Mesa Boogie 50 Caliber Plus Vs Non-Plus

  • Thread starter Thread starter braintheory
  • Start date Start date
B

braintheory

Well-known member
I currently own a mesa 50 caliber plus and it sounds very good, but I don't like as much as my mark iii, so I plan to sell it. But I heard that the EL-84 version sounds very different and some say more aggressive and better. So my question is how does the EL-84 version sound in comparison to the plus version (6L6) and can it hold it's own against my mark iii? Does the EL-84 version get flubby or undefined at high volumes or overly squishy like most lower wattage amps?
 
IMO the el84 version is a little more squishy and has a little more
soul than the 6l6, and has a little less of the Mark series mid range
scoop but not by much. I don't think they sound as good as the Mark
3, but are a good amp.
 
Is the EL-84 (non-plus) version actually more aggressive than the plus? If so is it because of the grittiness of EL-84's? Does it actually sound that different than the plus version?
 
Yeah, I've seen that clip before, but it wasn't really that helpful. It just showed me that the 50 Caliber can do extreme metal, which I never doubted anyway.

Anyone else have experience with the non-plus 50 Caliber? It seems like very few people have played this amp.
 
Sounds pretty aggressive to me like you mentioned you heard in your first post.
 
I never liked the non plus 50 caliber. Think of the .50+ as a bigger studio .22 and you're on the right track. I prefer the EL84 over 6L6 model because it was a little spongier and had a cooler lead tone IMHO. The 6L6 one was harsher and more hollow sounding to me. If I was going for a metal tone, the MK III kills both though.

BTW, email me at okstrat@cox.net with info on your 50+ FS. :D I wouldn't mind having another one, especially now that I can pull some kemper profiles. Some of my personal favorite lead tones were with studio .22 and .50+ amps.
 
stratotone":kxyay2dz said:
I never liked the non plus 50 caliber. Think of the .50+ as a bigger studio .22 and you're on the right track. I prefer the EL84 over 6L6 model because it was a little spongier and had a cooler lead tone IMHO. The 6L6 one was harsher and more hollow sounding to me. If I was going for a metal tone, the MK III kills both though.

BTW, email me at okstrat@cox.net with info on your 50+ FS. :D I wouldn't mind having another one, especially now that I can pull some kemper profiles. Some of my personal favorite lead tones were with studio .22 and .50+ amps.
Click to expand...

I'm confused. You say you don't like the non-plus (EL-84) 50 Caliber, but then say you prefer it to the 6L6 (plus) version? Also, based on your description it sounds like you found the plus (6L6) version to be aggressive.
 
Sorry, I'll restate without messing with the 'plus' and whatever nomenclature. I get mixed up. Hopefully by eliminating that variable and dealing only with the power tubes used I can clarify.

In this amp series (Mesa .50) in particular:
EL84 - I LIKE
6L6 - harsh, do not want. If you equate harsh and hollow sounding with great metal tones, then get one and bask in the racket it makes.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top