Mesa Boogie DC-10 Combo

What kind of amplification (lamp, transistor, ...)?
It is an all-tube amp with four 6L6 power and six 12AX7 preamp.
Two Celestion C90 Black shaddow.

What is the power delivered?
DC10 is a 100W (6L6 uses 4) "switchable" in 60W (2 6L6) with a switch on the front panel.

What connection?
Available in front of:
- An input jack to plug his favorite guitar.
- An entry for footswich two buttons that enable / disable the EQ, and select the desired channel, clear or saturated, called Rhythm and Lead by Mesa Boogie.

The rear (copious) are available:
- 5 speaker outputs: 1 of 16 ohms, 8 ohms and 2 2 4 ohms.
- An output "Slave" with its level knob that allows "driver" additional power amps or effects processor.
- A headphone output.
- An output "Recording" + inter mute records of HP silent.
- An output enable / disable the reverb with footswitch (optional).
- An effects loop parallel type (Send / Return) with its mix knob.

What are the settings, effects? ...
Front:
The DC10 has two completely independent channels with exactly the same settings on each channel, as if we had two preamps in the same chassie. So each of the two channels has its own adjustment potentiometer:
Gain / Treble / Mid / Bass / Presence / Reverb / Master.
On the clean channel gain potentiometer is a "push-pull" which once pulled gives access to a beautiful crunch.
- A 5-band graphic EQ.
- A Level knob to adjust the overall level of the amp.
- A selection switch Rhythm / Lead / Lead + EQ.
- A choice of switch power 100 or 60 Watts.

Back panel:
Furthermore potentiometers Mix effects loop and Level Output Slave mentioned above, there is a switch assignment Graphic EQ which can either be used with both channels Rhythm and Lead or only with the Lead channel.
Reverb, located at the bottom of the combo is a Accutronics, good sound, but a little quiet compared to a Fender for example, but it is not at fault.





UTILIZATION

The configuration is it simple?
This is not strictly speaking a single config, but having two completely independent channels greatly facilitates settings.

The manual is clear and sufficient?
The manual is very clear and complete (fifteen pages).


Gets it easy to sound good?
It will take a little time to find the sound that suits us because the tone and gain significantly interfere with each other, but with this "system" can sculter all types of sounds.


SOUNDS

Is it your style of music?
I play mainly Blues, Rock and a little Country, he excels in these styles, but you can also do Jazz, Hard rock, Metal and even more with the right pedals.
I also did the ball very long varieties with this amp, I could play with almost everything, very versatile.


With guitars or what effects do you play?
79 Vintage Strat noiseless, a Gibson Nighthawk Custom, a Telecaster "Fat Tele", and even a Variax 700 for certain sounds.
I put him in front a Vox Wha 74, a DIY TS808, a DIY Small Clone, a Phase 90 DIY etc ... and in the effects loop with a multi Replifex Rocktron MIDI pedal to control everything here (effects and change channels on the amp).

What kind of sound you get and with what settings?
As I said above, almost all types of sounds are possible, the clean is amazing, lots and lots of headroom, slamming, warm, round, and clear at the same time using the graphic EQ!
The Crunch is very good, magnificent Blues!
Saturated when the channel is THE Boogie has its legend, very round, very hot here does not drool, but once again, with the 5 band EQ you can have sharper saturation, dug in the mids or bass huge!

What are the sounds you prefer, you hate?
Hate? Are you kidding! Apart from some who do not like the Boogie saturation, which is typical I grant you, all sounds fabulous on this amp!
Simply connect the guitar that goes well with the style we want to play and Roll!


OVERALL OPINION

I use this amp for about 18 years, at the time I bought it I hesitated with Rivera, who had a very good clean sound, but less saturated suited me. Before I played a Marshall JCM800 or Fender Bandmaster Reverb, which I still have, great amp but its not real clear on the Marshall and not saturated channel on Fender Dual Caliber with all the sounds that can be his need met.
There are many things I love about this amp, but whether I would choose a more versatile sound.
What I like least is the weight of the machine, more than 30 pounds! But fortunately it is equipped with a removable casters jiffy!
The price / quality ratio is good, the price of 13,800 francs of the time is (was) high, but the quality too, so here goes!
I would do this choice without hesitation, but with the years my back is not getting any younger so I would take a DC5, one HP but less heavy!
I put notes around 9 because I think that perfection does not exist, it is quite subjective, but I Fallis to 10!

This is an amp lamps with an output of 100 Watts.
There are four extensions for speakers, an effects loop with level CONTRL, direct output. On the front there is the jack for the guitar and one for the footswitch.
The footswitch has two switches: rhythm / lead, eq. It can switch from one channel to another and enable or disable the hard legalization (5 bands).
Each channel consists of a Gain, Treble, Middle, Bass, Presence, Reverb, Master (volume).
The Gain channel is splitable clean (so to speak as well).
There are three selector positions, which CONTRL function of the pedals.
Master volume.
A selector Standby on / off, and one for the Power.
Two HP 80W Celestion Black Shadow.
My description is not complete, but basically it's a.

UTILIZATION

So you have to get used to a little beginners, especially if it's your first amp lamps. But overall it's pretty simple. It's been six months that I have and I am far from having made the rounds. You just have to be careful not to strip s'garer with legalization. It was soon the tendency to focus on. I recommend STUDY well before the rest.
To the question "do you get a good sound easy?" I rponds YES. It sounds alone.
Manual: never seen.

SOUNDS

I practice the metal. But beware, this amp is extremely versatile, finally I find. I find my account as mtalleux. If you are passionate about sound type tool, metallica, Korn (first album) is on target.
The sound is clean gnial. This can be done lgrement saturate, there may be perfectly clean and never saturate too. I put a little chorus and it's great.
If we talk in terms of its texture, I would say that is not saturated fat. I play in C # Dropp So if the precision is ncessaire, I let the bass do its job of ct l. You can play a good agreement with the full gain back any frquence takes over if the amp is rgl. The clean sound is dense.
But thanks to the strip legalization can find all the textures I think.
I use a Gibson Les Paul and an Ibanez RG. I prcise because the DC-10 Fidler is the sound of the guitar while keeping a lot of characters.

OVERALL OPINION

Positives:
This is my first amp lamps. He has fifteen years and works perfectly well. Prcis buttons, the band also (a not float, you can keep the problem without rglage Prolonged exposure). It's tough. The sound is standard and versatile. I got it for 1500 euros (as you say I have not rflchi to buy a mesa 100W that price).
You can do anything with (except play in his room). I think this amp I bought it for life. On scne I m'clate. is a value sre. I would like to add a wall of cabinets. It's a Mesa.
Ngatifs points:
It is too heavy, even with wheels. It is an ordeal. (By the way I'm looking for a roadie) I myself anymore.
You really have no neighbors in the corner to push.
I think this is an amp made for scne (but be flexible with an Eng scne watts). I pushed once half of the Master gnral (I still have ear pain). Except I do not see what was said wrong. It is hard to find but if you buy one OCCAZ go for it. Plutt it correct that too rpandu aujord'hui. APRS is a story got!

Tube amp with an output of 100w or 60w depending on whether one uses 2 or 4 power tubes (switch on the front)
Optionally you can connect a footswitch to activate or deactivate the reverb.

For the rest, see each other very complete description.

UTILIZATION

<strong>The setup is simple?
</strong>
Nothing really complicated, the 2 channels are completely independent, the graphic equalizer can be used with each channel. To

<strong>The manual is clear and sufficient?
</strong>
the manual just download it on the site mesa / boogie, it's always interesting to read but not necessarily useful.

<strong>Do you get a good sound easy? "

<span style="font-weight: normal;">AHUEVOOOOOOOOOOOO .......... the right sound every time! Now you must know that it sounds super strong, serious over 2 years of use, I've never driven more than 4 / 10 and still 60w!! Unfortunately it is rare to use and fully exploit the power and grain lights up. I really want to buy a power attenuator THD hotplate kind or another ... (It still mad rage of typing € 400 to decrease the power amp then a few years ago it was quite the opposite!)

I put 7 for too much power.</span></strong>

SOUNDS

For sound I note prcq 10/10 for me it is great that both clean lead! But I admit he never managed to describe sound with words!
I play rock music in the broadest sense. My influences are; TOOL, Nine Inch Nails, King Crimson, Frank Zappa, QOTSA, Foo Fighters, RATM, and all projects of Mike Patton. The amp is doing wonderfully in these styles (the problem would rather guitarist ...)

OVERALL OPINION

<strong>For how long have you been using it?

<span style="font-weight: normal;">2 years
</span>
Did you try many other models before getting this one?

<span style="font-weight: normal;">Peavey ULTRA + AD120VT VOX, Fender Hotrod, only the fender sounded really pro but the distortion channel was awful!

What is your opinion about the value for the price?

I bought € 900, but I directly change lamps (250 € in total) is € 1150. The amp must have fifteen years, this model no longer exists, the dual series caliber was replaced by the series F and then the series Express. At the time Mesa / Boogie had far fewer amp models today. The seriousness of the brand is well established, and part of the price is certainly due to the logo and the passage of the Atlantic. Nevertheless, I judge the quality / price very honest (for the 900 €).

Knowing what you know now, would you make the same choice?

I have nothing wrong with this amp, on the contrary! Except perhaps his power far too important, I have no intention of selling it but if I had to find myself without an amp today I think I would opt for a Brunetti (In my opinion the equivalent of mesa Made in Italy but not crossing the Atlantic and a less famous logo)

If you have the opportunity to offer it and you're not afraid of power, have no fear ... NO
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