Mesa or Ampeg

[Baird6869]

All of you complaining about Mesa's prices need to remember that all Mesa stuff is entirely hand made, in this country. Not in CHina, or Vietnam, or wherever the hell else stuff is farmed out to.

Your complaining about the price negates any accountability you have when complaining about a manufacturer moving overseas, IMHO.

Having cake. Eating it too. Sound familiar?

Mesa stuff in Canada is extremely expensive, period. Even compared to USA made Ampeg, British-made Ashdown or Orange... Mesa is really expensive. Might be due to a lack of a large dealer network but I was shocked at how much the 750 and V12 cost in my neck of the woods.

 

[Eric Perry]

Mesa stuff in Canada is extremely expensive, period. Even compared to USA made Ampeg, British-made Ashdown or Orange... Mesa is really expensive. Might be due to a lack of a large dealer network but I was shocked at how much the 750 and V12 cost in my neck of the woods.

I can't speak for the over-the-border prices. It seems to me Mesa likes the exclusivity. They make small batches at a time, and therefore need to compensate somehow. I'd rather that than they farm out work wherever so they can whore out to every GC and Musician's Friend. They are staying true to their ideas, me thinks.

 

[jetofuj]

Hi!
Can you compare SVT-II Pro and BigBlock750 for me please. I'm thinking of buying the first one (older version) as I really like Ampeg tone. But I don't know if it would be reliable enough, so I'm thinking of new Mesa instead. I played Fathom and I didn't really liked it as its tone is very dry. I haven't heard BB750 but I like its front panel a lot. I wonder also if its overdrive sounds close to all-tube old Ampeg.
Cheers, Kris

 

[RickenBoogie]

Good point.

 

[Visirale]

Mesa stuff in Canada is extremely expensive, period. Even compared to USA made Ampeg, British-made Ashdown or Orange... Mesa is really expensive. Might be due to a lack of a large dealer network but I was shocked at how much the 750 and V12 cost in my neck of the woods.

Just how expensive ARE they in Canada?

I'm glad that even though the USD is pretty weak, we still seem to get decent prices on gear.

 

[jetofuj]

In Europe:
-WalkAbout rack head - $2000
-BigBlock 750 and M-Pulse 600 - $2500 (classic box - extra $300)
-Titan V12 - $3000
-400+ - $3200

The cheapest one is Fathom (they sell it under older name) which costs $1750.

Conclusion: insanity

 

[Visirale]

In Europe:
-WalkAbout rack head - $2000
-BigBlock 750 and M-Pulse 600 - $2500 (classic box - extra $300)
-Titan V12 - $3000
-400+ - $3200

The cheapest one is Fathom (they sell it under older name) which costs $1750.

Conclusion: insanity

That IS insane. For what I paid for my titan, I couldn't even get the walkabout over there. Is all gear similarly inflated?

You guys should just come over here and buy it with your strong currency and bring it back on the plane and insist that you didn't buy it over here so you don't have to pay taxes . You'd get amps for half price pretty much.

Or you could buy through me for a small fee. I need a reason to visit Europe again .

 

[JimmyM]

That IS insane. For what I paid for my titan, I couldn't even get the walkabout over there. Is all gear similarly inflated?

You guys should just come over here and buy it with your strong currency and bring it back on the plane and insist that you didn't buy it over here so you don't have to pay taxes . You'd get amps for half price pretty much.

Or you could buy through me for a small fee. I need a reason to visit Europe again .

US gear ain't cheap to buy in Europe if any of the music stores in Germany are an indication.

BTW, small fee? Like $50? Is that plus airline and extra baggage costs or are you throwing that in?

 

[Ampeg SVT]

In Europe:
-WalkAbout rack head - $2000
-BigBlock 750 and M-Pulse 600 - $2500 (classic box - extra $300)
-Titan V12 - $3000
-400+ - $3200

The cheapest one is Fathom (they sell it under older name) which costs $1750.

Conclusion: insanity

Ouch, I love Mesa stuff still. I really want a Big Block 750, however i recently tried a newer MIV SVT-CL with fridge setup and i loved it, fat and punchy and loud!

I actually want that SVT-CL, i couldnt give a rip if it was made in vietnam or not.

 

[Ebelow]

I think Mesa prices way high all over the world, but when you get one, you will see why. I had to wait to see that a "few" years, but finally I understend what is behind a MESA when I playing trough on it. And now I never look back how much I had to pay for it.
Very , very well and nicely built equipment, outside and inside. You can get different tones as well, not just for rock or metal. Btw,I am not working for MESA and I am not an endorsment guy either.
+1 MESA ENGINEERING

 

[jetofuj]

It's not Mesa fault. All gear is extremaly expensive in Europe. Sad thing about it is that all kids that can change music history in a future play on crap as they can't afford nice instruments. If the price of the new '08 Fender would be really $1100 (not $2600) I think that nobody would play Squiers That is why people - like me - buy music gear on eBay I pay shipping charges and all those taxes (around 25% of items value) but still I save a lot of money.

I'm limited in importing gear as I choose amps that can be easily converted for european voltage (Ampegs, Edens, GKs, Aguilars). Mesas don't have universal transformers and changing for european one is very expensive, so in case of buying Mesa amp I would do it here. But I have decided to buy a new Powerhouse cab next month, but I haven't decide which one.

I'm not complaining about the whole situation, don't worry. I just wanted to say that you guys are lucky

 

[Baird6869]

however i recently tried a newer MIV SVT-CL with fridge setup and i loved it, fat and punchy and loud! I actually want that SVT-CL, i couldnt give a rip if it was made in vietnam or not.

If you are looking at a Vietnamese SVT-CL, you owe it to yourself to try a MIA SVT-CL (used or old new stock). I am a Canadian, so I am not being patriotic - but the MIA SVT sounds better IMO. AND the resale value will likely be much higher over time. Keep in mind that Japan makes some good stuff, China is just ok, but Indonesia and VN are considered 3rd tier. Just IME and IMO.

I think Mesa prices way high all over the world, but when you get one, you will see why. I had to wait to see that a "few" years, but finally I understend what is behind a MESA when I playing trough on it. And now I never look back how much I had to pay for it.
Very , very well and nicely built equipment, outside and inside. You can get different tones as well, not just for rock or metal. Btw,I am not working for MESA and I am not an endorsment guy either.
+1 MESA ENGINEERING

+1. Mesa stuff (especially the road ready cabs) are built like brick $h!thouses.

They are constructed better than Ampeg or any other electronic product not being built for the Defence Department!

 

[Thunderchief]

Mesa. They were next in line behind the Eden Metro I ended up buying.