Conference napalm::guitar

    Unlike most people, I don't think Mesa is the best thing since sliced
    bread. I haven't heard a Boogie "22cal", or "50cal" that had a good
    overdriven tone yet without adding effects to make it sound better.
    For me, an amp has to have the tone first, then you can add your
    toys to enhance the sound. On the 22 caliber I tried out, the lead
    channel sounded like an enhanced fuzzbox. Almost like a chainsaw
    type of sound. Did nothing for me and for $500+ !!!??? 
    This isn't a "I hate MB" note, because it isn't at all. I think
    the Mk-III's are a great amp! I've heard the older Mk-II's and they
    have a GREAT tone, but maybe because the smaller ones just don't
    have the power...  the tone suffers. I dunno?
    As for the Mk-I reissue...  I'd try it out like just another amp  
    and if it sounds good to you...  buy it and be happy! I just have
    a hard time justifing the big price tag. Kinda like buying a Toyota
    Supra instead of a BMW. They're both fun to drive, but one cost
    less than the other. Before spending the money on a MB 22, or 50
    caliber, I'd check out Fender's "Super 60" amp. It's a small format
    amp, has a very good tone, switchable channels, a good sounding
    overdrive (about time too), and the price is under $450. 
                                
    Fred

	I recently got a christmas card in the mail from Randall
Smith,and he described the MK I reissue as follows:

	"this is an incredible sounding duplication of the
	original trend-setting classic,which changed music
	and technology forever. The only difference's are
	Improved effects loop circuitry which is switched
	out of the original circuit unless FX jacks are 
	plugged in,and a 3 way power switch with off,normal
	and tweed. This is a new concept(pat appld for)
	which provides reduced voltages for enhanced super
	vintage performance. Tweed even allows you to run
	6V6 power tubes. If you never played a Mark I prepare
	for a treat"

	I almost bought another Boogie 2 weeks ago,however after
hearing about this I'm glad I didn't. I think it would be worth
checking out.
	I used a Studio 22 and was pretty impressed at the versatility
of "sounds" I could get out of the amp. Both Clean and dirty. I'm
sure a Calibre 50 will also get you those sounds and a few more
different ones.
	However a Mesa Boogie is not something you can walk up to
and plug into and just play I believe. It took some time and
tweaking to get the sounds I wanted. I have walked into stores
and plugged and played on used and new Boogies with some quite
awful results. They can very easily could sound very bad if you don't
know what your doing. The same could be said about an ADA MP1 and
maybe a Kitty Hawk? I'd recomend if you are seriously even considering
a Boogie,make sure you go some where,where there is a salesman who
is capable of showing you how to setup the amp. And take you own
guitar.....
	The amount of money these things seem to cost is incredible to 
yesterday's standards,but compare what a car cost you back then as to now. 
	The orignal Boogies in 1973-4 were $450 and a 6 month wait,in 79-80
they were $800-1000 and a 6 month wait,today they are $499 to $1500,no wait.
	Take into consideration they primarily are hand built and without 
question from what I've seen inside of them,well done.. 
	 If your budget can't afford the price tag there are alternatives
however I'd be hard pressed to compare a Fender Super 60 to a Mesa.

							Rick

    You can save yourself $$$four figures$$$ and get a Kitty Hawk amp that
    is every bit as good.
    
    Mike

    Expanding on what Rick said:
    
    Boogies have a very very wide range of tones: most of which I don't
    care for, but some of which I love and have heard from no other amp.
    
    What this means is that, as Rick said, when you walk into a store and
    plug into a Boogie, the chances are more than good that you won't like
    it.  Given this, I'm never surprised when I hear someone say they
    tried one and really didn't like it or thought it was overpriced
    and usually I just don't say anything.
    
    The interesting thing to observe is the consistent devotion of Boogie
    owners - people who have taken the time to learn them and work with
    them.
    
    It's something that you really have to spend some time with fiddling
    around.  The balance between lead volume, volume 1 and master volume
    is incredibly sensitive.  This is a NEGATIVE feature IMO because it
    means that it's very hard to tweak, but it does give you variety.
    
    I've also found that my Boogie (79 Mark IIB) is incredibly sensitive
    to environment.  To my ears, it's hard to get the exact sound I like
    night after night and as a result I often just don't bother.  Also
    I suspect while other amps may not be affected by a slightly bad tube,
    when tubes start to go bad on Boogies you can really hear the change.
    I almost drove myself broke buying tubes until I decided to buy a
    small solid state practice amp to relieve my Boogie of most of its
    use.
    
    So, I think I've painted a balanced picture: advantages and
    disadvantages.  The main point is that "first impressions" can
    be deceiving, especially when we're talking about Mesa Boogies.
    
    	db
    
    p.s.  I was lucky - I bought mine during a time when there was no
     	  opportunity to "try one".  I based my decision based on what
          I was hearing other people do with them, and the local and
    	  national players whose tone I admired, usually used Boogies.

    I've used an MB 22+.  The clean tone was exactly what I was looking for:
    warm and bright.  I cared less for the overdriven sounds, but I think 
    that's personal preference...I don't tend to use those sounds a lot.
    The amp had plenty of power, but I always mic the amp for playing out.
    If you were planning to use the amp by itself in a stage situation, I'd
    say you need more watts.
    
    I guess my only wish is that MB allowed me to dial in both settings to
    tones I like, rather than assuming I, the player, would always want a
    crunchier tone for lead work.
    
    The price was $630.
    
    Have fun,
    John Kelly
    

Mesa Boogie SOB's came in the following flavors,

SOB 50----------------2,7025's;1,12at7;2,6L6's
SOB 50 w Reverb-------2,  "    2,  "   2,"
SOB 100---------------Same as SOB 50 Except 4,6L6's
SOB 100 w Reverb------ "      SOB 50 w Reverb;4 6L6's

	I've seen several SOB 50's go for $250 to $500 for combo amps,they
also came in a head only version of which I've only heard of one SOB 100
going for $450.
	General experiance and word of mouth advice indicates that these 
"cheaper" models at least in the 50 watt flavor,that they did not get a 
good "clean" sound. 

    If this was the amp I played, and I should check it out again, 
    I was impressed with the sound as a good combination of clarity
    with a distinctly dirty edge. Not muddy at all. 
    The son-of-booga I saw was a head. 
    Does the thing have  a pre-amp?
     I didn't see any little tubes in it.

	Yes,it does have a preamp,probably 2 with 2 volume controls,master,
treble,mid,bass and presence and the sound you describe is what I remember 
the Sob's sounded like,it also had 2 inputs. I've seen them with creme colored 
tolex,no tolex(painted black)with brown and black grille cloth,I'm sure they 
came in black tolex as well. Not a bad sounding amp for an edgy distorted 
sound,but that's it......

							Rick