Mesa/Boogie DC3 manual Power-Up, Gain, Use of the EQ. see page 5 for more information on EQ

FRONT PANEL:

First familiarize yourself with the layout of the Front Panel and locate the Lead / Rhythm switch on the right side of the chassis, next to the Standby Switch. This toggles you between the top (Rhythm) Channel and the bottom (Lead) Channel. If you don’t have the Rhythm/Lead Footswitch connected, this switch will activate the channel switching function. Before we get too critical about each control, let’s audition the two channels with a basic clean setting in the Rhythm Channel and a fairly high gain overdriven sound in the Lead Channel.

POWER-UP:

Connect your favorite guitar to the instrument input jack. Turn the power switch “ON” while leaving the standby switch set to “STANDBY”. (It’s always a good idea to practice this start up procedure as at least 30 seconds of warm-up time lessens the shock on cold power tubes, thus prolonging their life substantially.) Next set the controls and the Graphic EQ per the example below:

INPUT	5	5	2	6	4	3	4	RHYTHM	ON	ON
							2
FOOT	GAIN	TREBLE	MID	BASS	PRESENCE	REVERB	MASTER
SWITCH	6	5	5	6	2	2	4
							OUTPUT	LEAD	STANDBY	POWER
								240 750 2200 6600 DUAL	CALIBER DC-3
							LEVEL
							80

Flip the STANDBY switch to the ON position and listen to the two channels using either the footswitch or the Channel Select toggle
switch found on the right side of the Front Panel. The EQ Rotary Control on the left side of the Rear Panel,
controls the EQ assignment. This popular “V” type curve works well in both Rhythm and Lead Channels,
			RHY
but most players tend to use it more in the Lead Channel, finding the Rhythm plenty sweet by itself without	1.25A	IN
			LEAD
		OUT	FT SW
the use of the EQ. (see page 5 for more information on EQ)
	FUSE
	2.5A SB	EQ SELECT
Again, these are merely examples of the two channels. Experimentation leads to finding many different		FTSW EQ/REV
sounds in each channel and understanding the controls and the way they interact, can make this much
easier and more fun. Now lets get specific!

Now that you have heard the DC-3’stwo channels, let’s move on to understanding the controls and their interactive roles in achieving the sounds that you want to hear.

CONTROLS:

GAIN:

This is by far the most powerful control in each channel. It not only determines the overall gain amount, shape and sensitivity of the

channel...but it is also a powerful Tone control. Generally speaking, whatever is dialed here ultimately determines the channels
		personality. Set low, it allows cleaner, brighter sounds with enhanced dynamic response, especially in
		the higher frequencies. Set high the whole personality of the channel becomes darker, fatter and more
INPUT	5
		overdriven. In the DC-3we worked hard to make sure the entire range of Gain available is usuable and more
		importantly, musical. Don’t think for a moment that this simple one knob layout limits you as to the amount and
FOOT	GAIN	texture of gain. Long neurotic hours were spent to ensure the ranges of gain were stylistically accurate. It’s
SWITCH

PAGE 2