Mesa/Boogie .50 Caliber +

This amp was made in 1990. I think honestly this is probebly the best amp Mesa has made to date. So far it is the only amp that has given me the sound I want. I play everything from church music, to Punk, funk, rock and metal, I play alot of Ska, and it accomadates them all. My only ploblem isit's obviose limitation of having one chanal. This makes for alot of messing around. I think Im going to have to buy an offboard preamp to acomadate maby. It has alot of power for a 50 watt amp, but sounds good at low levels. I mostly play it in my poom but I Jam with it somtimes, plan on playing it in my Church. Im sure it will work in all those places. I sure wish it had a clean and od channel rather then one for both because that is a pain ajusting and theres some cool stuff you can get from the clean chanell when the gain is turned up, but that caulses the od to go awall. I like the eq allot. It is the transition bettween pretty bluesy sounds good for church, and emotional soloing to grinding and evil tones when you crank the base and highs, turn down the midds

It sounds Amazing. Ive tryed the dual rec. befor and I don't get it. My freind has one and it sounds great but when I tryed it it sounded like doodoo. It seemed muddy and flubbery. It did'nt have any harmonics at all, it got worse as I turned up the gain. Maby it's just me. However this thing sounded great. It had a tuby punch, beutiful harmonics. When clean it sounds like a fender. It is totally surfy, great for ska. When you turn the OD on it sounds so good. Unlike the dual rec I tryed the more gain I use the more dynamic it sounded. I always admired the Tones of bands like the decendents and all, madd caddies, millincolen and I knew they played mesa boogies. I always wandered how they got it out of a rectifier, because I couldent. Now I know, that they did'nt. Im sure this is what they used. Don't get me wrong it's not just a punkrock amp although it does it quite well. You can play anything with it. it just has so much tonal charictor that it Sounds good with whatever. It is totally expresive and toney for all you Blues players out there that think your the only people who can appreciate good tone. My only problem with it's tone is that It is a tad on the trebley side and is harsh at times. I think that might be partialy because of my guitar which has realy bright Invador pickups in it.

I just got it and I guess the Preamp tubes have yet to be changed after 10 years so there is alittle bit of noise. It's anoying but it can be fixed so I think I will get those changed soon

I couldent imagen playing another amp, and belive me Ive tryed alot. I like all sorts of music, this has been the only amp Ive found that Im able to play all sorts. I don't know why mesa got rid of this modell. In my opinian it is leages above there new stuff like the f series, so on. I wish it had another chanell, I gues thats what the DC seiries are so maby somday Ill invest in one of those. I think if it were stolden I would go crazy and cry in my basment.

The 7 is purely for TONE and QUALITY. This amp is very versatile but you can only really dial in one sound at a time as the channels are not independant.

I have a 50w head and 2x12 cabinet which blows 100W Marshall 4 speaker cabs off the stage (no sh*t)

I have played the new Nomads from Boogie as well as a couple of others...the lead tone on this little amp surprasses all of the boogie 'rock' amps. But them I am biased towards the full-gain metal sounds :> If you want a Vai, Satriani tone this amp will do it, a Nomad will not.
7 is simply because there are boogie amps that do a lot more that deserve 10. Don't think this is anything like a Fender though - this is no one-tone pony. It will do amazingly clean, jazz whatever (I have never been fully satisfied with the in-between sounds however, these require a fair bit of knob tweaking to get right), but it will only do one or at best two great sounds at a time due to the single set of tone controls.
Apart from that this is Metal Heaven

10 is deserved but however it does not mean perfect. Valves wear out, pots go scratchy in time etc.

I have emailed them twice. The first time they took 2 months to respond. No response yet from the second one.
I give it a 5 as I am still open-minded about their service, it is highly regarded normally. Also a lot of the service just goes in to building amazing amplifiers.

Awesome amp I will probably never sell, unless I buy another boogie that can do the exact same lead sound and then more (like a triaxis).

Two channel valve head with Graphic EQ and reverb. Shitty effects loop (that's why it get's a 9) and direct out with level.

I play a blend of funk, jazz and rock. This it is perfect for. I see no limitations in the sounds that are achieveable with this amp. It can suit any style. With or without the GEQ I can achieve a good balance between the clean and dirty channels. I use this head with a two twelve box with Altec Lansings (the same speaker that Santana uses) and a Strat style guitar. The cleans are sweet and complex and the distortion is sweet, complex, singing and harmonically rich. It can sound like a Mark 1 Boogie or a beefed up Marshall. For me, it can do any sound I want and do it amazingly. It can make you cry or it can completely destroy you.

No probs yet

Never dealt with them.

For my tastes and I'm very picky, It is the perfect amplifier, apart from the effects loop. That wouldn't stop me getting it again. If you find one snap it up. Just remember you could spend mega bucks on an amp, guitar or any other related guitar gadget. Don't waste your time with it! I have wasted enough of my time. I know that there is probably something better out there but that is not going to improve my playig, is it. My advice is to find something that works for you, even if it's not exactly reproducing the sound in your head, and just play the damn thing. Don't waste ridiculous amounts of time searching for the latest and greatest gizmo or that holy grail of tone- you'll never find it!

This amp is a 50w, two channel amp, but with only one set of knobs. There's preamp volume, master, lead volume, treb, bass, mid, presence, reverb, and a five band EQ (with an EQ switch - in, out, or auto). The preamp volume knob pulls out for the overdrive channel and stays in for normal/clean. The EQ was great, and many sounds can be tweaked out of it in conjunction with the standard controls, more than I took the time to achieve, I'm sure. The problem with it however, although I rarley used the clean channel, is that if you want to you use the clean channel and get a good sound, you must change all the settings because they're completely different from the overdriven channel, and only one set of controls. Not so much a problem for me, but for others not having independent controls for both channel can be a pain.
I used this amp in various small time gigs from clubs to auditoriums to vfw halls with a sovtek 4x12 and got all the power and loudness from this little head that I needed. The higher the volume, the better the gain.
For those of you that care, it has an effects loop. I had it tubed with 2 mesa boogie 6l6's, 4 12ax7s, and one 12at7 for reverb or effects loop I guess, I'm not sure. I just wish it had independent controls.

I used this amp with my Epiphone (don't laugh) les paul studio equipped with a gibson 500t bridge pickup (a very hot little number as you may know). The amp sounded very good I thought. It is a relatively inexpensive head from 450 to 550 bucks that gives you that mesa boogie crunch. If you're willing to change all the knobs on the clean channel you can get a great clean sound that stays clean when cranked if you back off the preamp volume. It's not as warm, round, or bright as a marshall or some other amps, but you get that mesa boogie sound. It didn't have the low end responsiveness and fullness that I wanted (possibly ahcieved with a higher class mesa) so I traded it for a sovtek mig 100 and some cash. However, for its price, it is a very good sounding head with that killer gain and crunch that mesas are known for.

Another plus about this head is its reliability. I played with tons of times - never with a back up, and never with a problem. This thing is unstoppable.

N/A

I've been playing for 4 years or so, but I know good tone when I hear it. This isn't the best I've ever heard, but it sure as hell ain't bad. If it were stolen, I'd probably be pissed, but I'd move on and get something else. I love the versatitily and wide range of sounds I could get with the EQ. I didn't really hate anything about it. It'd be cooler with separate controls. That's about it.

Everything you read here already. I have been intruiged/wanting this amp ever since I read a great review on it in Guitar Magazine about 10 or 12 years ago. they said it sounded like a Marshall on Steroids!

I have owned now 4 Boogies )A Studio 22 without EQ (Great for home recording) a 100 watt SOB, (Great with a Boss Distortion pedal into the clean input only) a Tremoverb Combo (Hated the upper mids on this amp, great thru a 4x12 bottom though for chunky rythem playing)and a Mark III full size 100 watt head all features including Simuclass. I was at Guitar Center today in chicago and went there to audition the Triple channel Recto Head...I was not to impressed with it. Sounded Buzzy and Flabby at "low volume". Think it was aroundf 1799.00 also. I saw the 50 Calibur Plus sitting next to it and a used Soldano Decatone. I had a soldano 50 Plus and it was a GREAT amp (Traded it even for the Tremoverb. Like I said, I always wanted to check out the 50 Plus and let me tell you...I was amazed at it's gain structure! It has a better distortion in my opinion than any other Boogie (I never heard a IIC+ though). It seems to have taken the little Studio 22 calibur and pushed it into a new area. Great clean channel, then (here is the gripe I see from other owners) re-structere it for what I like in a Lead sound. WOW!!! Harmonic CITY!! I have only ran my 79 strat with EMG 81 and SA90s thru it, but damn..I have at least 15 amps (2 Marshall 2205s, a Silver Jubilee short box head, Kitty Hawk Grand Lead (If anyone has a fottswitch for this email me!!..I have never heard the lead channel), Fender HR Deville, Carvin X-100B, Peavy Bravo (Cool little amp), Egnator 100 watt 2x12, many others and a whole rack of stuff including a Rocktron Voodu Valve (Nice!) a Halfler T2 preamp and a Digitech 2101 (Bought one of the first ones..traded my Marshall 30th aniversary for it).ect.. Have about 25 guitars including a LP 77 Cherryburst, ES-347 (The pickupus on these are increadible!!)Schector with EMGs from factory, several Kramers such as a Nightswan, Carvin, a Guild AVIATOR(Have any of you ever seen one of these?, factory EMGs, neck thru, and Ibanez reverse headstocks (Not many of these around either!)

We will see!..It is a brand new amp to me...but on my Boogie SOB, I had a input jack burn out and Boogie sent me one in 2 days!!!

If it is like any other Boogie I have owned, I could probably bounce it off Randall Smith at 20,000 feet and it would still fire up. This amp seems to have Studio .22 Calibur beginnings modified to modern needs (At the time since this amp is probably from the late 80s/early 90s. It took me over 10 years to purchase one and I would like to get another to run in stereo. In a side by side comparison with the triple, this thing "out=sustained it". The triple probably has no doubt a "beefier" low end when cranked"..Santana shopuld check this amp out!! I would snap these suckers up if I were you guys! I am looking for another on the web as soon as I submit this!

The Mesa/Boogie .50 Caliber+ (19" rack edition) is a very suitable amp for almost every style of music. Mesa is mostly used for metal, due to its very good distortions. Can't argue with that statement. This amp has a rythm and lead channel, switched with the pull lead knob, or of course a footswitch (which is very recommandable). Knobs in order (l-r): Gain, master volume, lead volume, treble, bass, middle, reverb, presence, 5-band equalizer, 3-way equalizer switch, standby button and power switch. Only problem with this amp is that you can't switch to the clean channel without having a little distorted sound. This can be solved by decreasing the output level of your guitar, making sure your master level is higher than your lead level to avoid decreasing volume when decreasing output your output level.
The amp definately has enough power for onstage, however it is recommandable having a good PA system and sound engineer to make sure the sound gets through.

I use a Kramer guitar with S/S/H Seymour Duncan pickups and an old Stratocaster. I drive it through a 4x12" Marshall speakercabinet. This amp even makes the strat's lousy pickups sound suitable for metal. In normal conditions, this amp should not be noisy. The amp can produce a very nice and smooth clean sound, a slightly overdriven rock sound or a big fat metal distortion. Problem is there's no easily switching between sounds. You really need a volume pedal and a footswitch in order to switch to clean. Outside this slight inconveniance, the sound of this great amp sounds killer. It sounds Mesa, and that alone is worth purchasing this machine.

It's Mesa. Needless to say you would not need a backup. Only get a good flightcase for your 19" edition. Transporting this amp could be dangerous without one.

I've been playing for about 3 years, mostly playing progressive metal. This is my first real gear, besides my 10watt combo with a Boss pedal (no offence to Boss, it suited very well for some time). If this amp were stolen, I probably couldn't find the same one, but if my budget would allow me, I'd definately go for Mesa/Boogie again. As I said, I wish it had seperate gain knob for both channel. That might help to easily switch to clean sounds without having an overdriven sound.
This amplifier is just great, eventhough I think Mesa's Triaxis/Simulclass 90 combination is the best there is...for those who can afford it, and of course for those who like the Mesa/Boogie sound...

2 Channels: Rythym and Lead; 8 Controls: Gain (Pull Lead), Master, Lead Master, Treble, Bass, Middle, Reverb, and Presence; 5 Band Graphic EQ; Effects Loop; 50 Watts; 2 6L6 Power Tubes; 4 12AX7 Preamp Tubes, 1 12AT7 tube for the reverb. I gave it a 6 because the built-in 4-band knob EQ comes before the distortion, so it's effect is limited, the channels share the same controls.

Metallica's "Master of Puppets" and "...And Justice for All! " in a box! I play thrash/death/black metal. I use a setting with scooped mids. I use it into my Marshall 1960A cabinet. I mainly use a Fender Standard Strat, ESP LTD MH-300, or BC Rich Bronze Series Warlock into it.

Rhythym Channel:
This is clean. When I want a good clean tone, I put the gain at 5. With the Gain at 10, you have to really roll back on your guitars volume to prevent it from distorting.

Lead Channel:
Insane. It can get a bit muddy. I love Pantera, old Metallica (beofre the Black album), Slayer, Anthrax, Megadeth, Sepultura, and a TON of other thrash/death/black metal bands. This channel has the thin but full tone. Unlike the Mesa/Boogie Rectos, this isn't extremely muddy. You can add a lot of bass and have it sond clear. It sounds more like the Mesa MK series (which I prefer) as opposed to the Recto series. My only problem with the sound is that the built in 4-band knob EQ comes before the distortion so it has very little effect on the distorted sound. If it came afterwards, I could get an even more killer scooped-mids thrash sound.

I bough this amp used in mint condition. Mesa stopped making this amp in 1989 I think so it has held up for 12+ years perfectly. This amp was made back in Mesa's glory days before they started mass production, so I won't worry about it.

Never dealt.

I've been playing for three years. I bought this amp for an extremely good price. I'm gonna retube it soon and hopefully get better tone. I'll post my results then. If it were stolen, I'd do my reasearch and find that motherfucker. Next, I'd peacefully recleaim the amp. Finally, I'd grab my ESP, plug in, turn it up to 10 and make the dude go deaf.

One of the reasons for me to use this amp was because i could use it at allmost anything. You have 1 channel 50 watts head, where you switch between gain and clear sound with a Push/Pull switch. In addition to the Bass/Middle/Treble controller there also where a 5 band EQ. With this kind of sound options i felt i got alot back for a small prize. I used it at live gigs as well as practising, and i ran it trough a 4*12" Marshall cab. This Amp head really forfilled my wildest dreams. I have sworn to Mesa/Boogie!!

I have a Gibson Les Paul Studio and i was allways happy with my sound. The only thing i can point my finger at is that the clean channel gets distorted at high volume. But if you flip over to gain channel you wil get a shock. The distortion there is WILD!!

This amp has never taken a service ore gotten broken.. EVER!! i ahve changed tubes but thats all:) I wouldn't think twice aboute taking it to a gig without backup.

The only thing i dont like aboute Mesa/Boogie is that they remove old models from their internet page. They should make a "Oldies" page for the good old ones. And they never answered my mails so.......

I wish my amp had two channels that i easily could control. Thats all!

This amp was made in 1989 or 1990. The amp is ultra versatile. I play everything from country to western......and quasi-blues to full out metal and shred. The amp has two channels, it has a switch with an LED that lights up when you are in rhythm mode. It has an effects loop, and it has fifteen headphone jacks so you and your friends can all plug into it...no it doesn't even have one headphone jack, it's a professional amp. I wish the amp had a demon in it, so when other people are playing through it it would make them play great music.
I use this amp everywhere, from clubs to parties and jam sessions and in the studio and at home in the living room. It's loud enough to ruin your hearing right quick..
It's all tube and it has a 12 inch Celestion(Mesa Boogie brand)Black Shadow speaker, good for 90 watts. It features 4 12ax7s a 12at7 and 2 6L6/5881 power tubes. It's rated at 50 watts, but it's as loud as a Marshall Plexi.

I use all types of quality guitars with it. The usual brands, Jackson, Gibson, Fender,Charvel. I use Bill Lawrence, Shadow, Gibson, Duncan,Aero,Barden,Evans, and Anderson pickups. The amp rocks, it can play everything, from country clean to Pantera type metal.
The amp is quieter than a mouse, execpt when you have the master up around 8 and the gain up around 10. The amp will distort at the output stage if you crank the amp, but at quite usable volums it remains very clean and loud. There is so much you can do with the sound of this amp. You can go from a Fender Blackface clean to a MarkIV type distortion to a VHT type distortion. Most anything but that diode driven Marshall sound, and I bet if you had a Marshall JCM 900 to set up along side it, and had a reference to shoot for, you could probably get it pretty darn close to sounding like it. The amp sounds great.

I've run the thing on the wrong tubes, on one output tube, just about everything, even once had the speaker cord yanked from a cab, when someone tripped over it, blew the fuses and ruined some great tubes, but the amp was fine. It fell over in a van and fell about 2 feet to a steel floor during a hard stop, and played just fine at the show that night. The only time it didn't behave perfectly was when I put cheap National brand tubes, made in China and India in it, and they were mislabeled, and it worked, it sounded good, but it buzzed.

I never had to get it serviced

I've played forever..I own everything. If it were stolen, I'd let the guy run with it a while, and then, when he was just about to collapse, I'm stomp his thieving head. If it were lost, I'd look for it...but it's just an amp. I'd be happy to get it again, or even two more of them.
There's nothing to really hate about the amp, most complaints about equipment stem from bad players who need something to blame for them being too lazy to practice enough to make any amp sound good.

50 watts classic Mesa power eats up most Marshalls. Make no mistake, this amp is really loud!! Handmade in late 80s to early 90s in California. The head is full size long chassis version. Five 12AX7s power the pre-amp, matched with two 6L6s in the power section. Controls for this dual channel head feature gain(pre-amp), master volume, lead channel volume, bass, mid, treble, reverb, presence, and 5 band graphic EQ. A second gain knob would add to this amp making it tons more versatile for channel switching.
Rear panel features include three speaker outputs (8ohm, 4ohm, 4ohm), direct out with independent output level knob,EFX loop (send-return), and ground switch.

I use a 92' Fender(USA) Telecaster Deluxe Plus with 3 Fender Lace Sensor pickups and run the head through a Mesa 2x12 Rectifier enclousure. The amp has the best clean channel I've ever heard. Graphic EQ definitley helps out there. Very versatile in diff sounds it can produce, however channels are not independent. Lead channel is fantastic for high gain tones. Ever heard of Limp Bizkit, Creed or Blink 182? It makes those sounds. Without the EQ though you get more of a older Santana sound. My personal recommendation for modern high gain setting is Gain:5-7 volume:loud Bass:7-10 Mid:2-3 Treble:4-5 Reverb:0-2 Presence:5 and a hard "V" shape on the EQ maxing the lows and minimizing the mids and leave the last eq switch in the middle. This will give you sounds comparable to the newer Mesa Rectifier heads. Only drawback is that it has no middle ground in distortion. It's either really clean or heavily distorted therefore making it very difficult to use as a channel switching amp. This is where a second gain knob would come in handy.

change the tubes every so often depending on how much you play and you should be fine. I had bad buzz one time and it was the 6L6s. Popped two new ones in and it was gone. try not to drop it that helps too!

Mesa is awsome however for the right price. I've never had to deal with them directly but I've heard that they will take nearly anything they have made and fix em up. I've seen some killer custom jobs as well. If you're not in California get ready to spend some $$$ on shipping though

Great amp. Only downfall is lacks versatility in the channel switching department. Its great for playing live in either channel alone but very difficult to use both in one sitting. However both channels sound phenominal there's just no middle ground. It's either sparkly clean or heavily distorted. If you're looking for an amp with a sweet clean channel for country, blues, or rhythm...this is the one! If you want an amp where you can use 2 or 3 channels with ease then you may want to look elsewhere.