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Mesa Boogie Lone Star Special Review
Mesa Boogie Lone Star Special Features
Pure Class A, Channel Assignable Power Section allows you to assign either 1, 2 or all 4 Power Tubes to each Channel for Power Ratings of 5, 15 or 30 Watts per Channel (patent pending) / 4xEL84, 5x12AX7, 1x5Y3
Incorporates Rectifier Tracking� (patent pending)
2 Fully Independent Channels each with Gain, Treble, Mid, Bass, Presence, Reverb & Master Controls
Channel 1 is dedicated to Boutique Vintage Clean/Breakup
Channel 2 is switchable between Clean/Breakup (Cloning Channel 1) or Cascading High Gain
High Gain Mode activates separate �Drive� Control (Multi-Stage Cascading Gain Circuit)
Thick/Normal/Thicker Voicing Switch (Channel 2)
All-Tube, Long Spring Reverb with Bright/Warm Reverb Tone Switch
Output Level Control (over all channels when activated)
Footswitchable Solo Level Control � Patent # 6,724,897 (over all channels when activated)
All-Tube FX Loop with Send Level Control (over all channels when activated)
True �Hard� Bypass Switch that removes FX Loop, Output Level & Solo Level Controls from signal path
Slave Out w/Level Control
Fan Cooled with On/Off Switch
External Switching Jacks for Channels 1/2 & Solo
All Aluminum Chassis
2 Button Footswitch (Channel 1/2 & Solo)
Mesa Boogie Lone Star Special Sounds
The amp is quite versatile going from clean to crunch (not Recto crunch) with ease and could
easily work in any rock band settings. As you switch the channel wattage from 5 to 15 to 30 the
amp seems to open up much more the higher you go. On clean settings the 30 watt has some serious
spank to it and really gets that Vox vibe happening. Lower wattage setting seem to get a little
on the muddy side.
Even on 5 watts this amp is very loud but managable when you engage the effects loop which brings
the output control into the picture. This allows each channel volume to be set then controlled
with the output for a overall volume level.
The other key item to note is the tone controls which are very interactive. However, the amount
of gain or drive dialed in will play a role in the effectiveness of the tone controls. More gain/drive
the less effective the tone controls become. Also, as you progress from treble to mid to bass to
presence each control has a effect on the next one in line. I suggest reading the manual and
writing down the instant gratification settings before heading to the store. You cannot just
set the tone controls to noon and expect to get good results.
Conclusion
The only negative is that the medium head is very large, noticeably wider than a Stiletto or Recto
head, and heavy. So far I'm enjoying playing through the Lone Star Special and tweaking with the sounds. The
range of tones available is HUGE with this amp. Both the amp and the cab are built like tanks
and I would not hesitate to gig with either one. However, because the look so good I will definatel
invest in a road case for each to protect the tolex.
Sounds clips below feature the Lone Star Special with a Boogie 4x10, Jensens in the top and Eminence
in the bottom. The mic (e609) was placed on the outside cone of one of the Jensens. Clip 1 is
the clean channel set on 15 watts, clip 2 is the drive channel with the first lick on 5 watts and
the second on 15 watts.
Don't forget to checkout Lone Star Special and Classic settings in our amp settings database.
The Mesa Boogie section contains settings for many Mesa Boogie amps.
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