Mesa Boogie 90's Two Channel Dual Rectifier Solo Head "Reissue" Released

[tbonesullivan]

Around the same time the IIC+ reissue rumors started, there was also word that Mesa was also working on a "90's Rectifier" reissue. It now is out, at the princely sum of $3499 MSRP, which is quite a bit more than the Multi-Watt Three Channel Dual Rectifiers with more bells and whistles were at $2699. I guess this kinda means that the transition to a "reissue" brand is complete. It definitely DOES sound awesome. It's got a series effects loop, the clean mode on the orange channel was revoiced so it actually sounds good, and all the switching components used back in the 90s that they don't make anymore have been swapped out. Mesa has NOT said whether it is closer to a Rev G or Rev F Dual channel, though since most of the Two Channel Dual Rectifiers were Rev G, I would assume that is what this one is based off of.

Still, that's a pretty steep price, especially when compared to amps that have impeccable build quality like Soldano and Friedman.  You can also pick up OG used Rev G Two Channels in very good shape for quite a bit less than $3500, even ones that are well maintained and have been sent back to Mesa for servicing. Rev G's are not massively priced unobtanium like the original Mark IIC+ is, so I honestly don't see nearly the same level of demand. I guess time will tell. I've got a Dual Rectifier Tremoverb combo, so this is of zero interest to me, but I can see people who don't have an early rectifier wanting to get one with a warranty and no obsolete parts inside going for this.

The Ola Demo:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEpJrAOiLbc

The Mesa Demo / Walkthrough:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1LQZtnjMLA

[DetroitBlues]

If you're going to spend that much, might I suggest a Metropoulos amp?

I was watching a video about EVH tone from over the years, there was a time he played Soldano amps.

From what I've read about Soldano is he got his start fixing and updating the MKII Mesa Boogies.

I've also been following a guy that works on amps and one of his least favorite amps is Mesa Boogie because of poor layouts and quality of components.  Don't know if it still applies to newer models since Gibson bought them, but Psionic Audio has a bunch of repair vidoes of them and discusses at length of his distaste of them. 

Going back to the Metropoulos amp, I really like them.  The version I have is a MetroPlex MKII 50W head.  It has a circuit that changes it from a Superplexi to a Superbass, and then a version that matches EVH's personal Marshall.  Instead of having four inputs, it internally jumpers to of the inputs like old school plexi's so you can increase the gain to taste.  Then there is a bonus channel that changes the topology of the amp to components that match EVH's Marshall component values.  Adds a whole new level of gain.  Not to mention a push-pull boost control on the EVH channel if going to ten just isn't enough.

Luckly for me it has a low wattage/half wattage/full wattage.  I use low wattage for very small places, including home but use half wattage for gigs.  The amp sounds great at low volumes, but there is difference when the master volume is up past noon.  

BTW, hand wired in Michigan too....but on the opposite side of the state from Kzoo.

Sorry, I hijacked the thread.

 

Edited Thursday at 05:39 PM by DetroitBlues

[TalismanRich]

Was the Metroplex the amp you were playing at PSP this summer?   I remember it had some nice creamy tones when you were soloing on Wooden Ships.  

 

There is a fellow locally who repairs and modifies amps.   He had a Mesa that drove him crazy.   Couldn't get parts and info from Mesa, and really struggled with trying to deal with the layout.   

Edited Friday at 01:54 AM by TalismanRich

[rockabilly69]

10 hours ago, DetroitBlues said:

If you're going to spend that much, might I suggest a Metropoulos amp?

I was watching a video about EVH tone from over the years, there was a time he played Soldano amps.

From what I've read about Soldano is he got his start fixing and updating the MKII Mesa Boogies.

I've also been following a guy that works on amps and one of his least favorite amps is Mesa Boogie because of poor layouts and quality of components.  Don't know if it still applies to newer models since Gibson bought them, but Psionic Audio has a bunch of repair vidoes of them and discusses at length of his distaste of them. 

Going back to the Metropoulos amp, I really like them.  The version I have is a MetroPlex MKII 50W head.  It has a circuit that changes it from a Superplexi to a Superbass, and then a version that matches EVH's personal Marshall.  Instead of having four inputs, it internally jumpers to of the inputs like old school plexi's so you can increase the gain to taste.  Then there is a bonus channel that changes the topology of the amp to components that match EVH's Marshall component values.  Adds a whole new level of gain.  Not to mention a push-pull boost control on the EVH channel if going to ten just isn't enough.

Luckly for me it has a low wattage/half wattage/full wattage.  I use low wattage for very small places, including home but use half wattage for gigs.  The amp sounds great at low volumes, but there is difference when the master volume is up past noon.  

 

 

 

That guy from Psionic Audio is a dipshit who seems to ride the high horse with his opinions, while ripping people off constantly!!!!

Type "Ripped off by Psionic Audio" into any search engine, and you will see what I mean.

He had the balls to say he could improve TopHat amps. In his dreams. Brian Gerhard (Tophat) knows how to build amps period!

As for Boogie amps being unreliable, I have owned 4 Boogies and only had one problem in all 4 of them. Yes they stack

a bunch of stuff in thier amps, but most of these amps have ton of options so there's not going to be a bunch of room in the chassis.

There is a tech named Mike C in Salt Lake City that totally knows his way around Boogies, I had tube go bad in my Fillmore 50 but that

ain't the fault of Mesa. He had my amp back to me in less than a day.

As for Metropoulos Amps, they are stellar. The guy knows how to build a Marshall better than Marshall.

 

 

[DetroitBlues]

12 hours ago, TalismanRich said:

Was the Metroplex the amp you were playing at PSP this summer?   I remember it had some nice creamy tones when you were soloing on Wooden Ships.  

 

There is a fellow locally who repairs and modifies amps.   He had a Mesa that drove him crazy.   Couldn't get parts and info from Mesa, and really struggled with trying to deal with the layout.   

That’s the amp!

[DetroitBlues]

10 hours ago, rockabilly69 said:

 

That guy from Psionic Audio is a dipshit who seems to ride the high horse with his opinions, while ripping people off constantly!!!!

Type "Ripped off by Psionic Audio" into any search engine, and you will see what I mean.

He had the balls to say he could improve TopHat amps. In his dreams. Brian Gerhard (Tophat) knows how to build amps period!

As for Boogie amps being unreliable, I have owned 4 Boogies and only had one problem in all 4 of them. Yes they stack

a bunch of stuff in thier amps, but most of these amps have ton of options so there's not going to be a bunch of room in the chassis.

There is a tech named Mike C in Salt Lake City that totally knows his way around Boogies, I had tube go bad in my Fillmore 50 but that

ain't the fault of Mesa. He had my amp back to me in less than a day.

As for Metropoulos Amps, they are stellar. The guy knows how to build a Marshall better than Marshall.

 

 

I always take that stuff with a grain of salt.  But some of the components like input jacks could be better.

In more recent news, Randell Smith was fired by Gibson.  The dude is Mesa Boogie, Gibson buys him out, offers to keep him on then fires him anyway.