I own the same in a half stack version, it sounded great but I knew something was missing, I made my own back for the cab out of birch plywood with radiused triangle cutouts on the top half and closed on the bottom half, Switched to 6V6 power tubes ( must remain on tweed power ) and put a bbe 882 i in the effects loop and did the favorable ohm mismatch for the speaker cab hook up ,4ohm out of the head into the 8 ohm cab ,remember must remain on tweed ,power switches can be in the 100 watt tweed.
That's the only bad sounding Lone Star in existence - but we'll give him a pass for the mic and/or mic placement. What the hell happened to your clean tones? That's one of the main selling features of the Lone Star!
I love mesa boogie they are the best amp in the world. That said -this amp sound-like shit.. did you listen to the video before you posted. I'm surprised mesa boogie did not make you take it down.
I own one of these (the head only) and use an Alpha Pup cabinet with a Scumback M75-LHDC 100 watt speaker, and it totally kicks some serious booty. NOTHING like this tone.
Probably the mike position or the setup of the amp itself.
I was thinking the clean channel sounded much too bluesy for blackface sounds, but then I saw that the gain was full and the mid was on half, and you're using a pick.
Each to their own, I hate the AC30's for what I do, but for Brian May 's style they sound great. And if you want a Marshall Plexi sound, a marshall sounds great, lol. Both countries make amazing amps for different sounds and styles. I generally think American 6l6 for clean, English EL34 for hard rock.
Oh yes, my guitar teacher owns a lot of Boogies and he is a true tone junkie. He has the original Stiletto Deuce (first one ever built by Randy himself). It is one of the most incredible amps that I have ever played through. And he has one of the first Mark Vs (the most versatile ever). It's an incredible amp. Takes time to learn everything about them though.
lol they dont even use the same tubes dude, they arn't even comparable amps. 6L6's will obviously give u a more american sound than a classic el34 amp.
I agree. Whoever is playing it didn't take out the time to make it sound good. It takes a few minutes but once you get it right Mesa amps sound just outright amazing.
now thats more like it, someone who knows how to use distortion, some of tese demo's on Mesa from people who just make noise actually may hurt masa amp sales
Combos tend to be more unwieldy because you cannot make separate trips, whereas you could carry the head and then carry the 2x12. Im not sure about Lone Stars, but my Mark III combo is heavy like a mofo, especially in its roadcase.
It would depend on the type of 2x12 cab (closed back, 1/2 open, etc). Even if both the 2x12 combo and the cab use the exact same speakers, and are both the same type, they will still not sound the same. But to answer your question, yes, soundwise it could make a difference, depending on several variables.
i am getting the head with a 2x12 cab because i can use it with any speakers i like. i prefer mesa's recto models with v30's rather than the stock c90 speakers
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
Mesa is ok, better than Marshall, but this is not as good as the high end Orange amps, and it is certainly nowhere as good as the Class A Hiwatt - the best guitar amp is the world.
In England Marshall work out fairly reasonable actually, cause their tube amps are made in England, about 2 hours from me. most of their heads cost around £650-£800 (US$1300-$1600) that's cheaper than all mesa, hughes and kettner, Framus, Orange, ENGL, heads
Wow, that's awesome. In Australia everything seems to cost loads more than it does in the US / UK, even after factoring in shipping costs and converting currency. I guess we must have really high tariffs or something.
You get what you pay for. I went cheap and am paying the price for it. I wish I would have just got the right amp the first time, this guy here will never buy an amp again.
Well, for the UK I would suggest Vox AC30s if the MesaBoogs are too expensive (and they are, saw it at a shop, sorry guys!) AC30s rock too.... Having said that, I want a Lone Star :D
nah, guitars tones really only differ in the pickup selection mostly, slightly in the woods, the rest is just playability and preference of bolt on vs set in stuff like that, guitars are more important in tone if your playing an acustic or semi-hollow body guitar
The guitar sound is just as important as the amp. If you have a piece of shit guitar, the amp is not going to sound good, and vice-versa. I think the wood has a LOT to do with the tone and the pickups, and other small things like you said (bolt on neck vs set in neck, etc.). For example, a Les Paul sounds completely different than and Ibanez RG. Why? Woods, pickups, the body and neck shapes have something to do with it, and lots of other things.
shapes deffinately have nothing to do with guitar tone they are for look, LP's sound different cause they all use classic pickups, and people with squire strats have set them up properly and changed the pickups and they soudn like an american strat, pickups are the most important part of the guitar
I didn't really mean shape, I meant size of the guitar body or neck. If you chopped a chunk of wood off a Les Paul it would lose resonance. So yes it does have something to do with it. The wood on a Squier isn't even real wood (on mine it isn't), the hardware and pickups are cheap, and I'm sure that even if you put good pickups on it it would sound better, but not like a real Strat.
you're completely wrong. a squire strat wont sound like an american because they're made of a much cheaper grade of wood and the tone doesnt resonate. Wood effects the tone immensely, pickups provide the voice but the wood is where the real sound of the guitar lies. and if you feed an amp shit, you'll get shit out. crappy guitars plus a good amp will always equal crappy tone
wow, um... an lp sounds the way it does bc its a big hunk of pure wood. i have a lp standard faded and theres no way that you can get the lp tone anyother way. pickups are very important but they arent the most important
actually, shape does have alot to do with tone. for some reason, V shaped guitars have more sustain than a guitar with the same mass but a different shape.
SHAMELESS GRIPE: I never understand how people think they can evaluate ANY type of audio gear based on a camcorder or IP camera room recording that has been compressed to about 1/10 of its original signal so that it can be posted on sites like this. I'm not being a jerk, I just hate to see people dismiss or miss out on ANY excellent equipment (amps, mics, preamps, instruments, etc.) because they don't think it sounds good on a 2 minute Internet clip....crazy!! (You are correct "danyeo")
Having said that, don't you think that if someone DOES like the sound they hear, they can assume the real deal will sound better?
Also, the character of the distortion can usually be heard quite well. Frequencies aren't always accurately represented but a smooth distortion sound cannot be the result of grainy amp + innaccurate recording
I am an audio-video systems designer, as well as, a gigging guitarist with over 20 years live and studio experience. I have owned over 150 tube amps from almost all major and boutique builders.
I currently gig with two of these in stereo and it's got some of the most amazing clean AND lead tones ever. It's not a metal amp (not trying to be) but has GREAT saturated lead tones nonetheless. It's a PLAYER's amp. One of the best instruments ever to come out of Petaluma, CA.
It's probably not the amp that's giving it a nasally transistor tone. Probably the position of the mic. And yeah, digital camera mic's are perfect for capturing an amps tone.
In case you're not smart enough that last sentence was sarcasm
4. Then postthis on 4 different videos. If you do this your crush will kiss you on the nearest friday! But if you read this and dont post it on 4 different videos then you wil have very bad luck
Sounds like a cardboard box..like a Domino's pizza tastes. Could be the recoding environment, but I've played a couple Boogie combo's that had a very flat, 1-dimensional tone just as this amp sounds.
I love Dominos Pizza - but hey, not all tones are for everyone... no offense taken. This amp sounds very lively and 3D in person (to my ears). Maybe its the camera mic - maybe it IS the amp. YMMV. Since this recording I've added a Zoom G1 for a touch of delay in the loop. FWIW
This video has 116,000 hits.
lighteningboy 2 months ago
Shitty mic. If you don't have a good mic, don't put up a vid.
MinningAround 2 months ago
I own the same in a half stack version, it sounded great but I knew something was missing, I made my own back for the cab out of birch plywood with radiused triangle cutouts on the top half and closed on the bottom half, Switched to 6V6 power tubes ( must remain on tweed power ) and put a bbe 882 i in the effects loop and did the favorable ohm mismatch for the speaker cab hook up ,4ohm out of the head into the 8 ohm cab ,remember must remain on tweed ,power switches can be in the 100 watt tweed.
MrZorrack 5 months ago
That's the only bad sounding Lone Star in existence - but we'll give him a pass for the mic and/or mic placement. What the hell happened to your clean tones? That's one of the main selling features of the Lone Star!
cdp1 7 months ago
I love mesa boogie they are the best amp in the world. That said -this amp sound-like shit.. did you listen to the video before you posted. I'm surprised mesa boogie did not make you take it down.
lsmith869 7 months ago
I own one of these (the head only) and use an Alpha Pup cabinet with a Scumback M75-LHDC 100 watt speaker, and it totally kicks some serious booty. NOTHING like this tone.
Probably the mike position or the setup of the amp itself.
AbraxasTribute 8 months ago
This amp has great sustain. Love it!
MultiScoffer 8 months ago
what settings were you using on the channel 2 with the drive off? are you willing to divulge? :p
partytime423 2 years ago
you can see them in the video
gain - 2 o clock
treble - 3
mid-12:30
bass-3 (sounds like too much to me)
presence - 9
volume-12
topperspoppers 1 year ago
I was thinking the clean channel sounded much too bluesy for blackface sounds, but then I saw that the gain was full and the mid was on half, and you're using a pick.
StefanPriceUK 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Blackstar Artisan 30 Half The Price Double The Tone
liaserethguitarist12 2 years ago
??? Thats british, and this is american...
There is like no comparison you noob
LikidySplitz 2 years ago 2
Vox AC30 is British and thats one hell of an amp. Fair enough this is arguably better but all i'm sayin is we brits make good amps too.
tommart123 2 years ago 3
Each to their own, I hate the AC30's for what I do, but for Brian May 's style they sound great. And if you want a Marshall Plexi sound, a marshall sounds great, lol. Both countries make amazing amps for different sounds and styles. I generally think American 6l6 for clean, English EL34 for hard rock.
StefanPriceUK 2 years ago
@tommart123 I like American and British amps, their both good in their own way.
domdabombabc 2 years ago
I would like to disagree. You get what you pay for. That is why Mesa amps cost so much. Because you get a lot.
realguitarist07 2 years ago 4
@realguitarist07 Very true, there's no reason to get a boogie if you only like one type of tone because they can do so much.
domdabombabc 2 years ago
Oh yes, my guitar teacher owns a lot of Boogies and he is a true tone junkie. He has the original Stiletto Deuce (first one ever built by Randy himself). It is one of the most incredible amps that I have ever played through. And he has one of the first Mark Vs (the most versatile ever). It's an incredible amp. Takes time to learn everything about them though.
realguitarist07 2 years ago
lol they dont even use the same tubes dude, they arn't even comparable amps. 6L6's will obviously give u a more american sound than a classic el34 amp.
foxtrotalex 2 years ago 3
Love Lonestars!!! Have 2 ot them. Mesa/Boogie Rocks!!!
gottfriedbrux 2 years ago 2
hmm, not a fan. should sound much creamier for the cash imo.
wiivamphomebrew 3 years ago
its not dialed in that well. believe me, its a great amp.
punkdude543 2 years ago 2
I agree. Whoever is playing it didn't take out the time to make it sound good. It takes a few minutes but once you get it right Mesa amps sound just outright amazing.
realguitarist07 2 years ago
Do a quick search for "andy timmons amp rig".
That's the best quality demo I've found for this amp so far; mind blowingly great.
ChrisDN 2 years ago
this is just because the sound gets shitty (due to the use of a mic) TRUST ME this amp is sooooooo fukin worth it...creamy as creamy can be.
BijhanS 2 years ago
now thats more like it, someone who knows how to use distortion, some of tese demo's on Mesa from people who just make noise actually may hurt masa amp sales
rickso12 3 years ago 2
Played thru a tele?
JuicyOverdrive 3 years ago
this 1 x 12" 30 watt amp starts at $1700!!
northerncaliredwoods 3 years ago
its actually 100 watts. you can run it at 50 and 5 watts too. and I got one used for $900, and its a 2x12 :]
MesaBoogieLonestar 3 years ago
Muito bom!!!
edsonbaumer 3 years ago
I was shocked by the CLEAN channel when i first played one, probably the best i've ever herd.
motokev 3 years ago 4
stunning amp, shame i will never be able to afford one living in the UK :(
mattacuk 3 years ago
Its a trade-off. Marshall = UK. Mesa = America! :P
229Mafia 3 years ago
but i dont want a marshall lol ;)
mattacuk 3 years ago 4
were did u get the wheels for the amp? jw
zidanevsronaldo 3 years ago
my amp already came with them attached!
MagicBrother132 3 years ago
The Lonestar is a killer amp.I just would rather have the head & at least a 2x12.Sounds SICK!!!!
viperBSG 3 years ago
why don't get a 2x12 combo, instead of the head and cab seperately? that will be much easier to carry.
drmsgtrplayer 3 years ago
Combos tend to be more unwieldy because you cannot make separate trips, whereas you could carry the head and then carry the 2x12. Im not sure about Lone Stars, but my Mark III combo is heavy like a mofo, especially in its roadcase.
Slipknotfanatic89 3 years ago
thanks, but soundwise it don't make any diffrence right?
drmsgtrplayer 3 years ago
It would depend on the type of 2x12 cab (closed back, 1/2 open, etc). Even if both the 2x12 combo and the cab use the exact same speakers, and are both the same type, they will still not sound the same. But to answer your question, yes, soundwise it could make a difference, depending on several variables.
Slipknotfanatic89 3 years ago
i am getting the head with a 2x12 cab because i can use it with any speakers i like. i prefer mesa's recto models with v30's rather than the stock c90 speakers
timmonsisbest 3 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Mesa is ok, better than Marshall, but this is not as good as the high end Orange amps, and it is certainly nowhere as good as the Class A Hiwatt - the best guitar amp is the world.
studiointernnigga 3 years ago
you do realize it depends on what type of tone you want, right?
rixills 3 years ago 3
the sound is so amazing..... but I would like to know from someone the price of the amp...... Im very sure that is f*cking expensive....
horahell 3 years ago
i heard around $1700 or over double that in the UK
mikedowopdowop 3 years ago
$3900 - $4500 in Australia. So yes, very fucking expensive. I think Mesa Boogie beat out even Marshall and Orange for being unaffordable.
Pronumeral1447 3 years ago
In England Marshall work out fairly reasonable actually, cause their tube amps are made in England, about 2 hours from me. most of their heads cost around £650-£800 (US$1300-$1600) that's cheaper than all mesa, hughes and kettner, Framus, Orange, ENGL, heads
mikedowopdowop 3 years ago
Wow, that's awesome. In Australia everything seems to cost loads more than it does in the US / UK, even after factoring in shipping costs and converting currency. I guess we must have really high tariffs or something.
Pronumeral1447 3 years ago
Yeah, in Canada, we seem to be getting lucky. Even a Marshall is a decent price here.
lighteningboy 3 years ago
You get what you pay for. I went cheap and am paying the price for it. I wish I would have just got the right amp the first time, this guy here will never buy an amp again.
lighteningboy 3 years ago
lol, we can get used heads for $1100. that being dual rectifiers and stilettos.
Go Canada
bulletproofprs 3 years ago
Well, for the UK I would suggest Vox AC30s if the MesaBoogs are too expensive (and they are, saw it at a shop, sorry guys!) AC30s rock too.... Having said that, I want a Lone Star :D
SunnyCool 3 years ago
wonder what kinda guitar that is. That would help a lot too...
bluesstreamer101 4 years ago
guitars arent as important as the amp as far as tone, guitars are mostly for playability rather thne tone
derkerjihad 3 years ago
Not necessarily true.
PetrucciLifeson12 3 years ago
nah, guitars tones really only differ in the pickup selection mostly, slightly in the woods, the rest is just playability and preference of bolt on vs set in stuff like that, guitars are more important in tone if your playing an acustic or semi-hollow body guitar
derkerjihad 3 years ago
The guitar sound is just as important as the amp. If you have a piece of shit guitar, the amp is not going to sound good, and vice-versa. I think the wood has a LOT to do with the tone and the pickups, and other small things like you said (bolt on neck vs set in neck, etc.). For example, a Les Paul sounds completely different than and Ibanez RG. Why? Woods, pickups, the body and neck shapes have something to do with it, and lots of other things.
PetrucciLifeson12 3 years ago
Where I had "and the pickups" it should be "as well as the pickups" or something along those lines.
PetrucciLifeson12 3 years ago
shapes deffinately have nothing to do with guitar tone they are for look, LP's sound different cause they all use classic pickups, and people with squire strats have set them up properly and changed the pickups and they soudn like an american strat, pickups are the most important part of the guitar
derkerjihad 3 years ago
I didn't really mean shape, I meant size of the guitar body or neck. If you chopped a chunk of wood off a Les Paul it would lose resonance. So yes it does have something to do with it. The wood on a Squier isn't even real wood (on mine it isn't), the hardware and pickups are cheap, and I'm sure that even if you put good pickups on it it would sound better, but not like a real Strat.
PetrucciLifeson12 3 years ago
you're completely wrong. a squire strat wont sound like an american because they're made of a much cheaper grade of wood and the tone doesnt resonate. Wood effects the tone immensely, pickups provide the voice but the wood is where the real sound of the guitar lies. and if you feed an amp shit, you'll get shit out. crappy guitars plus a good amp will always equal crappy tone
alexh889 3 years ago
wow, um... an lp sounds the way it does bc its a big hunk of pure wood. i have a lp standard faded and theres no way that you can get the lp tone anyother way. pickups are very important but they arent the most important
enjoyincubus034 3 years ago
actually, shape does have alot to do with tone. for some reason, V shaped guitars have more sustain than a guitar with the same mass but a different shape.
rixills 3 years ago
SHAMELESS GRIPE: I never understand how people think they can evaluate ANY type of audio gear based on a camcorder or IP camera room recording that has been compressed to about 1/10 of its original signal so that it can be posted on sites like this. I'm not being a jerk, I just hate to see people dismiss or miss out on ANY excellent equipment (amps, mics, preamps, instruments, etc.) because they don't think it sounds good on a 2 minute Internet clip....crazy!! (You are correct "danyeo")
buddaman1971 4 years ago 3
i agree, but it at least gives you an idea of the amp's voice.
deronhubbard 4 years ago
though your partially right, the solution to your gripe is to NOT watch these videos...
Shogun777 4 years ago
Having said that, don't you think that if someone DOES like the sound they hear, they can assume the real deal will sound better?
Also, the character of the distortion can usually be heard quite well. Frequencies aren't always accurately represented but a smooth distortion sound cannot be the result of grainy amp + innaccurate recording
Basically what deronhubbard said
snackajack117 3 years ago
I am an audio-video systems designer, as well as, a gigging guitarist with over 20 years live and studio experience. I have owned over 150 tube amps from almost all major and boutique builders.
I currently gig with two of these in stereo and it's got some of the most amazing clean AND lead tones ever. It's not a metal amp (not trying to be) but has GREAT saturated lead tones nonetheless. It's a PLAYER's amp. One of the best instruments ever to come out of Petaluma, CA.
buddaman1971 4 years ago
thats like 7.5 amps per year? wtf do you change amps so much for lol buy before you try hey/? haha jk
johnsymes47 3 years ago
It's probably not the amp that's giving it a nasally transistor tone. Probably the position of the mic. And yeah, digital camera mic's are perfect for capturing an amps tone.
In case you're not smart enough that last sentence was sarcasm
danyeo 4 years ago 7
I'm sorry but for whatever reason, this sounds like my transistor radio that I got when I was like 6 years old.
gungasdindin 4 years ago 4
That thing is better than Marshalls.
inricheetos 4 years ago
the clean is simil to Brunetti Maranello....is fantastic!!!
StratoPlus 4 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
THIS REALLY WORKS OUT!TRY IT OUT.
1. Say your name 10x
2. Then say your mom's name 5x
3. Then say your crush's name 3x
4. Then postthis on 4 different videos. If you do this your crush will kiss you on the nearest friday! But if you read this and dont post it on 4 different videos then you wil have very bad luck
PetrucciDTFromHell 4 years ago
Clean suck,there is no clean out mesa b.
gicbe 4 years ago
Dude sorry but you are wrong, Mesa Lone Star has one of the best cleans you can imagine,the guy who playes it here just wont get the tone of it.
GoldenOx 4 years ago 4
That is so true !!!!
Nicyrick 4 years ago 2
umm have you guys notticed that this is recorded with a CAM?
Carlosdamiano 4 years ago 2
recording doesnt do it justice, but lonestars are kickass, check mikey einziger on 'a crow left of the murder'
oolaef 4 years ago 3
The ultimate Blues amp.Metalheads nees not apply.
viperBSG 4 years ago
Great sound!!! tmoodyband, this combo is not a high gain mesa amp!...
vbak 4 years ago
That sounds weak. Why is that it's a boogie right?!!
tmoodyband 4 years ago
Sounds like a cardboard box..like a Domino's pizza tastes. Could be the recoding environment, but I've played a couple Boogie combo's that had a very flat, 1-dimensional tone just as this amp sounds.
pcollenYT 4 years ago
I love Dominos Pizza - but hey, not all tones are for everyone... no offense taken. This amp sounds very lively and 3D in person (to my ears). Maybe its the camera mic - maybe it IS the amp. YMMV. Since this recording I've added a Zoom G1 for a touch of delay in the loop. FWIW
MaurysMusic 4 years ago
you're an idiot
EWWWLAHLAH 1 year ago
what guitar are you using for that?
opilus 4 years ago
1998 MIM strat with duncan humbuckers
MaurysMusic 4 years ago
thanks mate nice tone
agefender 4 years ago
Sounds damn good...how does it do low volumes?
edguyrocks 4 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Nice amp. But the playing sounds the same as everything else...
mattstank 4 years ago
Thanks - I was just trying to get the tone of the amp on tape... sorry I didn't pass the audition.
MaurysMusic 4 years ago 3
mattstank - you are uncool
mackpappy 4 years ago 3
do you mind posting i video with a higher gain setting
and do palm muting, i want to see how the lone star reacts to palm muting
pretty please?
BucKeTHeaDeD 4 years ago
I'll try one day this weekend if I can find time.
MaurysMusic 4 years ago
That is a sweet sounding amp.
popstotexas 4 years ago
Thanks!
MaurysMusic 4 years ago
Great sound man! I am also the lucky owner of a Lonestar 2x12 and will not be updating anytime soon!
ScottTePaa 4 years ago
What kind of guitar did you use?
Did you record with camera's mic?
LeMagnetique 4 years ago
1998 MIM strat with duncan humbickers in the middle & bridge. Yes the camera's on-board mic was all I used ... approx 15" away.
MaurysMusic 4 years ago