Ideally two channels, to be used with an overdrive, distortion and boost to give me the ability to go from a clean channel to one moving into broken up and from there using the pedals to push as necessary.
I use a T-Rex Soulmate, although not averse to moving it on if there's an amp which makes it redundant. A serial FX loop is necessary for delay/reverb.
I think the sound I'm aiming for is definitely more vintage than modern but honestly not sure. I wish i understood better the difference between what people describe as Vox, Marshall, Fender, etc.
Heavily edited following indecision and idiocy. For which I apologise profusely.
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My band, Red For Dissent
Have you seen my pedalboard? It's an alternative view on this; got a Fender Twin-alike AMT preamp at the end of the chain with the Bogner providing the dirt. That way, I don't really care what amp I'm using...I just need to use it as a power amp, so as long as it has an effects return I can plug into I'm golden.
I'd imagine one of the Amptweaker Pro pedals would do the job, too; probably the Tight Drive Pro.
The reason I went down the pedals route (for the first time ever) is that I got tired of being restricted in the choice of amps which do what I want...they always fell down on the kind of gain I wanted, or features.
Also set the channel gains much lower, that will give a more 'vintage' sound. Just because it's capable of that much gain and volume doesn't mean you have to use it - amps have controls that can go down as well as up . You don't *have* to crank an amp, and you're not "wasting" the power if you don't. The Mesa is a really versatile, high quality amp too.
If you're determined to change it, how about an Orange Rocker 15? OK the clean channel has no controls other than volume, but going by the older Rocker 30 it takes heavy distortion and fuzz pedals very well, and the dirty channel takes overdrives and boosts too.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
I'll try and dig in a bit deeper on the Mesa, by lowering the gain further, but didn't get much joy even in 10w mode. It's possibly its famed 'hard to tune in' EQ that I'm most struggling with, as a regular 12 o'clock and minor tweaks player.
I've been offered some interesting trades. Rockerverb mkiii, AFD100, Dr Z Remedy, etc.
My band, Red For Dissent
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
My band, Red For Dissent
My band, Red For Dissent
JM build | Pedalboard plans
My band, Red For Dissent
I also have a black heart bh5 mini stack full rat modded and nearer 11 watts now too. You can crank it to get the tone you want then back it off on the opr power reduction. Another underestimated series of amps. Both these low cost too.
shame you not local you could check em out
if you are not into pedals it might be ok. just put pedals into clean & save dirt for dirt only.
the rockers are nice amps but limited. & v loud, if you wanted to max out & not pull plaster off the walls maybe the 15. if you can live with the hideous traffic-cone orange vinyl.
Maybe something to do with the name?
You can get some of them in black, too.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
On mine, which is an older UK made 20w 1x12", the effects loop is shit. It's a parallel side-chain thing that you wouldn't wish on the worst amp you've ever tried, but it can be modded with two wires and a component removal to work in series, at which point it's well worth considering for your needs.
I think the current Chinese made model has a different loop which might be less awful, but it also has a Chinese-made Celestion speaker which is almost certainly not as good as the G12H Heritage that the UK ones have.
Don't talk politics and don't throw stones. Your royal highnesses.
on orange. cheeky boy! it had occured to me, yes. but def nicerer in black, don't you think?
& i have seen white ones (maybe custom or ltd edition) & they are handsome. tho probs look grubby-as after a couple of gigs.