Mesa/Boogie LoneStar Amplifier Owner's Manual
  1. Manuals
  2. Brands
  3. Mesa/Boogie Manuals
  4. Musical Instrument Amplifier
  5. Three Channel Dual & Triple Rectifier Solo...
  6. Owner's manual

Mesa/Boogie LoneStar Amplifier Owner's Manual

Mesa/boogie lonestar amplifier owner's manual
Hide thumbs Also See for LoneStar Amplifier:
Table of Contents

Advertisement

Quick Links

See also: Owner's Manual , Operating Instructions
B
M
ESA
OOGIE
Owner's Manual

Advertisement

Table of Contents
loading

Related Manuals for Mesa/Boogie LoneStar Amplifier

Summary of Contents for Mesa/Boogie LoneStar Amplifier

  • Page 1 OOGIE Owner's Manual...
  • Page 2 Hello from the Tone Farm ...You, smart player and intuitive human, have put your trust in us to be your amplifier company. This is something we do not take lightly. By choosing this instrument to be a part of your musical voice, you have become part of the Mesa family...WELCOME! Our goal is to never let you down.

  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    TABLE OF CONTENTS OVERVIEW _______________________________________________________________________ 1-2 HELPFUL HINTS __________________________________________________________________ 2-3 INSTANT GRATIFICATION_____________________________________________________________3 FRONT PANEL CONTROLS & FEATURES INPUT _____________________________________________________________________________4 FOOTSWITCH ______________________________________________________________________4 DRIVE _____________________________________________________________________________4 CHANNEL SELECT __________________________________________________________________5 DRIVE / CLEAN _____________________________________________________________________5 THICK / NORMAL / THICKER __________________________________________________________5 GAIN ______________________________________________________________________________6 TREBLE / MID / BASS ______________________________________________________________ 7-8 PRESENCE / MASTER________________________________________________________________8 100 / 50 WATT: Channel Power Select_________________________________________________ 8-9 OUTPUT &...
  • Page 4 PRECAUTIONS & WARNINGS Your MESA/Boogie Amplifier is a professional instrument. Please treat it with respect and operate it properly. USE COMMON SENSE AND ALWAYS OBSERVE THESE PRECAUTIONS: WARNING: EU: permission from the Supply Authority is needed before connection. WARNING: Vacuum tube amplifiers generate heat. To insure proper ventilation always make certain there is at least four inches (100mm) of space behind the rear of the amplifier cabinet.

  • Page 5: Overview

    60 Hz TUBE LOCATIONS 1 x 5U4 1 x 5U4 4 x 6L6 4 x 6L6 Instruction Manual LONE STAR as your amplifier and Welcome to the MESA/Boogie Family! BASS PRESENCE MASTER ALL - TUBE OOGIE LONE STAR AMPLIFIER...

  • Page 6: Helpful Hints

    Overview: (Continued) 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.

  • Page 7: Instant Gratification

    HELPFUL HINTS: (Continued) 6.) When the Footswitch is not available or desired, use the Front Panel mini toggle to select the two channels. 7.) The Front Panel OUTPUT and SOLO controls are not active until the Effects Loop is switched to the LOOP ACTIVE position. Use the Channel MASTER controls for output volume level when the LOOP is set to HARD BYPASS.

  • Page 8: Front Panel Controls & Features

    FRONT PANEL: Controls & Features INPUT: This is the instrument INPUT jack. This jack feeds the preamp and since the LONE STAR is a high gain amplifier and therefore very sensitive, always use a high quality shielded cable between the instrument and the amplifier.This will prevent unwanted noise and microphonic cable sounds.

  • Page 9: Channel Select

    FRONT PANEL: Controls & Features CHANNEL SELECT: This 3 position mini toggle allows manual selection of the Channels when the Footswitch is not connected. Set it to the center FT-SW position to use the Channel Select Footswitch. CH 1 CH 2 INPUT DRIVE / CLEAN: This switch is responsible for activating the DRIVE circuitry in Channel 2.

  • Page 10: Gain

    FRONT PANEL: Controls & Features 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 amplifiers 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.

  • Page 11: Treble Mid Bass

    FRONT PANEL: Controls & Features TREBLE: As in most tube guitar amplifiers, the TREBLE control ( in both channels of your LONE STAR ) is the most powerful of the rotary controls and is next in line only to the GAIN control as a shaping tool. Because it is first in the signal path of the tone controls - and from here the Middle and Bass receive their signal - it is by far the dominant tone control.

  • Page 12: Presence Master

    FRONT PANEL: Controls & Features BASS: (Continued) Note: The BASS control in both channels of your LONE STAR is very powerful and though we have taken steps to ensure a balanced tone is easy to achieve, it is wise to blend with subtle nuance in mind. This is especially true in Channel 2 when using either the regular Channel 1 style gain circuitry cranked, or the DRIVE circuitry for higher gain lead sounds.

  • Page 13: Output & Solo Controls

    FRONT PANEL: Controls & Features 100W / 50W: Channel Power Select TRACKING setting on the Rear Panel RECTIFIER SELECT switch. Or, you might want the opposite and set Channel 1 to 50 watts of sparkling, yet forgiving clean performance and go for the bold auth- ority of 100 watt power for Channel 2 set to a soaring high gain voice using the DRIVE circuitry.

  • Page 14: Power: Tweed / Off / On & Standby

    FRONT PANEL: Controls & Features OUTPUT & SOLO CONTROLS: (Continued) to the Footswitch DIN jack. SOLO is an additional final output level control wired in parallel with the OUTPUT control. It is capable 100 W OUTPUT SOLO LOOP ON 50 W MASTER 100 W 50 W...

  • Page 15: Fuse

    REAR PANEL: WARNING: Unplug power before replacing fuse or removing bolts mounting FUSE SILICON chassis NORMAL First set sound with DIODES LOOP bypassed. Then FUSE set SEND & OUTPUT to 50% for unity gain. With LOOP IN, adjust SEND to match FX. POWER FUSE WER FUSE TUBE...

  • Page 16: Fx Loop

    REAR PANEL: (Continued) FX LOOP: Series The LONE STAR handles outboard processing by providing an on-board patch point between the preamp and power section. This loop is wired such that the dry signal is in series with the effected (wet) signal. The circuit also incorporates a SEND LEVEL control allowing you to fine tune the output of the preamp circuit to match the input sensitivity of your processor NORMAL First set sound with...

  • Page 17: Reverb

    REAR PANEL: (Continued) REVERB: The LONE STAR incorporates a stunning analog Reverb circuit that is fitted with individual Channel Mix controls and a unique Reverb Voicing feature that offers a choice between two classic reverb sounds. ALL - TUBE OOGIE LONE STAR AMPLIFIER CH 2 REVERB...

  • Page 18: Bias Select

    REAR PANEL: (Continued) BIAS SELECT: (Continued) NOTE: Using the AC POWER switch set to TWEED will reduce the strain on EL34 tubes (and 6L6 as well). If you prefer the sound of this setting, you will reduce the likelihood of tube problems and greatly extend their toneful life, as they are basically coasting. NOTE: It is possible to run the smaller octal 6V6 power tubes for reduced power applications and a looser bubblier sound in the TWEED AC POWER SETTING ONLY.

  • Page 19: Reverb Remote Jack

    REAR PANEL: (Continued) REVERB REMOTE JACK: The Reverb feature contains a Remote Switch jack that allows you to control the Reverb effect from a separate footswitch. The 1/4” jack is located on the underside of the chassis just below where the SLAVE jack is located on the extreme right side of the Back Panel.

  • Page 20: Factory Sample Settings & Personal Settings Sheet

    SAMPLE # 1 LONESTAR STATE CH 1 CH 2 INPUT TREBLE GAIN CLEAN DRIVE FT.SW THICK THICKER SAMPLE # 2 CLEAN CLONES CH 1 CH 2 INPUT GAIN TREBLE CLEAN DRIVE FT.SW THICK THICKER SAMPLE # 3 TWANG & BANGIN' CH 1 CH 2 INPUT...
  • Page 21 SAMPLE # 5 PASS THE SAUCE CH 1 CH 2 INPUT GAIN TREBLE CLEAN DRIVE FT.SW THICK THICKER SAMPLE # 6 BARBEQUE CH 1 CH 2 INPUT GAIN TREBLE CLEAN DRIVE FT.SW THICK THICKER SAMPLE # 7 AUSTIN - TACEOUS CH 1 CH 2 INPUT...
  • Page 22 SETTING # 1 CH 1 CH 2 INPUT GAIN TREBLE CLEAN DRIVE FT.SW THICK THICKER SETTING # 2 CH 1 CH 2 INPUT GAIN TREBLE CLEAN DRIVE FT.SW THICK THICKER SETTING # 3 CH 1 CH 2 INPUT GAIN TREBLE CLEAN DRIVE FT.SW...

  • Page 23: Tube Maintenance & Diagnosis

    TUBE NOISE & MICROPHONICS: for alarm, this quirky behavior comes with the territory and the Tone. Much like changing a light bulb, you don’t need a technician to cure these types of minor user serviceable annoyances and in fact, you’ll be amazed at how easy it is to cure tube problems...by simply swapping out a pre-amp or power tube! First may we suggest that you set the amplifier up on something so that you can get to the tubes comfortably without having to bend down.
  • Page 24 DIAGNOSING PRE-AMP TUBE PROBLEMS: Because your amplifier is an all tube design, it is quite possible that you will at some point experience minor pre-amp tube noise. Rest assured - this is no cause for alarm and you can take care of the problem yourself in a matter of minutes by simply swapping tubes.

  • Page 25: Tube Description & Task Chart

    PAGE 21...

  • Page 26: Bias Adjustment: A Feature Article By Randall Smiths

    BIAS ADJUSTMENT: (Part of a continuing series) An Article written by Randall Smith that we thought you might find interesting. Here’s a question we often hear: “Why doesn’t Mesa put bias adjustments Mesa put bias adjustments Mesa in their amplifiers?” Well, there’s a short answer and a long answer to this question.
  • Page 27 BIAS ADJUSTMENT: (Continued) control grids. Voltage and current are NOT the same. Current is the AMOUNT of electricity, the “quantity” — and is measured in amperes. Voltage is the degree of electric charge — like the “pressure” to use the old water analogy. Let me illustrate how different voltage and current are: When you scrape your feet across a carpeted floor in dry, wintery conditions, your body can become charged with 50,000 to 100,000 volts of static electricity.
  • Page 28 How much money and trouble that has saved MESA/Boogie players you couldn’t estimate. Our rigorously tested and hand selected tubes are available at your nearest MESA/Boogie Pro Center or from us directly. Nobody offers better price, quality or warranty than we do ... so why swerve? Next time we’ll talk about our part in developing the great Sylvania STR 415 type 6L6 and how we’re on the verge of seeing something...

  • Page 29: Speaker Impedance & Possible Hook-Up Schemes - Amps To Speaker Cab

    MESA/Boogie amplifiers can handle 4 and 8 ohms effectively. Never run below 4 ohms in a tube amplifier unless you are absolutely MESA/Boogie amplifiers can handle 4 and 8 ohms effectively. Never run below 4 ohms in a tube amplifier unless you are absolutely MESA/Boogie certain that the system can handle it properly;...

  • Page 30: Speaker A Speaker B

    SPEAKER IMPEDANCE MATCHING & HOOK-UP GUIDE: PARALLEL: When wiring in parallel, the resistance of the speakers decreases. Two 8 ohm speakers wired in ( hooked-up ) Parallel results in a 4 ohm load. It’s easy to calculate the effect of a resistive load when all the speakers are all the same resistance. It is really not suggested to wire different resistive load values in Parallel ( 8 and 4, 16 and 8 etc.
  • Page 31 WIRING SCHEMES...Amplifier to Speaker Cabinets Partial back view of amplifier 8 OHM 4 OHM 4 OHM 8 Ohm Cabinet 8 Ohm Cabinet 4 Ohm Cabinet Partial back view of amplifier 4 OHM 8 OHM 16 OHM 16 Ohm Cabinet Partial back view of some Mesa amp 8 OHM 4 OHM...
  • Page 32 WIRING SCHEMES...Amplifier to Speaker Cabinets Partial back view of amplifier 8 OHM 4 OHM 8 Ohm Cabinet CORRECT MATCH Partial back view of amplifier 8 OHM 4 OHM 8 Ohm SERIES BOX 4 Ohm 4 Ohm 4 Ohm Cabinet 4 OHM 8 Ohm Cabinet 8 Ohm Cabinet 4 OHM...
  • Page 33 WIRING SCHEMES...Amplifier to Speaker Cabinets Partial back view of amplifier 16 Ohm 4 OHM 4 OHM 8 OHM SERIES BOX 8 Ohm 8 Ohm 8 Ohm Cabinet 8 Ohm Cabinet 8 Ohm Cabinet SAFE MISMATCH Partial back view of amp Partial back view of amplifier CORRECT MATCH 8 OHM...
  • Page 34 WIRING SCHEMES...Amplifier to Speaker Cabinets Partial back view of amplifier 16 Ohm 4 OHM 4 OHM 8 OHM SERIES BOX 8 Ohm 8 Ohm 8 Ohm Cabinet 8 Ohm Cabinet 16 Ohm Cabinet SAFE MISMATCH Partial back view of amplifier 8 OHM 4 OHM 4 OHM...

  • Page 35: Triodes, Pentodes & Irishmen: A Feature Article On The Workings Of Tubes

    ON TRIODES, PENTODES & IRISHMEN: With apologies to Friends and Relatives from the Emerald Isle - who will make their appearance soon enough - the humor which follows is dedicated to the memories of Spec McAuliff and Fae (Rafael) McNally, two of the True Greats. As their numerical references suggest, the terms Diode, Triode and Pentode indicate the number of elements within the vacuum tube i.e.
  • Page 36 ON TRIODES, PENTODES & IRISHMEN: rectify alternating current into direct current by passing it without restriction, but in one direction only. This also explains why closing time is strictly enforced at Irish pubs: During normal operation, the traffic flow is similarly unimpeded and uni-directional toward the bar and this process rectifies the work-day negativity.
  • Page 37 PENTODES: (Continued) Thus the proper cocktail waitress - visible through the louvers - is scantily clad so as to be all the more effective at reinforcing the attractive influence of her bar and by being located in between the door and the bar, she serves as bait to lure customers past the door’s negative influence.

  • Page 38: Part Sheet

    PAGE 34...
  • Page 39 OOGIE The Spirit of Art in Technology Thank you for trusting MESA/Boogie to be your amplifier company and we wish you many years of toneful enjoyment from this handbuilt all tube instrument.
  • Page 40 The Spirit of Art in Technology (707) 778-6565 FAX NO. (707) 765-1503 1317 Ross Street Petaluma, CA 94954 9/07/06...

This manual is also suitable for:

Lonestar

Table of Contents