what do you guys and gals think about the express 5:50 ?

[Geiri]

I'm torn between the express and the roadster combo. I know the roadster is a lot more of an amp but the express is very sweet to and kills the roadster budgetvise. Are the extra channels really worth it ?

 

[vermillion]

It depends what you play. Do you need or want all the options the roadster offers?

I have an express 5:50 1x12 but I really like the roadster too, the roadster is overkill for my needs. I like clean sound and a dirty sound, I also like the 5 watt mode. I sold a LSC head and mesa 2x12 cabinet.

Some obvious differences

- Price (USD roughly $1000 vs $2000)
- Weight (express vs roadster, do you gig a lot?)
- Available channels (think, 2 with 2 modes each *or* 4 with 3 modes each)
- Roadster sounds vs Express sounds (this is all very subjective)
- Roadster allows different tubes (you can run el34s or 616s in a roadster)
- Roadster has switchable rectifier (tube or solid state)

If there was a roadster in the store at the time of my express purchase, I seriously would have considered buying a roadster. I still like the portability of the express. I played roadster after the purchase and never a/b'd the amps.


If you get a chance, play both amps
- A/B them
- crank them (also see how they sound at low volumes)
- play your guitar(s)/pedal(s) through them
- take your time, go back to the store several times. It's mildly annoying to some dealers most don't mind at all, you're the customer and this amp is your investment. It should pay dividends of blissful tone.
- Listen up close, sit far away and listen, try to record yourself.
- try the settings from the manuals (and on the amp card)

Good luck, let us know which one you get and why you picked it.

 

[jamme61]

had the roadster too, awesome,! brought it back for the 5:50 1x12. If you need the rect tones go for the roadster but for me it's the express all the way. I love carrying the 5:50 1x12 to the gig and for me clasic rock blues it's perfect. Save the weight and the money if you can. roadster is a killer amp but the express really made sense for me.

 

[richt]

+1 on the Express 5:50. I've had my 1x12 since February and I love it!!!
I tried the Roadster and it was great too, but the reasons that Jamme mentioned for his decision are the same as me. For as small a form-factor as it is, the amp is loud and just so toneful! I decided that a couple of pedals would make up for the extra channels and they do! The 6L6's give the extra headroom and that wonderful clean tone that I enjoy probably more than the gain channel and pedals! The reverb is just beautiful and the price is right! I am interested to see if/how Mesa decides to improve these. My fantasy is for a Brit-voiced EL34 version, that would be sweet! Let us know what you decide?

Cheers,

Richt

 

[scottkahn]

In-depth Express 5:50 review:

http://www.musicplayers.com/reviews/guitars/2007/0707_MesaBoogie_Express.php

Personally, I don't think it compares tone-wise to a Roadster. It's the "baby boogie" in the lineup, after all. It's like comparing a base model Honda Civic to a fully loaded Accord -- same company, same basic feel to the products, yet the latter is significantly better in every way.

I'm not saying the Express doesn't sound good -- it's a Boogie, after all. But even the folks I know at Mesa/Boogie wouldn't say it sounds as good as their high-end amps. It sounds great for the price, but not as good as their other amps.

 

[Maury]

I'm thinking about trading my LSC for one, if that tells you how much I like them. The other guitarist in my band plays one and it sounds as good as my amp at (what seems like) half the weight!

 

[scottkahn]

I'm thinking about trading my LSC for one, if that tells you how much I like them. The other guitarist in my band plays one and it sounds as good as my amp at (what seems like) half the weight!

Yikes. You're going to have to go back to the H-C forums now

Seriously, it really comes down to what tone you prefer. There are some guys who love their solid-state amp tone. I would never part with a LSC for an Express. There are too many other features in the pro amps from Boogie with their loops and other detailed features.

The Express is really meant to be a no-frills low-cost entry into the world of Boogie tone. It is the starting point. If you've already made the leap to Boogie, going to an Express is sort of a step backwards.

Compared to your LSC, or a Roadster, it sounds very flat and one-dimensional, even when played through a 4x12. There is a depth and "roundness" to the sound of notes emanating from the better Boogie amps that just doesn't exist in the Express line. We spent a lot of time listening to it in our studios alongside (at the time) a Lone Star Classic, Road King II, and Heartbreaker (which is basically a Mark I reissue).

If the LSC doesn't have the kind of high-gain tone you want, put a pedal in front or get something from the Mark series or Recto line. You'll probably end up sorry about giving up the Lone Star's gorgeous cleans and impeccable reverb.

 

[jamme61]

I'm sorry but i have had the other boogies (LSC,MI,MKIV,Roadster,DC5,tremoverb,recto) some of those amps do more and do sound different but, not better IMHO. I have never heard a better clean channel then in my express(I love this channel). when I bought the express I was buying less bells and whistles but, not less tone. This is a great no frills amp with great tone. I don't hear the cheaper tone in it? For me, and what I need to cover, this amp has been fantastic and the fact that it didn't cost me a lot of money is nice but, in the end if it didn't have the tone, it would be gone.

 

[dodger916]

For me, and what I need to cover, this amp has been fantastic and the fact that it didn't cost me a lot of money is nice but, in the end if it didn't have the tone, it would be gone.

In the final analysis, that's all that really matters....

 

[Geiri]

Thank you guy's for your advise.

I've nailed it. It's going to be the express. When I tried it I found it wanting a little gainwise but the tone was what I've been looking for for years. Then I stuck an mxr Zakk Wylde overdrive in front of it and wham it sounds evil. Now I've got the boogie feel and tone I've been wanting for years. I a/b the roadster and the rectumfrier tone isn't me cup of tea. I like the buzzsaw grind tone that stryper had on their records. I got the boogie sickness when I heard a band play classic whitesnake and purple many years ago in club here in Iceland and it was the sweetest lead tone I've ever heard. The guy was using a mark IV. Since then I've tried many mk IV combos and was never able to reproduce the tone I heard. After playing with the express for a coupe of hours I nailed it. With an overdrive pedal in front this thing sounds like something that would scare the **** out of satan.
I'm so happy that the search is over.

 

[Geiri]

Thank you guy's for your advise.

I've nailed it. It's going to be the express. When I tried it I found it wanting a little gainwise but the tone was what I've been looking for for years. Then I stuck an mxr Zakk Wylde overdrive in front of it and wham it sounds evil. Now I've got the boogie feel and tone I've been wanting for years. I a/b the roadster and the rectumfrier tone isn't me cup of tea. I like the buzzsaw grind tone that stryper had on their records. I got the boogie sickness when I heard a band play classic whitesnake and purple many years ago in club here in Iceland and it was the sweetest lead tone I've ever heard. The guy was using a mark IV. Since then I've tried many mk IV combos and was never able to reproduce the tone I heard. After playing with the express for a couple of hours I nailed it. With an overdrive pedal in front this thing sounds like something that would scare the **** out of satan.
I'm so happy that the search is over. If I had the money I would probably give mkIV a go but it needs a lot of time and tweeking. I'm more of a plug and play guy and the express gives me that. I'm thinking about buying the head and two 1x12 cabs. I hooked the combo trough a line6 4x12 cab their higher end vetta cab and it sounds phenomenal. I love this thing. But one thing though. A combo I borrowed from the store started to make some strange popping sounds and when I hooked my delay pedal in the effects loop the thing went apeshit on me. Channel one disappeared and the footswitch stopped working. Anyone have any problems with their expresses ?

 

[hal9000]

In-depth Express 5:50 review:

http://www.musicplayers.com/reviews/guitars/2007/0707_MesaBoogie_Express.php

Personally, I don't think it compares tone-wise to a Roadster. It's the "baby boogie" in the lineup, after all. It's like comparing a base model Honda Civic to a fully loaded Accord -- same company, same basic feel to the products, yet the latter is significantly better in every way.

I'm not saying the Express doesn't sound good -- it's a Boogie, after all. But even the folks I know at Mesa/Boogie wouldn't say it sounds as good as their high-end amps. It sounds great for the price, but not as good as their other amps.

I don't get your analogy of the Civic vs. Accord. All Mesas are made with the same high-quality build standards where the price determines the feature set instead of the quality of tone. What you're talking about is more like Marshall with its solid state vs. tube series.

I liked the Express pretty well, but I'm still an avid F-100 user which compares very well with my Tremoverb, an amp widely regarded as one of the best Mesas ever. I just don't listen to an amp with my checkbook.

 

[djw]

I'm thinking about trading my LSC for one, if that tells you how much I like them.

Say it ain't so, Maury!

 

[Maury]

Ha! I'm just thinkin, that's all Why is it so hard to understand going from LSC to 550? The more I think about it I'd even consider an LSC short head on a 1x12 compact cabinet. I love my LSC until I have to fit it in the back of my car, that's all.

 

[jamme61]

Ha! I'm just thinkin, that's all Why is it so hard to understand going from LSC to 550? The more I think about it I'd even consider an LSC short head on a 1x12 compact cabinet. I love my LSC until I have to fit it in the back of my car, that's all.

+1 on that, I was carrying a head and 2x12 cab untill I went with the 5:50. They got the cab right on the 5:50, it's so small but still sounds full and not boxy like some 1x12's