Mesa Boogie Express 5:50+ Combo

all-tube amp hand made in the USA
5 watts multi - 25-50
2 channels with 2 "sounds" - clean and crunch - blues and burn
settings: Gain - Treeble - media - bass - master
Reverb - EQ preset and with a knob adjustment - a solo knob
an effects loop
footswitch with channel change, activation of reverb, EQ and solo position

UTILIZATION

The setup is fairly simple, the manual is in French if you buy in France (and you have to experience the shops, they often price rivaling those of the net).
Explanations of the manual are very clear and allow the receiver to properly use and understand its operation. Suddenly, it finds its easily.
Types of settings are available in the manual.

SOUNDS

This amp is versatile. it may seem as trivial comment, but this time it's true.
First surprise, when you put the switch on, there is silence. No breath, very surprising.
As such sounds, you can get close enough to the clean Fender sound, blues crunch sound slightly (some style John Mayer), a crunch and distortion.
The clean sound is an excellent base for pedals (overdrive for example, but also the modulation, wah). All this can be put into the loop or before the preamp.
I play with a Lag (2 humbuckers with the neck pickup split) and Godin (three single coils, often neck and middle) and the amp responds differently to each type of microphone.
The clean tones and blues are really good (matter of taste) and respond very well to the effects.
To listen to the different possibilities:

OVERALL OPINION

it's been a month that I used. Previously, I had a Hot Rod and I find the sound typical Fender clean plus other opportunities to address many style of music.
A little regret, perhaps, the footswitch can change channels but no "sound" on each channel. That said, we can easily get a clean sound and rhythm go on a crunch for soloing or for another part of the song. Solo knob allows replaces a boost pedal.
Furthermore, by adding a pedalboard, possibilities are multiplied. In this regard, a volume pedal in the effects loop remains a significant, even with the multi watt, because the power is to go.
Obviously, the price is "high", it's Mesa Boogie, entry level, but still.
So far, no regrets ....