In your case, Mesa may be the right way to go.
Need some help deciding.
- Thread starter ScruffyHeadedNerfHerder
- Start date
In your case, Mesa may be the right way to go.
OP
ScruffyHeadedNerfHerder
Well-Known Member
I am currently switching from a pedal board to a digitech rp1000. I'll probably give that a shot. If I'm still not happy then I'll probably end up making the switch.
Its important to find the sound in your head. I was dead-set against pedals, only to discover I could not get what I heard in my head without them.
Guys told me I would absolutely love a Mesa. So I tried several, dual and triple rectos, California Tweed, Mini Recto and Mark V.
Nope. The tone I heard wasn't there either.
Same feeling with Trainwreck, Randall, Bogner, Friedman, Fender Front Row 57 Custom,
Two Rock, Bad Cat, Carr, Orange Brett Hinds, PRS MT-15, and so on.
It was clear to me that there was something in the tone of a Marshall that I just couldn't get with anything else.
But a stock DSL40C didnt do it either.
It took an array of tubes (ECC823/ECC83S/ECC83MG/5751) and a custom speaker (WGS 50 watt 55Hz Reaper) along with a custom pedalboard to finally nail that tone down.
Guys give me crap about having two DSL40C'S - as if I never had a "decent Marshall." But I had a 2203/2034 for 20 years, so I did have a "decent" Marshall by which to evaluate an amp.
I will say that only one amp truly shocked me and came alarmingly close to the tone that my aforementioned rig produces without any pedals at all - The Engl Inferno 100.
That might end up on a future Christmas list.
So, having said all of this, I would encourage you to delve into that tone you seek and try out some of the Mesa amps associated with that tone.
Don't wait until you've bought 2 or 3 Marshalls...
eSGEe
Ferengi Ambassador of Trade
Oh come on Robert we give you CRAP about a LOT more than just 2 DSL's
Oh come on Robert we give you CRAP about a LOT more than just 2 DSL's
This is true!!!!
OP
ScruffyHeadedNerfHerder
Well-Known Member
I am seeking a certain sound though. Have had it in my head for a long while. And I've had an array of pedals. Still can't get happy so I made the switch too the digitech rp1000 and I have my guy programming in some sounds tonight in which I described to him. Hopefully I can get what I'm looking for..
Engl Inferno
BFT Gibson
Ambassador of Originality
gave this to my buddy(get to still use it)...but if i went heavy again.would drag this out. it started to take the place of my DSL's ..just dialed it in & then got all the fenders,,
I’ll tell you this....when I was recording demos for locals....there were two amps, that others brought in, that stuck out as total winners when mic’ed up...
A Peavey 5150(original run), and a Mesa Boogie DC5.
Those were two BIIIIIIIG surprises that were pure gold for the projects that they were used in.
I would take a DC5 in to my collection today, if I could find the right one.....
OP
ScruffyHeadedNerfHerder
Well-Known Member
I haven't gotten it back from my tech guy yet. I'll get it tomorrow after work. Should I be running it through effects loop or front input? I'm kind of illiterate on that part. I mainly use pedals.
You looking for a combo or head/cabinet???
Very good comparison here with backing instruments in a studio mix:
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OP
ScruffyHeadedNerfHerder
Well-Known Member
I
Amp head. I have a nice cab, and I'm not really a combo amp guy anymore. Well for now at least lol.
I hope these videos help you out in your quest!!!!
P.S. I like running (2) DSL40C combos with an A-B-Y box....
SG John
Ambassador of Cool Guitars and Amps.
I was just list listening to your links again. Does the Marshall provide the clean tones you need? It's difficult to get a high gain amp to sound clean by rolling off guitar volume, or switching to the "Clean" channel. It's just the way the amp is built. It will never really happen. If many of your songs, or the band's overall sound depends on a clean guitar sound, then throw as much filth as possible for choruses and bridges, then I'd be looking for the best clean sound I could get. Adding filth can be done with any pedal combo or even rack stuff later. I'm more in the stoner/psych camp, so I'm usually looking at different amp sounds, but it doesn't matter the genre when looking for a good clean tone to build off of. I'd start with the Marshall if it has the cleans your looking for. The Engl is also an awesome suggestion. I've heard some amazing Engls over the years. Blackstar is also a good option, as well as Orange. Since I'm more in the vintage camp, I'll throw Marshall JMP and Hiwatt into the mix, but if you do any touring, you probably don't want to be hauling old amps around because of reliablity issues.