Boogies' Answer to the Princeton with Switchable Output Power!

Welcome to my review of the Mesa Boogie 1x10 California Tweed guitar amplifier. The Mesa Boogie California Tweed 2 Twenty is a killer 10" speaker combo with a built-in power attenuation switch.
📺 More Videos like this:
→ • When the Clean Tone is...
→ • Fender's Best Princeto...
→ • This ENGL Thunder 50 A...
Check it out online here:
🛒 Sweetwater - sweetwater.sjv.io/3ex6Ov
🛒 Sky Music - bit.ly/49Pjsa4
🛒 Guitar Center - guitar-center.pxf.io/4PYQ5o
🛒 Reverb - tidd.ly/4bAcfMC
🇺🇸🇦🇺🎸Get the best prices on guitar gear below! 🇺🇸🇦🇺🌎🎸
🛒 Sweetwater Crazy Good Deals - imp.i114863.net/dealzone
🛒 Guitar Center Massive Discounts - guitar-center.pxf.io/gbQbDv
🛒 Thomann's Guitar Bargain-Zone - bit.ly/3TEf7iR
🛒 Sky Music, Australia Guitar Bargains - bit.ly/3MGLtby
🛒 Artist Guitars - bit.ly/40E8WPG
🛒 Best Used Guitars on Reverb - tidd.ly/4b9KEkH
=============================
Channel Memberships & Patreon
=============================
🔗 Find Me Online - linktr.ee/intheblues
➡️Join My Patreon: / intheblues
➡️Join this channel to get access to channel perks:
/ @intheblues
=============================
Video Chapters
=============================
00:00 - Click for Video Index
00:58 - Amplifier Overview Front Panel
01:49 - Back Panel
02:42 - Tube Configuration
02:33 - Jensen Speaker
02:54 - Disclaimer (not sponsored)
03:07 - Kiesel/Strat-Style Tones
04:13 - More Gain (Blues Tones)
04:50 - Higher Gain Setting (Amp Dynamics)
05:27 - Adjusting the EQ for better tone
06:12 - Humbucker Pickups (Clean)
07:40 - Humbuckers with Overdrive Pedal
08:33 - Higher Gain Overdrive Tones
09:13 - Multi-Watt Power Attenuation Switch
10:43 - My Pros and Cons Review
-
►Patreon: / intheblues
►My Socials - linktr.ee/intheblues
►My Sweetwater Gear Page - imp.i114863.net/intheblues
►intheblues Merch - bit.ly/2KLR5CV
(Links to Sweetwater, Thomann, Amazon, B&H, Artist Guitars, and Walmart are affiliate links.
-
This KZbin channel participates in Affiliate programs. These programs are designed for the channel to earn an income using the links provided in the description or pinned comment section. Please note: Not all links on this website are affiliate links.
#guitar #intheblues @mesaboogie @SkyMusicAU

[@intheblues]

I love the power output switch! Very cool! Let me know what you think and a huge thanks to Sky Music for loan of this one. Check it out using the links in the description box and you can hear the 12" Speaker version here 🎥 - kzbin.info/www/bejne/jpCkaZWvoJaanac

[@montygibbon1905]

Does it sound better reducing the volume via (a) the power staging attenuator as opposed to (b) the master volume knob?

[@vincentl.9469]

@@montygibbon1905 8 valves ??

[@user-wv1ef2my2t]

Again, a perfect demonstration and presentation of a beautiful guitar combo. Thank you for the video and greetings Pavel CZ.👍👍👍

[@jjtaylor6380]

I’ve had a Mesa Express 5:25 for over 15 years and it’s been terrific. The only things replaced were power tubes a couple of times and the jewel light bulb. Mesas are high quality, reliable and sound awesome.

[@westernrider100]

Another 5:25 112 V-30 Express Owner here. Ordered mine with wine red vynl and black trim, and it was made in the last run of the original Express amps. Bought it for the gain channels and over the years, and I've grown very fond of the clean channel - it is fantastic. As for upkeep - I've replaced the power tubes a couple of times over the years. Went back to the place where I bought it [ local store ] and talked with the owner and asked if there was anything nice and simple that still sounded great to replace the amp. He asked me if I was having a problem with the amp and what I didn't like about [ besides too many controls ] . He said its a life time amp - keep it, and in another 20 years get the amp serviced and caps replaced.

[@christiaantheuvenet7033]

I have the express 5:25 too. Love it, very versatile. Blues mode can do these sounds easily.

[@scottreynolds6317]

Great vid Shane! Sounds awesome 😎! 🎸🔥🎸🔥🎸

[@terryunangst9537]

I own/use 2 Mesa amps I bought in the early 90’s, a Tremoverb and an Electradyne. I also used a few others. Don’t know where you got the info on build quality, it’s absolutely inaccurate. The amps are built extremely well, using the best components and quality woods, very heavy amps. They sound awesome, and you can find “your own sound” very easily from the myriads available. They hold up to all the rigors of the road and keep working. Absolutely great amplifiers. Mine are still in use after all these years. 10:48

[@hailmaryrecordings8255]

I’ve looked at a couple of used Tremoverbs & they seem pretty cool. I need to play through some more Mesas … you don’t see very many in the wild.

[@HMohr]

But I heard that this particular model is load with problems

[@GreenDistantStar]

@@HMohrThere's Boogies, and there's Boogies. The early ones were essentially boutique amps, today's offerings, not so much. Still better than a lot of what's out there, though.

[@bayridge99]

I have a Tremoverb bought new. No problems with it, and a fabulous range of sounds.

[@DMSProduktions]

These amps sound great Shane! Let's just HOPE GIBSON don't mess with the Boogie formula! Rock on! \m/

[@SpartanLaserCanon]

Nice amp and demo right here. Mesa really does have something for every type of guitar player from old school rock tones to high gain modern metal tones. My Mesa Boogie Badlander 50 amp in 20 watts mode can also get good low volumes for playing near neighbours. This amp is sounds good for getting old school rock tones. It was nice to hear you play on a Telecaster with that amp too.

[@portsideguitar1981]

Love this series of amps.

[@davidkastin4240]

Sounds very good to me. Good review Shane. Oh no I feel some gas pains starting up 😊

[@paulorr7471]

I like this amp. I have demoed it at two guitar stores For a 1x10 it has a nice full tone.

[@SN5N]

The price is a joke. I recently purchased hand made turret wired/best avaliable parts incorporated copy of Princetone. I paid for it 900 USD. I like Shane's job every time I watch his channel, but the pricing of this small box of noise is fanciful (however probably acceptable all over California...).

[@michaelbajorek1972]

Very nice amp I am unaware of. Thank you for sharing this information. have always like mesa boogies but way out of my price range. I will stick with my princeton and ac10. Good channel with lots of information.

[@hutchfromba]

I love the sound of this amp with the 10 inch speaker. I just wish it had a FX Loop. Thanks for the video Shane. Blues On....💙 I didn't realize it had a FX Loop on the back. 😎

[@amphibious4463]

It has send and receive on the back

[@hutchfromba]

THANK YOU SIR ! ​@@amphibious4463

[@janders3205]

You can also speaker out: have a 1x12 and 2x12 when needed. Very compact. Expensive for a practice amp but can find used and or on sale. Seems like a good all around gigging, practice, recording amp that pairs nice with other amps.

[@frankmitman3347]

To answer concerns about built quality: I owned a Mesa Boogie Studio 22 from the 80’s and never had a minute of problem with it. I dropped it and broke o knob and they fixed it and replaced the knob under warranty. Great build quality

[@TheCactusRoomMusic]

Nice playing, really good demo of those clean tones. Not too glassy. That Kiesel guitar has won me over more than the amp though.

[@Po1itica11yNcorrect]

I've got the 4:40 version. If I ever start downsizing my gear, this will be one of my amps that will stay. That said, I kinda wish I'd have gotten this 2:20 version instead. 40 watts is just way too much umph for home use, which is where I use mine. I find myself setting the attenuator at 10-20 watts or less 100% of the time anyway.

[@NicholasANappiNick]

Only problem with mine F30 was the weight but sounded great🥳🥳🥳

[@braddietzmusic2429]

Seems great, and I don’t need one, especially at that price. Some day I might be able to justify buying one as a “keep it forever” kind of amp that I can spread the cost over the remaining years I’m alive, to make the purchase price less painful.

[@davide88rn]

Do you eq your record? Because I always have boomy bass with every amp I try at home.

[@sooparticular]

its your home....!

[@giulioluzzardi7632]

I would choose a Princeton with an Alnico P10r or eminence GA10" 64. After all we all know a Boogie is a hopped-up Fender.

[@thejoshbtv]

Sounds pretty decent for a single 10. I think 10s work best when there are 4 in a cab though.

[@rodolpheponthus2948]

Impossible to find Mesa Boogie amps in Europe, this from 2017 or so. What's wrong with them ?

[@yiranimal]

I've narrowed my search for the perfect amp down to the Cali Tweed and the Tone King Imperial. The tweed sound with reverb and power scaling. Too bad they're so bloody expensive. I'd like to know what kind of pickups you have in that Telecaster.

[@vincentl.9469]

about $2000 , nearly twice the cost of a Princeton Tone master that needs no valves but still sounds great

[@yiranimal]

@@vincentl.9469 I've not tried a Tonemaster. But if I was going to spend that much on digital technology I'd go with a Fractal. Over 300 amps that are basically indistinguishable from the real thing. And such tweakability. Ideally I'd have both a Fractal and a tube amp. A lot of modellers have glitches that most people don't hear. Line 6 still hasn't fixed their distortion decay artifact known as the squirrels. Native Instruments has the squirrels as well.

[@MrMoneyHelper]

This amp tames the brightness of that Kiesel guitar. Do you like this more than the Fender Vibro Champ Reverb? You didn't mention that you would be selling the Fender to buy the Boogie.

[@jimilee459]

It’s a better amp depending on what the player needs. I would say it’s a different animal. I love the tube reverb and tremolo of the Princeton. Ultimately, the bedroom player won’t hear the difference, especially those of us who used to gig and have terrible hearing. 😂 thanks for the reviews.

[@jasondorsey7110]

You could bench that princeton for a peavey bandit and the audience won't know the difference...it's the musicians themselves, the "bedroom players", who are so discerning about tone

[@samzadgan]

Great review. And sounds good…but that price 😢

[@braddietzmusic2429]

I look forward to KZbin professional amp tech people getting inside these amps and clarifying just how easy or hard it is to service them. From there, I’ll have better idea of long-term ownership (and serviceability) prospects.

[@montygibbon1905]

It's definitely a cliffhanger. Boogies' answer to an amp that was pretty much perfect 60 years ago is....?

[@braddietzmusic2429]

@@montygibbon1905 You make a good point. It is a fair question- whether it applies to amps, cars, relationships, etc… if it is more unavoidably complicated in its “improvement”, is it truly BETTER???? No brandist “fanboy” of Fender, I really would like to see Mesa have an amp that is an answer or competitor to the Princeton that is as good as, or better, without being much more complicated in its architecture.

[@chipsterb4946]

I’m trying to wrap my head around the preamp tube complement. Working backwards, we have 1 tube for the phase inverter. Another tube for the effects loop (part of the circuit where solid state is great IMHO), and 1 tube (2 triodes) for the reverb driver. OK that leaves us with 2 more tubes (4 triodes). Reverb recovery uses a triode? That leaves us with 3 gain stages or 2 gain stages with a cathode follower before the tone stack. Sorry - I just had to work through that when a Princeton Reverb only has 4 preamp tubes (8 triodes). 2 gain stages, dual triodes to push the reverb transformer, reverb recovery, 3rd gain stage (which you could argue is part of the cathodyne phase inverter), 1 triode for the phase inverter, and 1 for tremolo.

[@theonetruehellolaf]

effectsloop bruh

[@chipsterb4946]

@@theonetruehellolaf I said that, and the effects loop is one part of an amp circuit where solid state is arguably better than tubes. The effects loop should be completely transparent.

[@artysanmobile]

@@chipsterb4946. There really is no point using tube circuitry in a fully utility function such as effects loop. It’s not supposed to have a ‘tone’. Sympathies for your becoming a ‘bruh.’

[@chipsterb4946]

@@artysanmobile thank you for your understanding and compassion (seriously)

[@shanewalton8888]

I should get a good clean amp, but I keep looking at guitars.

[@hailmaryrecordings8255]

$2,224 😳 Sounds great, though.

[@aleksej79novosibirsk]

Exactly! More than 2K for one chanell amp and 10" speaker... :o

[@PXR5-PXR5]

USD or Aussie? Wonder what they take in Euro for us. And its a 10 incher.

[@hailmaryrecordings8255]

@@PXR5-PXR5 That’s USD … Greetings from Chicago Illinois! 🍕

[@hailmaryrecordings8255]

@@aleksej79novosibirsk I have a little Vox AC-10 that I paid a bit over $500 for & I thought *that* was a little steep, but it sounds really good for a bedroom-amp. I just couldn’t justify dumping $2,000 on a practice-amp. My girl is understanding, but not to that extent. 😂

[@ForeverDownByLaw]

Way too much cash. The ceiling on this should have been around 1400.00.

[@maxwellbowden9961]

I had a Mk4 Boogie that was brutally loud, sounded great and had more tones than most. I ended up unloading it, I couldn't find any tech willing to repair it for reasonable money 😢

[@robertfries108]

2 6l6s at max 25 max watts each with 20 w OT is a lot of headroom. Can hear thier distortion breaking up.

[@gigsandguitars6921]

I love the design and sound but just can't get over the price!!

[@adamstrachn]

It's pricey in America. It's awful for you all in the foreign markets.

[@maxwellbowden9961]

@adamstrachn Durn tootin. Too many middle men. Funny how the Chinese can ship stuff to the Antipodes for very little, but the old pony express is both slow and expensive. How to build and support

[@stringlocker]

We are going to need your opinion on the Gibson falcon

[@intheblues]

I’ll see if the store has one I can borrow. 😊

[@stringlocker]

It's a Gibson so of course it's going to come with controversy but sometimes that's fun

[@eliasp8645]

what pickups on the tele?

[@yiranimal]

I'd like to know that too.

[@yiranimal]

I just searched for a video of him playing the same guitar and looked through the comments to see if anyone had asked asked about the pickups. They had, and Shane responded with: "Michael Furman Joe Barden Danny Gatton Pickups. Check em out 😊👍"

[@satanbane]

Interesting, but: I wish you had demonstrated the full range of gain from the amp (without using a pedal), and I wish you had demonstrated the reverb.

[@intheblues]

well we don't always get what we want even though I did showcase the reverb at various settings. If you want a video that just turns controls to the maximum for bad tone, this ain't the place.

[@satanbane]

@@intheblues Well, you didn't mention what reverb settings you were using, and of course we can't see since it's on the back, so that would have helped. I definitely do want a video that turns the gain control, specifically, to the max (at least for a short time), and if that produces a bad tone then that's a pretty big problem that I'd like to know about. Nothing I'm saying is unreasonable or offensive, so "you're welcome" for what should be helpful feedback from a viewer.

[@barbmelle3136]

I find it strange that the power output switch that you will likely only adjust once when you set up is on the front and the reverb that may be used every song is on the back. Other than that, it looks like a really nice all around amp.

[@theonetruehellolaf]

you don't have to wait on those because you know exactly what Brad, Uncle Doug and Lyle are going to say..

[@satanbane]

Yes, I agree exactly! If I were stuck owning this amp, I believe I'd swap the positions of the reverb and power-level knobs. They had enough room on the panel to put the reverb on front, but chose not to.

[@mossstephen1066]

Five 12ax7s and an at7! Plus the 2 power tubes. Will cost you eur 150 each tube replacement!.Usd 2000 Is it hand wired? Plus nobody outside the US stocks them.

[@satanbane]

Boogies that I'm aware of are not hand-wired, they are messy PCBs with too much junk packed in, lots of hot-glue, and not enough thought to heat issues. But maybe they've changed their ways?

[@tomusic8887]

Why not buy a fender combo and a seperate attenuator....that's cheaper

[@DJ-pp9yg]

Or how about the Princeton Reverb TM. He seemed to like that one as well.

[@christophervincent8420]

They are amazing amps. But they are like Land Rovers. Expensive, exotic, amazing when they work, but lemons in the long run

[@loudguitar]

The same old story. People who have never owned or played a Mesa/Boogie and can't afford a Mesa Boogie, go on the internet and trash them. See this a lot with PRS guitars as well. The irony is that this is likely the simplest amp that Mesa/Boogie sells. it seems very nice, but I will agree that it is overpriced. I have an Electra Dyne and A Fillmore 50. Both are built like tanks and sound great.

[@PXR5-PXR5]

Hi Shane Happy kang...err. friday to you 😊 Man, Mesa Boogie is so NOT this sound for me. Yeah it sound good. Think they missplaced the reverb and the attenuator knobs and that they should change place. Thanx for this buddy. 👍

[@Prajnana]

Interesting how many YT guitar influencers reluctantly try and then switch to Kiesel after trying one! Love this Mesa, but $2K USD, ouch!

[@arthurweiss8523]

Sounds great but 4 and half grand! 😢.

[@jfree336]

Maybe it’s the video but it sounds “fizzy “ to me.

[@darrenhunt7838]

Way too pricey for most. Looks pretty good though.

[@JohnDoe-xr5is]

I'd rather just get a Dr Z Carmen Ghia 1x10...

[@artpolio2]

You should tell your customers the price. Even though it will scare them away. 👍💰👍 it is not for the average customer that can afford it.

[@zulufrog]

Two grand for this at Sweetwater. Not in a million years.

[@smartmammal9926]

If it wasn't $2K...sure!

[@PedroFreire95]

I’ve heard they have very poor build quality. They sound good, but are very unreliable, poorly made, and won’t last long. Any comments or experiences guys? Great video as always, mate!

[@betweenthestatic2464]

Not true. Build quality is extremely high, both parts and construction. What is true (and gets misconstrued) is that most of them are much more complex than your traditional Fender/Marshall amps. They are tougher to repair if something goes wrong, and the schematics aren't always available.

[@DMSProduktions]

Mostly sour grapes! USA made, 50 + years amp design & manufacture!

[@stanknugget]

Where’d you hear that?

[@guitarzan11litwin51]

Hmmmm….. my oldest Mesa is 42 years old. I have 18 rack spaces of Mesa and disagree. I have seen all the videos of techs bashing mesa’s as well. I would rate the reliability high and customer service better than most. Just my opinion

[@DMSProduktions]

@@guitarzan11litwin51 Mesas.

[@baronvonchickenpants6564]

I had a studio.22+ it was awful

[@picktheblueone]

Those had a great crunch and distortion sounds but lacked clean headroom. EL 84's not the traditional boogie 6L6s.

[@damonkatos4271]

Let me guess the price… $1699 usd

[@adamstrachn]

$2,000. Everything made in the USA jumped up hundreds of dollars over the past few years.

[@halbertking2683]

Plastic input jacks .

[@rodolpheponthus2948]

Yeah, that is just annoying

[@satanbane]

Plastic input jacks per se are not the problem. The question is, are the jacks mounted to the panel with wires running to them, or are they mounted directly to a PCB. The reason metal jacks are associated with better quality is not because they are inherently "stronger" or something, it is because they are typically not possible to mount on a PCB. So if you see metal jacks, it's an indication that the wiring to the jacks is (likely) more reliable and easier to service if anything goes wrong. Plastic jacks *can* be mounted the same way, but they are typically an indication that the jacks are PCB-mounted. Signal-wise, plastic jacks mounted the right way are actually superiour, because metal jacks tend to force the designer to ground them to the panel, unless awkward workarounds are employed to avoid this. Grounding through the panel is how the old amps like Fender did it, and it can work adequately, but it's ultimately better to run a specific ground wire from each jack to a correctly-chosen ground point in the circuit (such as the ground of the cathode of the first stage). Lower noise and hum. (I'm pretty sure that in the Boogie, the jacks will be mounted to a PCB.)

[@uweborsch1946]

Whatever the qualities, it's overpriced.

[@7171jay]

Incorrect. A small amp like this truly built to the highest quality in the U.S. would be a bargain $2000. This amp however uses some rather cheap construction methods. A Fender Princeton Reverb Reissue is $600 less and at least has the tubes mounted on the chassis. The Mesa does however have the pots on the chassis but the rear outputs and effects sends are directly on a circuit board. Overall I'd say the Princeton is a bit better built for $600 less but it's not exactly a well built amp either.

[@burrrrrrrrrrrrrrp]

Stupid price for an amp

[@7171jay]

A bit stupid for this amp if you understand it's somewhat budget internal construction but if you simply think any small amp that costs $2000 is stupid you don't understand amps or economics.

[@burrrrrrrrrrrrrrp]

@@7171jay I understand you can buy fantastic amps for well under $1000 second hand. Always have and hopefully always will

[@coastalgeorgia6558]

i understand but to be sure, if they loaned you an amp.... it is sponsored.

[@searing7549]

Take it from an amp tech……do not buy this garbage!

[@son0fsocal]

Nice video, 2k for this amp, in this Biden economy? Ill pass.