Looking for a new amp

[dkilpatrick]

I currently have a Mesa dual rectifier head which is really loud and not very good for bedroom volumes, so needless to say it doesn't get much play time. Mainly playing though a Mesa stiletto ace 1x12 combo which has more tone options than the dual rec. I've had my eye on the newer Mesa mark V 25 or the lonestar special. I've never really given PRS amps much thought, always been into Mesa as you can probably tell. PRS are nice looking amps and sound great in the demos I've seen.
I would still be running through the Mesa rectifier 4x12 cab. Any suggestions?

 

[andy474x]

The Custom 50 or Archon 50 would be good choices. There's also the Custom 20, but it only comes in a combo.

 

[László]

Even though I was converted to PRS amps the moment I played through an HXDA, and added a DG 30 shortly thereafter, I still do like Mesas as well. They're fine amps that do a lot of things. So I won't try to talk you into or out of one or the other.

Before making any suggestions, I'd be curious as to what kind of music you play, and your tone preferences?

 

[Rider1260]

My 2 Channel H ( modded for EL34 ) is a lot like my MK2 overall but with a better EQ section that makes the gain channel more usable

 

[dkilpatrick]

well I pulled the trigger and have a lone star special on the way. should have it in a week
Here is a picture of it. I got a good deal and I really like the custom leather and the wicker grill over the standard vinyl.

Also adding some more upgrades to my SE CU24 30th in the form of a Core nut and a MannMade trem

 

[László]

Lookin' good!

 

[AP515]

Nice choice, I've got her big sister. Even have the custom leather and a wicker grill. Just be careful with the leather. Look at the bottom of my amp. It is easy to nick and don't set a bottle of fretboard conditioner on it cuz it pulls the leather stain out of the leather!

 

[dkilpatrick]

Good call I'll keep the conditioner away

 

[andross182]

If you're looking for usable bedroom volume, get an amp with a master volume. I A/Bed the rectoverb 25 and mark V 25 and both are LOUD amps.

 

[Dusty Chalk]

Noice!

 

[bodia]

Sweet as sweet!

 

[László]

Nice! I have a Lone Star 100, and it gets good use for projects along with my PRS amps! Incidentally, I've had a few Mesas with leather coverings (as is this one) and I find it as tough as shoe leather, lasts a long time. Imagine how fast shoes made of Tolex would get wrecked.

One good thing about leather is that if it gets scuffed, you can touch it up with a little shoe polish, leather cream, or whatever you'd use on the type of leather that's on the amp. I had a black leather Tremoverb for at least ten years that not only got use in my studio, but my son gigged it in high school, and if it got a scuff, we just touched it up with a little black shoe polish. The thing still looked fantastic when we sold it.

But I do find that leather gets a nice patina if it's taken care of halfway decently, whereas Tolex just gets rips and winds up looking uniformly crappy after many years.

 

[andy474x]

So, is the Lonestar basically a fender clean tone, with a better drive channel? Like a Hot Rod on steroids?

 

[AP515]

So, is the Lonestar basically a fender clean tone, with a better drive channel? Like a Hot Rod on steroids?

Not the way I would characterize a LoneStar at all. I have an HRD and I do like it, but they are very different. The LoneStar came out of the Maverick I think. Now it is called the LoneStar Classic as they added the LoneStar Special which switched from 6L6's to EL84's (the one the OP bought). The special may have more fans than the classic, I'm not sure but it may be more about weight than tone (the Classic weighs 85Lbs.)

Anyway, the tone of the Classic is a beautiful rich and powerful 6L6 tone. Nothing that I've heard or played seems to get where it is. It is designed to be in a space that is all it's own. It's a little like a Fender clean but not as pure white. It has more color. The lead channel is more bluesy than rocking; again with a lot of color. It isn't Marshall and it isn't a Fender. It isn't even a Mesa as you think of a Mesa.

The Special brings you back into the more usual range of Marshall/Vox/Blackstar tone IMO. Still has it's own thing going on though.

 

[László]

So, is the Lonestar basically a fender clean tone, with a better drive channel? Like a Hot Rod on steroids?

I have to pretty much agree with AP515 on the cleans. I have the 100 Watt Classic, too.

The cleans lean in a Fender direction, but are richer sounding. However, I think the lead channel is a great rock and roll channel, not just bluesy at all (then again, everyone's reference points for this stuff will be different, and of course, we all set our amps up differently).

My son has been touring with a Lone Star 100 Watt. So has his lead guitar player. His band, Partybaby (http://partybabymusic.com if you want to see video and hear tracks) are a rocking band, with an aggressive, almost Punk, sound.

You should hear how good they sound live (they just opened for The Academy Is on a national tour last month). In fact, he's the reason I have this amp; I had a project I needed this kind of sound for, plus I knew his tour was coming to Detroit and he might need to lay down some tracks at my studio.

So things converged and I ordered one.

I grew up on Blackface Fenders in the 60s and early 70s, and I dig their sound, but I'm not a fan of their newer Hot Rod amps, to me, they don't reach the bar set by the real deal amps of the 60s. Admittedly, I'm spoiled by the '67 Bassman I had back in the day. What a great sound!

PRS amps are still my favorites but I do like the Lone Star a lot.

Interesting to hear that it grew from the Maverick - I had one and liked it.

 

[AP515]

...PRS amps are still my favorites but I do like the Lone Star a lot.

Me too. I got the LoneStar first and thought I'd found the perfect amp. Then I tried the "H" and discovered another tonal pallet I wanted. I play the "H" more but don't plan on selling the LoneStar. It does what it does better than the "H", which can also be said about the "H" and the LoneStar.

 

[László]

Me too. I got the LoneStar first and thought I'd found the perfect amp. Then I tried the "H" and discovered another tonal pallet I wanted. I play the "H" more but don't plan on selling the LoneStar. It does what it does better than the "H", which can also be said about the "H" and the LoneStar.

I agree, it's a great amp, and it stands alongside other great amps as far as I'm concerned.

While I prefer the PRS amps, the Lone Star does things they don't do, and vice-versa. So it's a good piece of gear to have around, and I'm hanging onto it even though the project I bought it for got...cancelled....

 

[dkilpatrick]

The clean channel is the reason I got it. Everything I played through it sounded great. I bet it works well with pedals. The drive can be great for blues or a classic rock tone depending on how you dial it in.
I still have the stiletto ace which was Mesa's try at more of a British style amp. I can get some really good tones out of that also, but it doesn't have the multi -watt switch capability. Maybe I'll experiment and try to set up the stiletto and lone star in stereo. After I spend some time with just the lone star of course.

 

[László]

The clean channel is the reason I got it. Everything I played through it sounded great. I bet it works well with pedals. The drive can be great for blues or a classic rock tone depending on how you dial it in.
I still have the stiletto ace which was Mesa's try at more of a British style amp. I can get some really good tones out of that also, but it doesn't have the multi -watt switch capability. Maybe I'll experiment and try to set up the stiletto and lone star in stereo. After I spend some time with just the lone star of course.

I bought my son a Stiletto Ace when we sold the Tremoverb. I'm very familiar with it. It's a fine amp!

And it's interesting that Andy Timmons, Mesa's endorser, plays both a Lone Star and a Stiletto. Kinda tells you something...

 

[dkilpatrick]

Mesa makes great amps! Mine have never sounded as good as when I play my PRSi through them. It's a perfect match. (Probably more the guitar than the amp)