not much of a review....as I did not spend that much time on it... but I would get one if I did not have the JP-2C (keeper).
I had a chance to play one, was at low volume though. Clean channel was nice and typical for EL34 clean. I would almost say it was comparable to the JP-2C clean as that is not super clean either. Mark V has to have the cleanest clean channel I have yet to hear (have not tried a lone star though).
Super clean = piano like tone such that your electric guitar will have an acoustic character to it (depends on what type of guitar and pups are on it).
Warm clean = plenty of headroom but has some subtle grain to the sound but not dirty or onset of clip. JP-2C, Roadster, and RA100 falls into this. Usually has more bottom end to it. TC-50 was similar but not as boomy as the RA100.
What I liked about the clean channel on the TC-50, presence control. Added in brightness and cut some of the bottom end, more balanced in tone. Loved the drive switch too (whish that was on the JP-2C).
Lo Gain: Very nice, crunchy Well balanced tone. I wish I had the chance to push the volume up on this channel but I was only a few feet away from the front counter and the phone kept ringing. If I was going to buy this amp that day, I would have asked to be moved to one of the practice rooms used for lessons. Definitely different than the RA100. I find the lo gain on the RA100 though a 412 can be bright. I normally run the bass control high on the RA100 head (almost at 3 o'clock) as the v30 loaded 412 will definitely pronounce the top end without reservations. The RA100 Combo is a bit different due to the open back cab, run the bass at noon and push the treble. Note that both of my RA100 sound identical though the 412 cab. The TC-50 remained well balanced across the frequency spectrum at the volume I was playing it at. I did not notice the compression as much with moderate to high gain settings like I get with the RA100. I did not spend enough time with the amp to really compare. Also at low volume I was using, I did notice some difference between normal and tight but not as much as I would expect. I am sure things would change at a more suitable volume setting.
Hi gain:
a bit better than the RA100, perhaps more than a bit better. again, at low volume it was nice but could have wowed me due to my sub conscious preventing me from disturbing the business I was in. Very tempting to get one of these but I want to see where the line takes off and if there will be 100W version...... The TC-50 is worth getting and may cave in and buy one. Tone controls overall were great. I did not feel the amp needed something to alter its character like the JP or the Mark V. Beside, I have the 5 band eq pedal I could add to the loop if needed for that alternate tone.
The sales guy that helped me out with setting up the amp had said that many who have tried this amp have compared it to the JP-2C. Customers go back and forth between the two amps. He did not indicate which one they settle on. I did not notice the JP-2C until after I was ready to leave. They had so many Mesa amps it was hard to distinguish between the JP, Mark V models, and the express. Why is it that things always look smaller in the store than they do at home?