Mesa Boogie DC5 - Does This Amp Suck Or Can It Actually Sound Like Metallica?

In this video we take a closer look at a great Mesa Boogie Amp that is a nice alternative to the more pricey Mark II C plus and Mark IV and V series amps. This 50 Wattt amp can put out some serious gain as well as some very usable clean and crunchy tones. It has a great FX loop, 2 channels and 5 band eq. And I must say, it comes really close to replicating the old school Metallica tones we love. I hope you enjoy the video. Please subscribe!
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[@kaidemen156]

These amps are highly underrated, which is good news because you can still find them for reasonable prices on the used market ;)

[@jaytee2266]

Thinking about picking one up at a local spot. Combo DC5. Seems sweet. They have a Mark V 25 there I want to go back and forth with. But from what I can tell so far. Leaning to the DC5.

[@john5150t]

I’ve owned a DC-5 since 1997. It’s a very capable amp and takes a Tube Screamer/SD-1 type boost well due to its somewhat flubby low end which is the main challenge to getting Master of Puppets type tones out of it. Adding an additional eq in the loop helps for that. I also think this amp pairs well with G12T-75 speakers. I run mine through a JCM 800 Lead 1960 4x12 cab from the late 80s.

[@ricdale7813]

I loved my DC 5. A little bit Mark like and little bit Recto like. Ridiculously loud and Yes Nails Metallica,Godsmack,SevenDust name the Heavy tone and it will do it. The Reverb wasnt very strong but it did add a cool sponginess too the Channels. The DC 3 was almost identical but less headroom and a bit darker or compressed imo. The Mesa V scoop curve EQ was the ticket for me.

[@michaelrains64295]

Probably among the best Mesa bang for the buck. Love my DC-5 and play it more than my Mark V. FWIW, if you can comfortably sit that close to the cab without hearing protection, you're not running the amp loud enough to get the best tone. DC-5s are loud AF and don't really optimize at moderate volume IMO.

[@fadlyhans82]

Someone recommended me this amp as I wanted a generic one for all metal like Metallica and DIO. This sounds great!! Thanks for this video.

[@petervasquez5658]

I still have my DC-5 since 91 love this amp I played in top 40 band different styles of music the clean channel handle pedals well but when came to leads watch out my drummer would say your too loud I said what you say😊😊😊

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Great amp for pedals. Very versatile amp overall. I still have mine. 😎🎵

[@GuitarShack]

Sounds like Metallica to me. I dig the clean tones too. Always fun to crank up and move some air. Nice vid Marty!

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks Mike! I love to dust off some of the old amps. They always surprise me and remind me why I have them in the first place!! 😎🤟🏻

[@geoffreylowery9730]

Thanks Marty. Sounds good. Cool meltdown at the end. Lol

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks, just having some crazy fun with this amp. It's a cool Boogie

[@dreambig3902]

Nice amp, sounds great! I have apparently the worst amp Mesa ever made, the nomad 55 combo😮 I boost it with a blues driver always on and always get compliments on tone clean and dirty. The point is most well made tube amps have great tones to be had, you just need to get to know the amp and adjust eq , gain with your ears. Don’t be afraid of extreme settings on tone controls( knobs set all off to all on )

[@garyhighley9022]

Never a better Marshall sound than a Mesa.

[@seanslavin1974]

You may know this but Metallica’s guitar sounds on Master of Puppets, Garage Days and even the Black album were done with a Mesa Boogie Mark II C+. Definitely the best Boogie I have ever played. My DC-5 combo amp that I’ve had since 94/95” just stopped working yesterday. Trying to decide if I should find someone to repair it or buy a Friedman.

[@jpistolas]

I still own one of these & it's my main driver. I think it's got a more pleasing/cutting mid than most Metallica. I sure wish they'd rerelase it.

[@kanyelover335]

gibson’s gonna make it like 10x the price😂

[@giorgosk2884]

Sounds good but you need a bit different speakers like 75s/65s to have proper eq for old school tones like metallica ,greenbacks are great but for different kind of tone All boogies are great if used correctly

[@dinein1970]

ANY of those old DC amps are fantastic amps and can for sure CHUG. I had a DC2, so no EQ sliders. Great Fendery cleans and chime with lots of headroom and can get dirty fast. The combo, you can add an extention cabinet and have a 2x12" mini stack that can make PLENTY of air move.

[@nunoharris]

Hi. Whats the year of your DC 5 amp? Thanks

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Not sure, I think mid 90's.

[@conjob2112]

Good stuff Marty. Sounds great.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Many thanks! 😎🎵🎵🎵

[@ThePowerman121]

i have one of these and I feel like it's great for doom/stoner rock.

[@CHill-uh1fg]

I have a DC2 combo, bought it because I was playing in club's and bar's, much easier than trying to load a half stack that was way over kill, it's 22watts, EL84's and sounds great no matter what volume, and even in a medium size venue around 2 to3 is way load, sometimes I use an extension cabinet for bigger rooms. Most of my buddy's who played out used mark4's, but after hearing my dc, said it sounds as good and a lot lighter. I've got a quite a few great amps, this is the one that gets the most use.

[@richardmahan6888]

I'm not sure about the fender cleans but the reverb seems subtle compared to fender is it digital or accutronix reverb

[@TylerJohnstonGuitar]

Sounds killer man. Throw an old Boss CE-2 in there and it really helps with the clean tone.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks, I occasionally have to dust off the amps and run them a bit!

[@TylerJohnstonGuitar]

@@Ranch5150SkinWalker Yeah man they sound too good to just be sitting there!

[@lovecraftmusic8717]

Does it have to be necessarily old? 😂

[@TylerJohnstonGuitar]

@@lovecraftmusic8717 The new ones probably sound identical, so probably not lol. I was just thinking of what they used for the records back then.

[@lovecraftmusic8717]

@@TylerJohnstonGuitar yep

[@benburnett8109]

having been down the metallica rabbit hole before......this was what I learned. Mesa Preamps into Marshall power amps. Tube screamer in front for boost and extreme external and board EQs. Especially for Master and Justice. THE Best Metallica tone ever was Megadeth's "Symphony of Destruction" THAT is the ultimate Metallica tone. Dave has always had the best version of the tone that Metallica wanted. Thanks again for all the content.

[@brandonjackson5865]

Countdown has crushing guitar tones on it .

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Ive never used this as a slave. It sounds interesting. Maybe I should run it into my plexi?

[@benburnett8109]

@@Ranch5150SkinWalker they ran Mesa preamps into Marshall 9100 monoblock power amps . You could slave the Mesa into the power amp in of your plexi. Equally important is the use of a boss od1 or ts808 boost in front. They also were known to put a 31 band eq into the effect loop of the soundboard. The reason most given for Mesa into Marshall was that it tightened up the tone. They started doing this on Ride, then went further on Master. Justice is a tonal nightmare to recreate.

[@benburnett8109]

@timothymartin2137 Both Metallica and All known Metallica producers and engneers would disagree with you. Especially Flemming rasmussen. HE has detailed notes. I got my info from them, not by trying to sound like Metallica. Do some research and check back. Check photos and diagrams and get back with me. Diezel was not even a company during the early years of Metallica. SMH. Flemming Rasmussen is the guy you want to check out. This is pre Bob Rock. Pre un-interested sometimes SLayer producer. Pre Headquarters. ANd for what it is worth; I could give two poops about "your metallica sound." YOu just sound like a guy who has too much Mesa Boogie gear.

[@papablue3015]

I'm pretty sure I saw some dust? 😆 nice! Thanks Marty

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Lol! It's a little dusty. But it's old!

[@papablue3015]

@Marty5150 kidding! It's cool! You want to see dust come to my house! 😆

[@larslevinberget9558]

Why the hell should it suck? ;D It's the lead channel from the Dual rectifier solo head, the clean channel from the Mark series and the power section similar to the caliber series ... that's right, a Soldano/Boogie combo really

[@michaelrains64295]

Not quite Recto territory but definitely not as smooth as a Mark series IMO.

[@larslevinberget9558]

​@@michaelrains64295 That's exactly how it sounds :) Somewhere in between, as the power section is what makes the Recto, a hyped up Marshall JTM power-stage. The Caliber power amp is powerful and clean like a Fender, while the preamp is more of a warmed-up Soldano type, yet not as smooth as the Mark series IMHO. Wouldn't be a problem to dial in Metallica, John Sykes, Santana or Keith Richards on this amp ;)

[@masterofreality230]

Yea, at $500 it would be a good deal, but they are around $900, at that price you might be better off with something else. Love my Mark V 25 that I got for $900 like 4 years ago.

[@davlostiedfranca]

Merci.

[@tonysarrio8940]

I have been playing Mesa Boogies for nearly 30 years. The DC5 is by far the worst Mesa I have ever owned. You sound good playing it, but I had two of these one being the DC 2 that sounded great even without the EQ. The DC 5 was just a bad experience for me. Now I use my Mrk 5 and my Dual Rec. Love Mesa Boogies.

[@francis8062]

Mesa ❤❤❤

[@yamaha4902]

Nothing gets newer parts get older maintenance guys get older, retire. Noone fixes these hardly anymore, so why does the price go up on things that are due to fail or break with no way for repair? Makes no sense to me. Never will spend what these jokes want.

[@iLLuzion1st]

Sounds like a business opportunity

[@bobbymchone7359]

Sounds great just not quite as heavy.

[@noel3422]

It chugs that's al that matters, lol

[@johndeaux3703]

Wait, you're actually evaluating whether an amp is good or not based on if it can replicate Metallica's shitty, dry, raspy, toneless dreck? Is this a parody video?

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Nah just a small KZbinr trying to maximize SEO. 😂