Budda SD 18/30 VS Mesa Express 5:25/50

[Songman]

What is your experience between the two?

[Songman]

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[Deaj]

Of the lot I like the SD18 most.

[Songman]

WOW! Everyone so far has voted on the Budda. What makes Budda so much more popular than Mesa Express???

[blaster]

great sounding amp...Budda that is. I love the SD18

[ScottR]

I had the 5x25 and I HAVE the Sd18...no contest for me the 18 kills it hands down for the tones I need. I play in a cover band (Duh) that plays pretty typical Bar band stuff. Cream, Skynyrd, etc

[kselbee]

Have the SD18 and a SD45 and I will probably never buy another amp again. I've owned Mesas and played the Express but IMO the Buddas are in another league.

[newholland]

no way the same critters.. i'd NEVER take an express over a budda. nope. never. ever. not even vaguely related.

[Mullenski]

Own both -- seem to be different tools.

Budda = turn it on and rip. No bad tones in there. One EQ to cover two channels. Killer dirt tones, but can it ever really do squeaky clean? Few pedals needed.

Mesa = needs tweekage and TLC, but a gazillion things to jiggle; 2 channels, 2 voices per channel, EQ plus "contour" on each channel, 5/25 watt. Each affecting tone. Likes pedals. Killer clean.

If I could only have one; Budda.

[Songman]

I'm still bit amazed at the overwelming difference in the poll.

Anyone likes or picked the Mesa Express over Budda?

[newholland]

i played both, and did NOT like the express-- particularly at room volume. LOUD-- i dunno, 'cause i didn't get it loud enough to know how it'd respond at gig volumes.. but yeah, it's sorta practice volumes left me pretty underwhelmed-- and i WANTED to like it. just so it doesn't seem like an untethered statement-- i ended up with a carmen ghia. very different KIND of amp (obviously a NMV)-- but i'd considered both of them contenders in the search.

[Songman]

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[Waxhead]

I'm still bit amazed at the overwelming difference in the poll.

Anyone likes or picked the Mesa Express over Budda?

Well that's what you get with a very small poll base on a forum populated by Mesa haters :)

How many of these guys have played both the Buddas & Mesas amps huh ? I have and much prefer the Mesa's..... that's why I own one.

First up - you can't really compare EL84 against 6L6 amps IMO. Apples n oranges ain't it. Some prefer the EL84 tones some 6L6's. So both Buddas are EL84 amps, the Express 5:25 is EL84 but the 5:50 is 6L6. I prefer 6L6's myself.

Then compare the features. The Mesa's are much more versatile, much lighter and better value for money. They have the 5w power switching which is not just a power cut. It's a very different voice. So with the 5:50 you get a more British voice at 5w and massive Mesa at 50w. The Express have 4 switchable modes/voices, plus fabulous Reverb. Plus the Contour dial adding more tonal flavours.

What amazes me is these Budda's don't even have independant EQ and master controls for each channel. Are they kidding.... for amps that expensive ? They don't have Reverb either. And the SD-30 weighs as much as the 5:50.

Plus with a 5:50 you've got 20w more clean headroom than the SD-30 and the Mesa 5:25 has 25% more clean headroom than the SD-18.

Comparing the 2 Mesa's is quite easy. The 5:50 is the big brother and I've not heard of anyone saying the 5:25 sounds better but if you're going for a great grab n go combo the 5:25 1x12" model can't be beat.

There's also several Egnater amps better value than these Budda's IMO.

By the way, contrary to what Budda say on their site.... Foo Fighters have been using Mesa Lonestar on stage the past few years. :)

[sickboy79]

Budda SD 18 or 30. I own a SD 30 head so I'm biased. I've not played an Express so I don't want to judge it but, the Budda's are HARD to beat. I dig my SD 30 more than any Mesa I've ever heard - including the Heartbreaker head that I own!

[Songman]

I went to Guitar Center today to play some amps. Played their Expres 5:50 and instantly fell in love with the gain channel. very lush!!! I don't see how anything can be better in terms of it's distortion. But I heard nothing but good things about Budda's gain and was wondering how it might compare.

I'm still very amazed at the difference in poll result. Either Budda is one killer amp even over Boogie express or there really are many Mesa haters on this forum.

[sickboy79]

I went to Guitar Center today to play some amps. Played their Expres 5:50 and instantly fell in love with the gain channel. very lush!!! I don't see how anything can be better in terms of it's distortion. But I heard nothing but good things about Budda's gain and was wondering how it might compare.

I'm still very amazed at the difference in poll result. Either Budda is one killer amp even over Boogie express or there really are many Mesa haters on this forum.

I'm far from a Mesa hater. They just aren't my favorite amps. They have their own unique tone that others don't have. Lots of great features too. My beef is that they are (with some exceptions) too Bass heavy/and muddy on the bottom for my tastes. Maybe that translates to too dark or not enough treble. I also find them extremely finicky to dial in - like most Mesa owners will tell you.

I own a Heartbreaker. It's a KILLER amp. I've a few over the years - Rectos, Mark series and specifically the Mk 3 in recent years, Stilleto (which I do like a lot). I just don't dig them as much as the Budda.

Play both if you can - let your ears and hands decide - not our opinions! Good luck!

[Waxhead]

I'm far from a Mesa hater. They just aren't my favorite amps. They have their own unique tone that others don't have. Lots of great features too. My beef is that they are (with some exceptions) too Bass heavy/and muddy on the bottom for my tastes. Maybe that translates to too dark or not enough treble. I also find them extremely finicky to dial in - like most Mesa owners will tell you. !


ahh nope ... it just translates to .....you have to keep the bass dial under 10 oclock on nearly all Mesa's all the time.

As for dialling in.... not all Mesa's are hard to dial in. The Mark I-1V series and Rectos have that reputation but the Express, Lonestars, Electrdyne and Mark V amps are as easy to dial in as any amp I've ever used.... just keep the bass under 10 oclock :)

But really guys - how can you seriously recommend any high end amp without independent channel EQ/master and reverb?

[desertbluesman]

WOW! Everyone so far has voted on the Budda. What makes Budda so much more popular than Mesa Express???

My reason is because the Mesa Amps are BIASED so cold. They sound like tin at lower volumes.

[macmax77]

I owned a Mesa tramoverb and played it for 14 years, yes, 14 years straight without playing another amp.
It was a Combo and i had it modded by VoodooAmps and played it modded the last 5 years or so.

Had to sell it because i moved back to the USA.

So when i got here i started buying Mesas again, Mark IV, etc etc.

No amp sounded like my old Tverb and then i bought a Budda SD80, WOW!

At the time i had the Budda i bought a Mesa TOV (head) and sold it , i blamed the thin sound on the speakers i had.

Then i changed my cab and bought another TOV, that one lasted 5 minutes outside the box, at lower volumes the Budda just ate it.

I would love another TOV but only if i was moving back where i could really let it fly on volume.

All this said , i will still take the Budda over any Mesa i have played.

[reddog112]

I have owned three out of four of the amps in the poll and here is my order of preference and my reasons:

1. SD 18- loved both channels, especially the clean with the master up. Like a previous post said, hard to get super clean tones. Loud, light, rock machine

2. SD-30- little more headroom, more modern sounding to me, like the sd18 its a killer rock amp

3. Mesa Express 5:50- cool amp, different beast, more headroom and really nice cleans. Super value with alot of tones. Overdrive channel tones always aluded me live, never could get it right. Returned after four practices and a short gig.

Its tough to pick between these amps because they do different things. If you like super clean then the Mesa fulfills that. The Budda isnt about that. I love Good tone; all ofthese amps have quality tones; just depends on what tones you are after

[yell03]

Well that's what you get with a very small poll base on a forum populated by Mesa haters :)

How many of these guys have played both the Buddas & Mesas amps huh ? I have and much prefer the Mesa's..... that's why I own one.

First up - you can't really compare EL84 against 6L6 amps IMO. Apples n oranges ain't it. Some prefer the EL84 tones some 6L6's. So both Buddas are EL84 amps, the Express 5:25 is EL84 but the 5:50 is 6L6. I prefer 6L6's myself.

Then compare the features. The Mesa's are much more versatile, much lighter and better value for money. They have the 5w power switching which is not just a power cut. It's a very different voice. So with the 5:50 you get a more British voice at 5w and massive Mesa at 50w. The Express have 4 switchable modes/voices, plus fabulous Reverb. Plus the Contour dial adding more tonal flavours.

What amazes me is these Budda's don't even have independant EQ and master controls for each channel. Are they kidding.... for amps that expensive ? They don't have Reverb either. And the SD-30 weighs as much as the 5:50.

Plus with a 5:50 you've got 20w more clean headroom than the SD-30 and the Mesa 5:25 has 25% more clean headroom than the SD-18.

Comparing the 2 Mesa's is quite easy. The 5:50 is the big brother and I've not heard of anyone saying the 5:25 sounds better but if you're going for a great grab n go combo the 5:25 1x12" model can't be beat.

There's also several Egnater amps better value than these Budda's IMO.

By the way, contrary to what Budda say on their site.... Foo Fighters have been using Mesa Lonestar on stage the past few years. :)

I had a Budda SD18 1x12.
Out of every amp I've ever owned it had the BEST TONE, BUT......

Look at what I highlighted up above in the other poster's quote.

Forget about using this as a two channel amp, the shared EQ isn't too bad, but...

The shared gain control (gai nchannel) and volume control for the clean channel is STUPID.

If your cleans are loud and you go to switch to the gain channel for a solo, it is quiet.

If you are playing high gain and want to go clean it is the opposite.:nuts

Plus, the gain channel on it's own did not do it for me, I always need to boost it with another pedal.

I bought my Budda Superdrive 18 1x12 combo BRAND NEW for under $900 (a steal for a $1400 amp), but I still returned it.

I now play through an Egnater Rebel 30 1x12 combo.
It does not have as much overall great tube tone and harmonics of the Budda, but it is so much more versatile with two true channels, two seperate EQs, and a more pristine clean channel and the gain is actually more to my liking.

[orangekick]

I've played and owned just about every amp that Mesa has put out. I would take any Budda over any Mesa any day of the week. Budda just sounds and feels good right away.

[boltino]

I had a Budda SD18 1x12.
Out of every amp I've ever owned it had the BEST TONE, BUT......

Look at what I highlighted up above in the other poster's quote.

Forget about using this as a two channel amp, the shared EQ isn't too bad, but...

The shared gain control (gai nchannel) and volume control for the clean channel is STUPID.

If your cleans are loud and you go to switch to the gain channel for a solo, it is quiet.

If you are playing high gain and want to go clean it is the opposite.:nuts

Plus, the gain channel on it's own did not do it for me, I always need to boost it with another pedal.

I bought my Budda Superdrive 18 1x12 combo BRAND NEW for under $900 (a steal for a $1400 amp), but I still returned it.

I now play through an Egnater Rebel 30 1x12 combo.
It does not have as much overall great tube tone and harmonics of the Budda, but it is so much more versatile with two true channels, two seperate EQs, and a more pristine clean channel and the gain is actually more to my liking.

There is an incredibly simple mod to balance the channels if it's a problem for your particular setup.

[yell03]

There is an incredibly simple mod to balance the channels if it's a problem for your particular setup.

That would have been nice to know back then:jo

[boltino]

That would have been nice to know back then:jo

:cry:

Yeah, if you set the clean to be pretty clean and use a decent amount of gain the channels balance just fine (IMHO of course). But I like to run the clean channel around 1 o'clock and the gain around noon which makes the clean louder. You can add a resistor to bring the drive channel volume up or add a pot to the back of the amp to control the drive channel volume. It does change the compression of the drive channel a bit (which is why Jeff didn't put that control on the amp in the first place) but for how I like to set it up any compromise in the drive channel is far outweighed by the versatility.

[Boomdoggy]

I have never gotten the chance to play a Budda.
I did just pick up a 5:25x12.Absolutely killer amp.

[itstooloudMike]

I played Mesa amps for many years. I have owned a Studio 22, a Mark III, a Mark IV, and Tremoverb, and still own a Blue Angel. But I traded for a Budda SD18 about a year ago, and can tell you that the Budda is the best channel switching amp I have ever heard. Awesome tones, just awesome. If any of my Mark series combos would have sounded as good, I would still have them. And the Tremoverb was a huge disappointment. I do love my Blue Angel, for a single channel clean sound. But for rock, the SD-18 absolutely rules.