Try a cheap mic, I had better results at one time with an operatic female singer using a SM57 with windscreen than her expensive tube condenser. The condenser was picking some kind of teeth sound that was not good. The SM57 smoothed it over and didn't even notice that. Used opto comp and tube eq...
I'd say boost the Mesa with a distortion that lets you blend in on the dirty channel. Set the Mesa to retro crunch (this mid 70s Rolling stones) and then just give it mid gain distortion. Low guitar tuning will help as well. Cabs? Mesa 4x12 or Marshall 1960a, dual miked, sm57 and a ribbon, on...
Diggin' the new KK Priest. The lyrics and songtitles got a bit reminiscent of the original JP, but performances are great. Ripper Owens sounds great on this and KK is in top form.