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Post subject: Mesa Boogie Express Combo 5:50 without other pedals/effects?
Posted: Thu May 28, 2015 9:31 am
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My basic question is this : can I get nice fat distortion out of a Mesa Boogie Express 5:50 WITHOUT any external pedals/effects?

Background to question : I'm looking for a bigger amp for a bigger clean sound during gigs, and I'm thinking about a used MBEX 5:50. But I live in the sticks, and have never played one and the closest one around (used or new) is $1000 and a 2hrs drive away. Not much room for figuring out if it's the amp for me, but the research is incouraging (there are a million Hot Rod Deluxes and Blues Deluxes around, but my friends have these, and I don't like the interface and the volume is totally unmanageable). I'm strictly amateur (I can own that), not much of a gear head, and and love the simplicity and sound of my little 15w 2-channel hybrid Super Champ XD , which is great in the appartment or small gigs, and gives fantastic clean distortion without any need for external effects ( OK, it's got this e "modelization" thing for channel 2, I guess that's cheating).

I know this is a heavy amp, but it can't be worse than my friend's Twin Reverb original, and I'm not sure how much the 5:25 will bring my clean up as compared ith my 15w Super Champ XD.

Much thanks for thoughts and advice on this question.


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Post subject: Re: Mesa Boogie Express Combo 5:50 without other pedals/effe
Posted: Thu May 28, 2015 2:04 pm
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My feelings are this. Even after buying the Carvin X100, I will never again buy an amp that has the separate 5-band eq. Mesa, or any brand. I just find myself searching forever to find a great tone with them. It drives me nuts. If an amp needs that much eq'ing, there's a reason, and I won't fall for it being a "plus" feature anymore. It's a cover-up to a crappy initial design in my opinion.

For $1,000, I'd pass on the headache. If you want a great Mesa, look toward the F-50 or F-100. I'd rather have a Dual Rectifier than any of the added eq amps.

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Post subject: Re: Mesa Boogie Express Combo 5:50 without other pedals/effe
Posted: Fri May 29, 2015 1:29 am
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Ah yes, but that's on the "plus" models. I'm looking at slightly older used models with no 5band eq, just high low and mid, and one for each channel. I must confess I didn't quite get it when I saw pix of the "plus version."

TOM


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Post subject: Re: Mesa Boogie Express Combo 5:50 without other pedals/effe
Posted: Fri May 29, 2015 11:34 am
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It kinda makes you wonder doesn't it?

This is pretty much going to be a personal choice. Mesas are certainly capable of providing good to great dist. Usually on the darker side

I've had a few. I never wanted to sell my 2-Ch DR. That amp was amazing. But never again will I consider another with the 5-band. If it doesn't have it, I'd say it's worth considering as a rock amp.

Sucks you'd have to make that long of a drive just to try it out.

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