Mesa/Boogie II - Manual (Page 6)

PAGE 2
Overview:
(Continued)
The power choices range from 30 watts (using 4 x EL84) to 15 watts (using 2 x EL84) to 5 watts
(using 1 x EL84), allowing the Special to soulfully cover any situation from mid-size clubs to combo rehearsals to bedroom recording - while
always staying in a power-optimized range. The power tube wiring confi guration is changed to accommodate these different wattage ratings
and offer the sweetest sound and best feel for each of the three choices. The 30 and 15 watt selections utilize a Push-Pull confi guration
for its quicker response and greater power effi ciency characteristics. The 5 watt setting introduces a unique new Single-Ended design for
the ultimate warm, furry vintage voice.
Single-ended circuits do not split the waveform into two separate out-of-phase halves to be amplifi ed separately. Therefore, the precious
and musically beautiful 2nd harmonic (one octave above the notes being played) is not cancelled out like it is when the opposite phased
waveforms are combined in the output transformer in a push-pull circuit. The gorgeous 2nd harmonic remains intact in the Special’s 5 watt
Single-Ended setting. Though subtle, most players hearing this magic for the fi rst time are instantly hooked… asking why everything they
play sounds so much better than they have ever heard it sound before. The 2nd harmonic is truly a beautiful part of the spectrum and when
present, adds a warm glow and a halo around each note - so don’t be surprised if the 5 watt setting becomes your favorite…especially
for practicing alone or recording nuances.
The 30 and 15 watt push-pull settings accentuate the 3rd harmonic (an octave and a 5th above the notes played) which tends to sound
punchier and tighter and cuts through a mix a little better. This is sonically perfect for using these two power ranges to play with a band
or record in a complex mix. Bass frequencies will track tighter and higher gain settings especially in the DRIVE mode of Channel 2 will
respond more accurately with the blend of the 3rd harmonic in the mix.
To take Channel Specifi c power selection even further the Lone Star Special incorporates our patented Rectifi er Tracking™ feature.
This ingenious feature auto-selects the tight tracking authority and maximum headroom of the SILICON DIODES when the 30 watt set-
ting is called up and brings up the 5Y3 rectifi er tube for increased dynamic character and a juicy feeling sag when either 15 or 5 watts
is chosen.
However you choose to utilize your channels, these power-selectable-per-preamp choices are incredibly intuitive and allow for extreme
stylistic accuracy when dedicating the two channels to your footswitching needs.
The OUTPUT control is joined by our SOLO feature that provides an additional master output that you can trigger remotely for a
footswitchable boost when you want to feature a part. These two Front Panel controls are brought on line with the activation of the Effects
Loop. When the Loop is not active, the individual Channel Master controls serve as fi nal output controls. When the Loop is set to HARD
BYPASS, all associated circuitry is removed (for you purists) from the signal path. Since the OUTPUT and SOLO controls are wired as
Loop Returns, at the end of the preamp and Loop signal path, they are defeated when the Loop is bypassed.
As mentioned above the Effects Loop handles outboard processing with fi nesse. The ability to HARD BYPASS the loop entirely assures
the purist in you will be satisfi ed in the studio where every nuance of tone is crucial and you don’t need the SOLO feature.
The pure, all tube Reverb is fi tted with a Bright/Warm switch that enables you to tailor the reverb sound to the style you are playing. Bright
delivers a vintage-inspired sound complete with the identifi able haze of harmonics associated with older amp circuits, while WARM pro-
duces a more pure, studio quality character. Individual blend controls for each channel allow you to get the mix just right for each of the
sounds you have designated to the two channels.
External switch ports are provided to assure that you can interface the Lone Star Special with larger rack or multiple amp setups. The
Channels and SOLO feature will respond to any tip-to-ground latching type logic at their corresponding jacks. You can control these features
via external and/or midi commands with any switcher that supports grounding type logic within their programmable menus. The
Lone Star
Special chassis can be retrofi tted to a Lone Star Rackmount Kit available from your local Mesa Retailer or directly from the factory.
And fi nally, a SLAVE Output jack and Level control round out the Rear Panel enabling you to use the Lone Star Special as the “dry”
master amp for a stereo setup, drive an external rack of outboard processing or, simply add additional power for larger venues. Unlike