Thinking of changing amps AGAIN...

[MusicManJP6]

For those of you that no me this may come as no surprise, but I've been toying with the idea of trading my Rectoverb combo for something different. The recto sound is cool and all but i've been getting a bit bored with it lately. It's kind of funny because at first I liked the distortion channel way better than the clean, but now I think the clean channel is easier to get along with for some reason.

Amps i'm considering (in the RoV price range) are the Express 5:50, F-50, Stiletto Deuce, Peavey JSX (don't hate me!), or any others that you fellas can recommend to me in a similar price range (for new or used).

My purpose for this thread? Gauge interest in my '06 RoV combo as well as thoughts on other amps in this price range (~$1K).

I'm heading down to my music store this weekend to check out some amps with my guitar in hand. They've got several Mesas in stock (among others)...

 

[TheBlackman]

hey, it is no surprise for you to be changing gear again lol! my roadster is in for repair but i've had a couple loaners...the first was a marshall JVM, i figured 4 channels, good substitute for the roadster...not even close! the eq was useless, the quality was poor, cheap loose knobs, god, i can stand on my roadsters master volume knob, and it was basically about as good as my crate gx212! right now i've got the H&K statesman dual 6l6, and i've got to say, what a nice amp, great tone, only two channels but has a foot-switchable boost for gain and 2nd volume on the drive channel and 'twang' on the clean, i just might buy this amp it sounds so good...gigged with both the marshall and the H&K and the statesman just blew me away with awesome tone. definately worth checking out.

 

[jdurso]

i think you'll really dig the express and duece as they're both so easy to dial in good tones on... good luck

 

[kmanick]

don't feel bad, I go thru this myself all the time (and the JSX is a great sounding amp with the right tubes in it and an EQ in the loop).
I've had many people come to my house who are JSX bashers that were just floored when they heard mine.

I've got Mark Gas (have for a while now) I just haven't been able to try one yet.
I'd love to keep both of my amps and just get a mark IV "in addition" to what I've got, but private school tuition is crimping my style (ya having kids costs lots of money )

 

[trem]

I'm not sure whether this would be of any help, since I'm not going to suggest any brands. The best cures for GAS that I have found are:
1. Get a guitar/music lesson, especially in styles you're not familiar with. Worth WAY more than any piece of gear to replace the ones you already have (they're great as it is). It'll take your time and concentration off of gear and more into music. Furthermore, you'll learn to appreciate your existing gear more and how to coax more sounds just by some simple changes, or by playing differently.
2. Jam with someone better than you, or join a band. In a way this is much like number 1.
3. Compose songs.
4. Stay away from gear forums.
5. Have a baby or three.

 

[songrider]

I'm not sure whether this would be of any help, since I'm not going to suggest any brands. The best cures for GAS that I have found are:
1. Get a guitar/music lesson, especially in styles you're not familiar with. Worth WAY more than any piece of gear to replace the ones you already have (they're great as it is). It'll take your time and concentration off of gear and more into music. Furthermore, you'll learn to appreciate your existing gear more and how to coax more sounds just by some simple changes, or by playing differently.
2. Jam with someone better than you, or join a band. In a way this is much like number 1.
3. Compose songs.
4. Stay away from gear forums.
5. Have a baby or three.

I agree completely!!!

 

[dtrax]

For those of you that no me this may come as no surprise, but I've been toying with the idea of trading my Rectoverb combo for something different. The recto sound is cool and all but i've been getting a bit bored with it lately. It's kind of funny because at first I liked the distortion channel way better than the clean, but now I think the clean channel is easier to get along with for some reason.

Amps i'm considering (in the RoV price range) are the Express 5:50, F-50, Stiletto Deuce, Peavey JSX (don't hate me!), or any others that you fellas can recommend to me in a similar price range (for new or used).

My purpose for this thread? Gauge interest in my '06 RoV combo as well as thoughts on other amps in this price range (~$1K).

I'm heading down to my music store this weekend to check out some amps with my guitar in hand. They've got several Mesas in stock (among others)...

I'd stay away from the Express line *IF* you're looking for a metalish high gain tone. It does everything else nice though, from what little time I spent playing it. But I could not dial in a tight and crunchy sound at all - e.g., it didn't pass the 'Palm Mute' test.

The F-50 should be worth a shot. I own an F-30, which I believe share the same preamp, just their power amp sections are different. That, and speaker/cab size, etc... anyways, I love my F-30 so I can't say an F-50 would be any less great.

Only played a Stiletto Ace, but holy **** was that a great amp. Sounded good at low volumes, too. I like uber amounts of gain, and this thing killed for that hot-rodded Marshall high gain tone.

Not experience with the JSX.

The F-50 would be the cheapest of the Mesas, so if you go for that you should get some cash back if you trade in the RoV. I'd personally go with the Stiletto. Tonally, it's opposite the Recto, so if you're bored with the RoV, the Stiletto will give you a much different (exciting,new, etc..) tone. At least until the honeymoon wears off...

 

[mdortona]

Yo Adam!

Give the 5:50 Express a shot. I bought one a few months ago and just love it. I love it soooo much that there is an extremely good chance that I'll be selling the MKIV before Thanksgiving. In all fairness, it does not do the high gain Recto chug nor is as heavy as the MKIV lead + GEQ-V sound. However, I've solved this problem (for me) by putting an EQ pedal in the loop. The clean rivals the Lonestar (owned a LSS before) and equals my Fender Pro Reverb. The blues voicing on ch2 cranked a bit gives me a great classic rock sound and the high gain voicing can do 80s and some 90s metal. Sounds great with a Thiele cab. The icing on the cake is that it is tons easier to dial in a good sound in comparison to the MKIV or the Roadster.

Happy hunting! :wink:

Matt[/code]

 

[MusicManJP6]

Thanks for the replies! I'm going to have to play a few amps at the music store and see what my thoughts are then. I think they have a JSX, Express 5:50, Stiletto (not sure which one), Lonestar (not sure which one), among others. I'm also going to Guitar Center in Knoxville next weekend before the Sevendust concert so I should be able to try out some more brands there as well.

Keep the comments rolling! Everyone has been helpful so far!

 

[Jak0lantern01]

I tried the Express in the store and found it to be useless for my tastes. I really don't know what I would do with the thing. On the other hand, I just picked up a Stiletto Deuce this weekend and I think it was a great buy. The amp can do anything. And if low-end is a problem, well, that's what the bass player is for. FYI: I also have a Rectoverb that I got a bit bored with but by no means will be getting rid of.

 

[MusicManJP6]

If I could keep the RoV then I would, but as with all my other amps I've sold, it just isn't an option to have more than one amp. I must sell to fund the next amp. I'll test amps thoroughly before getting rid of it though.

I'll also try some different settings and stuff and try to fall back in love with it so maybe I can save the hassle of buying/selling...

 

[Platypus]

Check out the Deuce...or come back to the Mark fold :twisted:

 

[Jak0lantern01]

Hey Rabies, weren't you a Stiletto hater after having some issues with one? I thought you jumped to another amp. At this point, nothing beats my Duece for me, I did some jamming last weekend with it and it had some great sounds to it, everything the recto lacked. Let's see how it is in a full band situation this weekend.

 

[MusicManJP6]

Let's see how it is in a full band situation this weekend.

Give me an update after you hear it with the band this weekend! I'll try to play one this weekend myself in a music store...

 

[Jak0lantern01]

FYI: Compared to the Ace, the Duece definitely has a little more something going on. But figure it this way, if it sounds dead on for Mr. Scary, it can't be all that bad, now can it? Also figure a bit of old Metallica in there. I'm not sure what kind of music you're playing to give good examples. The true test will be with the whole band cranking something out like A7X. If it can pull Bat Country off, which I think it will, it can probably do anything. I've also found that running an EQ in the classic 'V' shape opens it up to an even more metal sound.

 

[MusicManJP6]

OK, so my Mesa dealer had sold a few amps I wanted to try but I got to try a Stiletto Deuce II thru a 4x12 and a JSX 212 combo.

I tried the JSX first. Very easy amp to get along with. Very 'plug and play' with alot of good tones available from all channels.

The clean channel is exactly the same as my old XXX's so no real surprise here. It's the super clean type of clean which is fine with me. It handles pedals nicely (which is why Satch likes it so much).

The crunch channel is where the JSX excels beyond the Rectoverb IMO. It is very open and responds well to different gain levels even all the way up to max. So this is where tweed/blues all the way up to classic rock and hard rock live easily. The Ultra channel is very much like a Recto but with more USABLE gain above noon and less fizz and mud. Overall it has more character and responds nicer to EQ changes than the Recto which can become harsh easily.

Despite the JSX being an open back it still had plenty of bottom end and sounded great at any volume I played it at. I didn't really get a chance to crank it, but if my XXX is anything to base it on then I know it will sound pretty much the same once it's cranked, but punchier.

Now, on to the Stiletto. What a cool amp! It's very different in all aspects compared to all the Mesas I've owned. It's very friendly although requires more tweaking than the JSX. It has looks to kill and some super tone!

The clean channel is nice and punchy but crisp and clear as well. I had gain at 11:00, presence at 10:30, treble at 9:30, mids at 10:30, and bass at 1:00 and it sounded pretty good. Also had it on recto tracking, spongy, and 50w. Not bad for EL34s!

Now the rhythm channel was very nice. I mostly messed with fluid drive with bass at 1:00, gain at 1:30, treble at 10:00, mids at 11:00, bass at 1:30, and presence at 11:00 or so. I got kind of into what I was playing and next thing I know one of the guys is telling me to turn it down a little. I was pleasant about it, but I was ticked a bit really. I mean, how else am I supposed to try out a high powered head running through a 4x12? And it was NOT that loud. I was sitting two f-ing feet away from it. BUT, I digress... I was very impressed with this channel and I loved the articulation. It is very much a mix between a Recto and a Mark if I had to compare. Not too tight and not too loose. Just right!

The only problem with the Deuce is that it is VERY powerful and only comes in a head format. If it came in a combo I'd probably be all over it! It's got everything you want and nothing you don't.

So, after I plated the Stiletto I went back to the JSX again. Overall I think the JSX is a bit more friendly and versatile AND it is a combo which I like. It is also in my price range. It also sounds good at any volume...

I'm going to Guitar Center tomorrow. Don't wait for me to review all the amps I try! I'll be doing well to just remember what all amps I played through! I guess i'll take some notes or something...

More to come after tomorrow!

 

[kmanick]

it's not really much of a noise gate, it's more of noise filter, I never run mine past 5 because it adds even more compression to an already very compressed amp.
The JSX is very easy to plug into and geta good sound out of, but if they weill let you throw an EQ into the loop to try before you take it home (if that's what you decide on) , do it, it will completely thicken up the sound of the amp.
I couldn't even use my JSX without the EQ in the loop. :shock:
that's how much it helps with these amps.
Also be aware that the EQ on the amp is active so start with everything at 5 and go from there .

 

[clutch71]

Adam, Don't know how I missed this post but once again the tone hunt begins huh?!? That's cool it's part of the fun.

Hey, try out a Marshall DSL 50. You can pick them used for around $800 bucks. There are fewer tubes so less to replace and experiment with.

If you like the platform, keep in mind that the Mercury Magnetics up grade really improves that amps tone. I've had mine almost a year now and there's no way ever that I'd get rid of this amp.

The reverb sucks but I was never wild about the reverb in my old ROV. The loop loves pedals. Run that sucker through a Mesa 2x12 or 4x12 and it's an awesome rig.

It is very tweakable with a wide range of tones between the two channels and 4 modes. PLus you have a deep switch and tone shift. For me it was the most versitile amp I've come across. Still wish I had an ROV though and I would love to composite the two.

PM me if you have any other questions.

 

[MusicManJP6]

Went to Guitar Center and found an array of amps to try out. I tried a Lonestar Special and was not impressed. The Express 5:50 was the most terrible Mesa i've ever heard. Cleans were fine, but the gain was terrible! They had a Stiletto Ace but it was MESSED UP!! The drive channel was dead silent for some reason! I was ticked coz that was the one amp I really wanted to hear!

I tried an Egnater Tourmaster 4212 just for giggles and it was basically like a Roadster but i'd pick the Roadster over it.

So, before heading to GC I changed the strings on my JP and plugged into the RoV for a comparison tone before I took off. I have to say that the string change really helped out my tone. It gave me some zing and bite back. It sounds MUCH better actually. I'll keep looking at other amps, but if I don't get what I want out of the RoV then I'll just keep it for now. It seems to be doing me just fine after trying out some other amps.

 

[ibanez4life SZ!]

It's hard to recommend stuff to someones that's been through so much. I've been through 3 Mesas myself in the last 2 years, and have tried a plethora of other amps.

I can say that the Stiletto is the finest Mesa I've played. For once, when I plug into that amp, I'm not tweaking...I'm just rocking with some SWEET tone. And I do agree...it's like an odd morph of the Mark and Recto....has a nice natural sponginess that the Mark was missing, but still tight enough for any riffing. On the other side, Rectos have and always will sound like mudd to me :?

I wouldn't hesitate on the Stiletto one bit!