SOLD : FS/FT : ANOTHER PRICE DROP-Mesa Boogie Express 5:50 limited edition 112 combo

phase3 · October 2015

I took this in a trade a while back and i've been agonising whether to keep it. I really like it - but i'm not really a 1x12 combo user - normally heads & cabs now. Plus - i've pretty much got my sound where i want it and i have way too much gear!!. So, sadly it needs a new home.

So, here's what i know about it : I spoke to Mesa about it and they confirmed that it was a custom order for westside distribution back in 2007. A similar design made it's way into 'limited edition' status a few years later. It's 'british bronco tan tolex' with brown leather corners and black faceplate. Some of the later LE ones had a silver face plate. The guy that it came from reckoned at has hardly been used. Condition bears that out. It's virtually mark free. A tiny scuff right down at the bottom rear corner ( can't really photo it) and a very slight discolouration about the size of a thumbnail on the top panel. I mean slight! .. might have been there from new. Apart from that it's pretty minto ... in the back as well.

Has the original tags, manual, footswitch and cover - which is also unmarked.

It's recently had new mesa power tubes and apart from the slight hiss that (apparently) Express 50's have, it's bloomin perfect.

Sound:

I've had a LOT of amps, and this is deeply impressive. The cleans are the best i've heard from Mesa ( including Lonestars) - in fact they beat the crap out of most fenders. Not as stiff as a twin and more 3d but with real sparkle.

The blues channel is a gem. If you don't like mesa distortion ( i don't) this is great. You can go from clean- through subtle hairiness - into blues territory and a bit more. This channel set just a bit hairy with a mild TS type overdrive puts you right into marshall land - lovely.

The burn channel is - Mesa high gain! ... not for me but it does what it says on the tin.

So - all in all - bloody marvelous and certainly the most flexible Mesa i've come across - if it was a head, i'd most likely keep it.

I'm really not sure where to be on the pricing. The ordinary black models seem to go around £600 ball park, sometimes a bit more - sometimes a bit less. I'd like to think it's worth £100 on top of that due to condition/rarity and general gorgeousness. So £600 . Trade wise - hmm.. i've probably got too many amps so i guess it's guitars. Nothing pointy- it's strats/tele's or maybe PRS with cash adjust either way.

bigdawg · October 2015

you've probably noticed but the pics arent showing...

phase3 · October 2015

Yep ...grrr! Still working on it!

phase3 · October 2015

At last! ...i'm done with photoshop , gone over to postimage, so much quicker

boogieman · October 2015

Mmm, tempting. Whereabouts are you?

phase3 · October 2015

West sussex

boogieman · October 2015

Hmm, interesting. Not too far from me

Definitely tempted by this. I'm waiting for a tax rebate to come through. Hopefully it'll turn up before this sells.

phase3 · October 2015

I'll call the revenue now and tell them to hurry up!..lol

fingers crossed....

KrisGee · October 2015

These amps are amazing, love the clean on my 5:50 2x12!

Gadgie · October 2015

Cool amp you got there

phase3 · November 2015

Weekend bump

cgumtree · November 2015

PM'd

phase3 · November 2015

eased the price a little ...

phase3 · November 2015

weekend bump...

ebay...is threatening! don't make me do this folks!

boogieman · November 2015

Well, good old HRMC gave me back less than half of what I was expecting, so I'm reluctantly going to have to pass on this. Shame, it looks gorgeous and from the sound clips I've heard, it's a great amp. GLWS.

SimpleSimon · November 2015

Any interest in a Fender Baja Tele or PRS SE Soapbar?

phase3 · November 2015

yep, could be interested....certainly in the baja.

Can you pm me some pics and let's see if we can work something out.

phase3 · November 2015

Another and probably final drop before the 'bay'.

UPDATE on hiss: A couple of folk asked me about my comment on hiss.

After delving on a couple of boogie forums i've discovered that a big part of this is to do with master vol levels. Basically the clean channel generates a more noticeable hiss than the drive channel but ONLY if the master vol is up high. So the normal idea of keeping channel gain down and master high would in fact create some hiss due to the design of the amp. However, as it's virtually impossible to break up the clean channel...the answer is to use plenty of gain on clean...turn master down and hiss is gone!... simple when you know how.

I took it out on a gig at the weekend and i have to say it was mighty impressive.....huge cleans and i used the blues channel with a tiny bit of hair for slight breakup ... hit it with a Tim for marshally crunch and wampler plexi deluxe for solos .. Sounded very impressive and lots of compliments from audience. Thought about keeping it but ..... way too many amps at present. So come on folks give it a home and some use it deserves. I can ship this ...

bazxkr · November 2015

Whereabouts w Sussex ?

phase3 · November 2015

worthing

phase3 · November 2015

Now sold pending the usual.

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SOLD : FS/FT : ANOTHER PRICE DROP-Mesa Boogie Express 5:50 limited edition 112 combo

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