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What are the differences in distourtion? Is one more for like modern tone and metal stuff and the other more classic rock?

Thanks


Originally Posted by GuitarGuru88What are the differences in distourtion? Is one more for like modern tone and metal stuff and the other more classic rock?

Thanks

This has been talked about a lot here on the forum. Just do some searches and you should come up with plenty.

I think the biggest diffeence I've found is that i can get nearly every sound I want out of my MESA

1) Super clean cleans
2) quot;Hairyquot; to SRV typer cleans
3) liqyuid type vintage MESA sounds (MKI)
4) Vintage Marshall-like sounds (certainly not exacting, but passable)
5) MK series heavy crunch
6) Country/rockabilly spank

and it will do Recto type stuff too if thats your thing (not my cup of tea)

Marshalls have always been one trick ponies in my experience. HOWEVER, they do that quot;one thingquot; better than anyone else ever has. NOTHING sounds like a Marshall except a Marshall. The modded ones have their own unique cool sound but they lose a little marshall magic in the process.

I've never liked the clean channels on any Marshall that had a separate one (much preferring to use my volume controls on the guitar).

Most of the MV type amps have never sounded quot;rightquot; to my ears (barring a few 70's JMPs, and one or two 800s)

And he super high gain ones like the 900 series DSL/TSL just don't sound right when ya dial the gain up. They sound great (at least the DS/TS) when ya back the gain off and go for that classic Marshall sound though.

Apples and oranges really.

MESAs tend to have more low end and are a bit smoother and darker sounding..more of a quot;liquidquot; lead tone. Marshalls are more middy and have a top end quot;sparklequot; or quot;edgequot; (at least the NMVs do). If ya want a Marshall I'd recommend a reissue (1987x/1959x) or mod an 800 or similar.

As an exampleHERE is a typical MESA-like lead sound. Not recto but classic Boogie.

For a Marshall sound jes turn on the radio to any classic rock station Think Aerosmith, Early Van Halen, Hendrix 's purple haze, etc.

Ah, the old chicken and the egg comparison ....

MESA's are very tight, focused and modern sounding
MARSHALL's are brighter, looser, and classic sounding

Yes, this is a generalization.

JeffB: Is that clip the Boogie F-50? Sounds very nice. What guitar did you use?


Originally Posted by TwilightOdysseyAh, the old chicken and the egg comparison ....

MESA's are very tight, focused and modern sounding
MARSHALL's are brighter, looser, and classic sounding

Yes, this is a generalization.

It's a good thing you called it a generalization (and yes, it is accurate). Many people that don't have an open enough ear can never hear anything other than what they want to hear.

From my time spent with both brands and numerous models, I've found that with MESA I can touch every corner of the tonal spectrum, whereas I can't do that with Marshall.

You know, I was thinking about gettin my marshall modded, but then I thought about how much my amp was then how much the modification would be and I'm thinking about just getting a mesa instead.

Keep in mind that there are lots of other good amps out there besided Boogie and Marshall. ENGL! for one...um...Soldano...VHT...Bogner...5150 amp; XXX.

Laney's are great as well!

JeffB : That was a very cool clip !
What song was that and what effects did you use?

Once I saw a demo of the MESA LoneStar and it was amazing. Lots of different and high quality tones.

i lt;3 my mesa. it's 50w of pure metal. sooooo loud, i don't see why anybody would ever need more than 50watts in a tube head, atleast a mesa.

I'll add another nod to the greatness of Mesa's amps. I play for a living (mostly...I teach some too). I bought a Mesa DC-5 when I was 17 because I had to get petrucci's crushing rhythm tone. Since then I've played tons of Blues, Jazz, Pop, Rock, Country, Funk, Surf, and any number of other things. My career (and insatiable love of exploring new music styles) has put a lot of demand on my need for various tones and my Mesa, that I bought to play metal with, has shined in so many scenarios. I got really lucky with this amp, but it is a tone machine. I can coax so much out of its various settings and sweet EQ. Add a couple of distortion pedals to it(see my sig) and you can fill in and/or enhance some of its gaps.

I'm not saying I wouldn't give my left nut for an old Plexi, but Mesa's rock!

Mike

btw, as far as comparison. neither is better than the other, and Anthem is right--there's so many good amp companies. anyway, i've always considered Mesas to have more bassy low and and sheering high's (kinda modern) and Marshalls always to have a midsy quot;smootherquot; sound.

I generally find boogies to sound a bit bassier, smoother, more quot;precisequot;. On the other hand Marshalls sound like...........a Marshall.......they are brighter with a more raw distorted tone with pronounced high mids......Even though a find the boogie tone to be of a higher quality and they are very versatile amps, they still can't do what a marshall does...............that's why Marshalls are still around.


Originally Posted by TwilightOdysseyAh, the old chicken and the egg comparison ....

MESA's are very tight, focused and modern sounding
MARSHALL's are brighter, looser, and classic sounding

Yes, this is a generalization.

I agree, except that I find the Mesas to usually have the looser, Flabbier bass, wheras the Marshalls tend to sound more defined to me........

Although knowing how the bass control on most Mesas works It could VERY well just be that most people aren´t willing to spend the time to dial it in correctly


Originally Posted by AnthemKeep in mind that there are lots of other good amps out there besided Boogie and Marshall. ENGL! for one...um...Soldano...VHT...Bogner...5150 amp; XXX.

Ha you beat me to it, i was gonna say just go out and look at an ENGL!

Wow JeffB that clip had absolutely awesome tone and playing!!! Just simply WOW It was you playing wasnt it?

THANK YOU TO ALL! I CURRENTLY HAVE A MARSHALL AVT50 COMBO AMP. IT'S GOOD BUT I THINK THAT I COULD USE MORE BASS BECAUSE IM INTO SOME METAL AND PUNK ROCK. BUT THEN AGAIN MAYBE I NEED TO GET A quot;BETTERquot; MARSHALL. MAYBE A FULL TUBE MODEL. IT'S GOING TO BE A TOUGH CHOSE FOR ME WHEN THE TIME COMES FOR A NEW AMP.

THANKS AGAIN AND KEEP POSTING!

OH BTW, I PLAY MOSTLY RYTHEM GUITAR WITH SOME ADDED quot;SPLASHESquot; OF LEAD HERE AND THERE