The Mesa Boogie Fillmore 25 Head is a Mesa Boogie amplifier, currently around $1799. Close alternatives include the Universal Audio knuckles and the Mooer Micro Preamp 008 Cali 3. It pairs well with the Friedman BE-OD and the Catalinbread Formula 5F6.
Mesa Boogie Fillmore 25 Head
Mesa Boogie · amplifier
The Mesa Boogie Fillmore 25 Head is a 25-watt two-channel amplifier with a distinctly late 1960s to early 1970s voicing, delivering fat clean tones through to the classic overdriven sounds reminiscent of Carlos Santana's signature breakup. Its two channels are identical in layout, each offering three voicing modes called Clean, Drive and Hi, so both channels can be set anywhere across the amp's range rather than one being fixed as the clean side. Power is switchable for smaller rooms. Unlike the Mark and Rectifier families it is deliberately a vintage-flavoured amplifier rather than a modern high-gain one. It suits blues, classic rock and roots players who want period voicing with modern build quality.
- classic rock
- clean
- blues
- modern
- breakup
- roots
- rich
- fat
Good for
- Live
- Studio
- Worship
- Practice
Price updated Aug 27, 2026
Genres the Mesa Boogie Fillmore 25 Head is commonly used in
- Classic Rock
- Blues
- Metal
- Blues Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Hard Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Pedals that stack with the Mesa Boogie Fillmore 25 Head
Friedman BE-OD
Friedman
25% matchFeed a high gain signal into Friedman BE-OD and it comes out closer to tight
Catalinbread Formula 5F6
Catalinbread
24% matchCatalinbread Formula 5F6 takes that high gain character and pushes it toward mid-forward
Greer Tomahawk
Greer
24% matchGreer Tomahawk pushes a high gain tone toward tight
Artec SE-VTM Vintage Tremolo
Artec
19% matchRun the Vintage Tremolo's smooth optical pulse after the Fillmore 25's own clean, classic-rock breakup settles, so the modulation stays gentle.
Origin Effects SlideRIG Compact Deluxe
Origin Effects
13% matchOrigin Effects SlideRIG Compact Deluxe's own voicing points at Fender-style amps, and Mesa Boogie Fillmore 25 Head delivers it
Walrus Audio Fathom
Walrus Audio
10% matchWalrus Audio Fathom's ambient voice goes in Mesa Boogie Fillmore 25 Head's effects loop — it's not there to compete with Mesa Boogie Fillmore 25 Head's own transparent character — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Meris Mercury7 Reverb
Meris
10% matchKeep Mesa Boogie Fillmore 25 Head's transparent voice out front: Meris Mercury7 Reverb goes in Mesa Boogie Fillmore 25 Head's effects loop so its ambient voice doesn't muddy it — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Laney TI-Boost
Laney
tonal matchInto Mesa Boogie Fillmore 25 Head, Laney TI-Boost is right at home: it's built around a clean amp's front end
Cheaper alternatives
Airis Effects SPEC-Defier
Airis Effects
72% similarityAiris Effects SPEC-Defier recreates this amp's tone in pedal form
TC Electronic Dual Wreck Preamp
TC Electronic
72% similarityTC Electronic Dual Wreck Preamp recreates this amp's tone in pedal form
Marshall 2245 JTM45 Head
Marshall
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Traynor YGL1
Traynor
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Boutique & premium upgrades
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Universal Audio knuckles
Universal Audio
72% similarityUniversal Audio knuckles recreates this amp's tone in pedal form
Mooer Micro Preamp 008 Cali 3
Mooer
72% similarityMooer Micro Preamp 008 Cali 3 recreates this amp's tone in pedal form
Mesa Boogie Fillmore 100 1x12 Combo
Mesa Boogie
97% similaritysimilar tone character
Mesa Boogie Fillmore 50 Combo
Mesa Boogie
97% similaritysimilar tone character
Friedman Dirty Shirley
Friedman
96% similaritysimilar tone character
1959 Fender Tweed Deluxe
Fender
96% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the Mesa Boogie Fillmore 25 Head (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Mesa Boogie Fillmore 25 Head?+
The closest matches in character are the Universal Audio knuckles, the Mooer Micro Preamp 008 Cali 3, the Mesa Boogie Fillmore 100 1x12 Combo. Budget picks: Airis Effects SPEC-Defier, TC Electronic Dual Wreck Preamp, Marshall 2245 JTM45 Head. Boutique upgrades: Marshall 1959JMH-U Handwired 1959 100w Limited Edition, Magnatone 460E-SPP.
What pairs well with the Mesa Boogie Fillmore 25 Head?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Friedman BE-OD, Catalinbread Formula 5F6, Greer Tomahawk — Feed a high gain signal into Friedman BE-OD and it comes out closer to tight.
How much does the Mesa Boogie Fillmore 25 Head cost?+
Around $1799 (live listing price, updated Aug 27, 2026).