Mesa/Boogie .50 CALIBER SERIES Owner Operating Instructions page 2

In the Lead mode the Volume knob is intentionally less sensitive so that there is no need to "re-set" it for
the two modes. With most guitars, distortion begins around 2 with a real nice sounding blues-type tone
reminiscent of old Fenders turned up loud. Settings above 3 or 4 produce the more modern, more
monstrous distortion sounds. Gain and distortion increase slowly as the Volume setting is increased,
often producing the tightest, best sounding heavy crunch tone between 7 and 9.
Th prevent undesirable squealing, noise, and feedback, the Volume should be reduced as playing
loudness-via the Master-is increased. We only recommend running the Volume above 6 when the Master
is below 6.
MASTER This control regulates the power amplifier level and the actual overall loudness. If you run the
Volume at 10 and the master below 1 (in the Lead mode) Grandma can nap in the next room while you
annihilate Manhattan with monstrous metal performance. You'll still get the sound and feel of big amps
cranked way up!
Turning up the Master begins to reveal the .50 Caliber's monstrous sound-per-watt capability...it's
noticeably louder than other comparably rated amps! The maximum performance for loud, clean rhythm
and hot, high-gain lead playing comes around 5 and 7 on the Volume and Master controls. This puts the
amplifier right in the middle of its range for great sound and easy footswitchability. The taper of the two
controls is gradual enough so that dialing in both great lead and great rhythm sounds is quite easy to do.
However, the taper of the Master control gets radical above 7 and begins to unleash the maximum from
your .50's power section. And this power amp has been designed to deliver its greatest crunch when
turned up smoking loud! But you must turn down the Volume control as you increase the Master. A
maximum setting would be 3-4 on the Volume and 8 or 9 on the Master.
When you want to turn down to soft playing levels and continue to footswitch between Lead and Rhythm,
merely turn down the Master. This will preserve the volume balance between the two modes. Note:
Settings of Volume control below 2 or 3 with Master settings also low may cause an imbalance in
channel volume levels.
TREBLE This is the most powerful of the three rotary tone controls. At high settings (7 ½ and above) it
will appear to minimize the effect of the Bass and Middle. But they will become the stronger controls
when the Treble is set below 5. For those who split hairs tonally and want the very best, most bubbly,
funky clean tones, you should find the exact spot on the Treble where all-the tone controls are balanced.
This will usually be somewhere between 5 and 7. Some players are very particular about the exact spot -
say "6 ¼ or 6 ¾" - for their ideal tonal balance.
When playing hard-core crunch, especially at the very soft practice volumes, the .50 will usually sound
better with the Treble and Presence set quite high, or all the way up. This will also help produce sustain
and harmonic jumps at soft playing levels.
For silky, warm, and round jazz tones, run the .50 Caliber in the Rhythm mode with the Treble set low
and Bass and Middle turned up higher. Add sparkle with the Presence control.
BASS, MIDDLE You've already read some recommendations for these settings in the TREBLE section,
and because the tone controls are interactive, all three must be used together.
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