All user reviews for the Mesa Boogie Studio Preamp

I am responsible for completing the data sheet ... Band feignasses!
The settings are: a gain-channel volume and bass / mid / treble / reverb ... + a common graphic equalizer 5 bands. 3 switches: Rythm bright fat-lead-lead and two bright master output (for stereo use).

UTILIZATION

The setup is really easy to use whatever we want to do (direct recording or "real amp" stage or studio). It is in search of his in particular it gets "touchy" ...
Architecture "a cascade" allows much more than 2-3 preamp channels.
There interaction between the two channels. Adjusted to a lead channel and with clean paufine which appends sustain without over-saturating the lead, the bright without farting molars or low by pushing the volume; amazing?
The manual is very useful, even essential, but the ears should be also there to achieve his ends.
Part 5-band eq is switched off or assignable regardless of the channel and with nothing but a few db + or by tape, the sound changes dramatically all! The reverb may seem puny or invasive according to the serial number and I council set itself (I mean the spring tension).

SOUNDS

I've owned one in the 90 'and I rediscovered its versatility there is little.
The cleans are nice, sparkling according to what branch, the crunch and leads are chiseled and well defined in full, full of nuance and dynamics.
I play with several guitars too numerous to detail here but cover all existing sounds.
Not a sound is horrible, but beware to acute can be tiring in the long run, do not force the band 6600 Hz. A "rational" EQ gives excellent results but a "V" also works very well.

OVERALL OPINION

I do not know who said earlier that it was the high-end ... And not laulec is its big brother the quad preamp (which I gladly balancerais a review later) that gets stuck. Even cascade architecture but two possibilities, some even a midi implementation, summary but still.
With V1 TriAxis, he always left my rig as a second knife and is very complementary.
Pre studio is actually a mark II c + boxed, neither more nor less. IT does wonders in game volume and no, mesa does definitely not a fat and dirty sound as some say at leisure. He even begins to have a small side "vintage" not unpleasant.

UTILIZATION

The configuration is it simple? not
the manual? It is vital, and I like its simple way of explaining it gives me the impression of having been written by sound engineers who made the preamp: technical terms, and everything there was to know, but a tone that is not "for sound metal type press the button and you will get the desired Squeaky" but rather "when the treble knob will apportrer aggression and gain sound during the bass will allow to give more fullness to grain. We can put very little, but if missing, get a sound with little relief. "
and I read this: "Aaaaaaah!"

"The 5-band EQ can be set V as those groups that fill the stadiums for a more aggressive sound, but the R & D work has been done with the EQ off, so that you have a quality sound re- work ": I love it, it is quite the way I have explained, and that is exactly how I would have designed the preamp, elsewhere: a sound regardless of the settings magnificent, and the ability to sculpt in all directions.

Talking about her: Gets it easy to sound good?
It depends. We get a great sound at every turn of knob, but do you get the right sound easy? No, because for that you'll have to search a little bit, and the beast is complex: 4 pots gain two different EQ, full of different switches, a 5-band EQ await you with the best system in the world preset : a block, a pencil, and ears.

From more modern technologies is a real breath of fresh air. It feels so good to not be drowned in the preset I am using NEVER because I find disgusting, and be able to adjust sound with real knobs, while having sound possibilities that I never imagined possible on analog.

SOUNDS

Is it ... yeah, if I had a style of music set, actually, but I like all that wes montgomery DT, it will take some time. But polyalence preamp 'and the fact that the sound I like many do in fact, this preamp is much like the idea that I have "my son".

Yet (because I have other guitars in the future) an old Ibanez RG dimarzio evo2. It is very pleasant as her, but suddenly I have a guitar that sounds like it is played and a preamp that does the same thing, and I'm re-work my game, so, because the mesa highlights the shortcomings of certain aspects of my technique. Of course, he does so that the average listener will say "owah is beautiful" but it will let you know, quietly, in fact, that note, it sounded not.

I do not hate any sound, in the limit, the HP simulated output side has a "honeycomb". But suddenly, I could compare with different materials, pod 2 to the FX axis buddy (I use at least 2/3 times a week and I started to know). Axis is doing well (compared to a real cab, it is very acceptable), the pod 2 has its supposedly bigger, but in fact, it's just ugly in A / B testing with the preamp studio, the impulses on the sound of the mesa only give a less beautiful sound drowning thoroughly in the mix ... racing results: most simus HP devices below 1500 € have a sound much uglier than the recording output of the mesa, and I would not hesitate one second to mix taken mesa / boogie with fractal audio jacks.


And with good EQ and a little know-how (which casually refer to a very discreet light slapback) can quite simply get a listenable sound.

But I know in my heart, if I want a sound that rocks the house I need a power amp and cab be (and a microphone, and time to put my microphone, and a local acoustics drinking).

In the meantime, I use my fender frontman 212 as Poweramp + cab. The sound, sustain, feeling, everything fits squarely the road, it sounds! (1 HP but Chinese price of this combo in the worst part, the rest is decent, bring a slight coloration, but crappy sound).

OVERALL OPINION

a short week

Have you tried many other models: put *** yeah, to discover that my ears like the hypercher material, but do not hate some transistor amps, and my fingers played with better equipment to its hyper defined. Because Mesa sounds bold, but means every note beautifully spring. And in fact, the good stuff, it was both simple and complicated: there are myriads of amps and effects and guitars, for every budget, every guitarist, and frankly, I think we takes us openly for suckers when I see the prices of some materials.

(Philo activated counter mode)

So I was delighted to find a gear that has been proven at a price that matched my modest savings of young (because there's not that students are broke, other young people also shit like Russian , no question of going drinking shots every Thursday night ...). It's been years that I hear, and I decided to take the plunge.

What really set me in the decision to offer me is that: this preamp (like my guitar) was in very capable hands. Which came sounds completely insane, more beautiful than that, you die.

So with this type of gear, the only limit ... it's my fingers and ears. The positive point is that it's hump.

(And here's the end of the philosophy counter mode)

You decide whether this material suits you. I love it, from the very first note I played it (but I already knew exactly what to expect). If I have any advice for you: do not hesitate to really find a good used equipment and do not hesitate to spend time (and unfortunately, sub). And once you find "your" thing, do not change, learn how to use it and know it by heart.

5lampes

UTILIZATION

we obtain not sound that easy we seek
c is best to observe the instructions SETTINGS

SOUNDS

sound depends on what he is behind
whether direct sound card:
-Terrible, great emulation! C is the mode that I use the most: respect!
I'm sure that a good case in di ca torn all over and

or a power amp lamps:
monstrous! but completely different sound emulated.il must know
I've tried with a Peavy Classic 50/50 and ....! the two sounds are crazy proportions!
over the medium to m irritating character a little out simulateur.ca sends heavy!

after to see and not hesitate to do extensive testing of lamps (5)

OVERALL OPINION

occasionally there are things that come and have a magic something immediate that s not explain
when you are in front you say ah yeah! and it is a little beast like an old twin reverb era of a Vox AC30 or a JCM800 with a 4 * 12

even if the grain is not too heavy metal neo it will be useful rather then solo
ca through the mix of power! you'll find that you will lower the lead guitar

machine worth 1500 euros its output c was the upscale

v / other opinions. one note: set properly, you really 2 channels, 5 band EQ and can even serve as a boost for solos.

UTILIZATION

quality: you can almost do everything.
his absence: you can almost do anything!
therefore, it must be tamed. By dint of the "toss" it eventually becomes familiar, and then it becomes a giant. When it is at the point where we know what knobs to turn and how to turn them instantly switch to Fender Marshall Vox in Orange, the clinical clean clean to Keith, the thicker the hard way Gimme Shelter Rock 80 ' from flapping in drooling, Brian May to Santana to Knopfler to Jazz to Funk ..... etc ... not throw away!

basically, it is demanding, very sensitive, sometimes surprising (but if I talk about a preamp ...), but absolutely fabulous in terms of sound quality. And, I believe, it's still a bit like that on purpose, right?

So no, at first you do not get a good sound easily ... but if you made the effort, and we have a little patience, the end result is much easier sounds most excellent.

I will say though that I renewed the lamps, and took the opportunity to change the way. (Except the reverb) for four "V", I have 3x the JJ and EH (in V2, I believe). it works more than well. The DD are super clean, dynamic, and very transparent. The EH just adds what is lacking in JJ gain and tasty. Paradise!

SOUNDS

v / use point. I think that a few extreme styles today, it may be suitable for all. And always at a level at least enviable.
And even for the most trash sounds, I would not be surprised that he put the lamps with more gain, you get there too. (The 4 tubes are still in series when you're on the lead channel).

another great point: it has two outputs compensated for registration (see his name ...) and they are OK.
plugged directly into monitors, frankly it sounds super good. (Gender: Line 6 or Digitech, there zon memories and bad effects, fortunately for them, because in "side by side" they can sound artificial, small, and yet ... only, I found digitech RP series a lot before ...)

OVERALL OPINION

I do not put still not perfect, given the side "features", obviously overwhelmed by the monsters current programs. Still, this stuff sounds, and sounds. but mostly, it has the sound. one that makes you want to play again and again, just for the pleasure of hearing what comes out ...

value: bought used for approx. € 320, given the sound quality, I consider it the deal of the century.
(Always for the same reason: when you get used to, will try to 15W heads ... you spend € 700 for the guy blazed, but it's not your fault, you hear the per ... n difference ...!)

my opinion is not objective, and I do not even try. This preamp is part of this rare and valuable category for this, the widgets we begin to love us for what they do: fun to play! And that's the cake, the rest is that of the chantilly ...

hence the conclusion: if you have one, keep, no matter what. Because otherwise you will regret it, or you will end up looking for another ...

Analog Pramp all lamps (5 12AX7), unfortunately no longer manufactured ...
2 channels, clean and saturated reverb, 5 band equalizer one.
The connection is very comprehensive and prvoit simulator HP's most successful market.

UTILIZATION

Fairly easy to use ...
However, it must hack to find a compromise between the rglage clean and saturated the two channels having the same rglages is also the only weak point of the BCAN ...
This as the act of reading allows to know the name for which he designed t (the studio).
Namoins can use it on stage with amplifiers and HP, or directly into a PA system.

SOUNDS

Mesa Boogie sound standard, either with HP or so live in the sound 'which is very rare).
Nothing to add, we must try to understand!

OVERALL OPINION

Very good unit while the lamp very hot boogie with cleans from jazz to funk, and blues, grunge saturates (the qualo can moreover make many services!).
Guitarists the most demanding prferont however the "big brother", the "Quad Preamp" because it has two "real channel" and 4 rglages ...

It's all unpramp lampes.Le sound is warm, trs powerful, beautiful harmonies. One small blem rverd lacks the scale

UTILIZATION

Well, but it would have the possibility AIM to switch several types of saturations. To change the sound you have to turn the knobs. No cum in studio, though ....... IN concert boring, well I know saw the year of design stuff, normal.

SOUNDS

For the best sound pramp cost. With an old fender, marshall, vox or orange, happiness. Mtal refrain .....

OVERALL OPINION

Super pramp, I understand better the quality of the guitar sound of Nirvana ... See the system amplification Curt Cobain.

Prampli lamp. by jack connectors. guitar input facade. Stereo output hand. Stereo recording output. effects loop return of Stereo from mono. output tuner. taken to change the channel box.

rglages: volume, gain, bass, middle, treble, master. + 5-band graphic eq.

sounds: clean, crunch, distortion.

UTILIZATION

Basic configuration. the sounds are good, the effective legalization typical mesa. not need manual.
Small BMOL: the legalization is common all channels, so for the live (bof!, blah). the fact his name is pramp studio (oh right!).

SOUNDS

A killer for the price. of the large crystal clear saturation. ca gouache! Dynamics, a typical compression mesa. If you push too saturated, you lose a bit of precision. Essay by a real scratch with an active parker, a bomb. In short, it's good.

OVERALL OPINION

Bought less than 2000F opportunities. Used for 8 years, I never let go.

The pramp has 5 lights. 4 12AX7, I think, and a grinder.
Two channels, a rhythm a lead. An equalizer that can trigger or not, but common to both channels. It's a shame. APRS, the buttons rglage traditional (treble, gain, bass)
A reverb effective.

Bonton of distortion can leave a clearer, or more fat.

Two direct outputs, two outputs studio, it has what it takes ... switch twice, one enters.

The machine is heavy: the price of quality. The knobs are NICKEL although the machine is ge. Everything is done to not move a muscle and does not move! felt the handmade. That's tough.
I put this note for equalo common.

UTILIZATION

When you turn the beast, it's something going on. The trick is present. As if the pramp wanted to be your scratch. The sound is round, with lots of body. It DGIG an impression of power. That's what it's like the high end.

I still look the manual ....

We must hack to find the sound. Everything important is not like a jcm 900 ... you touch a button and the whole is changed.

SOUNDS

The clean is trs beautiful, clear, transparent, "fenderien" some say. In short, beautiful. The best I've ever heard.

As for the cons disto I can not find my feet. I used only one hour. I play metal, and apparently it's not really made for a. I would not metallic but refrain, IDAL is not either. My guitar (a Gibson SG spcial) is given at least one tone and a half below normal, and the amp is feeble in the bass. This lack of saturation for "cash in" the power chords. When multiple notes are played with the left hand by not scratching once the cord, the machine eats carrment notes. a lack of DEFINITIONS, especially when making agreements voluntarily disharmonic, it leaves a slurry. The sound is bold trs, to the best of saturation results in a big crunch. On this point I'm from, which explains the note.
But note that I have not used the pedals in boost, and that I have used the bte on my all-tube Marshall. Not too much has to tell me ... I know. But in the current config I prfre distortion of the TSL 602. I have high expectations of the rack ...
The distortion is magnificent solos: you immediately find that the knobs of your scratches are something. When you make a bend or trmolo it seems that the sound is convulsed with pleasure, as if he were in alchemy with the guitar. Ms. neighbors have a cot against their orgasmic gr.

OVERALL OPINION

I'll come edit to say what I think a little later.

Analog Pramp all lamps (5 12AX7) 2U.
2 channels: clean and saturated (legalization common base), reverb spring
5 band equalizer (very well Designed for guitar) which can be used not used on the two channels, or only on the channel when it is saturated select.
Control at the foot of the channel, EQ, Reverb.
1 Stereo effects loop, direct output Stereo output + Stereo recording with analog accumulation of HP.

UTILIZATION

Simple enough ... but all lamps with passive legalization creates significant interractions between rglages. APRS initial contact (which gives a good impression), do not spend time hsiter THE rglage.
The problem is the trade-off between clear channel and the saturated interractions are important. On the one hand, even legalization (bass / mid / TREB), but especially big influence on the grain rglage VOLUME channel saturated (we quickly understand when you see the Schematic). This can be a problem in live (dpend this style of music) because ultimately you can not have many good combinations to commutation imbalances in the foot. on the other hand, in the studio, many possibilities, especially with the 5-band equalizer trs effective. Studio preamp ... ah yes, that's his name!

SOUNDS

I use it in between return (power amp) in my peavey classic 50.
Exceptionally clear sound: no saturation, it gives an impression of nanmoins grain with lots of depth.
However, must be used with the equalizer to be on top. My rglage a strato sound for SRV's "Lenny": 10% =- 80Hz, 240Hz = +90%, +80% = 750Hz, 2200Hz =- 100%, 100% = 6800Hz.
The sound is saturated trs particular grain forcment not consistent every taste, saturation sizeable but not extreme. At low frequencies of serious micro strato, sound a bit like a fuzz grows, but quickly rev higher notes are Dfine imbalances and remain throughout the rest of the round.
Low levels of saturation are possible for a bluesy crunch or even jou in agreements, but the grain enough for IDAL pais is not a "clean / crunch" really clear.
But the highlight does all forget is that, dynamically, sound well to the nuances Ragit trs. The sound "up" easily ds that we work a little notes. It's pretty rare.

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for 6 months.
Trs good sound, warm, always dynamic trs. Thank you the graphic equalizer.
Not very practical for rglages (The failure to really indpendants two channels) but trs for designers to someone who seeks above all a sound.

See other opinions.

UTILIZATION

The configuration request some time to adapt, especially if you're used to, like me, Marshall. Everything has an impact on the rest, it is rather disconcerting at first, turn a knob a few millimeters, you press a button and bam sound is different, but the trick when you freelance sound is excellent.

SOUNDS

I use it with a Fat Start, Ibanez RG270 with a Di Marzio pickups and Washburn WI64. It is suitable for all styles of music, you can get any sound, from the crystal clear sounds with the fattest of distos.

OVERALL OPINION

It'll be one month that I use, I like his extreme versatility, equalo 5 bands and especially the ITS, warm, round, beautiful, only down the reverb is not great.

I tried several preamps, Rocktron Voodu Valve, Chameleon & V-Twin rack and amp simulation, POD, V-amp or J-Station, I also have a Marshall JMP-1 Mesa and bury them all and at the same time we do not play the same category without considering the price of the new preamps Mesa.

I would do the same choice without hesitation, to € 450 OCCAZ with footswitch is given.

Prampli any lights (and 4x12AX7 1x12AT7). 2 channels not fully indpendants (qual common basis) and volume gains SERIES. a lot of options bright, fat and the famous EQUAL assignable 5-band graphic with two channels, to lead alone or OFF.
Outputs or recording Poweramp, Stereo effects loop, rverbe intgre.
Full panel after all, damage, however, not have two channels completely indpendants.

UTILIZATION

Boogie easy to use? not really, and we do rptera enough: a Boogie is not a Marshall, read the manual, and know the dose rglages.
All parameters are taken into account. A small change on the graph can Entran EQUAL big changes on the sound. We must therefore learn the matriser bte ... and may take some time (less than one even when Triaxis)

SOUNDS

Sounds great: the clean is right, typical Boogie, with the bright crystalline engaged. Unlike the Lead, get a good clean sound is something quite comfortable.
Lead is what requires patience and many express: first you must know that the two volumes but also the two gains are in SERIES. Some complained of having no saturation, only a big crunch. I respond by saying that the Studio Pre is capable of big Satus (otherwise I would not buy ....)
The secret is that you push the volume button once (pre gain) and the Lead Drive for maximum gain, then we must understand how qualos. The knobs is to pr-fits of distortion (like Fender) so if you push too low, it saturates the pramp in between, the sound becomes even pteux and irrcuprable equalo with graphics (post-tages of distortion, as in Marshall). The trick is to rgler the Equal to between 1 and 4 knobs for bass, treble to 8-10, and dig the sound with 5 band graphic thanks to the famous "V" as lou by Boogie ( I also recommend using the Equal graphic at all times, preferably in V, because the sound is the basis trsmdium if you do not dig).
And if one has the stuff that follows is the slap.
I play on Lag The Beast with a Mesa / Boogie EL84 20/20 power section and a Boogie 1X12 cabinet.
Verdict: big sound, low standards, a full, hot like fire, a monstrous distortion.

Dernire thing: rverbe. Plain fun, it allows the amp to sound right and a little less "dry". In disto I t trs enjoyable surprise: the rverbe is Submitted and "are the game," the solos become a real rgal play.
In short it is the top.

OVERALL OPINION

One of the best pramplis I tried, yet in the price range of 300-500 in OCCAZ 'I test almost everything (and possd):
ENGL 520 & 530, ADA MP-1, RockMaster Peavey, Marshall JMP-1, Digitech 2120, Rocktron Voodu Valve, Pirahna & Chameleon. The Mesa is the best for me, definitely possible. Mrs ADA, however prampli worship mtalleux possdant and although a little more gain than the first sound studio small ct.
Up Submitted, only TriAxis me impressed but the price is 4 OCCAZ 5 times lev.
Brief technical note 9 (a lack of acute chouilla and gain), but quality over $ 10, go 9.5 in the end!
If you want to please you, throw you over board!

On the surface this looks like a somewhat simple and dry preamp. 2 channels. Effects loop. Graphic eq. A few switches and such. Once you dig into the manual you realize the possibly versatility with this preamp. Yes, dialing this thing in is in reality the equivalent of driving a space ship, but this is Mesa and you shouldn't known that before you started.

UTILIZATION

Let's start with the clean channel. This is a bit less complicated than the lead. Basically it's a blackface circuit. It's best to treat it like that and take what you can get from it. Nice dark sparkly fender cleans are to be had here. Actually, besides maybe the Suhr 3 channel preamp, this is the best blackface cleans you will ever get from a preamp. That's really all there is to be said for the clean channel.
The lead side is another story. It's very versatile. If it weren't for the manual, many players would be lost. Using the graphic eq as well as the various switches you can go from a classic rick kind of crunch to a Mark II Kirk Hammett style high gain sound, to a more modern recto/mark IV petrucci thing.

SOUNDS

I use it with a Peavey 50/50 power amp into a VHT 4x12. This amp is an odd fit in a lot of bands. It's not quite modern metal but it's not quite 80's hair either. It fits in great with 90's alternative. It can easily do the metallica thing. I expect a lot of people who use these don't spend much time on the clean channel which is a shame for how good it is. It's a stretch to say, but you can use this in a lot of situations. I have a friend who used one in a post rock band for years. If you do dream theater it can get that tone easy. It's basically a Mark clone after all.

OVERALL OPINION

This preamp isn't for everyone. But it's a darn good preamp. If you like American sounds, this is the preamp to get I think. Unless you have some huge budget. It won't do marshall or vox. But it will do fender and mesa without a hitch. The value is massive. Both channels alone are worth the price. Try changing the tubes around. They really do matter a lot.

What type of amplification (lamp, transistor ,...)?

4 x 12AX7 and one1 x 12at for the reverb

What connection?

Crane, a guitar input and a footswitch input

back, a second guitar input and another footswitch input
and sends a feedback effect (with stereo return)
output with emulator hp 2 mono jack (hence output stereo)
and an output "normal" with 2 mono jack to attack in a guitar amp
other footswitch input for the reverb, equalizer, eq and reverb +

What is the power delivered?
bah what is a preamp so the normal power, however, pay attention to the volume of the preamp output, if allowed to over a third, I saturated my mixer (MX8000) with the gain at minimum, and fader also min.

What are the settings, effects? ...
effects for the classic distortion and reverb.

for Adjustment: Treble and bass medium, common for the clean and distortion
gain setting for the distortion, a volume for distortion
a volume for its clear, and overall volume

and some switch as the "rhythm" bright "to add treble on the clean channel (very subtle)
a selector rhythm / lead, which would have been clearer as the (clean / dist)

a "fat lead" and lead bright, serving medium and add a treble or presence.

5-band equalizer a very handy for perfecting their sound, which is operated with a 3 position switch,
1 it only works on the distal
2 it is bypassed
3 it works on 2 channels

behind a switch to change between either carcass weight or by je ne sais quoi

and finally the 2 volume output of preamp

Thus a multitude of adjustment



UTILIZATION

The setup is simple?

Bah what settings are found on all the amps not hard to understand, the switch can be bright and fat and more

The manual is clear and sufficient? ...

I vaguely overflown, but my English is quite ridiculous I do not understand everything,
However we understand very quickly how it works
there are also examples of what can preset make a good base when we do not yet know the preamp to find his sound.

Do you get a good sound easy?

Then, you really spend time on it, experiment, take your time, at the same time we bought not a preamp like this if you want to play live with a sound that's why he likes are Marshall!
but hey it is widely feasible

SOUNDS

Will it fit your style of music?

I play mainly death metal and viking metal, I did nothing wrong, contrary to what we read, gain, I think is sufficient, while still having the margin. sounds can be adjusted to sound accurate, mushy, full hollow so anything is possible

With what (s) guitar (s) / low (s) or effect (s) do you play?

I have a cort x6 and jackson rx10d

amp reproduces well the personality of the 2 instruments,
This may also be a problem,
for some adjustment, the Cort will sound "normal" while Jackson will be far more serious.
But hey, it suits me me, I use the Cort for shred and another melodic line, while jackson she is used (dropD) for rhythm so for me it niquel

What are the sounds you prefer, you hate?

good this issue is useless, I was not looking devellopper the sonoritées I do not like, maybe just a little lack of treble on the clean, not enough lens, but hey we do not play on fender, a split of mics and it's done!

OVERALL OPINION

For how long have you been using it?

about 6 months, and I am far from having made the turn, but then really far as its possibilities are enormous

Did you try many other models before getting this one?

a bit of everything from Peavey, Fender, others mesa (in this connection does not expect to sound like a correct eh), the engl, I tested the orange all the great models you might say,

What thing do you like most/least about it?

+ Extreme versatility,
+ The fact you can really worked on every detail of his
+ The "mesa" written above it is still shit fellas scratch <img class="smiley" src="/images/audiofanzine/interface/smileys/icon_lol.gif" alt="" />
+ Exit emulation hp handy in the studio or concert
+ Much more!

- The channel and half the places to have 2 separate channels
- The round and not too clean enough crystalline
- Everyone n&#39;aprecie not spend time looking for her

What is your opinion about the value for the price?

given that dude sold it to me for only 200 € I have a say hahahahahaha *** No business in gold!

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

oh yes a thousand times if you must, "!

The Mesa Boogie Studio Preamp is based on the classic Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+ amplifier, but in the popular rackmountable form of the late 1980s. It's a tube preamp that takes up about two rack spaces and has 5 preamp tubes. It's got two channels, rhythm and lead, as well as the classic 5 band graphic EQ, onboard reverb, a high quality effects loop, recording outs and of course outputs to run to your power amplifier. When I owned it I paired it with the power amp that was included in the package... a late 1980s MosValve MV962 solid state power amp putting out 80 watts of power per side.

It's laid out very much like a classic Mesa Mark series amp and the controls react very much the same, so that's a great thing for people who have used Mesa amps before... they should be able to dial it in reasonably well if they have a good understanding of how Mesa's work.

UTILIZATION

Getting a good tone out of this rig was extremely simple for me, since I had previously owned a Mesa Mark III for over a year and was intimately familiar with how to dial in a Mesa Boogie Mark series amp to sound how I wished it to sound.

As stated above, there is two channels, rhythm and lead. It features a volume control that acts as a master gain between the two channels, a master volume control, treble, middle, bass and reverb controls. The lead channel has its own drive and volume controls, so it does act in a very similar way to the Mesa Mark III I owned previously, whereby there is a master volume (read: gain) control for the whole amp, as well as a master volume, but the lead channel also has its own drive and volume controls.

In addition, it has the standard 5 band graphic EQ and a switch to turn that on and off. There are also two switches on the bottom of the unit labelled lead fat and lead bright, and they act like the pull knobs on the older Mesa Mark series amps... they add gain and saturation, as well as some tightness.

SOUNDS

I was using this rig with a myriad of Ibanez and Gibson guitars and was playing primarily eighties LA metal with a little bit of Petrucci esque prog thrown in on occasion. I would describe it as a fairly high gain unit for sure. The overall set of tones were very crystaline as well... very "hifi" and eighties sounding in nature.

Cleans had a very nice chime and jangle with both single coils and humbuckers. I didn't particularly find that it had much grit when you dug in a bit, so I found it to be a bit less versatile there. Overdriven tones had that classic searing Mesa sound. From classic LA metal tones to mid boosted, very smooth lead tones, I had no problem getting a good distortion sound out of the unit. Even using a solid state power amp and a cheap 4x12 cabinet, I was able to really enjoy the tones out of this preamp. It's a fairly flexible preamp in that you can go from very scooped mid tones to very boosted mid tones and it will sound excellent either way.

OVERALL OPINION

All in all I feel the Mesa Studio Preamp is a killer sounding, and fairly affordable way to get the Mesa Mark series tone. I sold it because I simply did not like hauling around a heavy and bulky rack case everywhere I went, so I opted to go back to a head and 2x12 rig. For the $300-$400 they seem to sell for used, they're a great deal, and paired with a nice tube power amp like a Mesa 2:90, I can imagine that they're even more stellar.

If I was to buy a rig like this again, I would opt for a Mesa Mark III or .50 Caliber head, simply because I don't like schlepping rack gear to and fro. However for a studio rig I would take this in a heartbeat... just so long as I didn't have to bundle it in a rack case to be moved around.