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Mesa Fillmore - any experience here?

Leee

New member
Joined
Jan 31, 2021
Messages
18
Since Gibson bought Mesa, I figured this is as good a place as any to start a thread on the recent Fillmore series of amps.

Anyone here have any experience with them?

Same as my Marshall JCM 800s, I have no use for a Fillmore 100 head.
But I really, really, really want one.
 

metropolis

Active member
Joined
Sep 14, 2018
Messages
390
I feel your pain. I've been a Boogie fan for many years and have owned a Quad, Studio preamp and Studio .22+ combo (still have the last two) but always get a pang of GAS when Boogie announce something new. I haven't played on in person sadly. I've tried some Kemper profiles of one but they were disappointing (I hoped the Kemper would help feed my addiction for random amps at certain points!)

Just replying so I can bump this and read replies!
 

Don

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Joined
Dec 1, 2001
Messages
5,732
I've played two Fillmore 25s and was unhappy with them both- the tone was a little dull. I really wanted to like it- it's like Mesa listened to guys like me and created the amp tht we were looking for, but missed the mark a little. I've also played a Fillmore 50 and like it a lot. It had a nice Fender like clean tone and good dirty sounds. The second time I played a Fillmore 25, I bought a Mark Five:25. I liked its clean and dirty sounds a lot better than the Fillmore 25.
 

Señor Verde

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Joined
Jan 13, 2005
Messages
621
From the videos I've watched, it sounds like the head/cab configurations sound better than combos. Something to keep in mind if you get to try a few out.
 

Leee

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Jan 31, 2021
Messages
18
Mr. Green, you touched upon an important point there.
I won’t even entertain the thought of a combo.
Seriously, and for a number of reasons.
To the point that if someone gave me one for free, I would sell it and go buy a separate head and cabinet.

Thank goodness for the Interwebz so I get an idea of how they work and how they sound, but I have yet to actually plug into one myself.

I love the idea of a fairly simple and straightforward amp with two identical channels.
So much of the Boogie stuff has so many switches on the front and back that I simply cannot imagine being able to utilize half of them.

If I ever do get the opportunity, I will probably have a bulging role of $100 bills in my pocket at the ready.
If it turns out not to be the one (how bad can it possibly be?) I will throw the slip covers on it and park it next to my Marshalls and Fenders.
 

duaneflowers

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Aug 13, 2013
Messages
2,522
No experience with the amps but Mesa put Fillmore Speakers in the King Snakes and they sound divine!!
 

randall

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Joined
Feb 21, 2002
Messages
1,310
I had the 50 combo for a bit and when compared to my tweed bassman i could get it to sound just the same but with more options and reverb. Killer amp.
 

Billy Hiwatt

Member
Joined
Jun 13, 2007
Messages
35
I have a Fillmore 50 combo, and a 100 head. I got the head because I really like the tones and channel setup of the 50, but needed extra clean headroom on account of drummer plays loud. There are 2 identical channels, that you can set up however you want. There are 3 modes: clean, drive, and gain. Independent eq/reverb for each channel, and a very good effects loop. Not excessively heavy either, like many of their older offerings. I really dig both of mine.
 

Don

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Joined
Dec 1, 2001
Messages
5,732
As much as I didn't like the Fillmore 25s that I played in stores, I kinda had a feeling that I'd like one if I got it home and spent some time with it, so I picked one up a few weeks ago.
I was right- I'm really enjoying the amp. This is my eleventh Mesa amp, and it's nothing like the others. We'll see if it sticks.
 

Doug A

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Joined
Feb 25, 2023
Messages
1
I know this is an older thread but I've had a Fillmore 25, (amp and cab), and two MV5-25's for a few years. I've gigged mostly with the Fillmore, (classic Rock, Blues), but have always had problems getting exactly the sound I want. I use mostly Gibson's with humbuckers and find myself almost turning off mids and bass on both channels. The Black Shadow speaker also seams like it has a hard edge to it. I recently replaced the Black Shadow with a Cream Back and greatly improves the smoothness. What I've found I really like is the MKV-25 combo, (it has the Cream Back 10in ), in combination with the Cream Back 12 in my Fillmore Cab. Anyone else have similar experience with these two amps?
 
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