Mesa/Boogie Triple Crown TC-50 - 50-watt Tube Head - Black Taurus

50-watt 3-channel All-tube Guitar Amplifier Head with Cab Emulated Out, Spring Reverb, Effects Loop, MIDI, and 6-button Footswitch
Rated 5/5 31 Write review Item ID: TripleCH
Mesa/Boogie Triple Crown TC-50 - 50-watt Tube Head - Black Taurus image 1
Mesa/Boogie Triple Crown TC-50 - 50-watt Tube Head - Black Taurus image 1
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Mesa/Boogie Triple Crown TC-50 - 50-watt Tube Head - Black Taurus
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Mesa's King of Rock

The Mesa Engineering Triple Crown TC-50 50-watt all-tube amp head is Mesa's supreme rock 'n' roll-voiced amplifier. Its 3-channel design offers two modes on each channel for American-sounding clean tones on the first channel, aggressive crunch on the second channel, and thick high gain from channel three. The Triple Crown TC-50 head is also loaded with features such as MIDI-capable switching, a true spring reverb that's footswitchable, and even Mesa's impressive CabClone direct output. The Triple Crown TC-50 head is a versatile amp with a rock 'n' roll soul.

Related Videos: Triple Crown TC-50 - 50-watt Tube Head - Black Taurus

Three wide-ranging channels

Though the Triple Crown's three channels feature a straightforward design, that doesn't make them any less versatile and powerful than other Mesa designs. Channel One's toggle switch selects between Normal and Drive modes and can deliver sparkling performance or vintage-style breakup. Channel Two offers Normal and Tight modes to control its mid-gain voice. Rock 'n' roll players will love this channel. And Channel Three also utilizes Normal and Tight modes to deliver classic Mesa Boogie high-gain drive.

Built-in CabClone

The Triple Crown TC-50 head packs a built-in CabClone internal amp load and speaker simulator. It provides an incredibly realistic speaker-emulated direct output to plug right into the sound system or recording chain. You can still use it in conjunction with your favorite speaker cabinet, or forget the cab and go direct for silent practice through headphones or recording. This also allows you to cut down on stage volume, which will help give your band a tighter, more controlled live sound.

Loaded with guitarist-friendly features

Not only is the Mesa Engineering Triple Crown TC-50 50-watt all-tube amp head a fantastic-sounding amplifier, but it boasts a bevy of features that every guitarist will find beneficial. The true spring reverb tank is footswitchable, along with the tube-buffered effects loop. The amp ships with EL-34 power tubes for British vibe, but a bias select switch enables the TC-50 to run beautifully with either 6V6 or 6L6 power tubes as well. And the amp head is also MIDI ready, enabling it to integrate into even the most advanced guitar rigs.

Legendary Mesa quality

Around Sweetwater, the Mesa Engineering name is synonymous with high-quality construction. As in the Triple Crown TC-50 50-watt all-tube amp head, all their amplifiers are constructed with only the finest materials, with special attention being paid to durability. In this vein, the TC-50 features an all-aluminum chassis, a 6-button footswitch that will handle years of abuse, and an incredibly rugged, tight-fitting cabinet construction.

Mesa Boogie Triple Crown TC-50 50-watt Amp Head Features:

  • All-tube head amplifier aimed at great rock guitar tones
  • 3-channel design offers super clean, crunch, and intense high gain
  • CabClone DI output offers direct speaker simulated tones
  • Spring reverb is footswitchable
  • MIDI-capable switching
  • Powered by EL-34 power tubes
  • Footswitchable Solo level
  • Tube-buffered effects loop
  • Accepts EL-34, 6V6, or 6L6 power tubes
  • Important Notice for International Customers: Mesa/Boogie products sold by Sweetwater are intended for use within the United States. We are unable to ship any Mesa/Boogie products outside of the US

Additional Media

Guitar Amp Buying Guide
Mesa/Boogie Triple Crown TC-50 Tube Amplifier Review
Mesa/Boogie Triple Crown Announced

Tech Specs

  • Type: Tube
  • Number of Channels: 3
  • Total Power: 50W Class A/B
  • Preamp Tubes: 6 x 12AX7, 1 x 12AT7
  • Power Tubes: 2 x EL34
  • Reverb: Tube, Spring Reverb
  • EQ: 3-band EQ per channel
  • Inputs: 1 x 1/4"
  • Outputs: 2 x 1/4" (speaker out), 1 x XLR (DI out), 1 x 1/4" (headphones), 1 x 1/4" (line out)
  • Effects Loop: Yes
  • MIDI I/O: In, Out/Thru
  • Footswitch I/O: 1 x 6-pin DIN
  • Footswitch Included: Yes, 6-button footswitch
  • Construction Material: Black Taurus Vinyl
  • Power Source: Fixed AC cable
  • Height: 9.6"
  • Width: 22.75"
  • Depth: 10.3"
  • Weight: 35 lbs.
  • Manufacturer Part Number: 2.tc.bbc1

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Customer Reviews

Rated 5/5
Based on 31 reviews
Write your review
Rated 5/5

Everything I Expected And More

This may be one of the last custom finished Boogies before the Gibson merger. I took my time selecting custom colors and a matching 2X12 cab. This baby took three months from order to receiving! But all worth it. Thanks to Sweetwater Sales Engineer Greg Savino seeing this through.

Build quality is stunning. I was concerned about the tubes getting knocked around during shipment and made sure they were seated well when I received the amp. Not to worry - seating is rock solid. I'll cut this short and just say that just about any tone imaginable is possible with the 3-channels. Channel 1 clean can go from country chicken pickin' with a single coil Fender to jazzy warm to pushed edge-of-breakup. Channel 2 takes off from Channel 1 to hard rock rhythm AND soloing. Some may want to sit here all day and just use the guitar volume and solo boost switch. Channel 3 has all the gain I need and more. I'm not into dropped tuned djent so I'm not sure if this will satisfy progressive metal heads, but there is a LOT of gain on tap. EQ on all three channels can dial in (or dial out) just about any usable tone especially with the norm/tight switch on channels 2 and 3. Reverb is nice and usable but be advised that the adjustment for each each channel is on the back.

I've yet to use the cab clone DI but plan to try it out soon, maybe today. And I probably won't try the midi programming; I'm quite happy with the included footswitch.

As mentioned, I got a matching 2x12 Rectifier cab. Sounds great with the Vintage 30s and as far as I can tell, no voids in the closed back cab. It woofs!

If there's any little peeve I have, it's that a speaker cable wasn't included. Ahhh, no big deal.
by Mark From Hawaii on
Music background: Mostly worship these days but have played all kinds of music in over 50+ years of noodling
Rated 5/5

Best amp PERIOD!

In over 45 years of playing guitar through too many amps I can remember, I will NEVER forget this one. If only I could have started out with this Mesa/Boogie amp head way back in my teens.... Having owned and played on all the best amps (including Mesa/Boogie) since the '70's, I kept going back and forth on this one. I didn't need another amp, but I couldn't get over the versatility, functionality and quality of the controls, the tubes and the overall head itself (it's CabClone being hugely useful for direct recording into your DAW via your mixer, instead of having to mic up the speakers). I finally gave it an bought the 50watt version, which is loud enough to permanently damage your hearing. The foot switch is the best one I've ever used. You can click through Clean, Crunch, and Speed Metal presets very quickly and the "solo" button gives you even more sonic possibilities). For the price, I do not believe you can find a more comprehensive am with all the utility this one provides. I absolutely love it!
by Piper from Nashua NH on
Music background: Pro
Rated 5/5

The best amp I've ever played

After three years using this amplifier, I think it's time to write a review. I've been playing amps like Marshall, Laney, Pavey and MesaBoogie Rectifiers for more than 20 years. The Tc 50 is the best of all in performance and versatility. I prefer the 50-watt format after years using 100-watt amps. The reality is that 50 watts are more than enough for a small club.

Where the Tc 50 stands out is how well it mixes with other instruments highlighting quality in channel one, good crunch in channel two and sufficient saturation for solo in channel three.

Mesa Boogie is synonymous of quality and I do not intend to change this amp for any other.
by JC Valentine on
Music background: Worship, Semi pro and clubs giging for 20 something years.
Rated 5/5

Awesome Amp!

In my nearly 40 years as a performing guitarist I've owned a variety of amps from Fender, Rivera, Marshall, Mesa Boogie, etc. As a weekend warrior that plays in several cover bands I'm always looking for an amp that can cover a variety of styles while giving me convenient, no-brainer performance tweaking while on stage.

My main amp (until now) was a custom designed head built to my specifications, with three channels patterned after a Fender Twin (clean), Marshall (crunch), and Soldano (lead). It's been an amazing amp, but I found that it suited me better for my three piece rock band because it has a big fat, slightly darker tone.

In my quest to find a second amp that would fit into my other band that covers a variety of "yacht rock" tunes from the 70s and 80s, I impulsively purchased the TC-50 after reading some great reviews about it. When I received the amp a few months ago I plugged it in at home at low volumes and immediately loved the tones I was getting from it. I skimmed through the user manual, but everything was self-explanatory so I didn't read it in detail. I've now used the TC-50 for several rehearsals and multiple gigs with both bands playing a variety of styles from Little River Band to AC/DC to Whitesnake to The Bee Gees to Metallica, so I'm ready to provide an honest review of the amp.

I first used this at a gig with my yacht rock band playing through a Mesa 2x12 vertical cabinet. For this band I generally play on the clean and crunch channels with an occasional riff on the lead channel. I had switched out the EL34 tubes to 6L6 prior to the show, and while playing around at home I decided I liked the "tight" setting on all of the channels. During the gig I got incredible tones and sustain throughout the for all styles of songs, but I felt like I was fighting the brightness of the amp. By the end of the night I had my treble controls turned completely down on all three channels.

For my next show with my heavier rock band, I switched back to the EL34 tubes and played through a Mesa 4x12 cabinet. I was able to turn up a bit more at this show and felt that I was getting more punch and balls with the bigger cabinet. With this band I spend most of my time on the crunch and lead channels. The crunch sounded rich. Maybe not as classic as a Marshall, but really close. The lead sustain is insane...creamy with just enough compression to make shredding a dream.

I should also mention that I play through a Les Paul Standard for most songs, but also use a Fender Strat for a few songs. The amp sounds great with either guitar.

At some recent shows I switched back from "tight" to "normal" and think I enjoy that setting better. It's less bright and a bit fatter sounding and works great for all styles of music I play. I also took some time to read the manual more thoroughly to understand the interaction between all of the EQ, gain and volume knobs. I think I have my tones dialed in now.

I've switched back and forth between my custom head and the TC-50 for the past few shows, and have found myself leaning toward the TC-50 now. I've gotten comfortable with the controls and have it tweaked where it sounds great in any setting without too much adjustment. It's not quite as "wide" or "big" sounding as my custom head, but it sits really nicely in the mix.

As a performing guitarist, here are some things I love and some things I suggest could be improved:

I love the separate EQ on each channel. Whereas some amps that have separate EQs per channel are difficult to get the settings to sound good when switching between channels, I can dial these in so they sound consistent and still have control of each channel.

I love the single master volume to turn all channels up/down simultaneously. Great for making quick adjustments on stage.

I also love the adjustable lead boost. I can adjust it to just provide a slight boost or an over the top, blow everyone away setting. This does take some attention because if you adjust the master volume one way or the other you have to adjust the boost as well.

The amp is built like a tank but is still lightweight. Although, I just bought a flight case for it so it will now be heavier and bulkier. :)

The effects loop works great with my pedal board. The clean channel is simply amazing. Sparkling, punchy and articulate when I want it to be. When I drive a slight boost from my pedal board in front of the amp the clean channel responds exactly as expected.

The foot switch cable is very long, more than enough for any stage situation I'll encounter.

Here are a few things that I'm not crazy about:

The layout of the foot switch is not efficient for live performance. It has two rows of three switches each. The top row is Reverb on/off, Effect Loop on/off, and Boost. The bottom row are the channel switches. I find it frustrating that I have to gingerly guide my big foot over the top row boost switch when I take a solo. If I'm boosting on the clean or crunch channel, I have to be careful not to accidentally engage the lead channel at the same time.

I have to be careful not to accidentally disengage the effects loop on the foot switch. I generally leave it on all the time, but recently had an experience where a signature delay part of the song was missed because I had accidentally turned the effects loop off on the foot switch without realizing it. There is a switch on the back of the amp that is supposed to determine if the effects loop is controlled by the foot switch or stays on. No matter where I set that switch, the foot switch still controls the effects loop. I'm not sure if I'm misunderstanding how the switch works, or if is a bug in the amp.

The reverb sounds great, but I never use it. Unless I need an over-the-top reverb wash for something, there is enough live ambience at my gigs to negate the need for reverb. Plus, if I did use the reverb with a pronounced setting, I'd have to be careful to not accidentally engage it on the foot switch (see above regarding effects loop and boost switch placement).

I wish the foot switch had some type of rubber grip underneath to keep it from sliding around on smooth stage surfaces. I will probably install something myself.

I've mentioned how the boost setting on the amp has to be adjusted along with the master volume. It would be really cool if the boost amount increased/decreased proportionally as you change the master volume so you can simply set the boost to something like "10% louder" and it will maintain that value over the full range of the master volume.

I'm not a MIDI person, so I can't speak to that. Having a MIDI switch/controller would probably eliminate my hangups with the foot switch, but then I'd have another piece of technology to have to deal with. I'm considering having a custom foot switch made to my specifications.


So other than the ergonimics of the foot switch design, I really love this amp. It provides plenty of tonal options, is much easier to adjust than previous Mesa amps I've had, and seems to be solid and reliable. One of these days I'm going to run the TC-50 and my custom head in stereo and really be in tonal heaven!
by Jeff Wheaton from Petersburg, IL on
Music background: 35+ years performing live and in studio
Rated 5/5

This thing is a beast

I"ve had this amp for almost a year and it"s the piece of gear that gets me inspired to write music. Obviously, I bought this to get a good metal tone but the clean and mid-gain channels are just as good. No matter what you want to play, this amp will do it well.
by Sweetwater Customer on

It's hard to imagine a more quintessentially modern guitar amplifier than a Mesa/Boogie, and when Sweetwater guitarists want high-gain tone, Mesa is where they start. One thing we love about these amps is their sheer versatility, such as the massive range of tone you get from each channel, the freedom to use the tubes you love, onboard CabClone cabinet emulation, and MIDI control. And it's not just guitar amps - Mesa/Boogie's bass amps and pedals are equally cool. What's more, thanks to our incredibly close relationship with Mesa, you can even customize your own amp right here on Sweetwater's website! Get the sound and style you want from your next amp, with a Mesa/Boogie from Sweetwater.

See also: Amp Heads, Mesa/Boogie, Mesa/Boogie Guitar Amp Heads
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