Mesa/Boogie... What don't you like?

[TrueTone500]

Comparing a Mesa/Boogie Mark series amp to a Marshall based circuit. Why do most of you prefer Marshall? Does the Boogie not sound and/or respond as well as the Marshall? It seems most players choose Marshall-esque amplifiers... Why?

 

[philb]

9 out of 10?

 

[TrueTone500]

9 out of 10?

It sure seems like it... I rarely see people playing through Mark series Mesa/Boogie amps? Dual-Rectifier, yes... Mark series, no.

 

[JTyson]

I used Boogies (MK III's and DR's) for years, I like them a lot, might even get another one at some point.
I just came back to Marshalls after a long hiatus, and been there ever since. Its apples and oranges, a good sounding gain tone sounds good whoever made it. I think I like the mids and cut in a Marshall better, and they are a bit less buzzy and thicker sounding.
But thats just my opinion and I'm an idiot

 

[mojotone]

I think it has to do with setting the controls. The early Mark series Boogie has a completely different set of rules when dialing in a good tone.

 

[DeezDemos]

I don't like that I don't have a Mk V!

 

[RJF]

Comparing a Mesa/Boogie Mark series amp to a Marshall based circuit. Why do most of you prefer Marshall? Does the Boogie not sound and/or respond as well as the Marshall? It seems 9 out of 10 players choose Marshall-esque amplifiers... Why?

Dude, it's simple. Look where you are at. It's 1984, EVH and Motley Crue are at the top of the charts. Seriously, it's always 1980 something around here at RT. So, Marshall it is.

I personally love the Mesa/Diezel/VHT/Framus type tones. Every marshall I've had, I was thrilled to see it go out the front door. My last Marshall I had, was a flip and I made a fortune off it. Thought I would keep it, but nope.

Even the Fortin Bones.... brought it home and thought I had found my new favorite amp. Every time I played it, I liked it less. Couldn't dial out a mid honk and it quickly got old.

 

[philb]

9 out of 10?

It sure seems like it... I rarely see people playing through Mark series Mesa/Boogie amps? Dual-Rectifier, yes... Mark series, no.

I see. I have a Mark V along with the Friedman and they are different (duh).
Different flavor in the tone (low mid vs high mids)
I prefer the chugging on the Mesa in high gain but prefer the lead tone on the Friedman.
The Friedman also cut through better when playing with another Marshall type amp.
That could partially explain it but like another poster already said, the 80's were dominated by Marshall type tone.

 

[Findthetone]

I love and have always loved the Mark series sound of a Mesas. I have owned a few over the years and save for the Rectifiers, I just don't have the patience anymore to constantly tweak to find the tone I want. The Mark series amps are all about that. I had a Mark V for a week and couldn't get along with it at all. So for now I'm sticking with Marshall type amps.

 

[JackBootedThug]

i'm a mesa fanboy.

 

[lespaul6]

Comparing a Mesa/Boogie Mark series amp to a Marshall based circuit. Why do most of you prefer Marshall? Does the Boogie not sound and/or respond as well as the Marshall? It seems 9 out of 10 players choose Marshall-esque amplifiers... Why?

Dude, it's simple. Look where you are at. It's 1984, EVH and Motley Crue are at the top of the charts. Seriously, it's always 1980 something around here at RT. So, Marshall it is.

I personally love the Mesa/Diezel/VHT/Framus type tones. Every marshall I've had, I was thrilled to see it go out the front door. My last Marshall I had, was a flip and I made a fortune off it. Thought I would keep it, but nope.

Even the Fortin Bones.... brought it home and thought I had found my new favorite amp. Every time I played it, I liked it less. Couldn't dial out a mid honk and it quickly got old.

A great number of the sunset strip bands used mesa boogie amps, mick mars has used vht amps for years.... were you around back then?

 

[TrueTone500]

I was listening to a interview with Brad Gillis on YT. He said that a lot of players back in the 80's were using the Mark IIC+ in the studio.

 

[braintheory]

[Even the Fortin Bones.... brought it home and thought I had found my new favorite amp. Every time I played it, I liked it less. Couldn't dial out a mid honk and it quickly got old.

I remember the Fortin Natas also being honky in the mids, but never tried the bones.

 

[RJF]

Comparing a Mesa/Boogie Mark series amp to a Marshall based circuit. Why do most of you prefer Marshall? Does the Boogie not sound and/or respond as well as the Marshall? It seems 9 out of 10 players choose Marshall-esque amplifiers... Why?

Dude, it's simple. Look where you are at. It's 1984, EVH and Motley Crue are at the top of the charts. Seriously, it's always 1980 something around here at RT. So, Marshall it is.

I personally love the Mesa/Diezel/VHT/Framus type tones. Every marshall I've had, I was thrilled to see it go out the front door. My last Marshall I had, was a flip and I made a fortune off it. Thought I would keep it, but nope.

Even the Fortin Bones.... brought it home and thought I had found my new favorite amp. Every time I played it, I liked it less. Couldn't dial out a mid honk and it quickly got old.

A great number of the sunset strip bands used mesa boogie amps, mick mars has used vht amps for years.... were you around back then?

I was around, but crapping in a diaper in the mid 80's.

Mick Mars is known for Marshall, and Soldano. That I am aware of.

Regardless, there is nothing to debate. Marshall ruled the 70's, and that carried over to the 80's for the most part. Yeah, there were some cool guys going Boogie and ditching the lamo marshall over done sound, but not a lot of guys. Metallica, Sykes, probably my two favorites.

 

[BackCrack]

To me, having gain stages coming after the tone stack made it a challenge to dial in from venue to venue with different gig volumes. Little moves on the knobs and sliders went a long way. Great sounding amp once it was dialed in, but I got impatient at gigs with my old MkII.

 

[V-Type]

I never even gave Mesa a sniff until a few years back.
I am a huge Marshall fan and had always gone for the Hot British tones ala Evh,Rhoads,Priest, etc..
But I must say Boogies really are Great amps.
Built better than most and once dialed in can be every bit the earth moving experience as the venerable Marshall s and
enough gain on tap too leave the ods at home.

Funny my Mark III can be dialed in too Marshall like territory but my Marshall cannot hit the Boogie vibe.

In my world Mesa and Marshall live harmoniously btw.

 

[thiswaythatway]

The Mark V was hit or miss for me but I'd take it over any of the new garbage Marshall has out.

 

[skoora]

The Mark V was hit or miss for me but I'd take it over any of the new garbage Marshall has out.

I'm (or was) a diehard older Marshall player but my MkV is doing a great job for me. I find it super easy to dial in and the variety of rock tones in it is incredible. I still love my Metro plexi and and also have a Stiletto that I dig the hell out of but the MKV has not disappointed in the 8 months or so I've owned it. I can not bond with new Marshall's at all. I would like to have demoed the Slash or YJM but they were never available where I live. Big fan of Mesa Mk here but the V can get so many great tones that even the IV and definitely I-III can't get so they probably just finally made the MK that is for me.

 

[TrueTone500]

I'm thinking about getting a Mesa Mark V, or maybe a Mark III. I'd love to have a Mark IIC+, but... $$$!!!

 

[mbman]

I was a Mesa guy up until '05 which is when I got my VH4S. That was the beginning of the end for me and Mesa. I grew to dislike the buzzy quality of the high gain sounds I was noticing when going back and forth from the Diezel to my Mesas.

Martin