Orange Amps Forum

I am an Orange addict. Orange is my amp. BUT of course, I saw a deal that has totally caught my eye. I found a good deal on a Mesa Boogie Lonestar 2x12. It is pretty fun to play though.
I have a UK Vox AC30TB with Celestion Blues. I dont use this amp as Im always playing through my Orange. The Mesa seems like it would be more versatile for recording. The AC30 sounds AMAZING! So much personality in the tone. Ohh the TONE! But for just playing without effect pedals, it is strictly a clean amp.
Should I sell my AC30TB to get the Mesa?
I could use the Mesa more, but then Id be losing a piece of history. The Mesa sounds great, has an effect loop, built in overdrive.
The Vox is a classic, and is crazy loud! The cleans are the best.
Trying to decide. . . . . .

N e v e r sell an amp that you're satisfied with!
Money come and go but a sweet ac30tb doesn't!
If you've got GAS or if you're plain restless for another amp: save up to it. You'll be glad you did.

Seriously, I would stick with the Vox AC30TB - a good new production Vox is a little tricky to come by as they seem to have had hit and miss quality control issues since the 90's (at least!). If your's is still ticking, I would say keep it. It's an amazing amp.

BUT, I've never been a fan of Mesa's, so I guess it's not a fair opinion. Never played that Mesa either.

Well, this Mesa deal is pretty sweet. If I let it go, it's gone. The Vox is great, but there are Pros and Cons either way. I would regret selling it, but right now its just someplace to place my Keys, as I dont use it.

Keep the Vox.

Look at my sig pic and you will find your answer.

Hmm, not to many Mesa fans here.

I've heard and played some great Mesa amps, and they are great for some stuff, and even some other stuff people don't believe they can do (I really liked a blues tone I was getting out of a dual recto head, yeah, that's right!)

I'd also look into getting an ABY switch so you can play your two amps together at one time, that gives you a really sweet way to layer everything.

i think you'd miss the ac-30 for recording your clean tones.

It's a tough call, as the AC30 is the best for cleans, but I simply do not use it. The Mesa seems like an amp that I could get more general use out of. The AC30 is a 97 Korg reissue. The Mesa just looks so damn good. Stained wood body. Effects loop, I think it wood really tie the room together. haha. Hmm, I get a paycheque in 2 weeks.

well you know best what amp would suit your style. if you can buy it- play them both over a period of time and get rid of the one you dont like. ive only heard one lonestar my guitarist recorded with but it was crappy hardcore/metal so i dont know its full capabilities.

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Rocksully</i>
<br />Hmm, not to many Mesa fans here.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Oh yeah, I'm a known sympathiser. (Subway Rocket Reverb combo in my case.) But no way would I want to lose the character of my AC30. Having both is ideal, but I'd not lose the AC30 for any Mesa. AC30s are <i>not</i> all equal, and if you have a great one - keep it! The Mesas are indeed great, versatile, etc etc etc. But they are also so well built and consistent that you'd be hard pressed to find a duffer. Not true of AC30s...

Hope you can wrangle <i>both</i> somehow.


Andy.

IMHO... buy the Mesa. OK, you're losing a piece of history but who wants to be history. If you're going to use the Mesa and it's going to move you forward... no contest, do it! If the Vox is gathering dust then I'd shift it. I parted with My TT for the same reason. I liked it a lot but I needed more flexibility to do what I needed to do in rehearsal and live. One great tone is a wonderful thing but I wanted an amp that gave me more flexibility... it had to go! Course, it would be great to be able to keep them all but I hate the thought of good amps just gathering dust when other people could be getting the most out of them. Like I said, just my opinion, but I would get what you need to do your best work and enjoy your music.

Thanks Andy. Yeah, Im trying to find a way to have both, but I might have to sell my Les Paul to do so. That doesnt seem right. Good ol' Layaway is coming my way. Bye Bye guitar effects, Hello Payment plan.

I would get the mesa. In a heartbeat.