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[Anonymous]

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[NuSkoolTone]

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 ????????

Hey. Soft/mushy attack.. umm how is that not self-explanitory? Let's say compared to an F-50, which is not as tight as the Mark IV IMO. So that makes the express not very tight, and kinda flubby. For me these are NOT complements, and why I let the express go. Though it still has a markish sound because that's still the line this amp is based on AKAIK.

YMMV=Your mileage may vary!

Because "tightness" is usually more of a requirement for the heavy stuff. Vintage/classic rock usually doesn't so the Express could (Would IMO) fair well there as demonstrated by the youtube clip you linked to.

 

[JPIndustrie]

Koprofag -

Don't let our assessments scare you away from trying the amp. If you really don't need an amp that has Recto-level gains stock for stock directly from the preamp, you might be happy with the express' tone and adjustability.

While I wouldn't use it as my main amp, the express has a great deal of touch sensibility - more so than any amp i've played in that price range. This means it's a great amp if you have alot of different sounding guitars and ability to play with boost pedals. There are just numerous amounts of tones there waiting, if you have the right tools.

IMO, it does cover the Lonestar territory pretty well. While I feel the Lonestar is just a little more 'complex' than the express, it does a great job of cleans and those on-the-border breakup tones.

In regards to Mark-ish leads, meh. Again being a touch sensitive amp, I'm sure its capable with the right guitar/pickups/boost pedals - but stock for stock, I think the F-series had that better.

 

[Anonymous]

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[Reg]

Ok, now I know some more.

First of all, been in contact with the Swedish distributor. They confirmed that the inital batch was faulty, but this was only the American models and not the exports. .

My understanding was that certainly in the UK, express models up to serial number 500 were potentially faulty.
I'm not sure whether that was the first 500 export models to leave the US or just the first 500 to make it to the UK. I suspect the former.
I can see why the Swedish distributor would wish you to think the problems were only confined to the US. They weren't and quite a few people in the UK seem to have had hassle.
Just beware.
These amps are bloody heavy if you have to keep taking them back!

 

[Anonymous]

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[wilerty]

See ... it's always better to try it yourself. I've been watching this thread but haven't made any comments because I play on the clean side and my gain never sees noon, much less anything higher. I came from a Fender Twin and the 5:50 2X12 does fantastic clean, crunch, and blues. I've had mine for almost a month and like it more every day. Most of the time I use the 5 watt mode at home and it is perfect for that.

Spend some more time with it and I think you will be very pleased.

 

[Reg]

The serial number on the demo ex in the store today was something in the 1000+, and as I said it didn't hum at all and it had excellent gain!

Hey, just make sure they didn't get a marker pen and add an extra number!!
You're right, I did get through 5 which was exceptionally greedy of me.
I guess they were all from an early faulty batch.
I really wanted to love that amp but had to call it a day when my back couldn't stand taking yet another one back. (Old age and all that stuff).

If you played it, was happy with it and loved it. Go for it

 

[Anonymous]

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[JPIndustrie]

My response? Do it. Get it. It's Mesa, and I doubt you would be disappointed.


Also what kind of guitar did you use to try it out? What type of pickups?

 

[Reg]

Nice, already got a reply from Mesa.

"Hello there,

There was an issue with a few early 5:25's due to low line voltage coming from the wall. When the voltage would drop too far it would cause a distinct hum within the amp. Again, this was noticed in a few of the early US models and has since been resolved, there shouldn't be an issue with any export 5:25's."

Nothing about the UK amps failing though.

They are also talking about a different model i.e. the 5:25.
My bad experiences were with the 5:50 which I believe is the amp you are interested in

 

[Anonymous]

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[monty_williams]

I bought a new Mesa Express 5:50 2x12 about 2 weeks ago. I've just been playing around with it, trying the different modes and settings. I haven't found "my tone" yet, but it does have alot of variety.

I recently added a THD Hotplate allowing me to turn it up a bit more to get the gainier tones. It low volumes the Burn channel can get fizzy without it.

 

[Newysurfer]

Hey Koprofag - by the sound of it you don't need the extra gain an F-50 will give you. The Express has got plenty when you crank it anyways. To get true metal tones I've put an Electro-Harmonix Metal Muff (with boost) stomp in front of it and it's a great match for even a hardcore metalhead. More creamy gain than you could ever possibly use.

Then on the clean/crunch/overdrive side the Express just slays the ROV's, the F's and Mark series amps IMHO. That's always been their weak point. But there's no amp ever made that's killer on every single tone from clean thru metal. And if you want a big variety of great tones you'll need analog pedals or an MFX of some description. That's why everyone uses em.

I think it's really a crap comment to criticise any amp with - "yeah well, it's great for tones A,B,C,D and E but it's not as good as my X for tone No 27 - therefore the whole amp is a big disapppointment". That's completely unfair when the reality is that amp X is actually pretty bad for tones A,B,C & D, is only passable on tone E and is killer for tone No 27. Mesa has made a lot of "one trick ponies" IMHO but the Express 5:50 is not one em .

 

[jamme61]

I have the 5:50, and the clean channel and the blues setting on channel 2 are the best boogie tones out there. You can't beat the price IMHO. With the two channels and 4 modes you can cover a lot. The contour controll is awesome and makes my 1x12 sound like a 2x12, gets rid of all the boxy sound of a 1x12. I've had a ton of amps including a ton of boogies, and this is one killer sounding amp, at a killer price. I'm a classic rock blues guy so if you're into recto heavy metal, that's cool but, not what this amps about IMHO. if you need to cover a lot of ground and love classic rock , blues , pop, (can do heavy metal with a pedal) and you love boogies, run, try, buy.

 

[jamme61]

well using a pedal for metal is no big deal (although I haven't had to in the past with Marshalls or other Boogies).

I'm going to try it out today again and maybe I'll buy the 5:50 head or combo. It seems like the 5 watt setting would be good for practicing at home (w/o the hot plate which I didn't like and returned).

the 5 watt is killer for at home and really works with out killing the tone of the amp.

 

[richt]

well using a pedal for metal is no big deal (although I haven't had to in the past with Marshalls or other Boogies).

I'm going to try it out today again and maybe I'll buy the 5:50 head or combo. It seems like the 5 watt setting would be good for practicing at home (w/o the hot plate which I didn't like and returned).

the 5 watt is killer for at home and really works with out killing the tone of the amp.

+1 !!!!!!!

5 watt mode is great, and yes this amp takes pedals beautifully!

Cheers,

Richt

 

[Newysurfer]

+1 on the 5w setting

The tone is very sweet on it with a more Marshall like voice than the massive 50w setting. I play in both a jazz band and a rock band and I use the 5w setting live in the Jazz band as well as at home - perfect for both.