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Ok I know these are two very different beasts and Mesa Pricing is a lot on the high side but I find myself in the position of wanting one of these two.
I really can not decide between the simple layout and great sound of the 550+ or the sound and additional features (although slightly complex) Mark V.
I play loads of different genres and am currently using a Mesa Triaxis & 2:90. Fundamentally I want something smaller to lug around. I would appreciate anyone's 2 pence. Even if it is look at one of these.....(Insert amp here)
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Comments
Do you have the combo or head?
I plan on giving a shed load of amps a try next week so it is definitely on the list.
I actually prefer the sound of the 550+ but (As I am spoiled for channels at the moment) I would prefer 3 Channels.
"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
For example to really dial it in properly so all three channels are usable and sound their best, they require differing settings on the graphic.
Not only that, I liked the idea of having all the knobs and buttons and whatnot.
Thinking I'd be able to satisfy more gas that way and find it harder to get bored.
BUT
With all the modes and whatnot, comes a lot more circuitry. The amp sounds good, but I think it sounds like a lot of circuitry. A bit congested maybe, not as open as it could be.
I also hate the position of the reverb tank. That would be so easy to knacker if you caught it on something.
I've never owned the 5:50 so can't comment.
Lastly, regardless. You always set an amp to how it sounds the best it can.
It's nice to have the modes and switches and options, but once you've set them how you deem them to sound best, they no longer really become options.....
Something to consider.
There's many amps I'd have over the Mark V after owning one...
It's also almost impossible to make settings adjustments on the fly at a gig or something because the tone controls work in a ridiculous way, and sometimes don't yield the results you are after.
For example you might want a bit more bass on the lead channel on the fly.
The actual tone controls do quite little in some ranges so you'd be better off by increasing the 80Hz slider.
That then, will bugger with all your other channels.
Yes there's the preset curves, but I found them pretty crap. Too scooped.
And the amp DOES need the graphic engaged at all times to sound anything like..
Compromise. I had similar issues with the 101B I had.
I don't that's true. The Mark sound is just a bit congested (in my opinion) - but there are many complex amps which don't sound like that. You can't "hear circuitry" really - especially as a lot of the complexity is out of the actual signal path.
They're not still mounting it through the bottom of the headshell are they? Doh.
"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
Hi all,
Spent a day out yesterday trying a 550+ and MkV. Both Combo options. Also tried some others but at the moment I really like the MkV. The extra channel and the amount of options is doing it for me at the moment.
The 550+ was really great but the 2 channels and having to use a switch which I believe I would end up doing for some songs put me off. Great amp though.
The MkV was just that 'bit' more (in the money sense too!) it was almost identical in some settings and added the extra channel and for whatever reason I really like the Variac setting.
I still have a few days to go before I bite the bullet. So it may be the MkV or something else...
Well I have chosen...
I have a MKV and a 5:25+ on the way (Thanks to StefB for that) Can't wait to get hold of it really enjoyed them in the shop....