First post amd first test drive with Mesa amp
Been a long time fan of Fender tube tone and luckily still have my original 68 Blackface Pronceton reverb/SF Deluxe reverb etc. Also own the killer tone of a Swart STR Tweed. Vintage Traynors, Gibson GA-5/10 and a few Marshalls as well. I admit I love tone like so many others and tired of having 3 pedal boards to induce extra noise and getting robbed of tone from them in the chain. True by pass or not I feel they still rob us of tonal character.
Love to plug straight in from guitar with maybe some delay and let the amp deliver the goods.
Then this week I started looking into the Mesa line and I've used the excuse that their too complicated with too many buttons and switches. Then yesterday my local music store was good enough to loan me a new Mark V-25 Head. I raced home and ran it through a partially open back diagonal 2X12 loaded with 8ohm V-30 and a WGS Vet 30 wired for 4ohm load and dope removed from both speakers
Didn't take me long to start to smile and appreciate why these amps are loved by many. I also ran it through a closed back Blackheart 1X12 with a Celestion Gold and didn't care for it near as well as the 2X12
Then before jamm last night I decided to play it a bit more and it up and quit. Not sure if the PT went for a crap but I called the store and they had a Mark V-35 both in combo and head. Guess because I spend enough money there they took back the V-25 and I loaded up both V-35's and off to jamm I went.
I took a look online for some popular setting for Crunch and next dirtiest on 2nd channel, IIC+ I think and I knew while playing my 52 RI Tele also my 04 Epi Eltist Studio Les Paul that I had no need for any other amps in my stable because this Mesa can do it all to more than satisfy my classic rock and blues soulful cravings. We play small venues to no more than 150 people and learned over time to have a 50-100 watt amp and never get volume past 2 isn't doing the amp or tone any justice. Get those tubes hot with less wattage and then an amp comes into its own... Is my way of thinking anyways.
The Combo was Super disappointing compared to the head and 2X12 cab. Combo sounded very thin and boxey and even though I usually own combos I couldn't argue with the results of the side by side test.
Not site of the extra 10watts is worth having compared to the Mark V-25 but man what amazing final characteristics.
I hate lugging a fairly hefty and bulky 2X12 cab and taking up more room in my truck consorted to a combo.
Now the Question to you guys, am I dreaming there's a 1X12 cab that's capable of producing tonal mojo as i experienced from my 2X12. Hoping for minimum weight and size in a cabinet for Max tonal return.
Sorry for long post but I'd like to make the right purchase. I do feel I've found my new amp line and honestly right now I feel I could sell every amp I own and have one Mesa Boogie.
Thanks in advance.
Been a long time fan of Fender tube tone and luckily still have my original 68 Blackface Pronceton reverb/SF Deluxe reverb etc. Also own the killer tone of a Swart STR Tweed. Vintage Traynors, Gibson GA-5/10 and a few Marshalls as well. I admit I love tone like so many others and tired of having 3 pedal boards to induce extra noise and getting robbed of tone from them in the chain. True by pass or not I feel they still rob us of tonal character.
Love to plug straight in from guitar with maybe some delay and let the amp deliver the goods.
Then this week I started looking into the Mesa line and I've used the excuse that their too complicated with too many buttons and switches. Then yesterday my local music store was good enough to loan me a new Mark V-25 Head. I raced home and ran it through a partially open back diagonal 2X12 loaded with 8ohm V-30 and a WGS Vet 30 wired for 4ohm load and dope removed from both speakers
Didn't take me long to start to smile and appreciate why these amps are loved by many. I also ran it through a closed back Blackheart 1X12 with a Celestion Gold and didn't care for it near as well as the 2X12
Then before jamm last night I decided to play it a bit more and it up and quit. Not sure if the PT went for a crap but I called the store and they had a Mark V-35 both in combo and head. Guess because I spend enough money there they took back the V-25 and I loaded up both V-35's and off to jamm I went.
I took a look online for some popular setting for Crunch and next dirtiest on 2nd channel, IIC+ I think and I knew while playing my 52 RI Tele also my 04 Epi Eltist Studio Les Paul that I had no need for any other amps in my stable because this Mesa can do it all to more than satisfy my classic rock and blues soulful cravings. We play small venues to no more than 150 people and learned over time to have a 50-100 watt amp and never get volume past 2 isn't doing the amp or tone any justice. Get those tubes hot with less wattage and then an amp comes into its own... Is my way of thinking anyways.
The Combo was Super disappointing compared to the head and 2X12 cab. Combo sounded very thin and boxey and even though I usually own combos I couldn't argue with the results of the side by side test.
Not site of the extra 10watts is worth having compared to the Mark V-25 but man what amazing final characteristics.
I hate lugging a fairly hefty and bulky 2X12 cab and taking up more room in my truck consorted to a combo.
Now the Question to you guys, am I dreaming there's a 1X12 cab that's capable of producing tonal mojo as i experienced from my 2X12. Hoping for minimum weight and size in a cabinet for Max tonal return.
Sorry for long post but I'd like to make the right purchase. I do feel I've found my new amp line and honestly right now I feel I could sell every amp I own and have one Mesa Boogie.
Thanks in advance.
