Poll: Mesa vs Mesa vs Mesa vs Mesa...

[Mr Grumpy]

The little(ish) heads.

Which one do you like best?

In size: the mini rec, mini Mark V:25, V:25 express, rectoverb.

Price from low (none of them are low...) to high: 5:25 express (second hand now...). mini rec, rectoverb, Mark V:25.

Features, lowest to highest: mini rec, V:25 express, rectoverb, V:25.

Value? None of them are particularly good value... But, they all seem comparable value, the express is the cheapest by far, but lacks behind the others in sound some way... The mini rec is the next least expensive, but misses out on reverb and some connection options. The rectoverb includes reverb and more speaker connection options for $100 more or so. The mark V is another couple of hundred dollars more, but has the extension cab simulator, reverb, many speaker connections, etc, so it's not more expensive considering features (if you use them...).

Ok, we don't get anything like the spread of sounds these things are capable of, but I reckon the sound qualities are shown to a fair extent.

My feeling is that they can be listed in sound quality quite clearly (ok, it depends what you want, but they're all pretty versatile...).

I'll wait for a few answers before I give my opinions.

 

[eSGEe]

there is no ALL OF THEM option.......
IF I was shopping for one the Mark5 would be my choice

 

[gball]

No contest. They’re all great but the Mark 5:25 is in another class.

 

[Mr Grumpy]

"Half the price & twice as good..." - the Orange Dark Terror.

True?

 

[Mr Grumpy]

No contest. They’re all great but the Mark 5:25 is in another class.

I agree. The Mark V:25 is just the best. Followed by the mini rec. Next, some distance behind is the Rectoverb. & the 5:25 express doesn't really compete.

But, how about the mini-rec vs two much cheaper heads?

The Victory and Orange Dark Terror, for a lot less money, are preferred by some...

 

[eSGEe]

the Victory is 1200.00 (is it made ---where?)
The Orange is made in China --650.0
Mesa is 1500.00 USA made ---

it depends on what ya want---

 

[Mr Grumpy]

the Victory is 1200.00 (is it made ---where?)

England.

 

[Dave Sloven]

Little amps pfft

 

[Sp8ctre]

The Victory is 1200.00 - Hand Built in England (is it made ---where?)

 

[gball]

"Half the price & twice as good..." - the Orange Dark Terror.

True?

Not true.

 

[Mr Grumpy]

Not true.

I have no experience of Orange or Victory, and I have noticed that the Andertons lot never have good word to say about Mesa. I'm English, but I prefer the Randalls I've had to the Marshalls I've had ( ss and small tube amps), and even though I've never tried a Messa in person, I much prefer my Mesa sim on the Yamaha THR10 to the Marshall sims. But, without trying them all out, which is tough in Korea, it's hard to say.

 

[RVA]

I agree. The Mark V:25 is just the best. Followed by the mini rec. Next, some distance behind is the Rectoverb. & the 5:25 express doesn't really compete.

But, how about the mini-rec vs two much cheaper heads?

The Victory and Orange Dark Terror, for a lot less money, are preferred by some...

I thought the Rectoverb was just a minirec with reverb?

 

[ChasFred]

As an owner of the Mine Rec, and having owned MANY amps through the years. My opinion is the Mini Rec leaves all the other Non Mesas in the dust.
You may say, But there is no Reverb, so what, most people run a reverb pedal anyways.
A Mini Rec with a quality cabinet is great for most occasions.

 

[Mr Grumpy]

I thought the Rectoverb was just a minirec with reverb?

There are lots of similarities. I don't know if the rectoverb uses the exact Mark V preamp as the mini rec does? The minirec is also a lot smaller - I found the minirec sound quite a bit nicer, but also small and sounding great was the Mark V:25.

If I sell the Origin 20w then I might get myself upto Seoul and test them all out - the Mesa's are so versatile, but damn expensive...

 

[RVA]

I played a Lonestar this weekend and it was not for me. What type of music are you playing lately?

 

[Tony M.]

I voted for the express because it is the
only one I have owned and gigged with.

 

[Dave Sloven]

In my experience of friends having Mesa amps they seem to blow tubes more than other amps. Not sure why that might be the case.

 

[gball]

In my experience of friends having Mesa amps they seem to blow tubes more than other amps. Not sure why that might be the case.

Funny. I've been using them for 20+ years and have never had a tube die on me.

 

[gball]

There are lots of similarities. I don't know if the rectoverb uses the exact Mark V preamp as the mini rec does? The minirec is also a lot smaller - I found the minirec sound quite a bit nicer, but also small and sounding great was the Mark V:25.

If I sell the Origin 20w then I might get myself upto Seoul and test them all out - the Mesa's are so versatile, but damn expensive...

The Min Rec and Rectoverb are the same except for the reverb circuit. They are not a Mark V preamp circuit though - its exactly the same preamp circuit that's in the full size rectos, which is substantially different from the Mark V.

 

[syscokid]

With your money, it would be the Mark 5-25 for me. With my money, it would be the Mark 5-25 for me...

One of the voicings the 5-25 offers is the old Mark II-C+. For me, thus would be a major selling point. I'm not sure if the other models offer this particular voicing.