mesa express on the 5 watt class A is KILLER!
Squier
and I have to tell you this is KILLER GOOD STUFF.
I am actually liking this a lot. I never realized
how loud just 5 watts can be - but it is a manageable loud
in a smaller room. Well - loud on its own is nothing -
and the tone in this little boogie is incredible.
ok - here 's the thing - the 5 watt class A setting
really shines in Channel 1 (rhythm and crunch voicings)
On Channel 2 (the high gain channel) the 'blues' setting
and then on up to the super gain "burn" setting do not
sound as good (imho). However when you take the lower
gain rhythm or crunch and dial up the gain and master volume
you start to get this slightly crunchy singing sustain that
is absolutely awesome sounding. You don't want to stop playing.
And the really nice thing is that Mesa has a really nice
tone stack (once you get used to the mesa way of doing things)
that lets you get all sorts of tonality out of it - not just
a singing honking mid push. The contour control lets you
easily dial in the boogie 'scoop' or defeat it and just use
the tone stack. The double-fat strat (humbuckers) really come
alive in this class A thing - whoo hoo! And the single coils
just peel out and can actually 'sing'. The strange thing is
that it feels like reverb is on (it's not) so it gets you
this 3 dimensional kinda sound or maybe its the unreal sustain
going on. The harmonics just jump out on this class A setting.
And gain it up some more (on the channel 1 that is) and you
start to get this controllable feedback too. (well if you
move around it's there in front of amp - walk away and it's gone
and of course muting the strings cuts it off too) But when gained all
the way - you can just give a pinch and away it goes on and on and on.
And add in some more master volume and it doesn't get much better.
Dial it back down and you're ready to do some cleaner playing.
Lots of sparkle and chime too - my single coil strats sound great
when wind down and clean playing through the 5 watts.
This is now my favorite setting and best sounds I ever got.
Of course it is 5 watts so what the heck - I can't use it
to play live or anything - but what sweet sounds!!
The regular 25-30 watt class AB setting (as previouly stated
in some other posts) is also fantastic. But this 5 watt class A
is blowing me away - personally I think mesa did a great job
because it gives me sparkly to mid push to bottom end chunk
and all with 5 watts and little EL84's lighting it up.
And the reverb is nothing special - but it is enough to give
a nice fill out of the sound. No dick dale stuff here - just
a nice reverb that sounds good on cleaner stuff and I don't
overuse it or attempt to turn it up past about 1/3 way.
ps. Ok - I changed out the stock mesa tubes. There seemed to
be a lot of 'hiss' coming out of the amp - the amp is only a few
months old from previous owner - so it can't be caps (???)
Anyways - I changed the 5 preamp tubes and used Electro Harmonix 12ax7
and then I changed the 2 power tubes and used JJ's EL84.
Wow! the amp is quiet now - the only 'hiss' that is audible
is when you turn up the gain on an already overgained channel 2 'burn' setting
(and in a live setting you won't hear the minimal hiss).
The clean channel 1 is completely quiet now. Even when you
turn the gain up on the clean channel (rhythm and crunch settings)
Obviously if I kick in like 3 overdrive pedals at once - sure the
pedals are gonna create some hiss - but it's not the amp any more doing it.
So - I would recommend changing the stock Mesa tubes if you
get that incessant hiss sound even on the clean channel.
The tubes I used sound great and made the amp whisper quiet.
all for now.
Grinner
"Squier" <squ...@strats.net> wrote in message
news:240720070025043773%squ...@strats.net...
so you bought that over the orange?
VampX
> and I have to tell you this is KILLER GOOD STUFF.
>
> I am actually liking this a lot. I never realized
> how loud just 5 watts can be - but it is a manageable loud
Wattage is not determinant of decibelage (tm).
Squier
the orange tiny terror was returned. i really did not like it at all.
the only thing it did was give you loud hiss (no matter what tubes I
put in there) and give you this mid honk sound. not even my treble
booster could help it. but people have told me that in an actual
live band setting that 'mid push honk' can actually be a good thing.
Maybe it is (?) but then it would only be for certain leads.
There is no way I could see it being used for chording or rhythm.
Maybe some power chords. that would be about it.
It always sounded like your guitar was blowing its nose and had a cold.
Nasal sounding no matter where I set it or what guitars were being played.
It kinda gave all my guitars the same honk nasal sound.
(Tele single coils, Strat single coils and Strat double-fat humbuckers).
But hey - if you like that big mid push - it's a winner.
Definitely some nice lead sounds in there.. and maybe it just didn't get
along with my Strats or Teles. Always YMMV.
It is kinda the anti-thesis of the mesa boogie scooped sound.
Picture a graphic EQ with the mids pushed up and lows and highs all dropped out.
That's the tiny terror.
The Boogie in class A can sound any way you want it to.
Scooped or whatever. You can even dial in that nasaly tiny terror sound too
if that's what you're into. (well ok gained up a BIG fat nose blower sound).
So the 'tiny terror' sound is in the mesa too if you dial it in for that.
Apparently there are legions of people that like this big mid honk sound.
I am just not one of them. You might as well play a kazoo.
anyways - with the countour knob turned up on the mesa and
treble turned up it sounds like
a built in treble booster - Brian May would like this setting.
I think just about any sound is in this amp except for extreme
chug a chug metal or buzz saw metal sounds.
Definitely would need a pedal(s) for that and maybe some high wind humbuckers.
If you ever played the previous F-30 model - this sounds even better
because of the adjustable rotating contour knob now on the Express amp.
That little contour knob makes a big difference in this amp. Subtle
in some ways but gives you post tone stack adjustment that gives the
tone shape a perfect finishing touch.
Ah - you can tell I am still excited over this amp.
Has to be the best sounding amp I ever played. (ok - I don't have
a whole lifetime of experience - but I know good sound from bad sound)
The thing is most people don't think of Mesa as being able to do
great cleans - but this amp does great cleans and I am matching it
up directly with a hand wired point to point hand made 5E3 Fender Deluxe.
The only difference is that the mesa exagerates a little - gives a little
more sparkle and chime at the top end and a little more bottom.
I really like the way Randall Smith (the mesa man) voiced this amp.
whew. sorry to bore you with such a long reply.
but not that sorry really ;)
Grinner
I read it, and thanks for the review on the TT and the mesa.
E=Fb
now you know why we like our vj so much. :)
Bob Mann
>ok - I am playing now with the 5 watt class A setting -
>and I have to tell you this is KILLER GOOD STUFF.
I'm considering one.
Were you playing it through the combo speaker or an extension cab?
--
Bob Mann
Sex is like air; it's not important unless you
aren't getting any
Squier
> On Tue, 24 Jul 2007 00:25:04 -0300, Squier <squ...@strats.net> wrote:
>
> >ok - I am playing now with the 5 watt class A setting -
> >and I have to tell you this is KILLER GOOD STUFF.
>
> I'm considering one.
> Were you playing it through the combo speaker or an extension cab?
both. I play directly through combo 10 inch speaker.
It sounds like a 1 x 12. really. At really low volumes
it can sound just a tad boxy - but come on - as soon as
you turn it up a bit you would think it's a 1 x12 and
it only weighs like 34 lbs.
I then hooked it up to my 2x10 so with the combo speaker
still hooked up it's a 3x10 - and the thing roars even on 5 watts setting.
It really is like getting 2 amps in one - and both are excellent!
At the back where the switch for 5 watt or '30' watt is - the amp
switch says "5 watt" and "30 watt" selections even though the amp
is stated to be 25 watts. So who knows? Anyways - when it is switched
to 30 watt setting (class AB) and it is combo speaker only - this thing
will blow you out of the room - and it does not fizz out - nice deep bass
and obviously if you are used to 12 inch speakers then the 10 inch has
a slightly more narrow projection but gives a more focused sort of punch.
Anyways - with the 2x10 hooked up along with the combo 1x10 - then
all 30 watts will blow all the doors down in a house. I cannot imagine
30 watts and a 3x10 not being able to play live most anywhere except
big venues or outdoor stuff - 30 watts and 3x10 (I imagine) should also
be able to hang with any drummer - and hey - just mic it up for bigger
places or outside shows.
Anyways - for home stuff or studio or small gigs, practice you
could probably just bring the combo and play through the combo speaker.
They might laugh until they hear this little thing roar. Amazing really.
The combo speaker is also rated for 50 watts handling so even if you
crank the gain and master volume you won't blow it up.
And I am sure this amp at 5 or 30 watts could drive any 4x12 or 2x12.
I am used to the sound projection of 10 inch speakers so a little
less monster bass response with more focused mids and highs is perfect
for me. besides.. that's what the bass player is for. right ?
let the bass player do the bass.
Bob Mann
That's the ticket.
I have 2 - 2 x 12 Mesa cabs and plan to sell one with the F-50 head
and keep the other.
If this amp is as good and versatile as it seems I will probably sell
the BJr as well.
Squier
hey - as always YMMV - but I can't imagine you not liking it.
I thought the F-30 sounded good but this is way better to me
and it's so easy to carry around. That 5 watt class A though is
the real cool part though. Crank it up!! and no 50 watt monster
to deal with. take care -
If you get one - please post here and let me know what you think
of it or how it sounds to you or whatever impressions you have.
The real test to me is how much I get an itch to play and how long
I keep playing - this amp doesn't 'tire me out' I just want to
keep playing. ok. sorry to sound still excited about this amp.
But it is better than I could have ever expected.
(the only thing I am not super happy about is the reverb which
is kinda weaker than a 6 sprin long tank Fender reverb - but at
least this time (unlike the F-30) it is tube driven reverb.
But it is very good - just won't compare to a Fender Deluxe Reverb amp
for the reverb sound. But who cares - it's sounds good enough for
what I need to do - I am not needing the Dick Dale stuff.
The second thing is the burn channel which can get a bit too
mid pushed - but you can tame it a bit with the contour knob
and dial in the more mesa sounding scooped thing.
I have found that there is a decided difference on how the
amp sounds with single coils or humbuckers. Both sound great
but when I get my single coil Strats and Tele dialed in and then
I plug in the double-fat (Big Apple) Strat then I have to dial
that in separately so now I have mental notes on where to put
the pots/knobs etc for each guitar.
ahh. ok. I am rambling on now. anyways - let me know if you
get it and what you think of it. This way you can have something
you can open up a bit and let that 2x12 punch it out.
class A 5watts through 2x12 - awesome! You can just say that
you had your TV on a little too loud ;)
rock on!
Squier
yep. I am realizing the beauty of 5 watt class A. good stuff!
Squier
yeah - thanks for that reminder.
i think its something like - to double the volume you need 10x the watts
{providing your speakers don't blow up on the way to aural numbing)
i guess more wattage really just gets you more clean head room
more than much of a volume change.
Keith Adams
only weighs 12 pounds Squier. You're way over weight at 32 pounds dude. You
can get plenty of volume out of 5 watts if you have the right speakers
pushing the air. I dont know if this is true but it supposedly works out
mathematically. I'm not sure if an amps efficiency or sensitivity is rated
in db's but I think you know a speaker with a rating of 100 is pretty
damned good. I've never heard or seen them but JBL makes a speaker thats
rated at 107. . What some slide rule puke had written was that a 1 watt amp
with this speaker can make as much sound as one of Celestions best speakers
being driven by a 200 watt amp.. Actually the figure was much higher but
even at 200 watts it sounds pretty far fetched
"Squier" <squ...@strats.net> wrote in message
news:240720070025043773%squ...@strats.net...
Bob Mann
> ahh. ok. I am rambling on now. anyways - let me know if you
> get it and what you think of it. This way you can have something
> you can open up a bit and let that 2x12 punch it out.
> class A 5watts through 2x12 - awesome! You can just say that
> you had your TV on a little too loud ;)
I'm hoping to give it a test spin in the store tomorrow.
Squier
yeah i know about the weight. but it's not only a class A 5 watter
it's also a 30 watt class AB (the amp is supposed to be 25 but
the switch on the back says 5 watt or 30 watt settings).
So it's a 2 in 1 amp offering both a class A and AB.
So that's not too bad 30 something pounds for 5 watt A and 30 watt AB in one combo.
The 2x10 I hook up to it is Eminence 10 inch (ramrod) and they get 101 db per 1 watt
so those really get loud. At 107 db/1 watt it would really super loud.
Thing is from what I understand the more efficient you make a speaker
there seems to be a tradeoff in the max. wattage handling of the speaker.
But at either 5 watts or 30 watts this probably isn't an issue.
All I know is that I'm really surprised how loud 5 watts can get
and yet those 5 watts sound really good without blasting the doors off
even though you can rattle a window or two.
RichL
>
> yeah i know about the weight. but it's not only a class A 5 watter
> it's also a 30 watt class AB (the amp is supposed to be 25 but
> the switch on the back says 5 watt or 30 watt settings).
> So it's a 2 in 1 amp offering both a class A and AB.
> So that's not too bad 30 something pounds for 5 watt A and 30 watt AB in
one combo.
> The 2x10 I hook up to it is Eminence 10 inch (ramrod) and they get 101 db
per 1 watt
> so those really get loud. At 107 db/1 watt it would really super loud.
> Thing is from what I understand the more efficient you make a speaker
> there seems to be a tradeoff in the max. wattage handling of the speaker.
> But at either 5 watts or 30 watts this probably isn't an issue.
> All I know is that I'm really surprised how loud 5 watts can get
> and yet those 5 watts sound really good without blasting the doors off
> even though you can rattle a window or two.
I wish my AC-30 only weighed 30 pounds!
Andy
Ditto that for my 85 pound Vibrosonic! 30 pounds is SFA!
Andy.
VampX
Increases in decibeliage is exponential
MG
<keith...@socal.rr.com> wrote:
>I've got a 7 watt class A combo with an 8" and a 10" speakers in it.It a
>only weighs 12 pounds Squier. You're way over weight at 32 pounds dude. Y
snip
I am sure you are getting confused between pounds and Kgs ??
12 pounds = 5.45 Kgs in which case you'd have the shittiest
lightweight speaker in there...
MG
UK
MG
how much did it cost?
MG
UK
6SickS...@gmail.com
> In article <rv9da39ijeac1kc3hh5o8cdoqft9b3f...@4ax.com>, Bob Mann <B...@nowhere.com> wrote:
> > On Tue, 24 Jul 2007 21:07:55 -0300, Squier <squ...@strats.net> wrote:
>
>
> - Show quoted text -
I'm right with you on this, I love my 5:25. So far I've been in 5 watt
mode most all of the time, and I can't get enough of it. The variety
of tones I've been getting out of this amp is remarkable, the smallest
of adjustments to the gain and tone controls can create significant
changes. As I change from guitar to guitar I've found gain
adjustmentst to be the crucial element. One thing I love is the treble
control, you can crank it way up and it never seems to sound shrill or
thin the sound out. On the other hand it is pretty easy to over do it
with the bass, especially with the Les Paul and it can start to sound
a bit tubby and even a bit 'farty' which can be useful, but it's not
appealing to me. (Think Bruce on apostrophe by Frank Zappa). The
countour control is pretty handy too.
So far I'm only using a TS9 and that only occasionally. I can get a
nice crunchy, sustain-ey sound at *minimal* volume levels with the TS9
and the 'blues' setting. Big fun, I'm not used to sounding good and
not pissing off the neighborhood.
I'm not sure I agree with your assessment of the reverb though, I find
it very serviceable, if not as nice as a fender twin. I'm thinking a
nice old fender would be the perfect compliment to this amp actually.
Also, I second the suggestion of elevating the amp a few feet off the
floor, it really opens up the sound. I'm going to buy a stand of some
sort for practice and playing out (someday, somewhere).
Ray
'Lets be realistic about this, the guitar can
be the single most blastomphous device on the earth!
the guitar makes a stink noise. thats why I like it!!'
- FZ
Julien BH
wrote:
Just put it at 45 degrees
6SickS...@gmail.com
>
> - Show quoted text -
Yeah, I think that's the ticket, it will also make it easier to read
the labels on the front panel. they're somewhat hard to see between
the knobs.
Ray
Bob Mann
wrote:
>
>how much did it cost?
>
>MG
>UK
The one I looked at yesterday was $1299 Canadian.
It really did sound great too.
Rick N. Backer
courageously avow:
It also explains why I like my LoneStar Special so much. 5, 15 or 30
Watts and it runs class A in all modes. :) About 3 times the cost of
the Express though.
--
Ken Wilson
Amer. Dlx. Tele, Gary Moore LP, LP DC Classic w/P90s,
Jeff Beck Strat, Morgan OM Acoustic,
Rick 360/12, Std. Strat (MIM), Mesa Lone Star Special,
Mesa F-30
"Goodnight Austin, Texas, wherever you are."
Bob Mann
Nah, only twice as much. :-)