of fact I originally had one ordered before you could find them in the store. I got tired of waiting and canceled the order. I have since tried the amp out. It is a nice amp.
The cleans are great. The reverb is excellent. Heavy as in weight because of the 2x12. Im pretty sure that boogie didnt make this amp to compete at all with a rectifier which you would immediatly see because of the lack of gain. I dont mean there isnt high gain,, but it deffinatly isnt a rectifier. All in all it is a nice amp. I dont remember much noise unlike the 5:25 I owned for all of 3 hours.
Honestly though, I couldnt wait to be able to try one when they finally started showing up in the stores. I had already bought the f50, returned it because of the new 5;50 coming out,, placed the order,, got tired of waiting, tried a few more amps, wound up bringing home the ROV.
Finally got my chance a couple months ago to test out the 5:50 I couldnt wait for, and I will tell you straight up,, when I walked out of the store I was very glad I made the right decision buying the ROV.
I just wish it had the reverb like the 5:50.

And why are you now looking at the 5:50 with a ROV and a brand new MATAMP sitting there begging to be played?????????
Like I said a couple times before,,, you will be back.
Funny thing is,,, you never left,,, you cant do it, can you?
Talk later friend!

 

[NuSkoolTone]

I OWN ONE AND I DON'T AGREE. 5:50 IS THE MOST VERSATILE AMP I'VE EVER HEARD WITH 4 GREAT & ORIGINAL VOICINGS. PEOPLE WHO MAKE THESE COMMENTS ONLY WANT A ONE TRICK PONY METAL AMP. THIS IS NOT A ONE TRICK PONY LIKE THE MARK'S AND F-50.

*Chuckle* Marks are "one trick ponies"? Maybe the F-50 can be a two trick pony I suppose if that's how you dial it in...

Considering I've owned all three you mentioned.......I'm going to have to assert the original poster with the "Hotrodded lonestar" comment. I think that's right on the money. Can get heavier than the lonestar, but not heavy enough for metal IME if that's one of your requirements. It DOES have better cleans and mid-gain tones than the F series though. Just don't expect tight chunkiness from that amp. At least I sure couldn't get it!

-Also let's be clear. You can footswitch between TWO of the FOUR voicings at one time. NOT all four at once.

 

[pusher]

I thought I'd share a little info. I've had my 5:50 for about 3 weeks now and I love it. I don't have time to go into all the details, but I agree with all the posts above. Luckily, I got the tan version with the tweed grill and leather corners. A sweet free upgrade.
When I asked MB about the QC issues, they said that they were confined to roughly the first 200 hundred or so. The rep said they singled out the parts issues at that point. My amp has a serial number in the mid 500's and I haven't had any issues so far with it.

This amp is clearer and more versatile than my 50/50 Studio Preamp combo. Very quiet, clean switching. The smallest movements on the knobs can make a big difference in tone. I'm still learning how to dial in my sound.

Hope that helps.

pusher

 

[Anonymous]

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[Anonymous]

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[Anonymous]

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[tetsubin]

Hey ****-eater :shock: ,
why don't you just get a DC-5 if that's what you want? Btw: The DC-5 and DC-10 are not a poor man's Mark but more of a poor man's Mark+Rectifier.

 

[Anonymous]

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[NuSkoolTone]

Found this page. http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=662903

Hardly any classic rock in there. :lol: But if that's the main thing, I think I already have that covered in the ROV. I understand now why Mesa calls it "Recto turf" though.

Hey. Those are my clips. Those are NOT the only sounds the amp can do. Those were my quick attempts that week to get a heavy chunky sound out of the Express while I had it.

Classic rock I think the Express would do VERY well at. I didn't record any mid-gain clips because the issue at the time was it's heavy sound, which didn't cut the mustard for me. There are some other clips on the net that show it's lower gain tones.

I also feel the Express is one of Mesa's few amps that will work well with a Strat and not just humbucker guitars.

Of course, YMMV.

Regarding you're other questions. It DOES have a markish lead you can dial in, as long as you don't mind the soft/mushy attack.

As for tighness/flubbiness, that is why I ditched the amp! It wasn't even as tight as the F-50, and neither are tight next to my Mark IV. The recto I do not have enough experience with to comment.

 

[Newysurfer]

Of course, YMMV.

Regarding you're other questions. It DOES have a markish lead you can dial in, as long as you don't mind the soft/mushy attack.

As for tighness/flubbiness, that is why I ditched the amp! It wasn't even as tight as the F-50, and neither are tight next to my Mark IV.

Hey Nu-skool -
"soft, mushy attack, markish, tight, tightness, flubbiness" what exactly do these adjectives mean in relation to Mesa amps ??? Are you being complimentary? I really have no idea. And what is YMMV ????????

And Koprofag - just go test out a 5:50 or watch this youtube demo and then go make up your own adjectives

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dsVabcDj0g&mode=related&search=

 

[Anonymous]

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[JPIndustrie]

Curious about the Express 5:50 but can't try it out around here.

So was I. I finally had to oppurtunity to sit down with an Express 5:50 the other day for a good amount of time, and was able to play with all the modes in a sound proof room.

I used to own a Rect-o-verb series II combo and an F-50, and was interested in how the Express fairs as a replacement for the F-series and as a competitor to the Single Recto.

- How's the hiss?

Like any other high-gain Mesa amp. All depends on the enviornment, guitar, wiring, and settings. I don't remember it being 'overly' noisey, but the Rect-o-verb is def more noisier at comparable volume levels than the Express.

- How's the fizz (compared to ROV)?

No fizz compared to the ROV. I've always likened the F-series to a 'less-complex' Mark. Smooth highs, clear distortion, articulate (to a degree). The F-series to me sounded like a Mark, but missing balls or 'oomph', hard to explain - but voiced similarly to the Mark series vs. the Rectos. That being said, the Express is defintely in the vein of the old F-series, in that it shares the same 'less-evolved' Mark voicing.

- What's the story about all these Expresses failing? :shock:

I have heard that. Could be a bad batch. I wouldn't be too worried, right now you could probably only get an Express brand new, which means you would take full advantage of their 5-year warranty. However, i've heard most of these express issues concentrated on the export versions of the express.

- Any foot switching delays etc.? I'll accept the usual voice switch pops. :lol:

The footswitch, cable, and plug look remarkably similar to my old F-50, so besides the usual pops, there wasn't any real noticeable delay.

- How's the build quality? Same sturdy PCB-spring mounted tubes as usual? I'd hate if they went all Marshall on us to produce cheap amps.

I don't think so. Randall Smith wouldn't skimp on his amps. I've never opened an Express, but the price of one (compared to other comparable amps) speaks of a good construction.

- Hard to find replacement tubes? I hear it's biased very hot, "but cold enough not to damage the amp". Cold enough for non-Mesa approved tubes as well? :lol:

I'm not too sure. However, I wouldn't expect any surprises vs. prior Mesa amps.

- How much gain on tap? I've heard some F-series clips that amazed me. Pure Metallica goodness.

This is one area where I was extremely disappointed with the Express. Short answer, IMO, not enough. I'm a gain freak, and with the right guitar and playing (no dist/boost pedals/EQ/straight into the amp) I was able to coax some heavy-a** tones from the F-series, enough to make me forget about the ROV that I sold for the F-50.

I was using a Gibson LP classic, modified with EMG 81+85's - which I expected to drive the amp hard, but using other guitars w/ passive pickups, I was still able to get a decent amount of gain, even with the 'drive' knob at around 6.

When i tried out the Express, I was expecting somewhat of the same effect, but with more versatility due to the different modes. I was wrong. It seems Mesa intentionally 'limited' the gain on the Express vs. the F-series. I'll admit the Express, w/ its different modes and adjustable contour gave it way more versatility than the F-series. However, whatever their reason doing so, in sheer capability for stock 'br00TAWLness', the express could not keep up with the F-series.

Not to say the gain wasn't musical and organic sounding on the express, it def was. It would serve as a great blues/vintage rock amp, and maybe with a boost pedal it may achieve those heavier sounds. However compared w/ an F-50 in a stock for stock, direct plugged in contest, the F-series wins in the gain department.

- If there'd be a series 2, what do you think would change? It looks complete to me. 2 modes on both channels, individual contour control, awesome cleans, awesome reverb, 5/50 mode.

Probably, gain. - I know I sound like an immature HS brat, but its the truth. The amp covers alot of ground already, but I just wish it just had a little bit more gain, to cover those heavier realms. Then I could consider a jack of all trades.

Basically I'm afraid this is a rockabilly amp that hisses. I'd like a Mark hybrid similar to DC-5 with aggressive drive and smooth highs. I want the clean channel, the reverb and Mark-like distortion! People seem to call it "hotrodded Lonestar" though which scares me.

Play it. That's all I could say. Bring your guitar, too. I would def agree with the assessment of a 'hot-rodded lonestar'. It is. It has great cleans and a beautiful mid-gainy crunch, great blues tone, and versatility. However compared to the F-series, it falls short in the heavier sides of things.

That being said, I got a Mark IV, I am much happier, and I feel I was able to coax all the tones I wanted: clean, blusey, mid-gain crunch, and br00TAWLS metal chug. I felt it mixed a Dual Rectifier, lone-star, stiletto, and F-series into one amp, and achieves a complexity that I cannot attain in any other amp. But, if I had to choose between an F-series or a Express, I'd sacrifice the Express' versatility for the F-series sound.

 

[Anonymous]

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[Anonymous]

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[clutch71]

I played the 5:50 today and while the clean and reverb rocked, it lacked a little gain for my liking. Great bluesy sound. It wasn't bad understand just not quite what I was looking for. I was kind of hoping because of it's price that it might point me away from the Mark IV or Triaxis/2:90 setup.

Liking Slayer (and I have to assume other metal from that era) I'd say maybe a Marshall JVM (which I also tried today and actually the first Marshall I've ever liked) or heck a Kerry King signature Marshall is in your future. Sounds like you really are interested in an EL-34 platform.
If you want to stay in the boogie family I'd say the Stiletto is more what your looking for.

Good luck.

 

[jamme61]

the 5:50 is perfect for me (old classic rock blues guy) I like it better then my MKIV. I don't need the extra gain that the MKIV has and I like the clean and reverb better on the 5:50 too. I agree it's not a gain monster, but if you don't need that, save $400 to $600 and p/u the express IMHO.

 

[Anonymous]

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[recto-robbie]

Hey Kapro, think f50 gain if youve tried one, or maybe ROV gain on vintage at 9 or 10 oclock. Thats about where I think it would be.