Guyz I fell off the wagon - Mesa content.

[spawnofthesith]

All the headache probably worth it since it resulted in you getting a seemingly flawless unit for closer to older prices on these



A while back I had a Rivera from GC that I did ultimately end up having to return, but out of it I ended up being at no financial loss and a free quad of groove tubes that they sent me throughout the process trying to suss out the issue that I got to keep (still have them, fresh and mostly unused lol)

 

[TSJMajesty]

I used to run my old Studio Preamp with a JAN 5751 in the same position.

Maybe it is your old one.

 

[TubeStack]

Maybe it is your old one.

I had the same thought.

 

[likitlikeyoulikeit]

Glitch in the Matrix.

 

[EOengineer]

Maybe it is your old one.

I had the same thought.

You guys are cracking me up. It did occur to me, in part because it also has the same bent rack ear my old one had. I suspect a lot of these had bent ears though, and I doubt the 5751 is that deep of a cut anymore.

It would be a really weird ending to a weird story though wouldn’t it.

 

[EOengineer]

Million dollar question - the 6600hz slider knob is broken off. It doesn’t look like Mesa sells them anymore. I was thinking maybe asking a friend if I could pay him to try and 3D print me something I could retrofit on the slider.

Anyone know where to track these down or know of a better replacement than the rounded ones Mesa sells now?

 

[EOengineer]

This preamp kicks so much ass. I haven’t even hooked it up to the Mark III’s power amp yet. It’s running through the VIR cabs in Tonex while I work out levels and hopefully dial in a couple capture-worthy tones.

A couple takeaways so far: The cleans might be my fav Mesa cleans. They are sweeter, rounder, and softer feeling than the Mark III. Very much a pushed/compressing blackface vibe. The lead channel compares with similar findings as the clean - rounder and sweeter on the Studio Preamp.

That’s not to say the Studio Preamp is better than the Mark III, they just do slightly different things. Just my opinion but I think the Studio Preamp does better vintage boogie, and the Mark III does tighter and more aggressive modern metal better.

 

[0XI0]

This preamp kicks so much ass. I haven’t even hooked it up to the Mark III’s power amp yet. It’s running through the VIR cabs in Tonex while I work out levels and hopefully dial in a couple capture-worthy tones.

A couple takeaways so far: The cleans might be my fav Mesa cleans. They are sweeter, rounder, and softer feeling than the Mark III. Very much a pushed/compressing blackface vibe. The lead channel compares with similar findings as the clean - rounder and sweeter on the Studio Preamp.

That’s not to say the Studio Preamp is better than the Mark III, they just do slightly different things. Just my opinion but I think the Studio Preamp does better vintage boogie, and the Mark III does tighter and more aggressive modern metal better.

but how does it sound with a DS-1 tho

 

[Orvillain]

FUCK YES

 

[SillyOctpuss]

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…

 

[EOengineer]

but how does it sound with a DS-1 tho

I’m hoping to explore this soon. Last time I owned one of these I did notice the clean channel taking pedals really nicely, but I wasn’t using pedals much then.

 

[EOengineer]

Things are getting interesting over here if I don’t respond back later send help or beer.

 

[EOengineer]

OK guys, here we go. I come with gifts. Thanks to everyone for the moral support making this happen.

These captures are all Tonex. Some are the preamp direct, others are the preamp into my Mark III power amp.

Mesa Studio Preamp Direct Tone Models - these are direct from the preamp and will sound a little flat without a tube power amp in the mix:

A fatter, looser general purpose high gain tone

Lead Drive

Lead Channel - Moderate Drive

www.tone.net

Same Tone with no GEQ

Lead Drive (no GEQ)

Mesa Mark Series Drive Sound

www.tone.net

Tighter high gain

Lead Tite High Gain

Studio Preamp high gain lead tone with GEQ

www.tone.net

Same tone with no GEQ

Lead Tite High Gain (no GEQ)

Mesa Mark Lwag Tone - tight with no GEQ

www.tone.net

Same Studio Preamp settings but through Mesa Mark III Simul Class power amp - 1960A tapped direct from the slave out - has all the juicy power amp interaction you want, bring your own IR

Lead Tite HG Powered

Studio Preamp through Mesa Mark III Simul Class Power Amp

www.tone.net

Mesa Mark III Simul Class Head captured the same way as previous capture:

Mark III HG Powered

Mark III High Gain Lead. Direct capture from slave out.

www.tone.net

 

[EOengineer]

Reflecting on my time with the new gear this weekend there were some neat takeaways.

1. Probably the biggest takeaway - the Mark III’s power amp makes a HUGE contribution to the overall tone and feel. The preamp on its own through an IR is cool, but not super inspiring. Once the power amp was introduced I saw the big push in the lows and highs which not only made the Studio Preamp sound massive, but also made it feel like playing a tube head again. That Cab/Amp interaction is key.
2. The SP and Mark III can cover a lot of the same ground, but they have different strengths. The SP comes to the party to find someone to bring home. The Mark III comes to the party drunk and ready to fight.
3. Getting the IIC+ tones is effortless on the SP. the liquid sustain, musical feedback, and that dry focus in the pick attack makes everything feel awesome. I played so many Hetfield riffs this weekend.
4. Depending on the types of tones, there are things the III does better than the SP. The III has a tighter or more controlled low end. There is also the option to dial in more upper midrange and top end content, so the III can get a little brighter.

 

[EOengineer]

Just adding this here to complete what I had been working on - Here is an advanced direct Tonex capture of my Mark III Simul Class Power Amp. You should be able to run some preamps into this. The load is my 1960A cab captured off the amp's slave out. Bring your own IR.

Mesa Mark III Power Amp

Mesa Boogie Mark III Simul Class Power Amp

www.tone.net

 

[EOengineer]

It’s been ~ 1 month with this preamp and it’s getting a ton of use. It’s ended up on a couple recordings and lots of late night heavy riffing.

I am going to attempt a mod shortly and wanted to explain what I’ve found and why I’m doing the mod.

This will make sense to anyone who has played a mark II/III/IV. I found that I am fighting some extra tubbyness in the low end when using my Gibson style guitars. After some investigation I found the root of the issue.

Most Mark amps have a bass shift pull on the bass knob. When the knob is pushed in, a high pass cap is in the circuit and acts to roll off lows and tighten up the bass prior to hitting the gain stages. Pulling the knob removes the cap and produces a fuller bass more consistent with the traditional fender black panel tone stack.

The Studio Preamp in all its simplicity is set up so that the bass shift is always engaged - which works great on thinner sounding Strats/Teles but creates mud on thicker sounding guitars.

I’m going to take a pass at trying to install the pull knob on bass to get the more traditional Mark II/III functions.

Also worth noting that the various C+ mods floating around online usually also include adding the high pass cap back on the bass knob - honestly I think that’s the secret sauce for most people saying they prefer the studio pre with the C+ mods.

 

[0XI0]

It’s been ~ 1 month with this preamp and it’s getting a ton of use. It’s ended up on a couple recordings and lots of late night heavy riffing.

I am going to attempt a mod shortly and wanted to explain what I’ve found and why I’m doing the mod.

This will make sense to anyone who has played a mark II/III/IV. I found that I am fighting some extra tubbyness in the low end when using my Gibson style guitars. After some investigation I found the root of the issue.

Most Mark amps have a bass shift pull on the bass knob. When the knob is pushed in, a high pass cap is in the circuit and acts to roll off lows and tighten up the bass prior to hitting the gain stages. Pulling the knob removes the cap and produces a fuller bass more consistent with the traditional fender black panel tone stack.

The Studio Preamp in all its simplicity is set up so that the bass shift is always engaged - which works great on thinner sounding Strats/Teles but creates mud on thicker sounding guitars.

I’m going to take a pass at trying to install the pull knob on bass to get the more traditional Mark II/III functions.

Also worth noting that the various C+ mods floating around online usually also include adding the high pass cap back on the bass knob - honestly I think that’s the secret sauce for most people saying they prefer the studio pre with the C+ mods.

that sounds like turning the bass knob down to 0.745 with a bunch of extra steps. I always start with bmt all at zero and start with opening bass till it just barely passes signal. u can't fuck up anything else from that point if you don't touch the bass knob

 

[EOengineer]

that sounds like turning the bass knob down to 0.745 with a bunch of extra steps. I always start with bmt all at zero and start with opening bass till it just barely passes signal. u can't fuck up anything else from that point if you don't touch the bass knob

I don’t think that’s is quite right? Pulling the bass shift on a Mark III still produces a very audible effect even with the knob on zero, as an example.

 

[0XI0]

I don’t think that’s is quite right? Pulling the bass shift on a Mark III still produces a very audible effect even with the knob on zero, as an example.

oh I did not know that. ever modded a preamp before? studio pre has a lot of room to work with in there

 

[EOengineer]

oh I did not know that. ever modded a preamp before? studio pre has a lot of room to work with in there

Nope I’ll probably die.

I’ve built a lot of low voltage stuff, but have done my homework regarding safely discharging caps and pocketing one hand, etc.

I might have a chance to take a swing at a vintage Bassman recap soon and am looking forward to that.