MESA BOOGIE Owner's Manual
Hello from the Tone Farm ...You, smart player and intuitive human, have put your trust in us to be your amplifier company. This is something we do not take lightly. By choosing this instrument to be a part of your musical voice, you have become part of the Mesa family...WELCOME! Our goal is to never let you down. Your reward is that you are the new owner of an amp, bred of fine all tube heritage...benefiting from the many pioneering and patented Mesa circuits that led to the refinement of your new model.
TABLE OF CONTENTS OVERVIEW _______________________________________________________________________ 1-2 HELPFUL HINTS __________________________________________________________________ 2-3 INSTANT GRATIFICATION _____________________________________________________________3 FRONT PANEL CONTROLS & FEATURES INPUT _____________________________________________________________________________4 FOOTSWITCH ______________________________________________________________________4 DRIVE ________________________________
PRECAUTIONS & WARNINGS Your MESA/Boogie Amplifier is a professional instrument. Please treat it with respect and operate it properly. USE COMMON SENSE AND ALWAYS OBSERVE THESE PRECAUTIONS: WARNING: EU: permission from the Supply Authority is needed before connection. WARNING: Vacuum tube amplifiers generate heat. To insure proper ventilation always make certain there is at least four inches (100mm) of space behind the rear of the amplifier cabinet. Keep away from curtains or any flammable objects.
Instruction Manual Overview: Congratulations on your choice of the LONE STAR as your amplifier and Welcome to the MESA/Boogie Family! This hand-built instrument was crafted with the finest quality components and designed to provide you with years of musical inspiration and toneful satisfaction. From a glance you can see the LONE STAR is laid out simply and logically. Its clean, two channel layout provides a platform for ultimate expression with a minimal learning curve.
Overview: (Continued) The OUTPUT control is joined by our SOLO feature that provides an additional master output that you can trigger remotely for a footswitchable boost when you want to feature a part. These two Front Panel controls are brought on line with the activation of the Effects Loop. When the Loop is not active, the individual Channel Master controls serve as final output controls. When the Loop is set to HARD BYPASS, all associated circuitry is removed (for you purists) from the signal path.
HELPFUL HINTS: (Continued) 6.) When the Footswitch is not available or desired, use the Front Panel mini toggle to select the two channels. 7.) The Front Panel OUTPUT and SOLO controls are not active until the Effects Loop is switched to the LOOP ACTIVE position. Use the Channel MASTER controls for output volume level when the LOOP is set to HARD BYPASS. 8.) As with all MESA amplifiers, the LONE STAR controls really work and are extremely powerful.
FRONT PANEL: Controls & Features INPUT: This is the instrument INPUT jack. This jack feeds the preamp and since the LONE STAR is a high gain amplifier and therefore very sensitive, always use a high quality shielded cable between the instrument and the amplifier. This will prevent unwanted noise and microphonic cable sounds. INPUT FT.SW FOOTSWITCH: This 1/4 inch ” stereo jack is for connection of the Channel Select Footswitch.
FRONT PANEL: Controls & Features (Continued) CHANNEL SELECT: This 3 position mini toggle allows manual selection of the Channels when the Footswitch is not connected. Set it to the center FT-SW position to use the Channel Select Footswitch. CH 1 FT SW CH 2 INPUT DRIVE / CLEAN: This switch is responsible for activating the DRIVE circuitry in Channel 2.
FRONT PANEL: Controls & Features (Continued) GAIN: This control adjusts the predominant gain stage in each channel’s circuit with the function and taper being optimized for each individual channel. Remember that your LONE STAR is really two amplifiers built onto one chassis, so though each channel looks identical, the GAIN control for each channel comes in a different place and adjusts a different point in that channel’s circuit. CH 1 FT INPUT SW CH 2 DRIVE CLEAN FT.
FRONT PANEL: Controls & Features (Continued) TREBLE: As in most tube guitar amplifiers, the TREBLE control ( in both channels of your LONE STAR ) is the most powerful of the rotary controls and is next in line only to the GAIN control as a shaping tool. Because it is first in the signal path of the tone controls - and from here the Middle and Bass receive their signal - it is by far the dominant tone control.
FRONT PANEL: Controls & Features (Continued) BASS: (Continued) Note: The BASS control in both channels of your LONE STAR is very powerful and though we have taken steps to ensure a balanced tone is easy to achieve, it is wise to blend with subtle nuance in mind. This is especially true in Channel 2 when using either the regular Channel 1 style gain circuitry cranked, or the DRIVE circuitry for higher gain lead sounds. A good rule to follow is this; as you increase the GAIN reduce the BASS.
FRONT PANEL: Controls & Features (Continued) 100W / 50W: Channel Power Select (Continued) tone. This scheme would be further enhanced by selecting the TUBE RECTIFIER: TRACKING setting on the Rear Panel RECTIFIER SELECT switch. Or, you might want the opposite and set Channel 1 to 50 watts of sparkling, yet forgiving clean performance and go for the bold authority of 100 watt power for Channel 2 set to a soaring high gain voice using the DRIVE circuitry.
FRONT PANEL: Controls & Features (Continued) OUTPUT & SOLO CONTROLS: (Continued) SOLO: This control can only be activated if the correct Footswitch is connected to the Footswitch DIN jack. SOLO is an additional final output level control wired in parallel with the OUTPUT control. It is capable of a setting above that of the OUTPUT control and can not be set below.
REAR PANEL: WARNING: Unplug power before replacing fuse or removing bolts mounting FUSE chassis LONE STAR SILICON DIODES FAN ON TUBE RECTIFIER TRACKING FAN OFF FUSE POWER WER 120 V~ 60 Hz 4A FUSE 4A SLO BLO First set sound with LOOP bypassed. Then set SEND & OUTPUT to 50% for unity gain. With LOOP IN, adjust SEND to match FX. Use OUTPUT for RETURN level and live volume control.
REAR PANEL: (Continued) FX LOOP: Series The LONE STAR handles outboard processing by providing an on-board patch point between the preamp and power section. This loop is wired such that the dry signal is in series with the effected (wet) signal. The circuit also incorporates a SEND LEVEL control allowing you to fine tune the output of the preamp circuit to match the input sensitivity of your processor (or first processor in a rack system).
REAR PANEL: (Continued) REVERB: The LONE STAR incorporates a stunning analog Reverb circuit that is fitted with individual Channel Mix controls and a unique Reverb Voicing feature that offers a choice between two classic reverb sounds.
REAR PANEL: (Continued) BIAS SELECT: (Continued) NOTE: Using the AC POWER switch set to TWEED will reduce the strain on EL34 tubes (and 6L6 as well). If you prefer the sound of this setting, you will reduce the likelihood of tube problems and greatly extend their toneful life, as they are basically coasting. NOTE: It is possible to run the smaller octal 6V6 power tubes for reduced power applications and a looser bubblier sound in the TWEED AC POWER SETTING ONLY.
REAR PANEL: (Continued) REVERB REMOTE JACK: The Reverb feature contains a Remote Switch jack that allows you to control the Reverb effect from a separate footswitch. The 1/4” jack is located on the underside of the chassis just below where the SLAVE jack is located on the extreme right side of the Back Panel. SPEAKERS SLAVE 8 OHM 4 OHM Connecting any tip-to-ground, latching-type footswitch will allow you to toggle on and off the Reverb effect. Use a shielded cable for this application.
FACTORY SAMPLE SETTINGS TUBE RECTIFIER TRACKING SAMPLE # 1 LONESTAR STATE CH 1 100 W FT INPUT FT.SW SW OUTPUT CH 2 CLEAN DRIVE GAIN TREBLE MID BASS PRESENCE MASTER 50 W MAL DIODES SAMPLE # 2 CLEAN CLONES CH 1 FT FT.
FACTORY SAMPLE SETTINGS TUBE RECTIFIER TRACKING SAMPLE # 5 PASS THE SAUCE CH 1 FT OUTPUT CH 2 INPUT FT.SW 100 W SW CLEAN DRIVE GAIN TREBLE MID BASS PRESENCE MASTER LOOP ON SOLO 50 W ON POWER OFF STANDBY 100 W THICK TWEED ON MAL NOR 50 W THICKER DIODES SAMPLE # 6 BARBEQUE CH 1 FT INPUT FT.
PERSONAL SETTINGS SHEET SETTING # 1 CH 1 100 W FT INPUT FT.SW SW OUTPUT CH 2 CLEAN DRIVE GAIN TREBLE MID BASS PRESENCE MASTER LOOP ON SOLO 50 W MAL NOR ON 50 W THICKER ON POWER OFF STANDBY 100 W THICK TWEED SETTING # 2 CH 1 100 W FT INPUT FT.SW SW OUTPUT CH 2 CLEAN DRIVE GAIN TREBLE MID BASS PRESENCE MASTER LOOP ON SOLO 50 W MAL NOR ON 50 W THICKER ON POWER OFF STANDBY 100 W THICK TWEED SETTING # 3 CH 1 100 W FT OUTPUT CH 2 INPUT FT.
TUBE NOISE & MICROPHONICS: You may occasionally experience some form of tube noise or microphonics. Certainly no cause for alarm, this quirky behavior comes with the territory and the Tone. Much like changing a light bulb, you don’t need a technician to cure these types of minor user serviceable annoyances and in fact, you’ll be amazed at how easy it is to cure tube problems...
DIAGNOSING PRE-AMP TUBE PROBLEMS: Because your amplifier is an all tube design, it is quite possible that you will at some point experience minor pre-amp tube noise. Rest assured - this is no cause for alarm and you can take care of the problem yourself in a matter of minutes by simply swapping tubes. Let us begin by saying; It is a “very good” idea to keep at least a couple of spare pre-amp tubes on hand at all times to insure uninterrupted performance.
LONESTAR A B V 1 V 5 A B V 2 6L6 V 3 A B COOLING FAN 6L6 5U4 NOTE: POWER TUBES ARE HOT ! BEFORE CHANGING TUBES TURN POWER SWITCH TO OFF AND LET COOL OR USE A RAG FOR PROTECTION.
BIAS ADJUSTMENT: (Part of a continuing series) An Article written by Randall Smith that we thought you might find interesting. CATHODE ( ) GRID ( , ) SCREEN GRID ( ) Here’s a question we often hear: “Why doesn’t Mesa put bias adjustments in their amplifiers?” BEAMCONFINING ELECTRODE ( ) .. ..... . ... . ... .. ... PLATE ( , ) Structure of a 6L6 / 5881 Beam Power Pentode. Well, there’s a short answer and a long answer to this question.
BIAS ADJUSTMENT: (Continued) control grids. Voltage and current are NOT the same. Current is the AMOUNT of electricity, the “quantity” — and is measured in amperes. Voltage is the degree of electric charge — like the “pressure” to use the old water analogy. Let me illustrate how different voltage and current are: When you scrape your feet across a carpeted floor in dry, wintery conditions, your body can become charged with 50,000 to 100,000 volts of static electricity.
BIAS ADJUSTMENT: (Continued) Again, this has some merit .. but it’s still not as good as using tubes that are matched in the first place because compensating for the mis-match causes the push-pull circuit itself to become unbalanced. Two wrongs don’t really make a right. Some of the other recommended biasing, “methods” — such as -”.. tubes running red hot, increase the bias .. sounds harsh and runs too cool, turn it down ...” are guesswork at best.
SPEAKER IMPEDANCE MATCHING & HOOK-UP GUIDE: IMPEDANCE: Wiring up speakers to provide the most effective load and making sure that all of them are in phase will help in creating the best sound possible. This is not too difficult, as long as you understand a few things about loading and how to connect your speakers to provide an optimal resistive load. MESA/Boogie amplifiers can handle 4 and 8 ohms effectively.
SPEAKER IMPEDANCE MATCHING & HOOK-UP GUIDE: (Continued) PARALLEL: When wiring in parallel, the resistance of the speakers decreases. Two 8 ohm speakers wired in ( hooked-up ) Parallel results in a 4 ohm load. It’s easy to calculate the effect of a resistive load when all the speakers are all the same resistance. It is really not suggested to wire different resistive load values in Parallel ( 8 and 4, 16 and 8 etc.
WIRING SCHEMES...
6 WIRING SCHEMES...
WIRING SCHEMES...
WIRING SCHEMES...
ON TRIODES, PENTODES & IRISHMEN: With apologies to Friends and Relatives from the Emerald Isle - who will make their appearance soon enough - the humor which follows is dedicated to the memories of Spec McAuliff and Fae (Rafael) McNally, two of the True Greats. As their numerical references suggest, the terms Diode, Triode and Pentode indicate the number of elements within the vacuum tube i.e. two, three or five. All tubes also require a filament or heater which is not included in the count.
ON TRIODES, PENTODES & IRISHMEN: (Continued) Thus a diode tube - one with a cathode and an anode - is mostly used to rectify alternating current into direct current by passing it without restriction, but in one direction only. This also explains why closing time is strictly enforced at Irish pubs: During normal operation, the traffic flow is similarly unimpeded and uni-directional toward the bar and this process rectifies the work-day negativity.
PENTODES: (Continued) Thus the proper cocktail waitress - visible through the louvers - is scantily clad so as to be all the more effective at reinforcing the attractive influence of her bar and by being located in between the door and the bar, she serves as bait to lure customers past the door’s negative influence.
CH 1 ALL KNOBS pt# 408015 591047 MASTER 591047 POT pt# 593794 PRESENCE POT pt# 591278 BASS POT pt# POT pt# 591048 MID POT pt# POT pt# 591739 TREBLE 591047 POT pt# SW GAIN 593794 POT pt# CLEAN POT pt# THICK CH 2 SWITCH pt# 607303 FRONT VIEW : LONE STAR DRIVE POT pt# SEND 593738 CH 1 REVERB BRIGHT 100 W 50 W 50 W LOOP ON 591047 POT pt# SOLO SWITCH pt# 607111 OUTPUT 591047 POT pt# SOLO SWITCH pt# 600639 TWEED ON ON SLAVE 593740 POWER OFF STANDBY SPEAKERS 4 OHM
MESA BOOGIE The Spirit of Art in Technology Thank you for trusting MESA/Boogie to be your amplifier company and we wish you many years of toneful enjoyment from this handbuilt all tube instrument.
The Spirit of Art in Technology (707) 778-6565 FAX NO.
