Ok, so some of you might know I've been very much set on buying a Mesa/Boogie Express 5:25+ head to use with a 1x12. I can get this amp very soon on a zero-interest finance deal from Andertons. I've played several of them and they always really impress me, but a major spanner has been thrown in the works in the shape of Mesa's new Mark V 25-watt head.
I've just watched the demo and judging from that, it sounds even better than the Express and has six modes rather than four. Its cleans seem to be on par with the Express, maybe a tad better, but for high-gain stuff it just walks all over the Express. It does most of the same stuff (the 5-band EQ isn't quite as flexible and the power scaling only has two wattages available, but I'm sure I could live with those things) and the price increase isn't big enough to really make a difference. And that's available on 0% finance too.
I've never played one, so I'd need to bring my pedalboard and have a good thorough play with it, but that depends on me even being able to find one. Andertons get a shipment in a few days, but I can't get down there until late next week, by which time I fully expect they'll all be sold out. It feels so weird given that I've had my heart totally set on an Express for ages, but I'm really leaning towards the Mark V.
So, what would you do here? Express 5:25+ head or Mark V 25 head?
- "I'm going to write a very stiff letter. A VERY stiff letter. On cardboard."
Comments
Mesa amps are vastly overpriced new in this country and don't actually sell all that well.
Personally I do not like Mark series Boogies, so without trying one (or even a full-size MkV yet) I would probably buy the Express, but that's just me.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
lol
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
Mark amps are cool, but... I don't know, I associate it with pure lead playing. Maybe a mistake, I know, but when I've used them (a mark one! And a mark... Later one, 4 or 5 maybe?) they were really quite fiddly to dial in.
The mark one was a bit nicer in this respect, if I remember correctly (to be fair, it might be the beat up cool look that did that mind ).
Bear in mind if you're buying new, you're going to lose 40% of the value almost as soon as you walk out the door, such is the state of the amp resales at the moment.
I'd be looking 2nd hand personally, and I'd be starting a thread listing out the features you want so we can all recommend a variety.
If you want high-gain chest thump stuff, a 50-watt head might be better for you. If you're not playing live, a EVH 5153 50-watter head could be the ticket, if you can live with the volume jump.