Thinking of selling my RA100 and getting something else instead. Love a lot about the RA100: Clean, HI, usable at low volumes thanks to multisoaks & gradual masterpots, etc. ... What I like less is the LO 's thin sound (not enough bass to my ears), and the very different character when switching guitars (strat vs LP need completely different amp-settings imo), ... Furthermore, the RA100's weight is a real pain...
I'm thinking of replacing it with either a TC50 combo or a Mark 5:25 + light & small size cab.
Had a very short test drive with the TC50 and I liked it. It seemed to be easier to dial in a less thin sound on the Blue channel, compared to the RA100 and the blue channel seemed to have a more bluesy sound, which I'm looking for. But of course it 's still heavy and big so not much easier to live with compared to the RA100 in that respect.
I really like the sounds & versatility I have found online about the 5:25, but I haven 't tested/heard it in real life yet. Seems like the ultimate swiss army knife (small, light, versatile, headphones out, ...), capable of a lot of different styles, including an impressive gain-range of bluesy stuff. But I'm worried it might be too loud for home use & too aggressive (gain-wise) to my taste: reason why I traded my Rectoverb 25 for the RA100 a year ago. And if I get the 5:25, I'm wondering what (small & light) cab is the best choice: no experience whatsoever in the cab-department (open/closed back, front ported, ... duh?).
Mark 5:35 seems a bit more versatile than the 5:25, but on the other hand it's bigger, heavier and more expensive. So the 5:25 is in the lead for now.
Not sure if it's the right move to replace the RA100 with one of these. Might be the dumbest move ever ... Really like the headphones out-idea on these 3 though. But maybe keeping the RA100 and getting a cab clone (headphones out), a Five Baind Graphic EQ (more bass in the RA100's LO) & a roadie (weight) (yeah right) would solve the GAS. I guess putting a seperate 5 band EQ in the FX-loop is exactly the same as a built in 5 band EQ? Or maybe there are better Mesa alternatives which I'm overlooking.
Availability of Mesa amps & cabs is practically non-existing where I live (Belgium) so testing differtent amps (/cabs combinations) is not possible. Mesa 's are really expensive here too, so having more than one is out of the question budgetwise.
Any advice?
Thanks in advance.
I'm thinking of replacing it with either a TC50 combo or a Mark 5:25 + light & small size cab.
Had a very short test drive with the TC50 and I liked it. It seemed to be easier to dial in a less thin sound on the Blue channel, compared to the RA100 and the blue channel seemed to have a more bluesy sound, which I'm looking for. But of course it 's still heavy and big so not much easier to live with compared to the RA100 in that respect.
I really like the sounds & versatility I have found online about the 5:25, but I haven 't tested/heard it in real life yet. Seems like the ultimate swiss army knife (small, light, versatile, headphones out, ...), capable of a lot of different styles, including an impressive gain-range of bluesy stuff. But I'm worried it might be too loud for home use & too aggressive (gain-wise) to my taste: reason why I traded my Rectoverb 25 for the RA100 a year ago. And if I get the 5:25, I'm wondering what (small & light) cab is the best choice: no experience whatsoever in the cab-department (open/closed back, front ported, ... duh?).
Mark 5:35 seems a bit more versatile than the 5:25, but on the other hand it's bigger, heavier and more expensive. So the 5:25 is in the lead for now.
Not sure if it's the right move to replace the RA100 with one of these. Might be the dumbest move ever ... Really like the headphones out-idea on these 3 though. But maybe keeping the RA100 and getting a cab clone (headphones out), a Five Baind Graphic EQ (more bass in the RA100's LO) & a roadie (weight) (yeah right) would solve the GAS. I guess putting a seperate 5 band EQ in the FX-loop is exactly the same as a built in 5 band EQ? Or maybe there are better Mesa alternatives which I'm overlooking.
Availability of Mesa amps & cabs is practically non-existing where I live (Belgium) so testing differtent amps (/cabs combinations) is not possible. Mesa 's are really expensive here too, so having more than one is out of the question budgetwise.
Any advice?
Thanks in advance.