Really nice rig.
Price not considered, which would you rather play - your LP Studio or a LPC and why?
I've got a LPC but always seem to enjoy picking up a LP -Studio [ any Studio ] a great deal more than my LPC.
Nice amp, which model is it? What channel did you buy it for and has your channel choice changed after the honeymoon?
I've got a last production run of the Mesa Express 5:25 1x]12 [Celestion V-30] and bought it for the crunch and blues channels. Over the years, I've migrated to the clean channel and push it with an old FD2. The clean channel is absolutely incredible on this amp - tight, smooth, and easy to control.
And forgive me if I don't answer you. I post and get lost very easily.
A lot of questions there!
I don’t know that I can answer whether I prefer a Studio vs. a custom. I’ve only played one, but I’ve never owned one, Thus I’ve never had the opportunity to develop an opinion. I can tell you that I go in phases. I’ll really dig my Tele for a few weeks or months, then the Strat, then the Les Paul... currently I’m most in love with my Taylor acoustic, as I’m going through the How to Play the Blues Alone course.
As for the amp, it’s a Mark V:35. Originally I got it for a very lame reason... I’ve always wanted a Mesa Boogie. And I’ve always dug the “Boogie” sounds, like a Fender but with something extra that I could never find. Felt like the Mark series would give me a range to find what I wanted. I went with the 35 watt, because I wanted something house friendly, and finally I just went momentarily stupid and got it with the bubinga cabinet. All that and I love this amp!
I found that “sound”... it had to do with the way the treble/mid/bass ton stacks are approached to be sure, but for me it’s more the post gain EQ section.
I was first drawn to the Fat, Crunch and Mark II+ sounds. I’ve gravitated to the Clean setting on the first channel and remain a fan of the Mark II+ on the 2nd channel.
I’ve been playing around with various drive pedals, but aside from a fuzz, I keep coming back tot the driven tones of the Mark II+ settings.