mesa lone star users

[ravendouglas]

need some feed back as said in my carvin thread a couple days ago,i like page iommi and frehlwy as well as some 80s metal and new stuff ;ile god smack and disturbed ,i got 1800 bucks and am looking for my first real tube amp. and in my carcin thread i think some one mentioned a lone star and something called a 550 express c;ue me in guys.

 

[Red_Label]

Re: mesa lone star users

If I had $1800 to spend and I was looking for the classic tone of the players you mentioned I would not be looking at the Mesa stuff. Nothing wrong with Mesa. It's awesome. But it's not known for the brown sound. With that kind of dough, there's NO doubt in my mind that I'd be going for a nice, used Bogner Shiva head or combo. But that's me and my tastes. Choose for yourself, but I'd be looking at a lot more than Mesa for that kind of $$$. Look into Laney, Hughes & Kettner, Marshall, and like I said Bogner.

Oh... I reread your post and you listed some Godsmack and Disturbed in there. That changes everything. Well... I guess at least the Bogner recommendation anyways, and Marshall. I still think that you might want to try Laney and H&K. Also, try a Traynor YCS100. I have had that head for a month now and am very happy with it. I can dial in Marshall brown on Channel 2 and then use Channel 1 for that hi-gain, scooped, modern Mesa-type thing. I tend not to use that sound, but this head will do it. And it's "cheap" at $950 at MF. I certainly won't argue that the Mesa will sound more like Mesa than any other amp, but for the classic stuff I wouldn't be as sure that the Lonestar would nail it like some of these other amps. Just my $.02.

P.S. Too bad about the Bogner thing... if I $1800 in my pocket right now I'd have a Bogner Shiva on its way to me...

 

[ravendouglas]

Re: mesa lone star users

im looking for the amp that goes from jimi to frehley to iommi,to lynch,to sully,and donnigan,throw in demartini,vai,and there ya go does this amp even exist.

 

[Red_Label]

Re: mesa lone star users

im looking for the amp that goes from jimi to frehley to iommi,to lynch,to sully,and donnigan,throw in demartini,vai,and there ya go does this amp even exist.

I would say yes, for more $$$, unless you want to go the extra mile with a pedal or two. Mesa makes a tube pedal that might extend the OD range of some of those amps.

As far as amps that will do all of that, look into the Bogner XTC (to a point, it's not as hi-gain as some other heads, but the plexi sound is awesome) and maybe the Diezel Herbert or VH4. But you're talking a lot more money with those heads.

I dunno... hopefull someone will chime in with some other suggestions in your price range that I'm overlooking. Anyone know anything about Koch? I don't, but they are in that price range.

 

[Binnerscot]

Re: mesa lone star users

im looking for the amp that goes from jimi to frehley to iommi,to lynch,to sully,and donnigan,throw in demartini,vai,and there ya go does this amp even exist.

The closest thing to an amp like that really is the Road King, but it doesn't dup the Marshall attack and high mid response as well as other amps that are designed around a voice like that. The brit mode on the Road King would go there with more gain, but as is, its a great strat blues/rock channel.

If Mesa replaced channel three on the Road King with the high gain channel from the Stiletto....well that might be exactly what you would be looking for.

 

[JALIN]

Re: mesa lone star users

I tried out the Lone Star yesterday and found it will do all those 80s metal tone just fine. I really like the gain stage better than my Mark IV, although that could change once my Mark IV is gone. I really like that amp but I need a change. Anyway, I told them at the shop to hold that Lone Star Classic 212 because I will be picking it up on Monday. Bogner Shivas are nice. I would go for that but they are pricey. I've been with Mesa since 97 and their amps are built like tanks. Reliability is what I look for in an amp and you don't have to rebias when swapping tubes. That is where Mesa fits in.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: mesa lone star users

The closest thing to an amp like that really is the Road King, but it doesn't dup the Marshall attack and high mid response as well as other amps that are designed around a voice like that. The brit mode on the Road King would go there with more gain, but as is, its a great strat blues/rock channel.

If Mesa replaced channel three on the Road King with the high gain channel from the Stiletto....well that might be exactly what you would be looking for.

I agree on the Road King. Brit is kind of good, it works for me, especially with the EL34s, but it's definately not spot-on.

I wonder if Mesa can revoice channel 3? It would be an ultimate amp then.