Mesa/Boogie Blue Angel Head

This is a single channel amp with only one volume control. It has six knobs, probably the least amt. of knobs for a mesa amp. They are volume, treble, mid, bass, reverb, and power tube selection.
There are three power amps to choose from - 2x6V6 for 15-18 watts, 4xEL84 for 35 watts, and simuclass which somehow uses all six power tubes for 38 watts.
There are twelve tubes in the Blue Angel - five 12AX7s, two 6V6s, four EL84s, and a rectifier tube. There is a little cooling fan back there as well. A fat/bright switch is also present. On the back panel you will find a line out, effects loop, and so on. I don't use these so I will not comment on them.

I have had a blue angel head and 4x10 cab for about six weeks now. This amp is not at all like the other mesas. Before I bought the Blue Angel (used, over the net) I went to the store and tried several other mesas including the DC-2, DC-3, Tremoverb, Mark One (reissue), etc. I liked the other mesas, but the Blue Angel doesn't sound like any of them. The guy i bought the B.A. from told me that the best way to select an amp is to find the clean sound that you really like, because you can always dirty it up without much problem. i think that that was good advice, and the B.A. has the clean sound that I love dearly.
I use it with a Marshall Power Brake and I can get some very nice power tube distortion that way. The treble control on the amp must be increased proportional to how much attenuation is used.
I've been using a TubeWorks RealTube pedal to replicate "pre-amp distortion."
One problem w the Mesa B.A. is that the tone controls are extremely interactive, and you need to spend a lot of time experimenting with them; this is especially true when i switch from my strat to my tele.
The treble control, when turned above about "10 o'clock" becomes a treble gain boost. The midrange acts in a similar way, but as far as the tone control interactivity is concerned, the treble over rules both the mid and the bass, in other words, turn the treble up and cut the mid and bass. The mid will cut the bass, but not the treble. What I have done is to design a little cheat sheet with my word processor, with circles for the various knobs, and I have printed out a number of copies. When I find a setting I like I scribble it down and keep it in my "fake book" with all my chord charts.
The Blue Angel has the nicest reverb I have ever heard (and I admit I haven't heard them all.) Another comment I would make about the Blue Angel is that is more sensitive to playing dynamics than other amps I have played. I can have it turned up fairly loud and still play quietly.
One criticism, or possible criticism, is that this amp is not terribly loud - uncharacteristic for a Mesa product. My Fender Hot Rod Deluxe 1x12 is significantly louder. I generally play at home or at friend's houses and I wonder if this amp would be loud enough to play a gig with, especially if the other guitarist had a Marshall or some other much louder amp.
As far as which power tubes I prefer, well, I am still deciding. There are three settings, 2x6V6 for 15 watts, 4xEL84 for 35 watts, or simulink (all six somehow) for 38 watts. I use all three settings. I guess I use the two 6V6 setting (15 watts) the most, but the four EL84s are nice also, a bit brighter.
One thing about this amp that puzzled me is the conspicuous "dual rectifier" label on the face plate. The other "dual rectifier" amps have a switch that allows you to select between the tube or the ss rectifier, but the blue angel owner's manual states that the tube rectifier is deployed at all times. Well it turns out that there are two rectifiers going - you just don't get to select between the two of them. I think maybe one is for the pre-amp,another for the power amp, or something like that. I'm not sure, actually.
Feel free to email if you want to discuss the Blue Angel.
http://www.magick.net/~michael or http://evol.org

No trouble so far.

N/A

I love it and I realize that this very specific sound is *NOT* for everybody; but for me it is perfect.

in my living room, it picks up a radio station so loud you can't stand it.on the gig, it sounds great, but it's a problem no one has been able to fix. shielding does nothing

Submitted by: chris <

in my living room, it picks up a radio station so loud you can't stand it.on the gig, it sounds great, but it's a problem no one has been able to fix. shielding does nothing

I have had a blue angel head and 4x10 cab for about six weeks now. This amp is not at all like the other mesas. Before I bought the Blue Angel (used, over the net) I went to the store and tried several other mesas including the DC-2, DC-3, Tremoverb, Mark One (reissue), etc. I liked the other mesas, but the Blue Angel doesn't sound like any of them. The guy i bought the B.A. from told me that the best way to select an amp is to find the clean sound that you really like, because you can always dirty it up without much problem. i think that that was good advice, and the B.A. has the clean sound that I love dearly.
I use it with a Marshall Power Brake and I can get some very nice power tube distortion that way. The treble control on the amp must be increased proportional to how much attenuation is used.
I've been using a TubeWorks RealTube pedal to replicate "pre-amp distortion."
One problem w the Mesa B.A. is that the tone controls are extremely interactive, and you need to spend a lot of time experimenting with them; this is especially true when i switch from my strat to my tele.
The treble control, when turned above about "10 o'clock" becomes a treble gain boost. The midrange acts in a similar way, but as far as the tone control interactivity is concerned, the treble over rules both the mid and the bass, in other words, turn the treble up and cut the mid and bass. The mid will cut the bass, but not the treble. What I have done is to design a little cheat sheet with my word processor, with circles for the various knobs, and I have printed out a number of copies. When I find a setting I like I scribble it down and keep it in my "fake book" with all my chord charts.
The Blue Angel has the nicest reverb I have ever heard (and I admit I haven't heard them all.) Another comment I would make about the Blue Angel is that is more sensitive to playing dynamics than other amps I have played. I can have it turned up fairly loud and still play quietly.
One criticism, or possible criticism, is that this amp is not terribly loud - uncharacteristic for a Mesa product. My Fender Hot Rod Deluxe 1x12 is significantly louder. I generally play at home or at friend's houses and I wonder if this amp would be loud enough to play a gig with, especially if the other guitarist had a Marshall or some other much louder amp.
As far as which power tubes I prefer, well, I am still deciding. There are three settings, 2x6V6 for 15 watts, 4xEL84 for 35 watts, or simulink (all six somehow) for 38 watts. I use all three settings. I guess I use the two 6V6 setting (15 watts) the most, but the four EL84s are nice also, a bit brighter.
One thing about this amp that puzzled me is the conspicuous "dual rectifier" label on the face plate. The other "dual rectifier" amps have a switch that allows you to select between the tube or the ss rectifier, but the blue angel owner's manual states that the tube rectifier is deployed at all times. Well it turns out that there are two rectifiers going - you just don't get to select between the two of them. I think maybe one is for the pre-amp,another for the power amp, or something like that. I'm not sure, actually.
Feel free to email if you want to discuss the Blue Angel.
http://www.magick.net/~michael or http://evol.org

No trouble so far.

N/A

Submitted by: chris <

This amp is about as simple as can be, yet it can conjure a wide range of wondrous tones. All you need to do is turn your guitar volume up or down for clean or distorted sound. The Guitar Player magazine review of this amplifier is right on the money. A wonderful amp for players into dynamics.

This a fairly traditional non-master volume amp. I use it with a PS Systems speaker emulator, which lets me get any sound at any volume. I can't imagine using a tube amp without one.

I can't speak much to roadability.

I'd buy it again in a minute. It's the kind of amp that shapes and informs an individual style -- it's that good.

All tube Class A design, single channel, no master volume. Progressive Linkage switch allows the use to switch between 2x 6L6 (15w),4x EL84 (30w) or Simulink (all tubes engaged 38w). This, along with the brite/fat switch and tone controls provides enormous tonal variety. The amp also has a line out and effects loop w/mix control.

There is a fan which makes some noise while the amp is idle, but apart from that the amp is very quiet. As you turn the amp up, it overdrives beautifully; very dynamic with shimmering overtones. The reverb (an Accutronic) is nothing short of spectacular; it sounds almost chorus-like in its lushness. This amp is great for blues as well as retro and alternative rock styles. I can get the Beatles (circa'66) sound at lower volumes and a Hendrix or SVR sound when I crank it up. It can't do the loud and clean thing making it unsuitable for Dick Dale imitations.

I've had it for eight months and it appears the rectifier tube need to be replaced. It's starting to rattle. Not really a big deal and not a shortcoming of the amp. The amp is built solid and I still see lots of old Boogs in use, so I have alot of confidence in this one.

I called the company when I was shopping around and they were very nice in a typically lovely California kind of way. Parts and workmanship are guaranteed for one year; tubes and speakers for six months. Boogie also has web site (under construction at present): http://www.mesaboogie.com

Yeah its pricey but still less than a Vox reissue or Matchless whose amps are sometimes mentioned in the same breath as a Blue Angel. I love everything about the amp, including its looks. A tremolo might have been a nice addition to this amp.