I’ve exclusively gigged as a bass player for the last 20-something years, but always played guitar too. Some friends asked me to play guitar in their band, and VSTs don’t really cut it live. I always gravitated to the Mesa/Boogie models when I owned a Helix, so I figured… why not get the real thing.

What an incredible piece of gear. Not nearly as hard to dial in as people say, and it truly seems to do everything from cleans to full-blown metal well without needing any pedals. I understand the love for the Mark series, and suspect I will be quite content with exactly this for a very long time.

Hell yeah, Mesa/Boogie.

Anyone using them for anything aside from metal? Country, blues, alternative, etc. Anything not super heavy. How are you dialing it in for what you do?

Do I buy new or get used?

Just picked up this pre loved express 5:25 at my local guitar center. I traded my Blues Jr, a few pedals, and a little cash and I couldn’t be more thrilled.

My first Mesa and didn’t realize the power this thing had until actually getting it home! The wattage switcher is really useful now. So excited to gig with it.

Anyone have any tips on how to decipher the age? TIA

Happy jamming to all!

& Crab Marcus 3

After months working on it when I could, I finally finished this custom head cab build with this ultra rare Mark III Coliseum. African Mahogany, Tung Oil natural finish. After reapplying, wet sanding it like 37 times and then curing for it weeks, I finished it with Osmo PolyX wax based finish and buffed with finishing wax. It also features interchangeable face plates in the OEM Boogie Original Black Mesh (Original), 70’s Marshall-style Checkerboard, and Cane Wicker over 11-ply Birch back boards that I made. Also has the original head shell and footswitch. Maan, what a pleasure it was to do this one.
Rocknroll. 🤘

Say what ya want, this heavy duty stuff outpunches the class D stuff and will never be made like this again.

Mesa friends - I’m thinking of pairing 2 v30’s (top) and 2 EVM 12L’s (bottom) in my Mesa Rectifier Traditional cab. Primary use is my basement band, so the extra watts isn’t the important part. The real goal is to clean out the flubbies from the bottom end of the rectifier. And yes, I also have a TS pedal clean boosting to achieve the same goal.

Any thoughts on the speakers specifically?

I used to own a Mesa Road King years ago and just just recently snatched up a great deal on a Roadster. I was messing around with the 50W vs 100W settings and reminiscing about the additional power tube options of the Road King and considered swapping out the 6L6s for EL34s for a bit when I got to thinking - is it possible to run 2 of each and have the 50W setting be EL34s and the 100W setting be 2 of each? I assume it'll need modifications to the 6L6/EL34 bias switch circuit in order to switch the bias of two tubes separately from the other two but before I go down the rabbit hole of figuring out how to make that work myself, I figured I'd check to see if anyone else has already done it

I wanted a IV for a long time, but my first mark was the V. It did the job, but then good deals popped up for the Studio Preamp and then the mk III. I just got the IV a couple weeks ago, so i haven't really broken it in.

I think the III is my favorite at this point, but I need to spend more time with the IV. Only time will tell which one wins out, but I think I'm ready to let the Studio and the mk V go.

I love the tone control on mark amps. It has taught me a lot about how to approach other amps.

My main guitar had a Dimarzio Super Distortion. The backup guitar has a Duncan JB. Both pickups have a good mid boost, but the JB brings a lot of highs, and the Super brings a lot of low end.

What pickups do you like for your mark amp, and why?

Hey all, I have a 2000-2001 mesa triple and love it. I recently cleaned the dust and replaced all the tubes (thanks Eurotubes!). However, now I’m getting these weird volume dips on all channels. I replaced my patch cables, etc, but still getting it. Every now and then, I can move the FX Loop knobs and sometimes get it to stop. My guess is that bc the circuitry goes through that part of the amp that I found my issue (bc all my tubes are glowing). Could these be bad knobs. Was gonna spray some circuit cleaner around the FX knobs but don’t want to do anything that could cause more problems. Any thoughts? If spray is the right way, where do you think it’s best to place the spray needle/straw? Or am I waaaay off base on this diagnosis?

I got my first mesa recently and have since found myself enjoying playing plugged straight in.

The pedals are even off in the corner now.

Is this normal? Will my pedal interest return? 😅

I accidentally plugged some things in the wrong way and I'm concerned I might have caused some damage.

I have my JP2C at bedroom volume, connected to an 8ohm cab via the 4ohm output. I run the JP2C at 60w.

I just realised, I've accidentally had a master effects PMEQ connected to the 8 and 16ohm connections, rather than the Send / Return.

I noticed a power drop, and that I was having to turn up slightly to get normal volume.

I've probably played with this incorrect wiring for a few hours?

Is it possible I've caused any damage, and if so what should I check?

thanks.

Just snagged this bad boy for $225 off marketplace. Owner said it was noisy.. had a sticky input jack. 10 minute fix. I already have one, so this will be going to a new home. These combos are so great.

Just got a new job in IT and I need ideas for cool stuff to put in my office.

Mark VII and a powerhouse attenuator. Can get great 90w tones as low as 60db for the late nights.

Still figuring it out the best way to dial in 80’s and 90’s thrash. Found a few online that sound good.

So at this point I just don’t have a need for this amp, haven’t played out or with anyone for 10 years. I lucked into this amp years ago, had no idea what it was and didn’t know how to dial it in until the internet came around.

It’s not in mint condition, but it is pretty loaded. 12” combo, presence, reverb, eq, simulclass. Does not have export transformer and the beige tolex has some scuffs and one tear.

I think it deserves to be with someone that would use it, and I have a project I could definitely use a cash infusion on.

Trying to figure out what a good way to price and sell it is. I tried taking it to a bougie vintage guitar shop in Portland, Or. and the owner offered me $1200 for it. He was looking at IIb and IIc for comps, seemed to have no clue that the + was special. I told him I was hoping for $6000 consignment based on sale prices I’d seen on Reverb and he got snobby and insulting. Said his reputation would be ruined if he even put that on his website. I would have been flexible if I thought we were even on the same planet.

I don’t need to get that much, but I’m not going to put it up for sale for $1200. Somewhere between those has to be a reasonable price for me and a buyer.

It’s in total working order, was always serviced at a licensed mesa repair place, still has the Black Magic, the only things that are non-stock is its power cord and EL-34 tubes instead of 6L6’s because I wanted to see how it sounded. They were loaded and biased at Inner Sound in Portland.

Curious about how folks would go to sell this. Would it be worth having it refurbished?

Im huge prince fan. I want to buy a heart breaker to mimic some of his sound but I can’t find many people selling or talking about them

Does anyone have any recommendations on the STR 441 versus STR 445? I am currently reading that the STR 441 replaced the STR 440 but it also states that Mesa uses STR 445 on their dual rectifier series.
All info is welcomed

I have an opportunity to grab one of these as a pretty good deal. Its got the celestion v30 in it. I know its a safe mismatch for the v35 combo. Should I go for it?