Re: Mesa Boogie Pedals: serious tone!
Just got it in. I've been playing for about the last 2 hours and I'm floored. Through a clean Fender, with your eyes closed you'd have a really hard time believing you're not playing a Mesa. I've played through a good portion of them and there was always something unique happening in the low end, a certain stiffness to the feel and a crisp kinda crunch tone. This delivers in a way that the XTC Blue and other dirt pedals like the XTS Atomic or Flickinger Cranky Atom didn't for me. Getting that crunch to sound authentic is not easy, but there's a way this pedal does it while keeping the amplifier sounding wide open and natural and that's exciting. I really like how it cleans up (this thing will literally get as clean as your ampfrom slightly turning down on the volume) and responds to your pick attack. It may sound like hype, but this really expands on the "amp in a box" phenomenon with the way it reacts in a way that I didn't think the technology had evolved to yet.
The "hi" mode really sings. The hi-trim control adjusts the volume of the hi mode so you can get some saturation without blowing your head off at home volumes. Cons right now are that the boost gain is not adjustable and the EQ is very powerful, so it takes some tweaking to get it to sound good and a little goes a long way (I'm sure the Mark series is similar). I made the mistake of turning up the upper mids on it on the hi side and the boost nearly ripped my head off both in EQ and apparent volume even with the trim turned down. I found the key is to cut frequencies with the EQ instead of boosting them to keep the hi-trim in check (it's easier to boost the non cut frequencies by turning up the trim afterwards). It came with the EQ set for the standard mid scooped "V" thing, but between having a telecaster and a silverface Fender it was terrible.
For the metalheads, honestly the Flux Five is crushing with the gain turned up and the boost on. If the Throttle Box is an extension of this pedal, I guarantee you it'll have more than enough gain to satisfy.
If you're looking for the classic Mesa thing, this has it. If you want something versatile enough to do Marshall or Vox or something, this isn't your pedal. I think it's great that it's completely usable (and damn near perfect) with the knobs straight up. I think I turned down the treble a hair and the gain a bit and I was completely happy with the rhythm and lead tones I was getting.
It's a strange thing - as I've gotten older I've found myself messing less with stuff and my tastes have changed. I originally liked my Bogners over the Mesa stuff, but over time, the things that used to bother me about Mesa like the stiffness and the slight fizz/graininess in the treble I actually appreciate now (one of the things that led me to selling my second Shiva was that it was a bit too smooth and compressed). This has clarity and attitude and while it's the honeymoon period, it's really promising.
Big kudos to hermetico again for posting about these things. When I first heard clips of the single channel stuff, I wasn't too thrilled about them. I thought it was Mesa's way of cashing in on the same pedals every one has already heard before. They've definitely found a way to get the unique EQ, feel and gain structure down and time will tell whether other musicians embrace it. Given the extra perks of having the EQ version, I'm really glad I took a chance on this. They've clearly put some R&D into this and it shows.
Unlike hermetico, I don't have a wide variety of amps to use the Flux Five with, but my suspicions were that the 6L6 tubes of my Vibrolux and Super Reverb would meld well with the pedal since the classic Mesa recipe was so similar in topography. For Fender guys looking for a serious crunch and lead tone pedal, this thing is a serious contender.
Well, it seems you've got same sensations.
I agree the Flux Drive ISN'T a MARSHALL-IN-A-BOX, indeed.
But, If you want to Marshallize it, just stack before the amazing Grid Slammer.
In the meanwhile, I've received the Throttle Box and the Tone Burst and, now I have a complete picture of the line.
The Tone Burst is some kind of clean booster that works awesome with the EQ controls at noon but, that allows you to add or remove basses and trebles.
Nice to have it always on and set up your foundational clean tone. You could add some grit pushing the gain, if desired.
Is somewhat similar to a Xotic EP Booster but, with more EQ and Gain control.
I'm loving it.
The Throttle Bow... Wow. I was scared when opened the pedal to remove the battery.
This pedal hast two stacked PCBs and, it hasn't so many controls for that !!!.
I cannot imagine the complex design under it.
While the Flux Drive is the "standard distortion" (with that tasty Mark voice), the Throttle is pure Hi Gain, any kind of it.
If the Flux sounded to you as very open then, don't miss the Grid Slammer!.
The good of the Grid Slammer is that "Marshallizes" both, the Flux Drive and the Throttle Box, If you wanted it.
