Mesa Boogie Pre-amps/Rack Systems

John Russell · Post by **John Russell** » 26 Feb 2001 7:15 pm

Anybody have comments regarding the Mesa-Boogie Studio pre-amp?

I'm thinking of going to a rack-rig and considering a MB Studio pre-amp available from a dealer. The one disadvantage for me will be the single input jack. I play guitar and really prefer two input channels with different EQ settings. The MB pre-amp has only one. There are other pre-amp choices which I understand are very good, Evans being one but I don't know if it's tube or not, I'm guessing not. I have a EV 15 cabinet and I'm open on the choice of power amps. A friend has a Hafler power amp for sale I'm considering.

A tube pre-amp isn't mandatory but I'm interested in getting back some of that great Class A sound I miss from the years I played Fender. With all their disadvantages, you never had to wonder what to expect tone-wise from the old Fenders.

I've also been considering a Fender Showman. There's one for sale at a store here but it's the "red-knob" series which I understand are to be avoided. In its favor are the effects loop, variable impedance output which allows the use of different speakers/combos and the two input channels.

I like the idea of the rack-rig for the portability, light weight and possible better sound than brand "P" I'm currently playing. I'm also considering the Gerry Walker Stereo Steel amps. Suggestions?

JR

Neale Tracy · Post by **Neale Tracy** » 27 Feb 2001 1:29 am

Hi John
I have just started to use a Boogie Studio Pre Amp, I hook it up with a profex11 and go into my brand"p" amp. I also use it direct into the desk in some instances. I dont know how I managed without it. The tone is so much warmer and really easy to obtain. All the best. Keep mashing.

Fred Murphy · Post by **Fred Murphy** » 27 Feb 2001 6:31 am

I use the floor version of the Mesa Boogie V Twin for lead guitar. I comes pretty close to achieving the Fender Twin Amp sound from my Peavey 1000 amp, without changing any settings that I use for my steel. It is the best option I have found, other than bringing another amp for lead guitar.

Greg Derksen · Post by **Greg Derksen** » 27 Feb 2001 7:21 am

John, one way you could get around it is,
buy a A/B Box, set your tone up for your
steel, when you jump on the guitar, hit the A/B box and the EQ button on the Studio pre Amp which would be EQ'd specifically for your
guitar.
I think the studio pre was designed around
a showman circuit, so it sounds very Fendery,
but you get the advantages of choosing what
type of power amp you want, Tube A/B, Solid State, or Class A tube if you like, most
Fender Amps of Vintage were Tube Class A/B,
the other features are effects loop, and
stereo output. I remember hearing on the forum that they were also Handwired , and I
don't believe the new Formula Pre's Are! Greg

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 27 Feb 2001 6:47 pm

Hey John, don't know anything about the MB. I use the Tubeworks RT924 2 channel preamp w/steel modification, [a must.]
2 12ax7a tubes. Red or guitar channel has both gain and master controls if you like a little edge. No heavy metal rather a smoother overdrive. It's nice and fuzzy and warm with my Guild Starfire or Samick jazzbox. Big "ballsy" tone. The green channel is great for steel....really clean and big sounding. I use the RT921 spring reverb and the Mosvalve 500 amp. Add an fx processor and it's a 5 sp. rig and kinda heavy but the sound is incredible. Just flip the channel selector and there ya' go.
For spkrs., I like either the Peavey 1203 12in. or the 1501 15in. Lots of times I use one of each. I believe this preamp has been replaced w/the 9002. I don't know if it has 2 channels. Herby Wallace could tell you.
Another option might be the Peavey Tube or Transtube preamp/processor. You can set-up patches for steel or guitar and have the type preamp you like in each program. Friends of mine have one or the other of these and they sound plenty good to me.
I also have the Stereo Steel. It is great sounding for steel but just too much trouble to re-eq if you switch to guitar. Now I'm not much of a guitar player, [some question if I'm much of a steel player], but I think 2 channels is the only option for optimum sound for the 2 instruments. The Blue Tube II pots get noisy and scratchy and have to be cleaned from time to time, but still I think it's the best sounding rack rig for our application that there is out there. Good luck w/whatever you decide.

[This message was edited by Jerry Overstreet on 27 February 2001 at 06:52 PM.][This message was edited by Jerry Overstreet on 27 February 2001 at 06:58 PM.]

John Russell · Post by **John Russell** » 27 Feb 2001 7:39 pm

The TranstubeFex is probably the way to go for the ultimate in convenience and portability. I like the fact that it has tone knobs in front too.

In my case, cost is still a factor and I basically have all the effects I need as stompboxes. One of those boxes is the Boss GE7 equalizer which can be switched on or off to completely change the EQ for the switch between guitar and steel. I do use an A/B box to make that change. I'd want to use the MB for both steel and guitar since that tone is so sweet for both.

Even with the vintage Fender amp, you only have reverb on one channel. That's why the newer Fender Showman is so tempting. With that, you have reverb and effects on both input channels. Two EQ settings, one for each instrument. Then there's the weight! The Showman reverb head is maybe 10 lbs. lighter than my Nashville 1000! A Twin weighs about 20-25 lbs. more. Ever negotiate one of those babies up a flight of stairs?

Any thoughts on power amps? The Stewart PA amps look promising, very lightweight and powerful. Probably a matter of trial and error, no?

JR

Steve Feldman · Post by **Steve Feldman** » 28 Feb 2001 7:02 am

I have the 9002 Tubeworks. Yep - 2 channels as described above. The Tubeworks is the most 'musical' sounding preamp that I've ever used and the drive channel (and stacked drive-over-clean channel) is teriffic. I also use it with a Lexicon MPX-1 and a VHT 2/90/2 power amp that is unbelievable. It's so good, that I put my existing MosValve up for sale after playing through the VHT for just a day or 2. Not light, but I'm willing to make that sacrifice for the best damn sounding thing I ever heard...IMNSHO...

Probably a matter of trial and error, no?

You got that right. Every ear is different (in fact, my left is slightly different than my right...but I digress...) and it takes time to have the opportunity to buy - or otherwise try out - all the various options. I really like what I have now, though, and I've kind of leveled off in terms of the search for tone (read: spending). Good luck. [This message was edited by Steve Feldman on 28 February 2001 at 07:06 AM.]

Michael Brebes · Post by **Michael Brebes** » 7 Mar 2001 3:50 am

I use the Studio Preamp with a Hafler P3000 and it sounds very good. Also use a Lexicon MPX100 and a Digitech RPM-1 Leslie simulator in the rig and it sounds pretty good. The one thing I did change on the Studio Preamp was I rewired resistors on the input to simulate the lower gain input of a Fender tube amp. It made a huge difference since the Lawrence 710's on my MSA were overdriving the input of the preamp if I opened up the volume pedal.

Bob Hoffnar · Post by **Bob Hoffnar** » 7 Mar 2001 8:18 am

Try to compare power amps. They make a huge difference.
What I do is plug into whatever is around and try it out. I don't worry about what it is.
Every once in a while I hit something that just jumps out at me.
Right now I am using a VHT 2/90/2 power amp. It be muy bueno ! All the other power amps I tried out sounded like dry dog turds to me except the Tubeworks Mossvalve 500 which is pretty good.

Then I have this old Standel solid state amp that just sings. Everything is wrong with that amp except it sounds good.

In rehersal and recording studios I have played through some vintage style Peavey gear that sounded fantastic. Fenders are hit or miss for me. Some are a little bit of heaven and others are all skwonky sounding.

I am lucky because I get to try out a bunch of different gear every week in rehersal studios in NYC. The main thing is to figure out how much money you are willing to spend and how much stuff you want to haul around. Then just trust your ear.

Bob

ToneJunkie · Post by **ToneJunkie** » 8 Mar 2001 5:51 pm

What Bob said... Listen carefully and see what you like. I'm using a Mesa Boogie Triaxis preamp and a SimulClass 2:90 and I'm personally very satisfied. Lots of great amps out there, though.

Cheers

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Robert Hicks - Fessenden S12U

Home Page: http://www.members.home.net/tonejunkie
Email: rhhicks@home.com

ToneJunkie · Post by **ToneJunkie** » 8 Mar 2001 5:55 pm

... except the part about the dry dog turd. I cannot vouch for their tonal characteristics. You'll have to go on Hoffnar's word I suppose...

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Robert Hicks - Fessenden S12U

Home Page: http://www.members.home.net/tonejunkie
Email: rhhicks@home.com

[This message was edited by ToneJunkie on 08 March 2001 at 05:56 PM.]