Mesa/Boogie Blue Angel 1x12 Combo

Single channel blues amp. Nothing fancy, just tone.
Fixed it for a good friend (replaced rectifier tube). Tested it out at his gig following evening. Simple set-up, turn it on, adjust knobs until you get the tone and volume you want, close your eyes and play.

Not a Fender tone clone. Has its own voice which is very nice.
Used it with a Clapton strat straight into the amp.
Loud enough to cut through the band and then some.
Two different sets of output tubes 6V6 & el84's.
Used the 6V's on slow quiet songs and it sounded so very fat,
el84's on more typical volume shuffles. Very nice indeed. Although I would probably swap a sweeter sounding tube than those installed (ElectroHarmonix) if it were mine.
I also would drop in some RCA6V6's, and experiment with some NOS pre-amp tubes.
Again - stock it sounded very nice. Not jaw dropping. Although with a little experimenting could become a jaw dropper.

I was told it had a previous transformer problem and had been repaired by a Mesa tech center. Ended up in a pawn shop.
I didn't have to look inside so I can't say if it has been touched with an iron.
One issue - soft steel used on the 6V6 tube retainers. Probably will break if flexed to many times. Everything else was rock solid.

Got the schematic online and the owners manual.

I'll buy one eventually and tweek it to my tastes.
My good friend, I'm sure is playing his heart out through it this very minute.

let face it people, the amp is not geared to have a lot of features. any one that rated it higher than this isn't reading the question. Know before you buy, it is nothing like a pod or any new tricked out effect laiden amp sold it the market today. The tube selector is great. It is the only way this isn't rated lower on features.

HOLY CRAP!!!!! I play a tele, strat, les paul..... They all sound like heaven. This amp has an amazing range of tones and the reverb is wonderful. The amp is loud when not being played. The hiss is loud. Once one note is played I don't remember my name let alone care about the hiss I can no longer hear. This amp focuses on tone... all that matters.

No problems. Its a mesa.

Company great. Called them to thank them for making this amp. Left message and they called right back. found out it was made in the first run back in 94.

I feel like I stole it. The amp is so worth the price. I've had a pre CBS super reverb and a termoverb in my life and this amp has a magic tone that I've forgotten about the loss of the other two. I you want a great tone and have a pedal or two, this tone is to die for.

One channel with fat/bright switch, volume, treble, mid, bass, prgressive linkage which allows you to switch from (2)6V6 power tubes to (4) EL84's or both sets in tandem. The rear panel has a slave out and an effects loop. Fairly simple well designed set of features. Pure class "A". I use the amp at home for practice and out a few times a month. Plenty loud for most live band situations.

I play a '56 Strat Relic and a Gibson ES-335. At low volumes (about 9 o'clock) the amp sounds very full and large. As you approach 12 o'clock this amp just sings with a natural power tube distortion. I play with a Fulltone Fulldrive II in front and I control everything with guitar volume control. Great for jazz, blues or rock. You can even do metal with a Boss Metal Zone type pedal if you're into that sound. I've had the amp for about 6 months now and I love it more each time I play through it. It has a typical "class A" hum which does not bother me at all. I love the simplicity; plug in & play. I give it a 9 only because it's not a multi-trick pony. What it does, it does very well.

Built like a tank, totally reliable and I would gig without a backup bringing only spare tubes should I need them.

I have dealt with Mesa years ago about a different amp and they were very helpful. I bought the amp used and have never had a problem with it.

I've been playing for 19 years. My only other current amp is a vintage Deluxe Reverb. I would consider getting another one if someone stole it. I love it's sound and simplicity. I don't like the weight (about 60 lbs.)

The amp was made in the late ninety's
it's versatile enough for my style of playing. I merely play Blues/Rock/Jazz. I use it with a tubescreamer at lower volumes to crank it up. When playing live, the amp's natural overdriven sound is ok to me.

Use it with a standard USA strat en standard usa Tele.
It suits fine with my style of playing, love the reverb on this thing, much better than the reverb on my Mark IIc+. It's a oner trick pony, but in my aers a very good trick.
At higher volumes the clean channel gets that natural distortion, it depends wich tubes you use (6v6 or EL84 or combination). The only complaint I have is the hum when you switch on the stand by it's humming. You won't notice it though a higher volumes but still...... Thats why I give it an 8

No problems so far.

It's alwasy great, Even here in The Netherlands. When I mail these guys they always respond.

I'm playing for 22 years.
I don't know if I would buy it again when it's was stolen.
Love the sweet tone, love tje reverb, love the simplicity. Don't like the hum.

This amp is not extremely complicated; just the basics here. Verty straight-forward volume, EQ, and reverb. Amp also has a line-level 'slave out' and a parallel FX loop w/mix control. Speaker outputs are numerous, so it can power virtually any standard cab flawlessly. Considering its design goal, it'll give it a 9. This is a purist approach to tone; and it gives all the controls you NEED.

At the moment, I am running a Les Paul Classic and a california series tele as my main guitars. the amp handles both humbuckers and singles with equal grace. I have been through MANY amps from crates to hot rod devilles, to line 6 flextones, and to my present MESA; and the Blue Angel is the king of them all. Noise is not much of an issue, again, its class A, that comes with its natural drawbacks. Playing with its single channel has helped me improve my playing to be quite honest. The distortion comes in as your attack gets harder, so I've learned to vary my style more so I can articulate riffs and progressions. I do run some effects to vary my tones, mainly an old-school VOX od/booster and an old, beat up Danelectro Cool Cat Chorus. I'm adding a wah, a harmonizer, and a delay; but aside from that all the tone is from these fingers baby! It can go from soft-clipping blues to Southern Rock all by your attack on the strings, so even w/o a 'gain' control, the gain is there; and the tone is very balanced, not a typical mesa bass-heavy deal. Once the volume control is about 10 or 11 o'clock, its tone heaven!

When I bought the amp, the power tubes were removed, so I had to re-install them. For the first week I would get this random popping sound which would noticeably happen about once every five minutes. I ened up tapping each tube as my friend played, and the rectifier tube proved to be the culprit. I removed it, looked it over, and re-inserted it and the issue was solved! Aside from that, I have had no problems, and hope I never will. It has 2 kinds of power tubes, so there is eally two options, either use both, or use one kind, and once they go bad, use the others while you save up to replace the first ones! (there's some college-guy logic for ya) Actually, i love the tone I get from running all 6 power tubes, so yea, I'll be poor pretty soon if this baby starts eating tubes, but for now all it well. Once I start gigging again, I'll definitely have a backup with will most likely we running direct. (I can't afford another blue angel yet!)

I have never had to call for help, hope I never will. Warrantee is varied upon the parts, so I'm pretty sure its over already, I've had it a little less than a year, but it was used...

I have been playing for 6 years (seriously)now, and this amp fits my needs perfectly. If some punk stole it, I'd get it back, only after introducing his face to my baseball bat. I will soon have a custom road case for it, then I'll be set. The blue angel is a great value for a purist kind of approach to playing; I like ot set the amp, then mold my sound from my few pedals and ultimately, its all from the fingers. another tid bit of info for ya, I actually found this amp on the Harmony Central Classifieds, so keep an eye out, deals are out there, just kind them...

Same as other reviews

This amp as a 1x12 combo sounded ok for Blues but wasnt very versatile. The cleans were not sparkley like fender and the overdrive seemed harsh. I later found out that this amps downfall is the stock speaker.
I removed the amp from the combo and built a head cab for it. Then added a 2x12 cab loaded with Celestion Blues.
I replaced the pre-amp tubes with Electro Harmonix 12ax7's because the sound great and have no microphonics.
The amp is a totally different beast. The overdive is sweet and the tone...think Mississippi Queen; Skynyrd; it excells at blues and blues rock sweet on the edge distortion and with a tube screamer pushes it into classic Rock and roll tones Zep..AC/DC..Allman Bros.
Before the change I give it a 7 rating now I give it a 9.
10 is reserved for old nasty Marshalls and Fender 59 Bassman's. But this is really close now its great.

Had it for 5 years....no problems. Bullet-proof.

Dump the combo get a head, a cab with Celestion Blues or Greenbacks and stand back and enjoy some great tone.

1997 Blue Angel 1x12 combo. Tons of features (just read the other reviewers as I hate to type). Not many features that I use, however. Amp has "Progressive Linkage" which is two different power stages used individually or together for different tones/power needs.

I use a 1958 Custom Shop Strat/Gibson Reissue L4/ and an '82 Les Paul. Amp is a class 'A' design so, yeah, it's noisy as hell, and it requires a fan to cool all the tubes which also contributes to the noise. Not really an issue if you like a low power class 'A' configuration but forget about recording with this amp. I used it for a pro 'oldies' group, broadway style musicals at local theaters,and some jams at blues clubs. It excelled at none of these. The amp has a sound that just will not go away no matter how you dial it in. This would be great if it was a sound I liked, it is not. I re-tubed the amp wit all types of NOS stuff (quite an expense) still to no avail. I don't think there is any changing the intended sound of this amp. You either like it or you don't. If you don't like what you hear when you demo it, do not get it. There is NO changing what you hear.

I have always gigged without a backup, however it is smart to have all the neccasary replacements on hand,(fuses,tubes, etc). Mesa,although not nearly my favorite amp manufacturer has been nothing, if not reliable. I have owned 3 Boogies and have had NO problems at all.

Boogie excells here as well. Just call 'em and your done.

Playing almost 25 years now,"whew". No, I would not buy it again. Bad move on my part in the first place. I should have known that this was going to be a bad experience when I demoed the amp. ALWAYS trust your instincts when they tell you something is not right. I didn't really like the sound of this thing and I thought that I could pull a better sound out of it when I got to toy with it. Like I said I should have known better.

Late ?90s model I assume. It had clearly been in the store for a while before I bought it early in 2000 for a ?relatively? knockdown price (US amps in the UK are not cheap!) Features (what features?) are fully described in the earlier submissions, and there?s nothing remarkable or unique about this particular specimen, though seeing those 12 valves lit up round the back is a fine sight. Single 8 ohm 12? Black Shadow/Celestian 90 speaker. Very solid build, and the small fan is a nice touch as class A operation can eat up the valves rather quickly. I've been playing 20+ yrs and play mostly rock/blues/pop, though getting more into jazz these days, and John Scofield in particular (not that I play like him ? I wish!) I guess it goes with the greying/thining hair thing??.

I use a bunch of different guitars through this combo: I?m a Fender/Ibanez kind of guy so there?s a 52 Tele reissue, an American Deluxe Strat, a 1977 Ibanez Artist 2617, and a pair of 1982 Artist AR300s. A Matchless Dirt Box and a Voodoo Lab Sparkle Drive provide extra crunch, and very occasionally I stick a old Ibanez digital delay in the parallel effects loop to cover the holes in my solos. No, ?to provide additional rhythmic and harmonic complexity? that should have read. I switch between the 2x6L6s, 4xEL84s or all six both combined depending more on the headroom I require rather than the tonal differences. These are real, not just marketing blurb, but relatively subtle at middling volumes and moderate gains.
After the initial teething troubles (see below) I?ve been pretty happy with this amp, with one proviso ? the speaker could be a lot better. Hence the 7 rating. All the guitars sound pretty good, but single coils seem to bring out the best in it ? more dynamic, more snappy ? which suits the general vibe. The mid control is the crucial one here: for single coils I tend to have it close to full on, while for humbuckers about midway sounds best. With the volume around halfway or less this gives an essentially clean sound with a nicely gritty edge. Up the volume and things roughen up still further. Using your guitar?s volume control is also pretty crucial to get the most out of this amp, as it cleans up nicely when you shave the guitar output a tad. And the higher gain sounds from the pedals come through very well, very smooth.
It doesn?t do metal, and the loud clean thing would be better with a Fender Twin or a big Roland Jazz Chorus. But that?s not the point. Within the narrow range from ?clean with an edge? to ?a bit dirty but still well defined? it does a good job, and the volumes are just right for almost all uses. Really, do you need 100W? The reverb is excellent, and the bright/fat switch is also very useful.
But having said all that it?s not perfect. The background noise level isn?t exactly intrusive, but I?ve had amps (class A ones too) that were a lot quieter. And in the first few months I was forever tinkering with the tone controls to find the sweet spot. Not my usual style, as I tend towards the ?set it and forget it? approach. At times, particularly with humbuckers, it sounded a bit honky or boxy, and seemed to be lacking something. So eventually I hooked up the amp output to the 15? Eminence speaker in my Fender Vibrosonic combo (4 ohm compared to the 8 ohm 12? Celestion on board). And that really made a BIG difference. Much much better: more top, more bottom, more dynamic, and the whole sound just seemed to breathe easier. Excellent. That?s how I use it all the time these days, which means carting two amps around (though a backup is always recommended, so I guess it has forced me into a good habit) but it?s well worth it. In this mode I give it a 9 for sound within the narrow range of tones it?s designed for. Stock, I?d rate it a 7 at best. Maybe a Vintage 30 would be a better match than the stock Celestion.

I had some problems with this amp as soon as I got it ? bang out a big chord at highish volume and there was a nasty, unmusical distortion going on. I?d spotted it in the store and they assured me it would be fixed when the amp was serviced before I picked it up. It wasn?t - when I got it home it was still there. After a few phone calls and a few e-mails it was all sorted out. There was a poor earth somewhere which was making intermittent contact when the vibration got too much. Since then it has been fine, no worries at all, but surprising to find such a flaw on a Boogie.

After a few e-mails everything was fixed under warranty with minimum fuss, and the Boogie rep. in the UK was both concerned and helpful. I even gained a Blue Angel T-shirt as part of the deal, which pleased me if not my wife. Since the initial fault everything has been fine. My impression is that Boogie take customer service seriously.

I?d love to try some US boutique affair, or get hold of a really good vintage Fender, but my wife?s tolerance does have its limits, as does my bank balance. The new UK Cornford Hurricane combo wasn?t around when I made this purchase ? that would also get an audition if I was buying now. So given those limitations I have to say that overall this is the best amp I?ve owned - set up the way it is now, with the external speaker. A really good sound, for me. But it took a while to find that setup. Plus it?s not very versatile, it?s not the quietest, and it works well only within a fairly narrow tonal range. But in that range it is very musical indeed. If a modestly powered and portable combo with a warm/clean/gritty bluesy tone is what you?re looking for, I reckon you should give this amp a try. Of course, like me you might compromise that portability by ending up lugging around that weighty additional speaker required to reach tonal nirvana. But whoever said paradise comes easy?

Do you know what year the amp was made in?, I think its from 1994.
Is the amp versatile enough for you and the styles of music you play?Very much so
What are those styles?: Blues, rhythm and blues, motown, jazz, and yes, a little country.
Where do you use this amp? Band practice and gig.
Does it have enough power for you? Yes it does.
The blue angel doesn't have a second channel for soloing. It's all about using the guitar volume knob. Feature wise its as basic as it gets.

I have a 74 strat with Barden pickups. My strat sound isn't the "typical" strat sound and that's by design. I also use a 74 LP standard with Fralin Humbuckers...(wow!). A '98 PRS custom 22 with Dragon II's and a 93 PRS Custom 24 with a vintage bass and deep dish II in the bridge. The reason I mention all the different pickups is because the Blue Angel truly brings out the tone of the guitar. I have to tell you at this point that I am also using an Alessandro level 1 guitar cable..from the guitar to several effects; Ibanez turbo tube screamer with 808 mod; Boss TU-2 tuner, Boss tremelo, DC-2, DD-2, and Alessandro level 1 cable from the effects. Ladies and gentlemen, if you are using a bargain, tweed, multicolor, cheap, cable or don't think cable makes a difference...you will not believe your ears. I have been using george L's for a little over 2 years..great sound and vast improvement. The Alessandro level 1 blows away the george L's. I have used the very best monster cable. No contest! I can't wait to get an Alessandro level 2 guitar cable!http://www.alessandro-products.com/main.html. I don't work for George and I am not payed a commission. Do you and your sound a huge favor..get Alessandro's cables!
Ok, so I am enthusiastic about Alessandro..and back to the Blue Angel.
The does use a fan to cool the rectifier and you can hear the fan..no big deal. In fact I am glad to know its there and working! The Blue Angel is a very basic Mesa amp. The sound quality is clean with a bit of an edge. I guess the Blue Angel is simply a tool to express your self. If you are searching for a specific sounding amp or brand..buy that brand. In my opinion, a fender amp has its sound, as does marshall, Bogner, Dr Z, Peavey, line 6, etc. I recently went to live a show featuring, hold on now, Mitch Ryder, Eric Burdon, and Johnny Rivers. Both Ryders and Burdons guitar players using Marshalls. The guitar sound from Ryders band was so different from Burdon's guitar player, who was excellent! Its all in the ears and fingers. So the bottom line is: if the amp gives you a sound quality you enjoy, go with it! By the way I added a second Mesa cabinet with 1-12" Celestion V30. The combination of the two is a very rich sound quality.

I have a Mesa Maverick with 1-12 as well. The amps are very easy to service. I have had the privilage of visiting Mesa in Petaluma. Tien Lawerence gave us a factory tour. The folks at Mesa are dedicated to building a solid product. There is pride in every step of creating, designing, and building Mesa products.

My expericence with Mesa has been a very positive one. Tien and Kevin are awesome!

I have been playing since for over 35 years. I also have a 68 ES345 and a 64 jazz master. I purchased this amp for several reasons: The Progressive Linkage feature: I now have a choice of tube sounds. The physical size: easy to get around especially with the flight case. The price I paid: a new one is $1100.00 I purchased the amp from Tim Womack in Nashville. Tim sold this one because he also has a Blue Angel with 4-10's. My Blue Angel has been in the studio and on the road for several years. Fortunately, Tim takes great care of his gear. The Blue angel gets you back to basics. If the amp were stolen or lost I would either purchase another or seek out an Alessandro.

2001, Saddle Tan Leather option. 18,33 and 38 watts. 26V6, 4 EL84 5 12AX7's. 2 inputs. I'm not sure what channel switching is but I suppose you can "switch" your cable from one input to another so I guess it does have channel switching. It has an effects loop but I don't use effects so I don't know how that works. It has a "Clean" and "Fat" switch. I've been playing 30 yrs and play Blues and Jazz.

Vintage Gibson L5, New Gibson Les Paul Custom, Epiphone Sheraton ll with Seth Lovers, Fender USFAT Telecaster. All these guitars sound great through this amp. Is the amp noisy? Well you know when its on. But it sounds great. Comes with a Celestron 90 speaker and I can make that bitch bend over just by accenting my picking- a feature I love. With the variable tube combinations I can get all the sounds I want from this amp.

Just got it so I don't know too much about its reliability however it seems to be very well made and it has a fan that cools the tubes which is a nice feature.

I contacted Mesa before I purchased the amp and spoke to Kevin. I expected some sort of "sell job" and was surprised I didn't get one. He was instructive and casual. Their customer support was easy to reach and I experienced no hold time. It was like talking to a friend. The warranty is one year and 6months on the tubes.

I've been playing 30years. I had a 2000 Fender Deluxe Reverb Reissue, an amp that never sounded good. I have a Peavey Classic 20 that I use in the house for practice and a 1967 Fender Blackface Pro Reverb an incredible amp from an era when Fender had it right. If my Blue Angel was stolen I would track down the thief and have him/her arrested. Then I would buy a new one. I'm not really sure how I could lose it. This amp is a straight ahead Tone unit. If your looking for Tone get it over with and buy a Blue Angel.