Mesa Boogie Combo - Rock Cover band

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hb6strings

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Heya fellow Shredsters,

I play lead guitar in a 70's-10's rock cover band classic rock/metal/alt. )Rolling Stones, ZZ Top, Metallica, Offspring, Foo Fighters, etc).

Currently I use a Framus Cobra with a Vintage Marshall Cab loaded with 25wGB's, I love the tones I get with my Les Pauls. But I'm looking to purchase a combo amp for the smaller indoor venues and have been looking at the reviews for several Mesa Boogies and was hoping some feedback here might help me make a decision.

The amps I've been considering are the Stiletto Ace, Mark IV, Or Mark II or III. Since they are out of production and my local GC doesn't carry any of them, I can't really go down and try them out. I am looking to purchase used to save $$$.

So what do you guys think?
 
The mark iv would probably be my go to, its got everything you want out of the box. The mark ii and iii axe, will be a little off from a desired metal tone in my opinion, but with a proper pedal board all these amps can hit beautiful tones in just about any setting. If money is the factor, which ever amp comes up first at the best used price!
 
Mark combos weigh a ton and tend to sound boxy. May want to try a head and a 1x12. I have a Mark IV and moved it out of the combo cab into a headshell and use a Mesa 1x12 widebody 1x12. Great portable rig.
 
Based on tone, your best bet is a Mark III (or a IIC+ if you have the budget for it), but it's going to be more limited than the Mark IV, due to shared channels. I can dial all of my Mark IIIs (3 or them ironically) to have a pristine, Fender-ish clean while having a raging Lead channel. There's also a little trick that adds more gain (while in Lead mode, engage Rhythm 1).

To sum it up, if you want TONE, go with a III (or IIC+)...if you tap dance on a channel selector, the Mark IV sounds great and gives more flexible channels.
 
I would find an amp that takes pedals you like well. Not all clean channel amps take a dirt pedal well and to cover all that music I doubt just an amp with two or three variations of gain around the same tone will cut it. You honestly might want to consider one of the nicer modeler combo's or if I was going boogie I would go roadster combo. You have great Fender, Ok Marshall and Recto in one amp. But.....Roadster combo will be heavy.

Fender Deluxe reverb (easily found used), change speaker to a celestion, use some pedals and you'll be good to go. Light weight and the amp itself is a fun amp all on it's own.
 
I played the 6505+ combo today and it kicked ass. Pretty large and heavy but most little light weight combos don't seem to cut it
 
I would check out an electradyne combo, just like other Mesa combos, they are a heavy beast....
 
I have a Mark IIC combo that will head out soon for the + mod. But, for now I dial the gain back a bit and use a Boss OD1X and boost it right in to metal territory if I want. The gain before I boost it is probably Mark IIB territory, and those are available at GC.com for 5-800 and you can return it within 30 days. Tricky to dial but my settings-vol 1-7, pulled, treble 7, pulled, bass 2, mids 2, master 1-2, gain pulled, lead drive 7, master 1 10 pulled. This is a nice crunch that leaves the clean decent, and hit the od1 and its 80s gain and beyond. I have a Mark IIB Coli coming this week and I'm hoping for similar results. Mark 3s are gainier but this 2C is way more articulate and chimey, feels different than the 2 MK3s I had. Mine has a GEQ, usual smiley curve.
 
skoora":853r51ou said:
But.....Roadster combo will be heavy.
Click to expand...

^^^

Great point. Mesa's combos are ridiculously heavy. If you're looking for a portable, compact amp, I would advise you to pick up a head and add a 2x12...
 
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