Conference napalm::guitar

1294.0. "Mesa Boogie Studio Preamp Review" by VIDEO::BUSENBARK () Wed May 03 1989 17:07

	After reading Dan Hick's rave review on the Mesa Boogie pre-
amp I decided to investigate it because of some serious skepticism
concerning anything being that good. I've had a certain amount of
respect for Mr. Hick's and realized we all make concessions towards
earning a living. So off to Daddy's in Nashua,NH I went.

	I used my own Schecter Strat with the Boogie Studio Preamp and it's 
reverb and used a Midiverb II in the effects loop for flanging etc.a Peavey 
M3000 Solid State power amp,through a Roland 4 12 cabinet which had Eminence 
speakers. 

	The standard tone control's were similiar to Fender with a little 
more headroom or at least it seemed so. I ran treble on 3-4 with the bright
switch on,middle was up full,bass at 3. Volumes changed from 3 to 10

	Other than the usual tone controls it had a bright switch for the
rythmn channel or clean sound and fat and bright switch for the distorted
or lead mode. A standby mode/on and off and auto in/out eq switches. Rear 
access for channel switching capabilities and for signal input. lead/rythmn
 switch,EQ switch,and reverb switch and an effects send with stereo return.

	You have a rythmn/clean vol and master channel vol,lead drive and
lead master volumes. And 2 separate overall master volumes left and right.
I ran the main master volumes wide open and did not hear any noise.

	The key here is flexibility of which for the money there is an
awful lot probably not as much as the ADA MP1 but enough for me. 

	The case is well constructed,of a heavy gauge sheet metal,venting
louvers on the side,5 tubes,2 transformers,reverb springs,1 printed circuit
card,comes with rackmount ears,footswitch,cable.

******************************************************************************
	I tried the MP1 quickly and was impressed with the clean tone
and flexibility it had to offer,but I have not yet made it into the midi 
revolution,I LIKE KNOBS! (Plus another $200 couldn't be justified)
*****************************************************************************

	I was impressed with the Boogie preamp which could give me a 
great clean/quiet tone/sound with warmth. Claptonish crunch to a slightly 
distorted sound. To a serious overbearing metal sound. It is incredibly quiet 
and the effects loop worked well with a MVII and is UNCOMPLICATED.

*******************************************************************************
	My only beef at this point with it was the delay time from going from 
crunch to clean or vicaversa was very noticeable. But this seems to be less 
noticeable as time went on.
********************************************************************************

	I always like to look at thing's a couple of times before I throw down
my cash and my first born. I read a review on the Boogie Quad and for more 
than twice the money I felt the Quad was too much for me. Also it is possible
to plug it into a guitar amp and not have to go the power amp/cab routine 
which is outlined in the owners manual. However keep in mind that this can
either be a disadvantage or an advantage as your amp will significantly color
the sounds and add noise to your setup. I tried both plugging into the front
end of a Fender Twin and into the poweramp in of the same amp. I also tried
the same with another amp and in stereo.

	Using the preamp in stereo with stereo effects was very pleasing and
pleasant to listen to and perhaps very useful in recording. Stereo out's
will enable me to feed one side to a power amp for stage volume,and the other
to go to a house or band mixer.

	Using it with a power amp is to me an ideal setup,as tube 
manufacturers are getting scarcer as time goes on and solid state
power is looking more manageable.(how much power is still being
discussed)

	The owners manual goes through each control and discusses there effect
on the overall sound. It also discusses ground loop problems in rack systems
which Mesa provides a switch to eliminate loop problems. It does not provide
you with a list of setting's as you see with Seymour Duncan and the new 
Fender's,but does recommend settings. It has lineout's and recording outputs
which simulate the sound of a speaker.
	
	My personal intentions are to buy a theile cab with 1 12" EV L series
speaker and add another 12" with a half openback. 

	BTW, I still like my old fender amp's.... But the Boogie Equipment
has an awful lot to offer....

Comments,question's are welcome.

    	Anyone who is willing to critique my review can send me mail
    at Video::Busenbark would be appreciated.....
    
    							Rick
    

    I think that if this preamp had been available a year ago, I
    probably would have bought one. Once I get my home studio completed,
    I may decide to get one for recording guitar straight into my
    multi-tracker. 
    
    Does this preamp include a headphone jack ??
    
    Mark
    

    	The preamp doesn't have a headphone jack. BTW one my requirements
    was specifically for recording as my neighbors are close by and
    have kid's asleep when the tape is running.....
    

    Craig Fuller (lead singer for Little Feat, formerly of Pure Prarie
    league) was using one last night. he's not a great player but it
    sounded good to me...
    
    
    dbii

    In the new Boogie catalog, there are some other new products to
    look out for:
    
    - Shock-Mount rack enclosures
    - MIDI Matrix System (128 programs, works on any of the 16 MIDI
                        channels, optional Abacus foot controller, random
                        program selection)
      
    This MIDI system looks like competition for the MP1.  Total price is
    $1,000 with the Abacus.  The Abacus is $379 by itself.
    
    They're offering some new Bass cabs too.
    
    Mike

	Since I've bought the preamp,I have used it successfully for
	recording. And found some more info...

	1. When powering up from standby mode,output volumes should
	be set at 0,then turn the volume up or power up the power amp
	last.(I believe the pop from the switch damaged a speaker)

	2. I find the sounds I get from the Speaker emulator output's
	more pleasing to my ear than the line out's when using a solid
	state power amp.

	3. I don't like using digital effects with the effects loop,
	but this maybe a real personal nit,I think it detracts from
	the preamp's sound even though the effect's do sound good.

	4. I believe the Studio.22 amplifier(22 watts)is capable of 
	producing the same sounds in mono and is very similiar and usable 
	with a poweramp. 

	5. For direct recording purpose's it has really worked out.

	It's been used primarily in mono mode through a Fender Twin,
	a Peavey M2600,Fender Super Reverb,BGW 250,Acoustic 130 and
	a Mesa Calibre .22. The previous amp's power amp input's were 
	used,and effects returns where possible.
	If I was playing pop/metal covers I'd probably want another
	sound at the touch of a switch.
                                                

    In the new Guitar World, there is a special on The Who's guitar setups.
    Because of hearing damage, Pete Townsend limits himself to 4
    Mesa/Boogie Quad preamps that go direct to the board.  1 for acoustic,
    1 for electric, and 2 spares.
    
    Mike

>    ...4 Mesa/Boogie Quad preamps ...
    
    Actually, I think they're Studio preamps.
    
    FWIW,
    
    Nick