Bluesking Posted June 4, 2005 Posted June 4, 2005 Anyone have any experience with the new Mesa Lone Star Specials?I played one last week and it was easily the best amp I've ever heard - no joke.Before I drop $1600 on a 1x12 combo amp, I thought I'd elicit some opinions.Thanks!
shankyboy Posted June 4, 2005 Posted June 4, 2005 I'm assuming, by your handle, that you are a Blues player. (or at least there is some blues in your music) If I were going to shell out that kind of dough for a 1X12 combo amp, I wouldn't waste my time with a Boogie. I would take a look at a Victoria or a Dr. Z. I have never heard a Boogie in a Blues setting that sounded good. (but that's just my personal opinion and we all know about those)
bobbymack Posted June 4, 2005 Posted June 4, 2005 In general I would agree with shankyboy, but a recent issue of ToneQuest had a writeup on the LoneStars, and they said they were a very different beast, very Fendery on the clean channel and still offering the flexibility of the second channel, whose dirt again is uncharacteristic of Mesa dirt we all think of...fwiw...
Jorge Posted June 4, 2005 Posted June 4, 2005 I have never heard a Boogie in a Blues setting that sounded good. I would recommend that you heard a DC-3, on the clean channel, cranked, and you might change your opinion pretty fast. A local blues "god" does it (with my own ex-amp, I miss it so much), and the tone is to die for. He uses a Les Paul with it, no pedals.
jerseydrew Posted June 4, 2005 Posted June 4, 2005 I have never heard a Boogie in a Blues setting that sounded good. I would recommend that you heard a DC-3, on the clean channel, cranked, and you might change your opinion pretty fast. A local blues "god" does it (with my own ex-amp, I miss it so much), and the tone is to die for. He uses a Les Paul with it, no pedals. I actually own a DC-3 and that's what I do. I get a little dirt on the clean channel and it's the BEST blues amp I ever had. I've had Victoria and such, I sold 'em. I'll never sell my DC-3 combo
jerseydrew Posted June 4, 2005 Posted June 4, 2005 In addition, I'd love to get the Lonestar SPECIAL. I just can't see it being better than my DC-3. I guess I'd have to try one. I would recommend Mesa Boogie
Bluesking Posted June 4, 2005 Author Posted June 4, 2005 I had the same opinion of Mesa/Boogie than many of you have prior to testing out the Lone Star Special. I always associated them with metal guys or Santana, but this amp is heralded by the company as being for blues/rock dudes - well, they're right on the money.I tested the LSS out for about an hour using a variety of guitars and it was just amazing. The clean channel sounded very Blackface to me and the drive channel went anywhere from cranked Bassman to Bluesbreaker, up to a hot rod JMP. Another player happened to be there who was also looking at the LSS - except this guy is a 30 year pro player who is amazing. Anyway, he really got this thing smokin (its full class A) and it seriously sounded like Cream live at the Fillmore.The features on the amp are really what got my attention - being able to choose between 30,15, and 5 watts in great. It's nice to have everything built in, so I really wouldn't need any pedals or anything - just a cord.My problem right now is the cost. $1600 plus tax for a PCB 1x12 combo is pretty hefty in my opinion. When I consider other amps in the price range, I can't get past my stereotype of of Mesa. I'd pay that price for a Germino or a Victoria, but a Mesa?Also, even though I'm primarily a blues player - I'm more of a English blues type guy. Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac, Free, Mountain, Cream, etc - I'm not looking for super clean tones like the 50s Fenders. I occasionally do use that tone for some older covers Howlin' Wolf and Muddy Waters, but primarily I'm playing Clapton "Bluesbreaker" type stuff.Anyway, that's my situation. The amp kicks ass, but the construction concerns me considering I can get a custom PTP amp built for me for about the same price. Hmm...........Maybe I should just buy BobbyMack's Valvetech for 1/2 the cash!
Caddie Posted June 4, 2005 Posted June 4, 2005 $1600 plus tax for a PCB 1x12 combo is pretty hefty in my opinion. When I consider other amps in the price range, I can't get past my stereotype of of Mesa. I'd pay that price for a Germino or a Victoria, but a Mesa?Maybe I should just buy BobbyMack's Valvetech for 1/2 the cash!fwiw, here's my advice. I've owned a Mesa Mark IV combo, a DC-5 combo, and currently own a Mesa Blue Angel head & 4x10cab. Oh yeah, I also have a Valvetech 2x10. Ok, ok, ok.....so I have a little amp G.A.S. too. SO!!! I'm not hurting anyone, its a victimless crime. ;-)Your comment that Mesa charges a high price for a PCB 1x12 seems to imply (at least this is how I read it) that this is a cheaply made amp. If that's what you are saying you probably couldn't be much further off. Yes Mesa uses a PCB, but they make an absolutely bullet proof PCB amp. I swear to God it could fall off the tailgate of your pickup truck on the way to the gig and it would still operate fine. PCB or not, they are tough and reliable.I don't now about this particular Mesa model, but on many Mesa models you can switch between el34 & 6L6 power tubes. So you can go for either the "brit" or "american" sound. Check the Mesa manual.Don't believe your stereotypes of Mesa. If it sounded right to your ears, then it is right. Yep $1600 is big bucks for an amp. The other side of the coin is that Mesas will last forever, they also tend to retain a fairly high resale price. Plus the market for used Mesa amps is pretty strong so if you need to sell it you can usually do it quickly.Not taking anything away from the Valvetech. Its a wonderful amp too. The Mesa and the Valvetech are very different amps, unique capabilities and personalities. You probably ought to try to play both before you make a decision.Oh hell, just do what everyone else does......buy 'em both and sell off the one that fails to get you the bigtime record record contract! Enjoy.Noonan
bobbymack Posted June 4, 2005 Posted June 4, 2005 You may want to search and read some threads about the LoneStar over at the Gear Page. Apparently there were some fairly widespread QC issues with the first ones to be shipped, a fair number of unhappy campers over there who had to get warranty work done almost right out of the box... Mesa may well have taken care of the problems by now, but if you go that route try to be sure you are getting a "new" one, not an old "new" one... Or, you could buy my Valvetech for 1/2 the money
tombo Posted June 4, 2005 Posted June 4, 2005 First, even though I haven't actually played a LSS, I'm sure it sounds good. I have played a regular LS. I liked the cleans, but not the dirty channel.I think the problem with many MB products is this: they try to do too many things at the same time. There's a gazillion switches and settings. Many of their amps seem like Swiss Army Amps. That *SEEMS* fun, but it's not the best thing for reliability. THAT'S the problem! When I was back home last summer, my friends at Savage Audio had me up to take pictures of their facility. The one thing I noticed was that they had an awful lot of Mesa Boogie products sitting in the back to be repaired. There's more to it, but I don't want any trouble with slandering MB. Needless to say, many of the Boogies just are poorly designed, IMO. I know some of them sound great, but I'm betting a lot of you would prefer being able to actually use your amp than have it sit in the shop. If you're wanting a Boogie, search for an old one, when they were a mail order company and you waited 3 months to get your amp (around '83 or before, IIRC). My suggestions:Dr. ZVictoriaClarkand of course....Savage Audio (expensive, but well worth it. The Rohr 15's reverb is super good).
Abaco Posted June 5, 2005 Posted June 5, 2005 Caddie speaks the truth. My buddy had his Mesa combo actually fall off the back of a truck on the way to a gig, tumbled down the road. Not one glitch when he plugged it in, and it's still going strong years later. Amazing.I think Mesas have a bad rap. In general, they are great sounding amps and very tough (see above). Even the rectos can sound VERY bluesy with a Strat on channel 1. They can be finicky, however. The active e.q. and such can make for a lot of knob twisting and head scratching when trying to find "that" tone.A while back I sold my Single Recto and bought a Modern Vintage and just love the Modern Vintage!
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