Mesa/Boogie LoneStar Amplifier FRONT PANEL Controls & Features Continued, Ch Ft Sw, Clean Gain

FRONT PANEL: Controls & Features (Continued)

GAIN: This control adjusts the predominant gain stage in each channel’s circuit with the function and taper being optimized for each individual channel. Remember that your LONE STAR is really two amplifi ers built onto one chassis, so though each channel looks identical, the GAIN control for each channel comes in a different place and adjusts a different point in that channel’s circuit.

CH 1

FT SW

INPUT	CH 2
	CLEAN GAIN
DRIVE

FT.SWTHICK

NOR MAL

THICKER

In most guitar amplifi ers, and especially in all-tube circuits, the GAIN control is the most powerful control in the preamp. It shapes the overall style and character of the sound and is responsible for whether the sound is clean, overdriven or anywhere in between. In your LONE STAR the GAIN control is even more powerful. It not only determines the amount of drive, but also acts as an integral part of the tone control string as well.

To simplify the GAIN controls’ role in shaping the overall tone of the sound we will look at it in two ways - 1) alone and 2) in conjunction with the tone controls.

1) By itself the GAIN control has basically three tonal regions -

Low ( 7:00 - 11:00 ) provides the cleanest, least saturated sounds and in this region the sound will be brighter and contain more upper harmonics lending a three dimensional character to the sound.

Middle ( 11:15 - 2:00 ) enhances the saturation and replaces some of the upper harmonics with a richer, warmer quality and a fuller bottom end response. Not yet fully saturated, this region is the easiest place to get a great sound in both channels. This region contains many of the LONE STAR’s best sounds...especially for soloing due to the crucial blend of an expressive attack combined with ample sustain.

High ( 2:15 - 5:00 ) saturates the signal and enhances low and low mid frequencies. While this region provides the maximum satu- ration and therefor sustain, it also compresses and softens the attack characteristics. For this reason we suggest using this higher region of the GAIN control sparingly and only when maximum sustain is needed.

NOTE: Due to the LONE STAR’s extreme gain potential, the highest regions of the GAIN control may possibly push the pre-amp tubes past what they can handle, producing microphonic squealing. While we screen and test the tubes your amplifi er was shipped with and the tubes in your amp passed our rigourous test, we can’t predict how the tubes will respond over time exposed to extreme gain settings.Your tubes are warranted for a period of 6 months under normal use, but you can save yourself the present and future inconvenience of having to deal with annoying microphonic tube problems by simply using a little common sense...Use the Gain sparingly at the higher end of its range!

If you must for a specifi c part or at very low volumes, back down the TREBLE and PRESENCE controls. The LONE STAR was de- signed to provide amazing gain and tone at less than extreme settings removing the need for you to crank everything all the way up. If you are not able to achieve the sound you want at sensible settings on any or all of the controls, your problem may lie elsewhere in the signal chain, i.e. pick-ups, cabinetry, processing etc. Keep in mind you can always call on one of our product specialist Monday through Thursday and seek some advice should you fi nd yourself struggling to get the sound you want.

2.) GAIN - In conjunction with the Tone Controls - Basically, a simple rule applies...as the Gain is increased the Tone control string has less and less effect on the signal until at 5:00 the signal is so saturated that you are getting mostly Gain and very little Tone. Again, this is the reason we suggest using the GAIN control in its middle region. Here the Tone control string is very active and provides maximum shaping power - allowing you to dial virtually any sound you desire.

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