I've been bad...NAD & NPD

RandallFlagg

I've been a good boy this year and I have been allowed to naughtily plunder some of our savings money to add to cash from amp & pedal sales buy some pre-Christmas goodies:

Mesa Express 5/25+
Line 6 Helix





 

The Mesa amp delivery has been a bit of a nightmare with Bax Music but is all sorted now, arrived today, a week late. Gone back to Helix after stomp boxes as I missed having something I could plug headphones into for quiet playing.

Had a hour with the Mesa and it sounds good. Got the Blues channel giving a nice thick pushed clean just breaking up sound with the Strat, sounds like a clean Fender with a good drive pedal in front but there is no pedal needed! Very good. Helix will be used for FX only with the Mesa and full amp modelling when played direct to computer.

Plenty of tone options in this rig I would say and I fancy exploring some more ambient type tones and music than I normally play. I'm very lucky and might have to make Mrs Flagg a stew to say thank you.

bazxkr

Wow, great pairing. I hear the eq is really effective on changing tones on that mesa. You are a lucky boy. I think you should make mrs Flagg a stew and jam roly poly for dessert too. 

richardhomer

The manufacturer of those fiddly little mini toggles must worship at the altar of Randall Smith....

Bridgehouse

I've had a 5:25+ and it was brilliant.

Still have a Helix and it's brilliant.

Good choices. 

RandallFlagg

Just had the American Vintage 52 reissue Tele plugged into the clean channel and it does a really good Princeton-sh clean, loud as well. Really fast punchy attack. Needed to reel in the highs a bit as the volume went up and the tone controls are really dynamic with each other as expected for a Mesa/Boogie, not like any other amp really, forget where the controls are set and use your ears.

Being able to do the Princeton thing is very impressive.

cbellanga

Great amps! it would be my choice as well if needed another one

rico

I’m confused just looking at it but I heard a mates band last week and the guitarist was using one - it sounded mega. 

Good haul! 

RandallFlagg

rico said:

I’m confused just looking at it but I heard a mates band last week and the guitarist was using one - it sounded mega. 

Good haul! 

I know, it looks more complicated than it is, as there are 2 of just about all controls, 1 set for each channel.

Wazmeister

Good match mate.

I love the 5:25 plus, and the pairing with the Helix should be mega. 

RandallFlagg

The only minor annoyance is that I like to use right angle jacks into the amp input but the input jack is recessed and the amp housing that protudes adjacent to the input and the grille curvature means I cannot get one in so I have to use a straight jack. 

Beexter

Great amp. I have the head version but have been considering the combo for convenience.  Despite trying a load of boutique combos, I didn't find anything that I liked as much as the Mesa. It is so flexible and sounds great. Enjoy!

RandallFlagg

Les Paul into Burn channel...ferocious little  beast

rico

RandallFlagg said:

Les Paul into Burn channel...ferocious little  beast

Fancy doing some sound clips?

ellwood

Very nice!

Teetonetal

nice. The Mesa is a great amp.

Mickeyji

Good choice on the Express! I've had mine for a couple of years now and it's the perfect allrounder IMO. Sounds great in most situations, it's small and very portable but still manages to sound big. The 4 voicing possibilities, the footswitch arrangement and the independant boost & the EQ let you leave the pedalboard at home...I did swap out the factory V30 for a WGS ET65  for a slightly smoother and less strident overall sound though.

paulphoenix

The Express + 5:25 is definitely on my dream amp list, so happy NAD. 

Alterlifeson

Lovely! Never played a mesa but they sounds like they'd be right up my street.

BluesyDave

So.....no more chasing tone then that's it!   
Very nice choices, the Mesa is a great amp.  Now you can find all those lovely noises in your new box of tricks.  Congrats.

RandallFlagg

BluesyDave said:

So.....no more chasing tone then that's it!   
Very nice choices, the Mesa is a great amp.  Now you can find all those lovely noises in your new box of tricks.  Congrats.

I hope so Dave, I hope so...

gordiji

Did you try the V 25 before buying the express ?