Mesa Lone Star

[tulk1]

I was going to post a question about amps this morning. It was going to be a bit of a generalized question with $$ as the driving point. As in, I have $1500 for a channel switching amp. Must be able to do clean real well, with an OD that doesn't sound buzzy. Classic Rock and Country. Any suggestions?. Kinda like that.

Then, right off are several posts about Mesa amps. Erik and I have had emails about the RK. And I had considered going that way, except for the $$. My drummer thought he was going to get one, as well. But decided on the Recto-Verb (RV?), instead. $$ and function. We tried the RK: Head thru 4x12, Combo 2x12. That combo was increadibly heavy, and didn't seem to have the sounds of the H+412. And since he's really a drummer, ............... well, a single rec ought to be fine for him. For me, I just didn't like the sounds as well as I thought I would.

At the same time, I took the Lone Star out on loan. (does that make it a Loaned Star?). Anyone here tried that amp? Holy Cow!! from this end. I really liked it. Channel one had lots of power, and was very responsive to pick attack. Going from very clean to dirty, depending on picking style. Channel 2 could be set up to sound just like Ch1, yet actually be OD'd. I really liked that. Or, Ch2 could do a near Recto, if the drive was turned up and the diodes engaged. My biggest problem is the weight. Not sure how much, but it is ungawdly heavy. So, anyone got other comments about the LS? Or any other amp in the $1500 range? Thanks.

[Erik]

What's up, Tulk??? I agree and love the LoneStar. It really doesn't do it for me in high gain situations, but you could always slam the front end with an overdrive pedal. Hey, while you're testing the thing out...could you let me know how fast the pick attack is. That has been my main complaint with most high gain amps...I love fast pick attack (think VHT), but most fall short without some type of tweak or mod.



Erik H

[tulk1]

Erik,

I played it for a couple of hours along side the drummer playing his RV. Very different beasts, indeed. The LS is nowhere near the high gain monster of the Recs. But in tone, it was much warmer. It held it's own very well. The band I plan on using it with is not a high volume band. So it didn't get to sing out as well in rehearsal. However, the members did comment on how nice it sounded. Clean, and clean still on OD. Very articulate.

Not sure we're talking the same type of pick attack. What I meant was, if I play with a soft hand, it cleans up and gets chimey. If I bear down, it breaks over. Still clean, just with some guts behind it. Crunch might be the word. The way I had it set, even the gain side would clean up if I backed off on my attack. Yet have some real sting if I beared down. Is that what you mean? No high gain, tho'. Like you suggest, I can always toss the Marshall BB or Fulltone FD in front if I need more gain, I guess. Not sure what you mean by how fast it is.

[Erik]

Ken,

By fast I mean as little sag as possible. For instance, with a Recto on "tube" rectification, there is that recognizable sag (very pronounced on the Ubers, too). Great in it's own right, but not so great for heavy metal or shredding, etc. Throw it on "diode" and that sag tends to go away and the pick attack gets more "urgent". For metal or rock, that sag is awesome!!!



Erik

[tulk1]

Ah, got you. I'm probably not the best for checking out anything where high gain is concerned. I'm much more of a mid-gain creature. I do think I know what you mean tho'. And that sag is probably what I like. :D . We tossed it over to the diode rectification. But didn't really like the feel. Not as warm. Really, for gainiacs, this isn't the amp. I'd think with your RK, tho', you could get a sound pretty darn close to this. 100w, 6L6's, diode rec, single/dual gain stage. Eh?

[Erik]

Ah, got you. I'm probably not the best for checking out anything where high gain is concerned. I'm much more of a mid-gain creature. I do think I know what you mean tho'. And that sag is probably what I like. :D . We tossed it over to the diode rectification. But didn't really like the feel. Not as warm. Really, for gainiacs, this isn't the amp. I'd think with your RK, tho', you could get a sound pretty darn close to this. 100w, 6L6's, diode rec, single/dual gain stage. Eh?
I could probably get close with some tweaking, but the Lonestar is definately its own animal (in a very good way).

Erik

[tulk1]

Picking up the Lone Star tomorrow afternoon. I've had it on layaway the past couple of weeks. I'll be using it at rehearsal on Monday. Hope it's all I remember it to be. I'll post more after I've used it a bit.

Now, what to use as a back up amp? And for home practice. Under $500. Suggestions? New or used okay for this one.

[wsaraceni]

Picking up the Lone Star tomorrow afternoon. I've had it on layaway the past couple of weeks. I'll be using it at rehearsal on Monday. Hope it's all I remember it to be. I'll post more after I've used it a bit.

Now, what to use as a back up amp? And for home practice. Under $500. Suggestions? New or used okay for this one.
i think the best practice amp for home is defiately a pro jr with a distortion pedal. if i had a full 500 to spend i would get a reverb pedal, a pro jr for 300 and a keeley modded ds1.

[flame top]

I love the Lonestar. I'm married to it.

I think it represents the next step after the MkII C+. So deep and rich with wonderfull sing.

As far as a great back up / practice amp. How about a used Hellhound. Put a AT-1 in the driver and it makes a very nice amp.

[tulk1]

Well, I've had this one long enough to know that I absolute love the clean side. It is what I've been searching for, for a very long time. Tons of warmth, yet clean and brilliant. You can feel the power behind it. The OD side ............ is very good. If I had one thing to say about it, it would be that it needs more clarity on the top end. It could be just a tad bit brighter. I'm going to try a couple of different preamp tubes, just for grins. And a set of EL34's, since it'll take 'em. Again, just for grins. FT, have you tried any EL34's, yet?

[workrelease]

tulk,

May I ask which LS you got?
The local GC has a 1X12 in stock and I was thinking hard about picking it up this weekend.
Seems MOST folks are quite intrigued by this amp.
-work

[tulk1]

Work,

I got the 1x12. Very nice rig. Besure to check out the casters for this thing. Worth talking about. In all, I find this to be one very nice, useable amp. It'll get close to recto. But I'm not into that, anyway. Very warm, very responsive to touch and technique.

[DaveMetta]

2x12 Lonestar here - Lovin' it! Jen, I have to know how the Diablo sounds through it???

Dave

[workrelease]

Well, I went ahead a ordered a 1X12 LS. They have to ship it to me from Austin and it should be here Wednesday! Can't wait to check this thing out. I'll post up a review in a couple of weeks.

-work

[tulk1]

I used the LS for the first time, live, Saturday night. I actually played several of the leads without switching over to the Drive side. Thats a first for me. Well, unless the lead didn't call for drive. The point is, I did some of my rock leads on the clean channel. Just drove it up a bit with the vol control, and off we went. I was quite impressed with the amp. Wish someone had said that about my leads, tho'. :D . Thinking of getting the 2x12 x-cab to match it.

Hey, any of you with the LS, did you get your cover with it? Is it a regular Mesa Engineering cover? Or a special LS cover? My dealer lost the one that came with my LS. The salesman called the other day to say Mesa had shipped the cover, but it's the regular black ME cover. Just curious what others got with their amps.

[Christopher Wade]

Can I ask what you paid for it? in the ballpark?


Mesa doesn't allow haggling, do they?

[John C]

Christopher,

I've also been looking at the Lonestar; it would be a nice match for my SC Trem (if I can get past the 80 lb weight of the 1-12 combo). You're right, no haggling on Mesa, and if I recall correctly the list prices are:

Head - $1,399
1-12 Combo - $1,499
2-12 Combo - $1,599

John C.

[DaveMetta]

Can I ask what you paid for it? in the ballpark?


Mesa doesn't allow haggling, do they?
Chris,

You're right, Mesa doesn't allow much, if any haggling. All of my requests for quotes were exactly the same. They also are very territotrial. You can't get a Mesa dealer to ship from Indiana to Illinois to avoid taxes for example.

Dave

[workrelease]

Chris,

I paid the straight-up $1499 at GC for the 1X12. But it was 1499 out-the-door...TTL.

P.S. - Cowboys/Eagles will be here before we know it! :-)

-work

[tulk1]

I got my dealer to take the taxes off as the first payment, since I used layaway for about 2 weeks. Thought that was pretty cool. So, mine was $1499 out the door, too.

Workrelease: What about your cover? Black or Blue?

[Christopher Wade]

Are there any real differences, besides volume, in the 1x12 vs the 2x12? Anyone play both?

I'm thinking of setting up a winner-take-all between my Soldano and a Lone Star. I really like the Soldano, but I think the LS fits the 'pocket' of what I like to do a bit more.

[tulk1]

Weight!!!! :D

[workrelease]

I got my dealer to take the taxes off as the first payment, since I used layaway for about 2 weeks. Thought that was pretty cool. So, mine was $1499 out the door, too.

Workrelease: What about your cover? Black or Blue?
Ken,
I don't know... It was supposed to arrive yesterday. So I hang at work like a kid waiting for the last day of school to end, dash home, and no amp. Bummer. Maybe today. I'll let you know as soon as it gets here.
Do they come with the casters?

cya,
work (Phil)

[tulk1]

The LS comes with casters and a cover. :cool: Seriously, those casters are great!!! You're gonna love 'em. They slide into a channel on the base of the amp, rather than snap into a hole. And do let me know about that cover. Thanks.

[DaveMetta]

The LS comes with casters and a cover. :cool: Seriously, those casters are great!!! You're gonna love 'em. They slide into a channel on the base of the amp, rather than snap into a hole. And do let me know about that cover. Thanks.
And brother, you'l use 'em too! :eek:

Dave

[tulk1]

And brother, you'l use 'em too! :eek:

DaveToo True!! And I haven't taken them off since getting it. Couldn't move this amp without them. :D

[workrelease]

Well, still no new amp:(

When I bought the thing, GC told me they would ship it from Austin and have it to me in 5 days. It's now 7 days, so I called GC. They gave me a UPS tracking number. Come to find out it's coming from Maryland with a scheduled delivery date of 5/10. I leave for a 10 day trip to Europe on...5/10. It will probably get here five minutes after I leave.
So, instead of having 30 days to check it out, I'm going to have 9, and about 7 of those I'll be all jet-lagged out. C'est la vie.

Anyway, I'll post up when I get back.

cya guys,
work

[Tone Tuner]

Just took delivery of my Lonestar from Mude (very cool forum brother, smooth deal, and he packs with care, thanks again). That's the best clean tone I have heard from Boogie, on the tweed setting with 50 watts it sounds like a brown fender. I left it on the tweed setting, and kicking in the drive on the lead channel with thick selected I was in harmonics heaven. What was strange was that the thick setting had the most harmonics, normal and thicker settings didn't take off like the thick setting. I was playing a 59 RI LP through it. The reverb is like described in earlier posts, excellent, plush and selectable from studio short dwell (warm setting) to typical Fender splashy springy surfy (bright setting) with controls for both channels. Two thumbs up on the Lonestar.

[tulk1]

TT,


That is cool. And that you got from a Forum Member makes the deal that much sweeter. I'm not a big fan of the Tweed setting. Well, not yet. It's a bit more open than I'm used to. Coming from Marshalls for the past 15 years, you now. But I may try your setting. Got to agree on that clean, tho'. Very Nice!! And the OD without the buzz is just way too cool for Mesa. On the downer side, I did have a pre go bad. Lots of oscillation and grinding. Came from the drive side reverb. For now, I have a chinese pre in that slot. And it's very silent. Debating whether to call Mesa and have them send new tubes, or just get some decent tubes from a vendor. Mesa makes great amps, but if they skimp anywhere, it's the tubes. My $0.02, that is.

[workrelease]

Well, I've had about an hour to 'kick the tires' on the new amp. Like most folks, I think the clean is wonderful. Crisp and articulate. Just what I've been looking for on that side.

I wish it would get a bit more 'dirty', although the gain channel is pretty sweet. Unlimited sustain with cool harmonics and feedback when needed.

Mine came with a black Mesa cover. I took off work today and plan on spending most of the day playing around with the amp before I take it to band rehearsal this evening. One strange thing... when I crank it up on the clean channel, I'm getting a weird kind of whistling sound that changes pitch and intensity as you increase the volume. Any idea what might be causing this? Is this normal?

First impression is that this is a monster little amp. I wish I knew more about that wacky whistle.

-work

[tulk1]

Hey WR,

Good to see you're back. And you got your MLS. Mine squealed. It was a pre. I've changed all of the pre's in mine. Put the new GT-M in V1 and V2. Then some NOS Gray Plates in the other 3. Still deciding if I like that or not. But all of the weird noises went away. The thing about MESA tubes is, sure they check all of them and verify they are the best tubes. But they are the best of the lower end. Thats always been my experience with them. I'd say find yourself a decent pre. Then start swapping it one tube at a time until you find your squealer. Mine was in the reverb drive. Then let MESA know and they'll ship you new ones. They'll still be MESA tubes, but it can't hurt to have back ups. Looking forware to your LS-in-a-band comments. My band really likes the sound I'm getting with mine.

[Christopher Wade]

Really leaning towards the Lone Star myself. Played one earlier in the week, and echoing what everyone has said about the cleans.

I also liked the gains though. Not nu-metal enough, but that's OK as it's not my bag. I could play some great Cream through it though (SWLABR), with my BLE McRosie.

Now, 3 questions - one general and two specific

1) anyone who'se had one for a bit having any long term rethinks/regrets?

2) The solo feature is only engaged when the loop is working, correct? Is it possible to just jumper the loop with a foot-long cable in order to use the solo feature?

3) Footswitch.... is it included and what buttons does it have?

[tulk1]

Hi. My only regret is that I'd like a bit more highs out of it. A tech at Mesa told me I'm nuts!! :D So I told him :p . It's a fabulous amp, with tons of versatility. I had a Marshal Jube 2554 before this amp. I sold the Jube. The LS is that good. The LS comes with a 2-button fs for channel and solo. The solo works whether the loop is in or not. It's the master vol that you loose when the loop is hard bypassed, since it is wired into the loop. Comes with the fs, a black Mesa Engineering cover, and casters, as well. All part of the package. Let us know if/when you get one. The gain channel does a pretty good Recto, if you crank it. Only, IMO, not as grainy. Which I think is a good thing.

BTW,If you need a fs for the verb, you can connect a separate fs for that. The connection is hidden up underneath the chasis. And you gotta really look for it. But it's there. Why??? No clue. But thats how Mesa did this one.

[flame top]

I've owned mine since they first hit the street. So I guess the honeymoons over.

I can honestly say that I'm still just as impressed as I was when I first tried it.

Recently I've been getting more into the second channel with out the drive. This is like old amp central. It responds to little tweeks to the gain and treble doing light to medium distortion very well. When you turn off the drive the sound is more vintage and pushed but not too enhanced.How pushed it sounds depends on where you put the thick switch.

The thing about the amp for me is that it does clean, early breakup and medium distortion very well and thats what I like in an amp. On top of all that with the drive engaged you get some real cool Boogie Lead channel sounds.

The only regret is that mine didnt come with a Filmore speaker and I really wonder what that sounds like. Then again I've got a good excuse to get the extention cabinet. :).

[Prsblues]

Budda = bone tone!!!

[DaveMetta]

I can honestly say that I'm still just as impressed as I was when I first tried it.

Ditto for me. My first Mesa amp and it's a winner.

Dave

[Christopher Wade]

Thanks all. With the Soldano sold, there might be one in my future on Monday.

[Tom Gross]

Thanks all. With the Soldano sold, there might be one in my future on Monday.
Cool! I think it may well be a great replacement for the Soldano for you.
I've only played one once, but it had a great clean - reminded me of my old Tremoverb, which was the best Mesa clean I ever heard. Yeah, the LS looks like a winner. Very versatile, able to do blues and rock (and most importantly, the in between), plus a great clean & a dumbly kinda thing as well.

If you go that way I'd like to hear how you like it.

[Christopher Wade]

Very versatile, able to do blues and rock (and most importantly, the in between), plus a great clean & a dumbly kinda thing as well.

If you go that way I'd like to hear how you like it.If you're going to SteveK's, I'll be bringing it along.

I'm thinking it will be a good replacement as well. It's not that I didn't like the Soldano, I just found it limiting. I'm (budget-wise) a one-amp guy and so I need something that's a little more versatile. The Soldano is more of a niche amp, and well it fits that niche very, VERY well, I felt limited by the single tone stack.

In doing lessons, I'm jumping around a bit, style-wise. We started out with basic jazz (mostly those knucle-buster jazz chords) and are now concentrating on getting really tight with rhythm, doing a lot of funk- so I'm looking for more of a Swiss Army Knife type of amp.

I considered the Fuch's stuff - I've always been impressed with it - but it's only got a single tone stack, which puts me back in the box I need to get out of. Same thing with Carr.

Jack Gretz is packing and shipping the Soldano, so I'll be there Monday morning and I'll give the LS a good go over with a hyper-critical ear. I'm also going to try the F-series. The Soldano was my first good tube amp and I've learned a lot about tone in both owning it and hanging out here.

We'll see.

[mesavox]

I love the Lonestar. I'm married to it.

I think it represents the next step after the MkII C+. So deep and rich with wonderfull sing.


Would you say that someone who loves the MKIIC+ sound is going to be able to play this amp and go... "wow, maybe I don't need to hire out a broker to find me a vintage c+!!!"?

I've really been looking at the LS too. I think it would be a great balance to my recto inspired DC3(which gets all the death metal crunch I would ever need that's for sure).

I've also heard from so many people that the cleans in the thing are the best thing Mesa has ever even wished to offer and the DC's clean sound is great but it has just a slight tendancy to get brittle if I'm not careful on the top end.

The C+ is like the holy grail for me but I keep hoping Mesa will nail it's essence again without actually rereleasing it... now I think I'm hoping this is it.

[flame top]

Of course your going to have to try it to see what you think.


Everyone says this amp is different for Mesa. Its really not all that different.

Compared to the Mk series the tone is deeper the bottom end is a bit bigger. The sound comes out of the amp a little less focused than Mks. The reverb is wetter and much more Fender like than you would expect.

Despite some of the differences this amp sits squarely in Boogie territory.

It has a lot more gain and leans toward a darker warmer side of tone, yet makes Mk I and Mk II tones real nice. It does'nt have the more aggressive nature of the Mk III and IV.

If you really push the lead drive and gain it will even get this rumble that approaches something like a recto sound.

The best sounds it makes are clean to second wave British Invasion.

It doesnt take distortion to get a singing tone out of the amp. It gets nice sustain all the way around.

I love this amp.

[bleujazz3]

...I was quite impressed with the amp. Wish someone had said that about my leads, tho'. :D . Thinking of getting the 2x12 x-cab to match it.
Jus' a suggestion before you buy... check out a LoneStar head (or combo with the speaker reconnected) with a Mesa Recto horizontal 2x12 closed-back cab w/ Celestion Vintage 30's! Power rating is 140 W RMS, so it handles the LoneStar's 100 W extremely well. I compared the Mesa 2x12 with a Mesa 4x12 cab, and found the 2x12 to be much more 'in your face' when cranked than the 4x12, with more directed bass than I ever would need. Not boomy, just solid. Compare a 1x12 combo to the 2x12 ext. cab, you'll be pleasantly surprised. You'll want to increase your budget to include the $1399 head and $499 cab, but you won't regret it.

Downside? Two trips to the car when gigging, and no casters on the bulky cab and/or (duh) head. Upside? 2" or 3" Casters can be bought from Mesa for appr $60(?) bucks for a set of 4. Comes with mounting plates and slide-in wheel fixtures. Purchase of casters will help eliminate another trip to the car.

I own a LoneStar head and 2x12 Rectifier cab and have another on order in matching color and grill. Yes, I love my LoneStar, just sold my RectoVerb and 4x12. The RV's gain sounded too grainy for me, and the smooth drive and gain, and REVERB(!) of the LoneStar won me over. :cool:

[SuperReverb2]

Hu Guys! :)


GREAT thread on the Mesa Boogie Lone Star. I originally auditioned the 1 x 12 version of this amp not too long after NAMM. Based on that audition, I ordered the 2 x 12 version of this amp, and since receiving it, I have been in tonal heaven. I will venture to say that this is NOT for everybody as there seems to be MANY differing views on it's tonality, but for me, it is the amp I have been waiting for. (for a LONG time) GREAT cleans, fabulous overdrive, GREAT reverb, (I like it better than most Fenders I've played through or owned), VERY touch sensitive and articulate, and to my ears, it sounds great with either single coils or humbuckers. I bought this amp for the clean to medium grind tones it offered with my Strat, and now LOVE it for the clean to lead tones it gives me with my Heritage 535 Classic with Seth Lovers. GREAT Dumblesque type note blooms, (with humbuckers) on the second channel! I also find it quite pedal friendly as I have used my AC and RC Booster (on both channels) to add a few different tonalities to the equation.
This amp is NOT a Fender, but is Fenderesque. Yet at the same time, (especially in the cleans) it has a hint of Vox (Matchless) Marshall, Boogie, and, yes, to my ears a "hint" of Dumble. The overdriven tones range from clipped Blackface Fender(ish), to Marshallesque, to Dumble inspired Boogie style tones. ALL with great harmonics, and GREAT string to string defintion.
Yes it's a HEAVY amp, but in my books, a KEEPER all the way!

Take care

Chuck