Mesa Boogie Studio Preamp Explained

[EDIshames]

This is my fav amp of all time!

[samashton1]

I want one, but there fuckin' rare.. do you just plug it into a cab? im only experienced with combo amps :')

[HeartfeltDawn]

Is the effects loop pre- or post-reverb? 

[ThePhallystorm]

MESA QUAD MESA 295 SIMUL KT66 MESA 4 x 12 RECTO CAB No effects, plug in and KILL

[iswad420]

can you gig with this?

[joecruzguitar]

How can i change the studiopreamp channels ? I can do it with any mesaboogie footswitch (amp) ? Or, if i use some fx rack effects, can i change the studio preamp channel with midi program? Or use with 4-cable method? Many tnx for any help. Cheers, Joe

[aliensporebomb]

@joecruzguitar I used a Roland footswitch with 3 footswitches (FS3 I believe) and it works fine for this purpose. The Studio isn't a MIDI preamp but does have a stereo effects loop that works very well. If the rack units are MIDI you can use it to control them processing the StuPre's sound.

[derHuckepackmann]

it sounds stupid but is it possible to gig with this thing because i like the sound of this thing

[aliensporebomb]

@derHuckepackmann Yes! It's built like a tank and once it's racked it's solid as a rock.

[guiltengine85]

Very, very interesting. I've had one of these for a few years and have dialed in acceptable tones with it, but this explanation was incredibly helpful, since none of what you were saying about the treble/bass etc. could exactly be considered intuitive. I will keep it in mind now, though. Thanks!

[hitlerlovedjews11]

what kind of power amp are you using?

[aliensporebomb]

Five star review IMO. I've had my Studio Preamp since 1991 and it's been a mainstay of my sound ever since. One thing I'd suggest is using the recording outs for everything. My most reliable rig was the Stupre into a JC120 using the recording outs. Then I'd use the effects send to a Lexicon Vortex and TC Electronic G Sharp. The Studio preamp is so great, it's my favorite lead sound. Extremely versatile. Using it is a bit of a puzzle but this video is right on. Thanks!

[devilsguitaarhero]

I think an Important Point to take aswell is that The Eq Knobs are Pre Gain ... and The graphic is post gain which gives you a wonderfull way of shaping your sound i just love it amazing amp... It has been my best partner in Studio for quite a while and im not planning on changing that.

[zzzontag]

"You have to be careful with these gay knobs" - very true. If you want to keep your low end tight and not flabby - stay away from gay knobs. :)

[SmelMyFinger]

Its the kind of thing you don't want to have to learn the hard way.

[zzzontag]

I'll check out your other videos. I'm mesmerized by all this tube gear. Although it's currently out of my league both guitar-wise and financially, but I have ears and I can hear the difference between electronic and tube. So far all my guitar pedals etc were of plastic-fantastic variety. (I'll check them for any gay knobs ASAP - I'm alarmed now!) :)

[SlapphePikkur]

@zzzontag

"You have to be careful with these gay knobs"

Couldn't agree more.

I learned that the hard way in the middle of a consert. I noticed my treble was too high, but instead of turning the treble down, i turned the low up.

[morethanicantake]

what does flubby/flabby mean? i cant find them in the dictionary.

[cucuk666]

@morethanicantake floppy?

[jp1100]

Thanks for sharing, I`m looking for one of these instead of my Line6 PodPro. I liked the clear and sound explanation you gave. Splendid!

[muzapstar]

6 is pushing it? heck, 4 is pushing it on my mark iv and V. very good one though. I'd love to have one of these.

[guitarlad24]

thanks man, great vid

[InTheFlesh77]

This is only a preamp, you would need to purchase a poweramp aswell in order for you to be able hook it up to that cabinet

[Dustincitrone]

what exactly is a power amp? like one you put in a car for a system?

[GuitarAccount1]

Very informative video, thanks for taking the time to post it, along with the other 2. You have explained the control interactivity very well. I always get a good laugh when someone plugs into my Studio Pre and immediately pegs the gain and dimes the eq settings or zeros the mids: "wtf, man..this sounds awful!?!"

This is one piece of gear i would never part with. (prolly shouldn't say that...generating more competition on the FeeBay).

[tommyhawkthirteen]

This is very informative. Thank you for taking the time to describe the effects each control has on another.

I have a Quad, one of the earlier models, and a M/B 50/50. After about 2 months of tweaking, and turning the gain down, the sound makes me giggle like a japanese school girl.

[lucasuca]

coglione fallo sentire invece che parlare come un pirla

[guitarnick914]

Metallica uses about four of these for both Kirk and James, along with rectos.

[4ofApocalypse]

kirk doesn't use a recto he uses randalls

[muzapstar]

hey never used rectos really. they had them on stage and used mark iic+'s and IV's. they then went to triaxis for ease sake which has a "recto" mode which is what they used for the load and reload recordings and on tour since to replicate their sounds

[PatrikForLife]

James Hetfield uses Mesa Boogie Triaxis programmable preamps :)

[petejt]

again, what does this have to do with the video?

[425V8]

No...he uses a ton of amps. Look at kirks tour rig on his videos...he had 2 rackmount rectifiers in there...he DOES use rectifiers...and mark IIC+...ada preamps...a ton of stuff

[petejt]

who cares, what does that have to do with this video?

[theGodSeat]

if your low end is getting flubby with bass around 6, you should retube with NOS RCA's 12ax7s. You'll see the difference immediately.

[deathmagneticno2]

where would i be able to get those tubes from

[theGodSeat]

eBay is a good spot. Just make sure you buy from someone reputable.

[theGodSeat]

@deathmagneticno2

look on ebay. be careful and buy from a reputable seller.

[moucon]

Sick of you saying "flabby". We get it - its' FLABBY. Yeah. Instead of vague assertions why not study the schematic and tell us what is really going on - or better yet PLAY SOMETHING so we can hear it.

[SmelMyFinger]

These are not "vague assertions". The Mesa/Boogie Mark amps can be hard to configure at first, and this is a rare attempt at trying to explain some of the chemistry at play between the dials. Also, as with any Mesa Mark amp, some settings will produce a FLABBY low end, and it is important to know how to avoid this for certain tones. It was well worth mentioning.

I'm sorry it wasn't good enough for you. When I remake the whole video to make you happy I will consider your input.

[Shogun777]

excellent video

[domdabombabc]

The low end seems to get flabby a lot.

[SmelMyFinger]

My ass is flabby too.

[lejink]

THANK YOU!!!!! THANK U THANK U THANK U ud b surprized how hard it is to find videos of people explaining the basics of what a preamp is/does for you.. iv been using a vs100 marshall and im wanting to explore warmer tones.. but i dont know anything about what i need, a preamp? will just a tube amp too? what brand? single recto, dual? triple!? what a headache.. anyways keep them coming- i need all the info on how to get the perfect sound that i can get. ur the best :D

[boomy3241]

where can i find one

[SmelMyFinger]

There's always a bunch on Ebay and they go for between $400-500.

[paraguayrules]

Lamb of God uses this! (I think...)

[ScArKiLLa45]

they might but I know for sure that they use Mark IV short heads.

[iLikechevelle]

mark iv. mark had a custom made one but its just for asthetic reasons.

[rockman1994]

wait didn't Kurt Cobain use this preamp when he toured?

[Lietuvaitis2]

He did.

[kingster911]

Okay so I saw this thing on Craigslist for 75 DOLLARS. Just called the guy and it's already sold. What a surprise.

[snapascrew]

ok, i already posted in other comment the problem with me peavey 50/50, here are my settings, i noticed what u said about teh volume and gain (clipping) and im wondering if thats it:

Volume 10 Master 5 Treble 8 Bass 0 Mid 0 Leaddrive 4-6 Lead master 0-5 reverb 0 lead fat on lead bright off graphic eq is on and i a classic 5 shape, EXCEPT the "high mids" (2200) are completeley scooped as i hate high mids, but the MID MID (very center one) isnt scooped 100 percent do u think i should change some?

[SmelMyFinger]

I think your settings look good. When Lead Fat is on I tend to scoop the middle slider too.

But if you were asking if its your settings that are making the sound cut out on your poweramp, its not. That problem is definitely your poweramp. You didn't by any chance make me an ebay offer this morning did you...?

[snapascrew]

ya, i tried to tell my tech that... no i didnt

im selling my studio pre for 450, good price?

[SmelMyFinger]

Yea that sounds about right

[snapascrew]

ok sweeet, i will now spam

SELLING MESA BOOGIE STUDIO PREAMP, LIVE IN CANADA, 15 YEARS OLD, TRANSACTIONS WILL ALL BE DONE WITH MY PARENTS AND CRAP THERE FOR IM NOT GONNA TAKE UR MONEY AND RUN

[SmelMyFinger]

What are you replacing the Studio Pre with? Its hard to beat.

[snapascrew]

5150, i know the studio pre is more versatile but for the sound i want the 5150 has it

[superjesus117]

BBBOOOOO

5150 sucks

Mesa all day

Try a Triple Recto, similar to the 5150 in terms of high gain playing, but actually GOOD

[snapascrew]

any one who says "boooo" about an amp that is used by bands that have great tone is an idiot. triple recs and any mesa amps are good, so are 5150s.

[superjesus117]

5150's get one sound, and one sound only

No versatility at all

Cleans are meh at best

and anybody who would pick a 5150 over a Studio Pre (Mark IIC+) should have their ears checked, or be put down...

[snapascrew]

Not true, as you states 5150's get one sound. And that sound is what I'm looking for! So selling the preamp that didn't have the one sound I wanted for an amp (5150) that had the sound I wanted makes perfect sense.

[superjesus117]

I truly hope you use another amp and blend, I could not stand ONLY a 5150 *shudder*

And I played through a 5150 for about a year, and though it was great.  Until I tried a Triple Recto.

Once you go Mesa you never go back! (minus my mistresses (Diezel, Bogner, Diamond))

[snapascrew]

If I didn't live with parents and owned a maxon od808 I would have a TR believe me. Oh I'd have to get a job first.

[superjesus117]

If volume is the issue, get the dual recto, or an THD Hotplate

But bringing up the Maxon, I guess if you didn't OD a TR, a 5150 might win, but an OD'd TR gives me wet dreams....

[snapascrew]

I like how you think. but ya a hotplate is just more money plus they don't have a multi purpose one, just different ohmed models which I find gay. Gotta admit 5150 boosted and TR boosted with an EMG 85 loaded guitar in a stereo rig would be amazing.

[superjesus117]

I TOTALLY forgot about this, but you can crank the channel volume, keep the master volume low, and get the same sound as with the master cranked

And if you think thats sounds nice, try a Mesa Road King II, Diezel VH4 and Bogner Uberschall at once!

And my Mark V should show up in a few weeks...

best part is I only need one cab

I run the line outs/sends through a mixer, into a Mesa 2:90

Then my guitars all have the 85 at the bridge (SO MUCH BETTER) and the 18V mod.

pure tone heaven!

[snapascrew]

85 in bridge with 18 volt mod is the best there is.

[superjesus117]

Hellz yea!

though 81 in the neck is kinda shitty without a thick bodied mahogany guitar

[metlguitar02]

What? Have you tried one? I love the 6505. If you have the pre gain at 2-3 you can get a good alternative rock, lighter distortion. The cleans are CLEAN, sounds good with reverb. Not like Marshalls which doesn't have remotely good cleans.

[superjesus117]

The cleans are ass on the 6505....

[snapascrew]

whoa when i click "view in high quality" and listen to ur voice, threw my headphones, its really high quality, lol

[mainlymusicman]

yes,really. i have this preamp, the words arent that blurry.

[mainlymusicman]

you need to learn how to use the focus on your camera

[SmelMyFinger]

ORLY?

[StardustRevolutionX]

ya rly.

[zaxio1234]

no wai!

[SmelMyFinger]

U GUYS MADE ME LOL ZOMG

[snapascrew]

U HAVE UR STUDIO PARED UP WITH A PEAVE 50/50? ME TOO! but my 50/50 just broke, when i go loud the 2 standby lights dim and the volume dims too and then the lights go completley out and the sound cuts completely out :(