Mesa Mark V 25 - anyone tried one?

[glpg80]

I spent some time with a Five 25 the other day and I have to say, I do think my Five 35 was a better amp.

@glpg80 I've had them all. What are you looking to do with it?

I want to get rid of my 6505MH and replace it with something that fills out better when turned up but doesn’t eat expensive glass like the rest of my collection does. Basically a better above TV volume practice amp. Been eying the V:35 but due to the cost, the VII and JP2C are intriguing. I’m also not happy with the III++ solo tone as it’s stiff and thin but like the Mesa tone itself as it’s different than everything else Marshall or 5150 based that I’ve got. Basically a Mesa amp that is easier and better to solo over and better fill-out when practicing but not whole hog like my other amps with touchy masters. III++ is the loudest amp I own followed by my Bogner XTC. Both are nuts and do what they do well, but the Bogner rhythm tone needs an SD-1 and the III++ doesn’t need a pedal at all but you can’t fix stiff with that amp without peeling paint which isn’t good for practicing.

 

[tlp1234]

Does the mark 30W with 4x EL84 keep the sound of the 25v 2x EL84?

I’ve been considering a mark V:30

IMHO it does and a bit more. I liked the 25W, and loved the 35W combo. I traded it up for 90W combo. With 2 MKVI Rev A's, MKV90W, and a brand new MKVII, certainly don't need another MK, but might just have to get another MKV 35W combo. It was one of my favorite "grab and go" small amps.

If you don't need the higher gain out of the amp, the California Tweed 4:40 w/4 X 6V6 is a sweet sounding light little combo that might surprise you.

 

[GJgo]

I want to get rid of my 6505MH and replace it with something that fills out better when turned up but doesn’t eat expensive glass like the rest of my collection does. Basically a better above TV volume practice amp. Been eying the V:35 but due to the cost, the VII and JP2C are intriguing. I’m also not happy with the III++ solo tone as it’s stiff and thin but like the Mesa tone itself as it’s different than everything else Marshall or 5150 based that I’ve got. Basically a Mesa amp that is easier and better to solo over and better fill-out when practicing but not whole hog like my other amps with touchy masters. III++ is the loudest amp I own followed by my Bogner XTC. Both are nuts and do what they do well, but the Bogner rhythm tone needs an SD-1 and the III++ doesn’t need a pedal at all but you can’t fix stiff with that amp without peeling paint which isn’t good for practicing.

Both the Five35 & the JP have great masters. Crunch on the 35 is amazing.

The JP is my favorite of the three for live, even though it is a 2 trick pony. The clean channel has a ton of headroom for pedals though so it has more trick potential.

The VII I think feels the best to play, and has the most tonal options, and has the best IR out, although if I were buying again it'd be the last of the three I'd choose.

 

[BenoA]

I want to get rid of my 6505MH and replace it with something that fills out better when turned up but doesn’t eat expensive glass like the rest of my collection does. Basically a better above TV volume practice amp. Been eying the V:35 but due to the cost, the VII and JP2C are intriguing. I’m also not happy with the III++ solo tone as it’s stiff and thin but like the Mesa tone itself as it’s different than everything else Marshall or 5150 based that I’ve got. Basically a Mesa amp that is easier and better to solo over and better fill-out when practicing but not whole hog like my other amps with touchy masters. III++ is the loudest amp I own followed by my Bogner XTC. Both are nuts and do what they do well, but the Bogner rhythm tone needs an SD-1 and the III++ doesn’t need a pedal at all but you can’t fix stiff with that amp without peeling paint which isn’t good for practicing.

If you want to keep a small format, check out a Mini Rectifier? It used to be my main gigging amp when I used to play out. Even on 10w mode it can get pretty loud. Clean channel is pretty good pedal platform and the Modern channel sings with no pedal needed. I also have a Mark V:25, that one I never played it in a live situation. Both of those Mini heads are very convincing on their own, the Mini Mark offers knobs and switches to infite tweaking, the Mini is more straight forward.

 

[GJgo]

I actually like the Rectoverb 25 a LOT, but for me at least the mini rectos aren't what I'd call bedroom amps. At the same time they're not loud enough for a metal band. I'd say you're GTG in a house, but might be too much for an apartment.

Also per what another poster said, for cleans & light crunch, by far my favorite Mesa of the last couple decades is the Cali Tweed 40W. Same story with the BLue Angel 4x12 though there were some reliability issues.