Printable Version of Topic

Posted by: Marc_Maiden Mar 19 2009, 12:48 AM

Hey guys, right now im using a 100 watt all tube mesa boogie Mark I reissue and that ting spits out tone! i like the sound, i think thoough its a little to vintage for me...however my main concern is that it is too loud...cant play past 1 lol


anyways so im thinkin about selling/trading it to get a smaller wattage tube amp, maybe something a little cheaper and buy pedals to use it with


im hoping to get a 500-700 value for it, what do you guys reccomend that is used or new (doesnt matter which)? i want it to be AT MOST 40 watts...50 is a maybe but i really wanna be able to get that cranked up tone for recording...


thanks for your help guys!

Posted by: ZakkWylde Mar 19 2009, 01:01 AM

50 watt is almost as loud as 100 watt! (about 85% as loud)
If you could play the mesa on one, you can play a 50watter at 1.5 or maybe two but never at ten! If you want to crank an amp, then go for 15 watts or even just 5...

Posted by: MickeM Mar 19 2009, 01:05 AM

50w is still 80% the volume of 100w so no huge gain there. Except you can get the powertubes to work a bit harder.
Get a powersoak or something. Trading the Mesa in sounds like a mistake you will regret,maybe not tomorrow but surely 5-10 years from now. I can almost guarantee it! (oh, just notices it's a reissue, but still)

Are you talking about home recording? Max 5 watts I'd say. Or a cool preamp with direct out. The Blackstar HT5 got a very wide range of tones btw.

Posted by: Fullmetal_Tmd Mar 19 2009, 01:08 AM

Here's a few suggestions:

Krank Rev Jr. Pro
http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Krank-Rev-Jr-Pro-20W-Tube-Guitar-Amp-Head?sku=500126

Vox Classic Plus
http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Vox-AC50-Classic-Plus-50w-Amp-Head?sku=481027

Peavey Classic 30 (GREAT pedal amp)
http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Peavey-Classic-30-Head-Tube-Amp-?sku=481019

A used Peavey 5150 combo

but maybe you could save up a little bit to broaden your horizons a bit? Have you considered by an attenuator? Trading a Mesa isn't something I would never do (if I ever got one).

Posted by: Fran Mar 19 2009, 01:38 AM

How about a Mesa express 5:50?

I read some members here use it at home and it seems to sound really good. It plays at 5 or 50 Watts.

Posted by: Marshmall0wz Mar 19 2009, 01:41 AM

Orange Dual Terror is coming soon. Julyish
http://www.humbuckermusic.com/ordutehe.html

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Mar 19 2009, 02:29 AM

40W amp would be like you put volume on your Mesa on 6-7 instead of 10, so I don't think that could be cranked. If you want to home record guitar amp and mic it, 5W is optimal, and even that can be annoyingly loud when cranked. MickeM suggested Blackheart, so I will agree there and vote for that as well. Little Giant head is cool and cheap, and I can only suggest that you get a nice HQ 2x12 cab with that, and possibly some good pedals.

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Mar 19 2009, 02:56 AM

What about a Mesa single rectifier? Its sound is more modern and you have less power (50 w).
However I think that you could also modify your Mesa to convert it in a 50 watts. I have a 100 watt with a switch that converts it to a 50 watts amp. This switch just disconect two tubes.

Posted by: Marc_Maiden Mar 19 2009, 04:40 AM

i like the blackheart idea...ill..look into it thanks guys

i got an offer already for a fender pro jr and a electro harmonix bigmuff

Posted by: JamesT Mar 19 2009, 06:02 AM

If I remember my old friends Mark I, that one didn't have a gain control on it. It was a 100 watt combo w/one 12.
That thing was blisteringly loud and to get any overdrive out of it, he had to punish the band in our small practice room.

If your Mesa is similar, with no gain control, then I can see why you're looking for something smaller/lower power. Most amps nowadays however do have the gain knob on them, though I'm not a huge expert in this area. You can probably find something in a combo that you can play quieter with more gain to get a more modern sound.

I had a Mark II which did include a gain circuit/knob. It was an 82. Even with the gain knob, the drive channel was kind of quirky in that you had to set the master volume to 2 before it would almost make any sound at all, then as soon as you got to above 2, it screamed ...too loud for a dorm room anyway.

I'd still get that amp again though cause of its sweet sound, but I'd get a power soak or something for situations where I didn't want to wake the neighbors. Good luck in your search. Maybe a power soak on your Mark I might do the trick. That's a little harder on the tubes, but a less expensive option than getting a new amp.

Posted by: Hammerhead Mar 19 2009, 06:25 AM

I don't know how small you want to go but Vox is putting out something called a Night Train. Its the new trend towards Lunch Box sized ass kickers! Probably great for recording practice and small gigs... Might be worth a look?

Posted by: Sircraigery Mar 19 2009, 06:30 AM

Yes, the Electro-harmonix big muff is also my next purchase.

Posted by: MickeM Mar 19 2009, 09:20 AM

I actuallty recommended a Blackstar but definitly a Blackheart if blues is your thing.

Posted by: Marc_Maiden Mar 19 2009, 03:39 PM

blackstar looks awesome but isnt available tilll mid april!!!!!

Posted by: Marc_Maiden Mar 19 2009, 07:56 PM

So far i got the following offers:

2 peavy classic 30's (both for my one amp)

65 fender delux reissue 22 watter with reverb

what do you guys think

Posted by: Fran Mar 19 2009, 08:08 PM

Don't rush your decision, better wait a bit and get what you really want than rush and end up getting something that's not what you really need

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Mar 19 2009, 09:57 PM

I red it Blackheart sorry about that! Little Giant is not so great for metal - it can do it with a pedal, but Blackstar (HT5) would be more appropriate here! Thanks MIcke!



The second choice is better, but continue to search for more options.. fender is good on cleans, but I have a feeling you can find something more modern sounding that handles hi gain better.

Posted by: MickeM Mar 19 2009, 10:08 PM

No problem, I confuse the two myself all the time.
An option could be to buy the HT5 pedal and a Blackheart 5w.


I've got one, it does have great cleans and British overdrive. It's ok on low volumes and wonderful cranked. Blues and rock amp, can manage up to MrCrowley kind of hard rock.
It also seem to keep a good second hand value. Fender should too.