Mesa Mini Amps

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lukeburke1

lukeburke1

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Anyone have experience with both the Mesa Mini Rector and Mini Mark V? I'm in the process of piecing together a home studio, and I'm thinking of downsizing my Dual Rectifier since my incoming Friedman Runt 50 will be my main amp. How do these hold up to their full-size counterparts when recorded? My Rector has EL34s, so the switch to EL84s wouldn't be as drastic as a switch from 6L6s. I know that the bigger versions would sound bigger in the room, but how much of a difference is the bigger iron/bigger tunes with these amps when they're mic'd up or played through a load box and IRs?
 
From what I've got from my friends, these kind of amps are done just for the mass market. There's nothing special in them; for today's technology and your need for an home studio, I'd rather choose something digital.

If the digital is not an option for personal beliefs, there is the possibility to use a loadbox and keeping amp with you.
 
kronat":13t17kkw said:
From what I've got from my friends, these kind of amps are done just for the mass market. There's nothing special in them; for today's technology and your need for an home studio, I'd rather choose something digital.

If the digital is not an option for personal beliefs, there is the possibility to use a loadbox and keeping amp with you.
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I'm definitely not opposed to digital, but budget restraints keep me from getting a Kemper or Axe FX. I have a load box (Rivera Rockcrusher) that I will be using, but I figure if I can make a few bucks on selling the Dual Recto for a used Mini or upgrade features for a used Mini Mark, then why not?
 
I've tried for a few days the 3 mini Mesa, Rectoverb 25, Mini Recto and The mini Mark V.

My choice would be the Mark V, better clean, the Crunch is very Good and I have to admit that the Mark EQ is doing a great job. I think it is the most versatile of the 3. My second choice would be the Rectoverb 25.
 
The mark V:25 is the real deal. Amazing clean, great crunch channel (maybe not necessarily the "Marshall" thing though), and it does the high gain really well too. I could get by with it being my only amp, no doubt.

Consider the AX8 too though, the hype is there for good reason.

I guess I'm a little bias though as I currently own both. Nonetheless, I'm happy with them both.
 
kronat":1uhclwux said:
From what I've got from my friends, these kind of amps are done just for the mass market. There's nothing special in them;
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SMH



The Mark V:25 is a great amp. Plenty loud if necessary and just has great tone.
 
I played the Mini Recto when I was looking for a replacement of my Carvin V3M (grew tired of its fizzy/flubby high gains)
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The Mini Recto sounded flubby in the gains (nice, characterful cleans though), and when I then played an Engl Ironball, the difference was night and day. Bought the Ironball on the spot. Sold the V3M soon after.

Here's two decent comparisons of the Mini Recto vs. the Ironball (notice how the low-end of the Engl won't turn to mud):




Fast forward 2 years and after a stint with a Mesa Mark IV (full sized, Rev A) I missed the Mesa Mark cleans and gain. Found a reasonable deal on a Mark V Mini and bought that, after just hearing the Crunch channel.
Still have the Ironball too.
They both have their strengths and commonalities (about 16lbs, 2x EL84)

Engl Ironball pro's:
-Engl full tube tone in small package (no gimmicky toy)
-footswitchable gain-boost
-footswitchable reverb
-footswitchable master volume boost (fixed, but a great interval for at home playing for a lead boost)
-4 different gain levels available on footswitch (2 channels, each with gain boost on/off)
-good master volume (next to a seperate lead channel volume, so that you can crank the clean channel as well)
-tight, in between Marshall-esque tones achievable too
-nice sounding digital reverb
-very useable powersoak (20W, 5W, 1W, Off (for direct recording)

Engl Ironball cons:
-clean is nice, but not in the same league as Mark V:25 cleans
-no footswitchable fx-loop

Mesa Mark V:25 pro's:
-Mesa full tube tone in small package
-best clean tones of any micro/mini head (IMO)
-awesome crunch mode on 1st channel
-graphic EQ (footswitchable; although, since it would be always on, I rather had another function footswitchable)
-real spring reverb, but small tank (Engl's digital reverb sounds slightly better and more useable, from mild to Malmsteen)
-seperate reverb controls per channel
-great high gain tones in both Mark IV and Xtreme mode.

Mesa Mark V:25 cons:
-since graphic EQ is pretty much always necessary to counter the excessive middy character, having that footswitchable isn't really helpful
-no footswitchable fx-loop
-very finnicky channel volumes (gets real loud real fast)
-has a pretty loud/noisy fan (I replaced that on mine...now it's totally silent)

I've gigged with the Ironball (and a 2x12 or 4x12), not yet with the Mark V:25. But for home(studio) stuff, they work nicely.
 
Mini Rectifier sounds fantastic and is versatile. And bang for the buck it's phenominal IMHO.
I purchased for band rehearsals (way back when) and still have it.
 
I have both a Mark V 25 and Rectoverb 25. Love them both. They both sound like their bigger versions but not quit as much girth and headroom. I say this with experience as I owned a few Mark IV's, a IIC+ and a Dual Ractifier previously. Cabs make a big difference with these as well. The Rectoverb 25 through a Mesa 3/4 back 1x12 sounds huge with tons of lowend. I like the Mark better through a Recto 1x12 or 2x12 with 30 watt celestions. I often blend the two as I feel they compliment each other. It would be a hard choice if I had to choose between the two.
 
Thanks for all the input guys. I still have to wait until I move my Dual before I can actually pick one of these up, but I appreciate the feedback. I'll have to make a trip to my closest Mesa dealer some time to see if they have both in stock.
 
If you're doing a home studio why not sell the dual rec and get some rack preamps and record direct? You could probably get a Mesa Stuido preamp (beast) and Marshall JMP-1 for the money you get out of the dual rec. Then you can cover a LOT of ground and even better both will fit in a rack and are less than 10 lbs each.
 
Motorpud":2c9zisal said:
If you're doing a home studio why not sell the dual rec and get some rack preamps and record direct? You could probably get a Mesa Stuido preamp (beast) and Marshall JMP-1 for the money you get out of the dual rec. Then you can cover a LOT of ground and even better both will fit in a rack and are less than 10 lbs each.
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There's actually a Mako Mak4 on my local Craigslist right now that I've considered offering a trade for, but it has more features than I really need. All I really need is something that will blend well with my Friedman Runt 50.
 
I was not at all impressed with the Mesa mini Recto. It just sounded flubby and weak. For the same price you could get a used Rectoverb 50, sounds much better.
 
slyym":21w9wt2f said:
Theres an AxeFx Ultra for $700 on the Houston craigslist.
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I'm in Pittsburgh though. Highly doubt the guy is willing to ship it
 
sutepaj":54e7l27m said:
I was not at all impressed with the Mesa mini Recto. It just sounded flubby and weak. For the same price you could get a used Rectoverb 50, sounds much better.
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I haven't ruled out a Rectoverb 50, but there aren't any available to me within reasonable driving distance at the moment
 
I think of the two, I'm starting to lean toward the Mark, but I've been considering an Orange Dual Terror too. It's definitely not as versatile, but for a one-trick pony, it nails that one trick
 
Speeddemon":1dhhkur9 said:
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The Mini Recto sounded flubby in the gains (nice, characterful cleans though), and when I then played an Engl Ironball, the difference was night and day. Bought the Ironball on the spot. Sold the V3M soon after.
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While I'm sure you like your amp, I could not play an amp named after a venereal disease.
 
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