- Joined
- Dec 5, 2019
- Messages
- 21
- Reaction score
- 20
I just picked up a Fillmore 50 and I'm falling for it.
I also own:
Mark II C + modded DRGX head
Mark V 90 combo
Mark V 25 combo
Lone Star Special combo
Electra Dyne 1 x 12 combo
They are all fantastic amps with incredible strengths. I've been chasing tone with the right balance of shimmery and chunky cleans and a tight gain sound that works for a range of styles -- while sounding compatible with the cleans. I also want the amp to be easy to balance the volumes and not so heavy it's a pain to drag around. The Fillmore has a magic mix of the above critera.The tones just work, it's full-featured but easy to use, and light enough to be a daily driver. I am loving this thing out of the box.
If you care to read on, some comments on each and why the Fillmore stacks up well:
*Mark II C + modded DRGX head
My first Boogie, original owner, bought to order. Great, but not my drag around to gigs and parties amp.
*Mark V 90 combo
Most versatile of the lot. Excellent cleans but not as delicious-sounding as some of the others. Best monster gain tones. Good loud. More challenging to make the sounds work together. HEAVY!
*Mark V 25 combo
Amazing for its size. You can dial in two great Mark sounds. Single 10" speaker robs a little fullness, but for a 15" square, lightweight amp, who could ask for more? For the criteria I listed, this takes second place.
*Lone Star Special combo
Cleans to die for but I just don't love the gain channel.
*Electra Dyne 1 x 12 27" combo
Also spectacular, honey-dripping cleans and two interesting and excellent gain sounds, but challenging to get the volumes to work together seamlessly. Rather than separate channels, this amp has attenuator features that don't work as well as separate volume controls would. HEAVY!!! She's a beast and crazy loud, but most folks wouldn't want to shuffle her around.
*Fillmore 50 combo
Awesome sounding cleans. Not quite as tasty as the Lone Star or Electra-Dyne, but sweet enough and maybe more usable across different genres. More innate character than the Marks' cleans, IMO. The gain sounds work for crunchy clean chords, power chords and singing leads. Not as tight as the Marks, but tight enough if you're not looking for rectifier madness. Easiest of the bunch to create a clean and a gain that are balanced and sound great together.
I'm a Deluxe Reverb fan, but with it's versatility and headroom the Fillmore kinda blows the DR away. I think that was Mesa's goal. Same size but way more tonal options.
Here I am praising it again. I'm smitten.
I also own:
Mark II C + modded DRGX head
Mark V 90 combo
Mark V 25 combo
Lone Star Special combo
Electra Dyne 1 x 12 combo
They are all fantastic amps with incredible strengths. I've been chasing tone with the right balance of shimmery and chunky cleans and a tight gain sound that works for a range of styles -- while sounding compatible with the cleans. I also want the amp to be easy to balance the volumes and not so heavy it's a pain to drag around. The Fillmore has a magic mix of the above critera.The tones just work, it's full-featured but easy to use, and light enough to be a daily driver. I am loving this thing out of the box.
If you care to read on, some comments on each and why the Fillmore stacks up well:
*Mark II C + modded DRGX head
My first Boogie, original owner, bought to order. Great, but not my drag around to gigs and parties amp.
*Mark V 90 combo
Most versatile of the lot. Excellent cleans but not as delicious-sounding as some of the others. Best monster gain tones. Good loud. More challenging to make the sounds work together. HEAVY!
*Mark V 25 combo
Amazing for its size. You can dial in two great Mark sounds. Single 10" speaker robs a little fullness, but for a 15" square, lightweight amp, who could ask for more? For the criteria I listed, this takes second place.
*Lone Star Special combo
Cleans to die for but I just don't love the gain channel.
*Electra Dyne 1 x 12 27" combo
Also spectacular, honey-dripping cleans and two interesting and excellent gain sounds, but challenging to get the volumes to work together seamlessly. Rather than separate channels, this amp has attenuator features that don't work as well as separate volume controls would. HEAVY!!! She's a beast and crazy loud, but most folks wouldn't want to shuffle her around.
*Fillmore 50 combo
Awesome sounding cleans. Not quite as tasty as the Lone Star or Electra-Dyne, but sweet enough and maybe more usable across different genres. More innate character than the Marks' cleans, IMO. The gain sounds work for crunchy clean chords, power chords and singing leads. Not as tight as the Marks, but tight enough if you're not looking for rectifier madness. Easiest of the bunch to create a clean and a gain that are balanced and sound great together.
I'm a Deluxe Reverb fan, but with it's versatility and headroom the Fillmore kinda blows the DR away. I think that was Mesa's goal. Same size but way more tonal options.
Here I am praising it again. I'm smitten.
Last edited:
