Mesa/Boogie DC-2 Head

This is a 1997 model, with the third channel (contour)... as typical of most Boogies, the thing is loaded down with features- buffered effects loop with level and mix controls (yay!), 6 12AX7A's, 2 EL-84's, 22 or 25 watts (can't remember which), multiple extension speaker outs with different impedance ratings... kitchen sink. I love the little details- like the sewn-in, ultra-cool footswitch bag in theback, just above the reverb tank. Cute! The amp is hella versatile, even when considering that the 2nd channel- the lead channel- is absolute crap, like white noise from a TV.

This amp is used with a pair of Yamaha solidbodies- an alder-bodied RGZ with DiMarzio's (hum-sing-sing), and an RGX with a basswood body and the same pickup configuration as the RGZ. The amp is extremely loud- there really is something to that Boogie Watts-thing, as it is probably just as loud as my stage amp, an all-tube Peavey VTM 60-watt head. The amp overall is wonderful at creating tone- the clean channel is awesome, going from clear-as-a-bell to slightly edgy, excellent for blues tones... as aforementioned, the 2nd channel is absolutely worthless, just awful... the 3rd channel is where it's at for gain tones... very, very good. The preset eq curve is good, and I like the inherent gain structure of the amp. It has more distortion than most production amps made, and overall sounds very warm and pleasing across the boards. The low end available is nothing short of remarkable. However, there are some things about it that bother me... are you MESA/Boogie people listening? The high end available to the user sucks. Not nearly enough range to attain the kind of sparkle and presence that I like in an amp. I am not into that ultra-edgy, Pantera-esque sound where the treble tears your head off, but I do like to have enough sparkle to cut through, you know? Even with the treble and presence knobs dimed, there just isn't enough. It is 'brown' to a fault. The manual is laughable, as it sternly admonizes you to not turn the treble and presence up too high! Ooh, watch out, it says... you'll get microphonics! Their suggested settings see the treble and presence knobs set somewhere around 3-4, which makes the amp sound like it's in another room... this lack of treble also diminishes the effectiveness of the reverb on this channel, as reverb lives in the high end of the frequency spectrum... the clean channel is brighter, and one can definately hear the reverb a lot more. Ooh! Here's another funny one from the manual- it speaks of how the clean channel can be set up for distorted rhythm... "enough to satify even the sickest crunch fiends," or some such similar crap... it involves diming the gain, and the mids- which, when turned past a certain point, becomes another gain control. Pretty neat in theory, and it works great for dirty-ing up your tone for neck pickup blues excursions, but it is useless for metal or heavy rock. I really would give the amp a higher rating in tone because it deserves it- the overall sound is awesome, except that the lack of high end is inexcusable... oh! This amp sounds 10000% better through a good 4x12. The speaker they build into it is by no means cheap- it is one of their Black Shadows- but it sucks compared to how it sounds when opened up through a 4x12. I also like that the speaker is connected to a jack, so that you can use it in head-only mode, whereas with most other amps, when using an extension speaker cabinet, you are still hearing the internal speaker in the amp.

I would have to say that the amp is sterling, in terms of dependability and reliability... MESA/Boogie's are infamous for being built like tanks, and this amp is no exception... I once accidentally left the amp on- ready to play, with the standby disengaged- for about two days once. It was hot, of course, when I turned it off, but I went back to it an hour later and it started right up. I have had it for a year, and have never had a single problem with it.

Here's another gripe... I know that, in the magazine ads, you see all these smiling faces, ready to help you because you are part of the MESA/Boogie Family, but that has been a load of crap for me... I called them to get a schematic for the amp, so I could change out the capacitors in the treble and presence pots, and they were total jerks about it. I told them why I wanted it, and they still were stand-offish. I ultimately got the schematic, but it was like pulling teeth. They could have stood to be a LOT nicer...

I would miss it if it were stolen or lost... man, I don't like thinking about it! It is probably thebest practice amp that I have ever head, to be sure, and it can serve double-duty as a stage amp if called upon to do so... it sounds best when run in stereo with my Peavey- the Peavey has the high-end, and the Boogie has a lot more low end, and the complement each other well. I split them with a t.c. electronic SC+F stereo chorus, and run them into a stereo Peavey 4x12 cab. That is only when I am playing un-mic'ed gigs, which is not often, though... stereo sound does not translate that well through a P.A., so I would say the Boogie only gets called into service maybe once every other month for performing, when my amp is not going to be mic'ed. I have been hard on the little thing in this review, but I am an extreme stickler for tone. I have been playing for sixteen years, while writing songs and performing for thirteen of those years.

This is the head version of Mesa's 25 watt 1X12 combo, and has all same features as the combo, so please refer to those reviews for all that stuff. One thing though--the head has 6 12AX7's in the preamp section and 2 EL84's in the power section. Silicon diode rectifier.

I bought the head over the combo because the combo seemed so small sounding to my ears. I wanted a lower wattage amp that I could crank with a Mesa 4X12 with Celestian Vintage 30's. I haven't been disappointed. Guitars used: ErnieBall/MusicMan, Yamaha Pacifica, Fender Stratocaster. A few of the DC combo reviews noted the amp likes humbuckers, and I wholeheartedly agree-- in the gain channel--but I prefer the single-coils in the clean channel. They sound wonderful--its the first time I've ever been turned onto the Strat sound in an amp (I also use a 5150 head and 4X12 cab). The clean channel is silky smooth, lots of highs, and absolutely TONS of clean headroom. I love it. Its fantastic to record with, and the reverb is a nice touch, although it is a bit thin sounding to my ears, but it hangs on nicely to notes.
The gain channel is simply killer. I wanted a amp that could get great high gain sounds at lower volumes (although it still is more power than I need--even with a drummer plowing at full tilt). It is silky smooth, and the notes really do sustain forever, which is something I never experienced before. This head give the most musical feedback--using the whammy bar pushes the amp to give off every possible harmonic off-shoot possible, and it constantly surprises me. Feedback is now a real part of my sound, which is fun--the amp does this a even low volumes.
One thing I don't like about it is the sound seems to sort of "flub out" when pushed to near maximum volume. It just doesn't run out of gas, but actually starts to sound terrible. Appearantly this amp is not designed to be pushed like old Marshalls. It starts to sound "interesting" with the gain channel and master volume at 8. This may be an attribute of the EL-84's, I don't know. Anyway, its not a big deal, but you may disappointed if you are looking for a "classic" type sound. I wanted a "modern" high gain and great clean channel, so this amp fits the bill perfectly.
Mesa tech's told me the gain channel preamp is the same as the Dual/Triple Rectifier heads, and the clean channel is the same as the Mark I. The two channels really do sound like two totally different amps, and its a great bonus to have two "classics" in one amp head. Using this with a 4X12 cab sounds nothing short of amazing to my ears, and the ears of the recording studio I work out of as well. They love it.
Another big draw of the amp is it came with Mesa's "custom" crimson snake leather covering. The place I bought it at ordered the head and a 2X12 cab in the same leather and sold the cab and had the head around for a while, so I didn't pay any extra for the leather covering (its $399 extra for Mesa to custom cover an amp or cab), so that was a bonus. It gets a "12" for good looks in my book.

It seems reliable. I know many here have said Mesa amps go through tubes quickly, so I need to get some more. It came with a slip cover, but it is so tight fitting it has pulled some of the leather corners up, so I guess I need to stretch out the cover.

You have to leave a message if you have a question, but they have called me back each time I've called and have never tried to push me off the line-- they have been very interested in my questions, and seemed sincere about making sure I am a happy customer.

I've been playing for 19 years, and own a studio full of stuff, but this has been the greatest addition to my guitar sound in a long time. Part of that may be I've just gotten used to the way my other amps and effects sound, and the DC-2 head is providing me with a break from the norm, but I am very pleased with it thus far. It has inspired some of the coolest song's written in a long time, and I guess that's what's most important to me--the ability for gear to be a vehicle to express creativity.
I would buy is again if it was lost or stolen.
For me the amp was a fantastic value. I wanted something that would sing and scream at lower volumes and this fits the bill perfectly. The custom leather covering came at no extra cost, I admit, was also a big factor in the purchase. It sounds wonderful with a 4X12 and does not have the smaller combo sound that I was trying to get away from. Many people don't like to haul 4X12's around, but I am hooked on their sound, so a head was the only way for me to go.