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le reverend
Published on 12/29/05 at 15:27
I have the Combo version of the DC5. The Dual Caliber (DC) series isn't in Mesa's catalog anymore, which is a pity, because it was good stuff.
Tube preamp (12AX7) + tube amp (2 x 6L6, 50W).
The watt rating is correct, it is very powerful.
- front panel: 1 guitar input, 1 footswitch input (fooswitch included),
- back panel: effects loop (send+return) with wet/dry mix. 1 auxiliary speaker output
Two totally independent channels (rhythm, lead), each with the same controls:
- gain, treble, mid, bass, volume, presence, reverb.
Common to both channels:
- 5-band EQ (see below)
- master controls
A switch allows you to activate and deactivate the EQ: The EQ has a very big influence on the sound. A push/pull on the gain button of the rhythm channel allows you to boost the sound of the channel. The footswitch has two switches (clean/rhythm and EQ on/off)
Mesa loudspeaker (12''). Solid construction with the weight to go with it (66.1 lbs). Careful with your back, get a cart.
UTILIZATION
Relatively easy to dial in (two channels) with a couple of extras:
- clean channel boost
- EQ on or off.
You need to pay special care to the frequency settings: They have a huge impact on the sound and the distortion (oh, yeah!). I don't know if that's usual for Mesa amps, but the little documentation that comes with it is very clear in this regard. And it can be easily heard.
The use, or not, of the EQ (footswitchable) has such an influence on the sound that it's almost like having a third channel.
Due to the particular possibilities it offers, dialing it in can be more delicate and less intuitive than on similar products.
SOUNDS
The clean sounds are pure, Fender-like.
The distortion sound is just what you expect from Mesa, although I can't compare it to a Mark IV or a Rectifier (I have NEVER played with a Rectifier). The DC seems more civilized, but that may have to do with the music style I play.
Its sound is ideal for blues with a Strat: It's pure, but if you want to distort it a bit, it won't complain. Everything is possible with a Gibson LP: jazz, blues, anything.
In Lead, it goes from almost not distorted to the Mesa distortion, but not extreme, in my opinion. Nevertheless, I think you can play Metal with it, but that's not my thing, has never been.
OVERALL OPINION
My first real amp with real tubes, I indulged myself: It's still a pleasure after six years. I don't regret my purchase. At the time I had tried other amps, both well-known and not so, but this is the one that made my eyes sparkle (unfortunately for my wallet).
The only real problem is that you really need some volume to get the best out of the DC-5: At low levels the sound is a bit dull in Lead mode (which is a problem in an apartment: On a scale that goes from 1 to 10, I play with the volume knobs at 1 and the master at 1.5!!!). Everybody knows that tubes need some warmth to start singing: They need to move the 12" speaker. So it is too powerful domestic use: At low levels, the distortion sound is not up to the standard.
However, when I've had the chance to crank it up, it can really howl, it's good. I wasn't cheated by the person who sold it to me: He warned me that it was really powerful.
The verdict:
Awesome clean sounds. Try not to get addicted to it, it's easy to get used to quality.
To play distortion you need to crank the volume, otherwise it's disappointing.
In any case, you need to fiddle with the EQ settings and literally sculpt your sound.
I use it with effects before going into the preamp or in the effects loop (Tonelab SE, that does it for me).
It has two MAJOR problems: Its weight and price (Mesa is expensive).
The conclusion: Recommended for anyone who can play loud, who is fit and has a friendly banker.
Edit from 11/12/2009
I finally played at normal volume with my old DC5 (13 years) since I moved it to the rehearsal room yesterday.
Still very powerful. And finally a distortion sound that isn't skimpy. I can now confirm it: You need to crank it up for the amp to get the best out of the distortion channel. No surprises.
It really smacked me yesterday, but dang, was it good!
Tube preamp (12AX7) + tube amp (2 x 6L6, 50W).
The watt rating is correct, it is very powerful.
- front panel: 1 guitar input, 1 footswitch input (fooswitch included),
- back panel: effects loop (send+return) with wet/dry mix. 1 auxiliary speaker output
Two totally independent channels (rhythm, lead), each with the same controls:
- gain, treble, mid, bass, volume, presence, reverb.
Common to both channels:
- 5-band EQ (see below)
- master controls
A switch allows you to activate and deactivate the EQ: The EQ has a very big influence on the sound. A push/pull on the gain button of the rhythm channel allows you to boost the sound of the channel. The footswitch has two switches (clean/rhythm and EQ on/off)
Mesa loudspeaker (12''). Solid construction with the weight to go with it (66.1 lbs). Careful with your back, get a cart.
UTILIZATION
Relatively easy to dial in (two channels) with a couple of extras:
- clean channel boost
- EQ on or off.
You need to pay special care to the frequency settings: They have a huge impact on the sound and the distortion (oh, yeah!). I don't know if that's usual for Mesa amps, but the little documentation that comes with it is very clear in this regard. And it can be easily heard.
The use, or not, of the EQ (footswitchable) has such an influence on the sound that it's almost like having a third channel.
Due to the particular possibilities it offers, dialing it in can be more delicate and less intuitive than on similar products.
SOUNDS
The clean sounds are pure, Fender-like.
The distortion sound is just what you expect from Mesa, although I can't compare it to a Mark IV or a Rectifier (I have NEVER played with a Rectifier). The DC seems more civilized, but that may have to do with the music style I play.
Its sound is ideal for blues with a Strat: It's pure, but if you want to distort it a bit, it won't complain. Everything is possible with a Gibson LP: jazz, blues, anything.
In Lead, it goes from almost not distorted to the Mesa distortion, but not extreme, in my opinion. Nevertheless, I think you can play Metal with it, but that's not my thing, has never been.
OVERALL OPINION
My first real amp with real tubes, I indulged myself: It's still a pleasure after six years. I don't regret my purchase. At the time I had tried other amps, both well-known and not so, but this is the one that made my eyes sparkle (unfortunately for my wallet).
The only real problem is that you really need some volume to get the best out of the DC-5: At low levels the sound is a bit dull in Lead mode (which is a problem in an apartment: On a scale that goes from 1 to 10, I play with the volume knobs at 1 and the master at 1.5!!!). Everybody knows that tubes need some warmth to start singing: They need to move the 12" speaker. So it is too powerful domestic use: At low levels, the distortion sound is not up to the standard.
However, when I've had the chance to crank it up, it can really howl, it's good. I wasn't cheated by the person who sold it to me: He warned me that it was really powerful.
The verdict:
Awesome clean sounds. Try not to get addicted to it, it's easy to get used to quality.
To play distortion you need to crank the volume, otherwise it's disappointing.
In any case, you need to fiddle with the EQ settings and literally sculpt your sound.
I use it with effects before going into the preamp or in the effects loop (Tonelab SE, that does it for me).
It has two MAJOR problems: Its weight and price (Mesa is expensive).
The conclusion: Recommended for anyone who can play loud, who is fit and has a friendly banker.
Edit from 11/12/2009
I finally played at normal volume with my old DC5 (13 years) since I moved it to the rehearsal room yesterday.
Still very powerful. And finally a distortion sound that isn't skimpy. I can now confirm it: You need to crank it up for the amp to get the best out of the distortion channel. No surprises.
It really smacked me yesterday, but dang, was it good!