Mesa Boogie V-Twin Rack

(Originally written by Nଯ Fê ®turi/translated from Audiofanzine FR)

This is the second V-TWIN rack I've bought. I sold the first one because I needed money for an Engl 530 preamp.

It's a 2-channel tube preamp with EQ (bass, mid, high) plus presence, gain and master volume controls in each channel.

It has 3 voicings per channel to let you choose between fat and bright sounds.

You can also mix both channels with the mix and volume controls. I use this a lot to get a distortion sound slightly louder than the rhythm one.

Very comprehensive connections for an already old preamp.

Very rugged manufacturing.

UTILIZATION

Very sensitive controls with typical Mesa Boogie attributes: the presence and treble parameters have an important influence on the sound.

You'll have to spend a lot of time finding the right tone because the tiniest change in the controls really affects the sound.

The clean sound is wonderful, you get from round to twangy funk sounds and the voicings provide a very broad sound range.

You also get the typical Mesa Boogie fat distortion sound and once again the voicing settings provide a broad sound range.

The distortion is very powerful but don't expect to get a Rectifier-like distortion with this preamp otherwise Mesa Boogie would have made the perfect preamp.
I wish the distortion was a bit deeper to get that big nu metal sound. The Mesa Boogie Rectifier preamp has a deeper distortion but its clean sound is nothing special whereas the V-Twin clean sound is much better.

SOUNDS

This preamp fills all my expectations otherwise I wouldn't have bought it again.
Guitar used: Ibanez SA 1260 Prestige with DiMarzio Fast Track1 (neck) and DiMarzio Breed (bridge) pickups.
Tube power amp.
Framus 2x12" speaker cabinet with Celestion V30.

OVERALL OPINION

Ive had lots of gear over the last years:
Peavey Rockmaster,
Rocktron Chameleon Online,
Marshall JMP1,
solid-state Marshall (I forgot its name but it was good)...
V-Amp Pro,
Mesa Boogie Rectifier (with an average clean sound),
Engl 530 (that I liked very much...)
... but I sold all my gear for a Line6 HD 147 amplifier head because it's a very convenient solution although it offers too many sounds for my taste.

In the end I ended up coming back to the V-Twin for its versatility, its compact size (1U) and above all its sound.
This time I'm going to keep it.
It has an excellent value for money and it's not easy to get your hands on one so I don't think I'll ever sell it again.

I will not dwell on the special features described countless times in other reviews and in the manual. But at least on paper it's all good for me. I will say just that there are two versions:
one with the steering by voicing switch on the rear and one without. Mine does not have this option. I put 9 because it brings me to what I search for a preamp in terms of setting and even more with his function of mix. I have been 10 if I had the version with voicing flyable ..

Tuned output is enough for me obsolete nowadays, because it is easy today to find good simus third of HP that will make the job better. we say that it helps out.

UTILIZATION

I will say that reading the manual is essential at the beginning as the impact of different parameter is specific to this preamp. I moved next to the overdrive channel for years (like many others besides). I put 8 and no more because the settings are very thin and intégragissent them which is an addition to a side but can interfere when not in the habit .. I personally put a lot of time finding my sound because of bad habits .. For the rest is plug and play .. option mix is ​​really great, it opens up other opportunities or offers it as just a boost for the lead ...

SOUNDS

I almost do not speak of clean and crunch, we all agree they are really beautiful.

I will focus especially on boosted channel in a metal context. Like many I switched to side at the start by telling me that this preamp is not made for that. well I am wrong .. In reality it can really do everything, but you have to plug the guitar that goes well, or OD is going well and especially to add to it a good power amp and a good cab .. and there it is the Holy Grail is in 1U to realize that this preamp is truly capable of many things ..

An example parelera better than words. I did a quick reamp of DI LASS, here is the result of a simulation with mesa cab and power amp in triode but PP6L6 (which does not benefit the preamp in this case in theory) .. I said that the lights are always those origins and must be flushed .. the gain is not even a third, but I use a clean boost in OD ..

here is the link of the sample (a single scratch on each side so the same settings, I specify that no work of equations, compression or anything, not even levels adjustment was made ..):
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/13985881/V-Twin_PI-101_Tiode_MP3.mp3

a few more details on the settings here:


OVERALL OPINION

I used it for many years, still passing next level big sound and what I read comforted me in my first impression ..

I finally have to admit I was wrong and I am glad I kept because in a single rack unit, it displays an extreme versatility and can be found at prices acceptable opportunity. In addition, what I appreciate is that his personality has very sound mesa. And then we like it or not, but if you like then it's all good!

I tested just about everything this as 1U preamp in the same price range of Cygnus (have to compare what is comparable), that is to say ADA MP1 moddé3.666, Pyrahna, Tubefex, PSA1, JMP1 etc. .. These are all good preamp relatively comfortable in the big sound, but the V-Twin is by far the most versatile thanks to its clean channel if one is satisfied with 3 sounds underfoot (it is not noon as some) but it is one that offers the most beautiful clean / crunch / saturated in the same box and I think he has a character all its own'm (a bit like the rings marshall JMP, the V-twin What sounds mesa, if you like it's all good ^ ^) I put a damper anyway these comparisons because the V-twin it took me years to understand how to get out while it's often others have been tested a few minutes, or at best a snooze time .. that they may have their secrets

I quite agree with the previous notice until recently but now I think mesa have really gone out the ultimate preamp at the time considering its price and its size.

It is a prampli two 12AX7. two channels with each channel 3 vocing
in clean, digging + or - mediums, and in full, a blues, a leader and grunge.
+ A mixed mode that allows you to balance the mix of the two channels clean / saturated
(Usable for sound levels / solo / saturated / clean).

on each channel: gain / treble / midrange / bass / presence / master + 3 voicing switch
+ A footswitch selector / manual control of the canal.
(On the pedals, two inter: saturated / clean and single mode / mix mode)
+ Between instrument.

Rear face:
between instrument, effects loop with adjustable level knob 1, (1 dpart, Stereo Return)
+ 1 switch control loop.
There are two outputs that control a stro same knob (not of its 5 db, which is extensive)
THE FIRST gross output lamps (very crystalline)
the second called tuned through a simulation of HP for recording (test)
or on a console for live (I will not date because test group)
on my rack, this second release sounds more medium then tested in concert tonight.

I forgot the headphone output Stereo enough but it is relative and to the funk and blues
was possible to work in silence ....

I have the option of ordering from 6 pedals voicing switch with a mono jack while bte
it can be trs INTERESTED ... and settings for MIDI switch occasionally.

So complte interface trs. a score of Max ...

UTILIZATION

For the grip is the mesa boogie so it trs sensitive, especially concerning the interaction between
the gain / treble / prsence (read about the manual in English which explains the philosophy of the machine)
One could blame the lack of channel saturated in brightness or losing the attack by climbing the gain over the halves: this dpend other lments (amp lights or not, HP utiliss and on what
output prampli attack on the amp, and especially the guitar ....)

I found my lead sound (which harmonizes well) a good half hour APRS research (be patient, it's not a Fender hotrod that sounds good alone, but that sounds the same for everyone ... ), I prampli for 3 days and I am far from having made the rounds. on the other hand, it is only since last night that I believe have made the right choice before, sr j'tais not find the sound I was looking for .... and say that I feel reassured but I have not yet found the top of this prampli! respect ....

In any case, try playing a few pots of milimtres is the only all happens. A deprecated and therefore to question its nvross, to mtaleux is not the best tool for this, for against, it does everything else.

SOUNDS

Question sounds, see above. I play a fender tex mex team of 3 + TBX active EMG single
for "approach" the clean sounds Gilmour.
I did a concert Saturday, using the raw output on my Marshall Valvestate 8008
and a baffle 1922: rsultat: trs crystal clear sound (almost too) and leads mals but not too
HIFI.

I redid the tests using the output simultaneously with the same config HP:
clean sounds closer to a lamp type amp twin / vox
saturation on the voicing sounds too mdium lead and too dull.
So I tried voicing the grunge with a lot of gain and has done, I win a lot
DEFINITIONS less in low mduim and brightness: it is not Steve Morse
or solo Marillion but it rappproche well ....

For the record output simultaneously HP, guitarist whom I bought the prampli
found out that this was a sound "crap" like this, it's all subjective trs trs!

My test result in concert (outdoors) I note the rise rvise my knowledge that the rglage
is more clever and difficult to find as a group.

I find that really ensures clear sound, I love
sound mix of the two channels for solos, gave a prsence apprciable trs, even
if the sound ncessite a time of adjustment. For heavy distortion, I think still missing
prampli of experience on this because it flies to a lack of brilliance in the riffs sound too fast
sour. Good also say that I get out of a peavey RockMaster that saturates are immediately
large sounds hards ... you can not have it all. on the other hand, mlodiques for solos and blues
it sounds really good. A small question mark therefore remains on the end of rglage
saturations. For the rest, prsence and big sound, even playing in paint air.

OVERALL OPINION

Used for a week:

This is a high-quality manufacturing, connection, look great and sound of course!

APRS a second concert (in air paint), I comfort my perspective, it's like a jaguar
or a Harley, the machine must tame: DIFFERENT voicings test situations, refine rglages,
but of happiness if you like good classic rock sound and effective or rhythmic
well slamming funk ...

ZAzman