I have not played one nor owned one but I have work tour security for some of the biggest names in modern music history who have used them.
My ears tell me they are great amps.
But that's just my 2 cents...................
I've never owned one of these amps in the past, but I hear nothing about them, even here. I know a lot of musicians use them, but is there anything inherently wrong with this brand?
Do they have a high failure rate or a history of problems? Is the sound fairly generic for a tube amp or are they so narrow in their color that they only do certain types of music?
Why aren't these amps seemingly as popular as the other amps like Marshall, Fender, and VOX?
I've been thinking about a Dual Rectifier lately, but I see very little on the internet and I know no one who owns one. Makes me hesitant to make a purchase. They say no news is good news, and I'd like to believe that, but I'd like to know a little more first.
Sort of the same thing with Hughes & Kettner. No one talks about them. I almost bought a Switchblade a few years ago, but the store ran out and I needed an amp right then.
Turner Model 1 C-LB, Seagull S6+, Ibanez 12 string, Dean Bavarian Vendetta
VOX AC50 CP2, Roland RE-20, Boss CE5
Kurzweil SP88X, Yamaha MM8, Roland R-5
TASCAM 38-8, Behringer SX4882, Alesis Midiverb III, Alesis Midiverb IV, DBX 262, DBX 266, Omnifex DDX1024, TASCAM DBX Type II NR
Sennheiser MD441, Shure SM57, SM7, Sennheiser 402's
I have not played one nor owned one but I have work tour security for some of the biggest names in modern music history who have used them.
My ears tell me they are great amps.
But that's just my 2 cents...................
Maxi...................
Bootsy Collins:
I pledge allegiance to the funk, the whole funk, and nothing but the funk, so help me James, Sly and George, Amen!!
Guitars: 2010 American Special HSS Strat, 2010 CIC Squire CV ThinLine Tele, & 2006 MIM FSR Strat.
Basses: 1979 Peavey T-40, 2007 Ibanez SR 500, 2013 Ibanez SR375F, 2013 CIJ Fender Geddy Lee Jazz Bass, 2014 Sadowsky Will Lee VI, & 2014 Sadowsky Will Lee Metro V
Amps: Mesa Boogie BASS STRATEGY:Eight:88, Aguliar DB 4X12, Augilar DB 751, Genz Benz CTR500-210T/Focus 1X15 CAB, Fender Hot Rod Deville 410, VHT Deliverance 60/VHT 2X12 fat Bottom Cab, & VOX DA20
Effects: Boss ME-25, MXR Custom Baddass 78, MXR Custom Baddass modified O.D., Vox Joe Satriani Satchurator, MXR Phase 90, MXR Bass Chorus Deluxe/Octave Deluxe/Bass Compressor/Envelope Filter/, Way Huge Pork Loin
Well, I understand they are generally pretty expensive. Plus, at least here, their pricing would not allow for any discounts. When I was selling amps, we'd get maybe like 15-20% overhead on most amps, but with Mesa, we had to sell them with under 5% overhead, which hardly was worth it.
But nothing wrong with the amps, certainly. I have a neighbor that owns like 20 mesas, he sort of collects and trades them (and Charvel/Jackson guitars) for a hobby it seems. Always selling one or two of those at any given time, always seems to amass more of them anyway.
Dee
"When life's a biatch, be a horny dog"
Amps: Marshall JVM 410H w/ Plexi Cap mod, Choke Mod & Negative Feedback Removal mod, 4x12", Behringer GMX110, Amplitube 3/StealthPedal
Half a dozen custom built/bastardized guitars all with EMG's, mostly 85's, Ibanez Artwood acoustic & Yamaha SGR bass, Epiphone Prophecy SG, Vox Wah, Pitchblack tuner plus assorted pedals, rack gear etc. for home studio use.
I play a Mesa. I have a Mesa/Boogie Maverick. It's been a great amp and has seen me through the last few years of pretty heavy gigging. Very much a pro quality amp. (Though I am not a pro quality guitarist.)
Patrick
Thanks for the replies so far. They don't seem to be much more than a JCM Marshall head. At least on the used market.
I understand they don't make the Dual Rectifier head any longer.
I was just sort of wondering why I don't hear more about these amps on the various guitar forums.
Turner Model 1 C-LB, Seagull S6+, Ibanez 12 string, Dean Bavarian Vendetta
VOX AC50 CP2, Roland RE-20, Boss CE5
Kurzweil SP88X, Yamaha MM8, Roland R-5
TASCAM 38-8, Behringer SX4882, Alesis Midiverb III, Alesis Midiverb IV, DBX 262, DBX 266, Omnifex DDX1024, TASCAM DBX Type II NR
Sennheiser MD441, Shure SM57, SM7, Sennheiser 402's
I see 2 dual rectifier heads and 1 combo listed at Sweetwater right now:Originally Posted by MichaelE
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/manu...er/Mesa_Boogie
If I were to get one of their high power amp's, I'd go with the new Mark V, since it has all their best "Mark" series amps in one head.
I'd love an Express 5:25 1x12 for my needs. I've heard very few complaints about Mesa's quality or durability.
Guitar: Gibson SG Standard Natural Burst, Squier CV 50's Tele, Hell Guitars No. 2, Squier CV 50's Strat, Reverend Club King 290, Taylor 522e 12-Fret mahogany,
Squier Vintage Modified Jaguar Bass Short Scale
Amp: Fender Super Champ X2 Head, Egnater Tweaker 15, Fender Mustang I, Acoustic B20 1x12 bass amp
Pedal: Budda Budwah wah, Wampler Ego Compressor, Electro-Harmonix Soul Food, Voodoo Lab Sparkle Drive, Wampler Velvet Fuzz, Seven Sisters Eve Tremolo, TC Electronics Gravy Tri Chorus & Vibrato, Catalinbread Echorec, TC Electronic Alter Ego 2 Delay, Hardwire Supernatural Ambient Verb, MXR Carbon Copy, Catalinbread RAH, Big Muff Pi with Tone Wicker, BYOC Mouse 2.0 Distortion, BYOC Boost/OD-2
My source of info is wrong then. Maybe he was talking about the DR two channel model. ???
Turner Model 1 C-LB, Seagull S6+, Ibanez 12 string, Dean Bavarian Vendetta
VOX AC50 CP2, Roland RE-20, Boss CE5
Kurzweil SP88X, Yamaha MM8, Roland R-5
TASCAM 38-8, Behringer SX4882, Alesis Midiverb III, Alesis Midiverb IV, DBX 262, DBX 266, Omnifex DDX1024, TASCAM DBX Type II NR
Sennheiser MD441, Shure SM57, SM7, Sennheiser 402's
I've played a few Mesa amps, and know some guys that work with them. Mesa builds high quality amps - period. Lots of pros tour with them.
Just choose the sound (amp) you want...........
Guitars: 2008 Gibson SG Classic, 2006 Gibson Les Paul Standard LE, 2002 Gibson SG Supreme, 2001 Gibson Les Paul Studio Plus, 1996 Les Paul Studio Gem, American Deluxe Double Fat Strat, Bluesville "Super" Strat Copy, MIK Fender "Limited Edition" Tele, JD Bluesville "Night Pilot", Yamaha AES 820, Steinberger Spirit GT Pro, Taylor 355CE, Ovation 1897 Adamas, Ovation CC057 Celebrity
Amps: Axe FX centered rack rig, Mesa 4x12 cab. Germino Club 40, Johnson JM150 Millennium, Johnson JM250 Millennium, Gibson Titan Medalist Frankenstein.
Effects: Tonebone Trimode, EH Holy Grail, Boss CH-1, Dunlop Crybaby Classic, Framptone Amp Switcher, THD Hot Plate, Yamaha AG Stomp Acoustic Processor, Boss BCB-60 Pedal Board.
I want this one.
http://www.premierguitar.com/Video/2...A_15_Demo.aspx
Bonnie Raitt was rocking a Mesa Boogie the last time I saw her a couple years ago. Her band has nice stuff, and that amph sounded great!
Steve Thompson
Sun Valley, Idaho
Guitars: Fender 60th Anniversary Std. Strat, Squier CVC Tele Hagstrom Viking Semi-hollow, Joshua beach guitar, Martin SPD-16TR Dreadnought
Amphs: Peavey Classic 30, '61 Fender Concert
Effects and such: Boss: DS-1, CE-5, NS-2 and RC20XL looper, Digitech Bad Monkey, Korg AX1G Multi-effects, Berhinger: TU100 tuner, PB100 Clean Boost, Line 6 Toneport UX2, Electro Harmonix Little Big Muff Pi, DuhVoodooMan's Rabid Rodent Rat Clone, Zonkin Yellow Screamer Mk. II, MXR Carbon Copy Delay
love is the answer, at least for most of the questions in my heart. . .
- j. johnson
Originally Posted by Bilsdragon
I WANT THAT ONE TOO!
Maxi...................
Bootsy Collins:
I pledge allegiance to the funk, the whole funk, and nothing but the funk, so help me James, Sly and George, Amen!!
Guitars: 2010 American Special HSS Strat, 2010 CIC Squire CV ThinLine Tele, & 2006 MIM FSR Strat.
Basses: 1979 Peavey T-40, 2007 Ibanez SR 500, 2013 Ibanez SR375F, 2013 CIJ Fender Geddy Lee Jazz Bass, 2014 Sadowsky Will Lee VI, & 2014 Sadowsky Will Lee Metro V
Amps: Mesa Boogie BASS STRATEGY:Eight:88, Aguliar DB 4X12, Augilar DB 751, Genz Benz CTR500-210T/Focus 1X15 CAB, Fender Hot Rod Deville 410, VHT Deliverance 60/VHT 2X12 fat Bottom Cab, & VOX DA20
Effects: Boss ME-25, MXR Custom Baddass 78, MXR Custom Baddass modified O.D., Vox Joe Satriani Satchurator, MXR Phase 90, MXR Bass Chorus Deluxe/Octave Deluxe/Bass Compressor/Envelope Filter/, Way Huge Pork Loin
Looks like a very cool amp!
Guitars: 2008 Gibson SG Classic, 2006 Gibson Les Paul Standard LE, 2002 Gibson SG Supreme, 2001 Gibson Les Paul Studio Plus, 1996 Les Paul Studio Gem, American Deluxe Double Fat Strat, Bluesville "Super" Strat Copy, MIK Fender "Limited Edition" Tele, JD Bluesville "Night Pilot", Yamaha AES 820, Steinberger Spirit GT Pro, Taylor 355CE, Ovation 1897 Adamas, Ovation CC057 Celebrity
Amps: Axe FX centered rack rig, Mesa 4x12 cab. Germino Club 40, Johnson JM150 Millennium, Johnson JM250 Millennium, Gibson Titan Medalist Frankenstein.
Effects: Tonebone Trimode, EH Holy Grail, Boss CH-1, Dunlop Crybaby Classic, Framptone Amp Switcher, THD Hot Plate, Yamaha AG Stomp Acoustic Processor, Boss BCB-60 Pedal Board.
I have owned two mesas in my life time. The first was a Mark IV and the second one is a dual rec. (this is my current one I am using now)
The Mark IV sounded great for about two months then all of a sudden it started to loose it tone and warmth. I had the tubes checked and everything else and they couldn't find anything wrong, Thats when I traded it in and got the rectifier. I play mostly metal and must say I am disappointed with it. I just can't seem to get the tone I thought it should have. Now that being said it's still a nice sounding amp but just to loose of a distortion for me, I guess I'm looking for something thats a bit tighter sounding. ( I am now looking at Krank and Randall and maybe Diamond)
I haven't been playing out much lately so I haven't been moving to quickly on getting something new but I have recently started jamming again so I guess the time is now.
All in all from my experience they are decent amps that are somewhat reliable (just my experience) and if your looking for something loud then there are no worry's in that department. I personally think that it's one of those products that the name plays a big part in the popularity department.
I hope this somewhat helps,
Darren
Boogies definitely have their own sound. The Mark series is the evolution of high gain tone from a Fender-style amp. (i.e., 6L6 based power amp, high gain preamp). The Dual Rec is Boogie's take on the Soldano SLO, which is the evolution of a high gain Marshall style amp (i.e., EL34 based power amp, high gain preamp). And the classic Marshall amp is based on a Fender amp (tweed Bassman) which in turn was based on a Western Electric circuit.
Also how the amp is designed in terms of where the tone controls are placed in the preamp contributes to the sound. Here is a classic article that explains it:
http://www.harmony-central.com/Guita...evolution.html
Boogies are well-made, but have lots of circuity packed into a small area, at least the newer ones have. They are also expensive, but not overly so. They also seem to keep a tight reign over their dealers so they are not as widely available as some amps.
There's been an influx of Mesa Boogies for sale on CL in Maine... including a super old one that I would buy for the "vintage" more than anything.
Electrics: '07 Gibson Les Paul Classic Antique, Oscar Schmidt OE40N Hollowbody aka. "Fat Girl"
Acoustic: Ibanez AEL20E-TRS
Bass: Ibanez GIO GSR200
Amplification: Marshall TSL JCM 2000 head & 1960a cab, Fender Hotrod Deluxe Silverface, Ibanez Soundwave SWX65
Effects: Boss Chorus, Bad Monkey, BSIABII, Rabid Rodent, Crybaby GCB-95, Rocktron Talk Box
Apparently everyone in AC/DC is a gnome too. - Reverend Rawk
DOUBLETAP - 'Northern Maine's Premier Blues Band'.
Very interesting and valuable information, thanksOriginally Posted by tunghaichuan
Darren