Mesa Boogie Preamps: Studio VS Quad

[Monty-Jay]

Alrighty, well I've had the Studio and Quad preamps for about a month and in that time, I've been able to get more familiar with the tones that are inside these sweet units. I know that from time to time, there are folks that are curious about how these two compare so I thought I'd throw out an example of how I've been using them and describe the similarities/differences. The STUDIO sections are in BLUE and the QUAD sections are in RED

(these are NOT the settings I used, just a pic I thought I'd put up)

Preamps:

The Mesa Boogie Studio and Quad are two sweet preamps from the 80s and their tone lies directly within the Mark Series. The Studio is based on the IIC preamp section and the Quad is based on the IIC (Channel 1) and III (Channel 2). The Quad Channel 1 is basically the same as the Studio preamp, BUT the Quad has three additional controls in the form of pull pots (bass shift, treble shift, mid deep). Because of this, I'm not really going to focus on the Quad Channel 2 since it's really not fair.

Setting:

I like a wide variety of music and because of that, I also like to play a wide variety of music. So I usually try and squeeze as many tones out of whatever I'm using and if I can do it, without much compromise. The bottom line for me when it comes to tones are two straightup categories: Blues and Metal/Hard Rock.

To compare the preamps, I kept these two tones in mind and used two guitars, my alder Jackson dinky with Duncan 59s (split) and my mahogany explorer with EMG 81/60.

Bluesy Tones:

I have actually been playing the Quad more than the Studio, that's what I've been dialing my tones in on. So what I did was this: I fired up the Quad at decent bedroom levels and made sure it's the tone I had been using and liked. I tweaked it a bit and then switched over to the Studio, dialed in the same settings that were on Quad Channel 1 (basically the same as the Studio). Once both preamps' rotary and EQ settings were identical, they were not changed.

The Studio preamp has two modes, rhythm and lead. I started out with my Jackson for the blues tones with the EQ engaged on both rythm and lead modes.. The Rhythm mode provided a really crisp, FAT, round, punchy clean tone. It didn't break up, but it was very responsive to pick attack.

Next up was the Quad Channel 1, rhythm mode with the EQ Engaged. I started playing the same basic lines/riffs and noticed that this tone was also very clean and responded nicely to pick attack, but the low end wasn't as fat as the Studio's. I checked the settings again to make sure it was the same as the Studio's and it was But the tone I was getting wasn't quite as thick as the Studio's tone UNTIL I pulled the volume bright, bass shift and mid deep controls. That really brought more life out of the tone and it was pretty much identical to the Studio's tone. Now remember, the Studio ONLY has a bright switch on the Rhythm mode.

 

[Monty-Jay]

Re: Mesa Boogie Preamps: Studio VS Quad

Back to the Studio, lead mode. This also has the EQ engaged. All I can say is this is a very sweet sound. It has a lot of sustain and enough gain to play nice and fluidly. It's your stereotypical Santana lead type of voicing, plenty of gain to play solos with but remain very clear and crisp.


Next up was the Quad Channel 1 lead mode with the EQ engaged. Again, this sound was pretty much on the money 100% with the Studio tone. Maybe even better thanks to the additional pull controls.

I also switched over to the Quad Channel two rhythm mode for awhile. This is the perfect tone in between clean and lead. It's nice and dirty, great for blues rock rhythm playing.

So to recap the Bluesy tones, I didn't change any settings at all, only the pull pots on the Quad Ch1 to bump the low end up to the same level of the Studio's. This provided a nearly identical tone

Metal/Hard Rock Tones

Out comes the Explorer loaded with EMGs First up was the Studio, rhythm mode. I didn't like this tone much, the EMGs were really overloading the tone so I took the EQ out. That helped things a LOT and the clean tone was pretty much perfect. Round, thick and fat with a smooth high end that provided enough sparkle to the tone but didn't dominate the mix.

Switching over to the Quad Channel 1 rhythm mode, the clean tone was pretty much the same, so out went the EQ.

Studio lead mode was kinda flat, so I put the EQ BACK IN and that really brought things to life once again. The tone was nice and crunchy, a lot more gain than the bluesy tone. The EMGs really do a nice job of bringing that tone out more than the low output passives.

Quad Channel 1 lead mode was the same deal, flat without the EQ so I brought it back IN. I must say, the lead tones seem to be smoother on the Quad Channel 1 than Channel 2.

I also tested out the Quad Channel 2 rhythm mode but it wasn't working for me, it was just kinda brittle sounding. It works well with the passives, but not with the EMGs pushing the gain up.

Conclusion:
-The Studio seems to have a more prominent low end response than the Quad does. BUT the Quad can get this tone once you pull a few of the controls (bass shift, mid deep). This also might have been due to tube differences.

-With 2 different guitars, I could basically have two different rigs while using the Quad, WITHOUT changing settings other than taking the EQ OUT while using EMGs:

-The blues tones can be had while using lower output pickups. R1 gives you cleans, R2 gives you dirty grinding rhythm, LD1 gives you a SWEET solo tone full of sustain and soul. LD2 is just over the top leads.


Metal/Hard Rock tones can be had while using higher output pickups. R1 gives you a really nice clean, round fat and full of life, R2 is pretty much useless IMO, LD1 has a nice crunch and smooth sustain, excellent leads. LD2 is perfect for my main heavy crunch tone.


-The EQ really brings out the soul of the both preamps. I have to turn it off when using EMGs for my straightup clean tone though, it's just too much gain and starts to breakup.

MJ

 

[thqm3]

Re: Mesa Boogie Preamps: Studio VS Quad

Extreme necropost, but does anyone else with experience of both the Studio and Quad have input on this excellent comparison? I have a lead on a Studio, but not sure if it's worth hanging out f a Quad. Cheers!

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Mesa Boogie Preamps: Studio VS Quad

Of the two pre-amp units, I only have a Quad - and that needs servicing!

One gripe that I have with the comparison write-up is that what the pre-amp control settings achieve will vary, depending on what you hear them through. Power amplifier and loudspeaker driver and enclosure differences will all contribute.

If the pending deal on the Studio Pre- is good, buy it. You can probably simulate the additional sounds offered by the Quad via drive and EQ pedals - possibly, even, Boogie ones!

 

[thqm3]

Re: Mesa Boogie Preamps: Studio VS Quad

Cheers. That's the way I'm leaning at this point.

BTW - nice avatar. Just purchased my own Stick, should have it by the end of the month.

 

[dystrust]

Re: Mesa Boogie Preamps: Studio VS Quad

Cheers. That's the way I'm leaning at this point.

BTW - nice avatar. Just purchased my own Stick, should have it by the end of the month.

It's been a few years, but I even had both in the same rack. Honestly I thought the Studio sounded better. The Quad had the two extra channels but seemed a bit fizzy. The only caveat I can think of with boost pedals is that the Studio Pre tends to be rather compressed with the gain above about 5, so you need to hit it HARD to notice much boost.

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: Mesa Boogie Preamps: Studio VS Quad

I've never done a side-by-side comparison with the Studio and the Quad, but the Quad captures many of the tones of my Mark III amps. I love the III; they are so easy to get good tones. And one thing to consider...every guitar that I've plugged into any of my Mesa amps sounds as good as it possibly can. Some amps don't work well with certain types of pickups...these amps don't seem to prefer one over the others. PAFs, Strat singles, DeArmonds, Filtertrons, toasters, actives, P-90s...all good.

Another point to consider is that these preamps are very responsive to tube blueprinting. The Mesa tubes are rigorously tested for noise and microphonics, but drop a JJ, EH, Tung-sol or Mullard into the various sockets and the differences will be obvious. It's a great way to fine-tune your tone.

Bill

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: Mesa Boogie Preamps: Studio VS Quad

BTW, I think Sir Paul still uses a Studio Pre in his rig.

Bill

 

[Mincer]

Re: Mesa Boogie Preamps: Studio VS Quad

Wait, there will be 2 Stick players here? Who do I talk to so I can get Seymour to design a pickup series for the Stick?

 

[dystrust]

Re: Mesa Boogie Preamps: Studio VS Quad

I've never done a side-by-side comparison with the Studio and the Quad, but the Quad captures many of the tones of my Mark III amps. I love the III; they are so easy to get good tones. And one thing to consider...every guitar that I've plugged into any of my Mesa amps sounds as good as it possibly can. Some amps don't work well with certain types of pickups...these amps don't seem to prefer one over the others. PAFs, Strat singles, DeArmonds, Filtertrons, toasters, actives, P-90s...all good.

Another point to consider is that these preamps are very responsive to tube blueprinting. The Mesa tubes are rigorously tested for noise and microphonics, but drop a JJ, EH, Tung-sol or Mullard into the various sockets and the differences will be obvious. It's a great way to fine-tune your tone.

Bill

+1 on tube rolling. Mesa 12AX7s sound decent in a Studio or Quad, but there are better tubes out there if you're willing to put in the effort to find them.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Mesa Boogie Preamps: Studio VS Quad

Who do I talk to so I can get Seymour to design a pickup series for the Stick?

Greg Howard.

 

[Darg1911]

Re: Mesa Boogie Preamps: Studio VS Quad

What possessed the OP to use a blue font? ...

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Mesa Boogie Preamps: Studio VS Quad

This thread is so ancient that the forum background colours would have been different back then. Red and blue typefaces on white would have looked ever so patriotic.
:usa2:

 

[Animal]

Re: Mesa Boogie Preamps: Studio VS Quad

The Studio Pre is generally regarded to sound nicer. I used to own a Quad and I reckon the additional Mark III channel sounds too similar to justify the extra dials, cost, weight and real-estate.