So Into You

[helliott***]

I feel a bit like I'm hogging this thread, but then again it's not getting much other action to speak of. Perhaps more will post here? Anyhow, here's the band doing the Atlanta Rhythm Section classic at a local bar. Hope ya like it.

https://app.box.com/s/e0rexvknuky967rldtz10z070aucstmu

[piebaldpython***]

Nice stuff......good version. Maybe put the recorder near the lead git amp? The drums and bass come through loud and clear.

[helliott***]

Thanks pie. Always try for a central location, but it depends on where the people sit, and lately they've been jammed in so you gotta take what's available. Hear your point though.

[Robert****]

Nice work!

What amp and guitar and pedals did you use? I like the tone and playing!

[Jimi75]

Great job! I think the background vocals and the unisono vocal/guitar lines kicked me most.
Very smooth guitar sound that stands out in the mix - really good stuff here.

[helliott***]

Thanks Robert and Jimi. Robert, it's the Strat through Mesa Lone Star, gain at medium, pedal just Sparkle Drive turned on, but without the gain and clean active, in other words set to 0. I find that pedal just adds some guts and character to the sound but keeps it transparent. Thanks all for listening.

[Robert****]

The Lone Star is one fine amph.

[helliott***]

It is indeed. Five watts, 15 or 30 and it's good for just about any size gig. Only knock is the weight, and that can be mitigated by casters. Expensive amph, but worth every penny given its longevity and flexibility. Love the TA 15, too, which I may try out someday soon on a tiny room.

[Robert****]

What is the difference between the Lone Star and the Lone Star Special?

[Algonquin]

Great stuff Helliott! The synchronization of you and the singer at 1:52 are worth the price of admission

Cheers
David

[helliott***]

have been asked this before. Have played a classic and found it an entirely different amph. Heavier, less headroom. The power amp section is different from what I have been told. But I am a troglodyte beyond that, sorry. The special has a different sound from other Mesas I have played, although the TA 15 comes close in some settings. Sorry I can't be more helpful.
y diff

[helliott***]

Thanks David. Much appreciated.

[Robert****]

have been asked this before. Have played a classic and found it an entirely different amph. Heavier, less headroom. The power amp section is different from what I have been told. But I am a troglodyte beyond that, sorry. The special has a different sound from other Mesas I have played, although the TA 15 comes close in some settings. Sorry I can't be more helpful.
y diff

What does this mean? Classic? I'm lost.

Anyway, I found this out:

Lone Star

The Lone Star's Multi-Watt power amp featuring Duo-Class allows you three power options that are channel assignable via 10/50/100-watt power switches: Choose two power tubes operating in pure Class A (single-ended), producing 10 watts, or two or four power tubes running in time-honored Class A/B, producing 50 or 100 watts respectively.

2 x 12" with C90 Speakers
Bias Select Switch (6L6/EL34)
Fixed Bias for Consistent, Maintenance Free Performance
Selectable Diode or Tube Rectifier Tracking - Patent Pending
2 Fully Independent Channels
Channel 1=Boutique Vintage Clean/Classic Breakup - Channel 2=Clone of Ch 1 or Cascading High Gain
Drive/Clean Switch activates Ch 2 "Drive" Control (Multi-Stage Cascading Gain Circuit)
Thick/Normal/Thicker Voicing Switch (Channel 2)
Full Power/Tweed "Variac" Switch
All-Tube, Long Spring Reverb with Bright/Warm Reverb Tone Switch
Output Level Control (over all channels when activated)
Footswitchable Solo Level Control
All-Tube FX Loop with Send Level Control (over all channels when activated)
True "Hard" Bypass Switch that removes FX Loop, Output Level & Solo Level Controls from signal path
Slave Out w/Level Control
Fan Cooled with On/Off Switch
External Switching Jacks for Channels 1/2, Solo & Reverb
All Aluminum Chassis
2 Button Footswitch (Channel 1/2 & Solo)
Slip Cover
Casters



Lone Star Special

The magic sound of EL84s running pure Class A
Where its big brother - the Lone Star - boasts the huge warmth and headroom of 6L6 power, the Lone Star Special delivers seductive tone and an elastic feel. This Lone Star is light on weight, but heavy on personality. With its fabulously expressive and versatile pre-amp, plus the vintage mojo of EL-84s running pure Class A - and you've got a new classic amp.


Handbuilt in Petaluma, California
Rectifier Tracking (5- & 15-watt Mode = Tube, 30-watt = Diode)
2 Fully-independent channels, each with Gain, Treble, Mid, Bass, Presence, Reverb & Master controls
All-tube, long spring reverb with Bright/Warm reverb tone switch
Output level control, footswitchable Solo Level control
All-tube FX loop with Send Level control
True Hard-bypass switch that removes FX Loop, Output Level & Solo Level controls from signal path
Slave Out with Level control
External Switching Jacks for Channels 1/2, Solo & Reverb
All-aluminum chassis, fan-cooled with On/Off switch
2-button footswitch (Channel 1/2 & Solo) and slipcover included


So I'm assuming you have the Lone Star Special.

[helliott***]

I have often heard the Lone Star referred to as either the classic version or the special. Clearly that's not the official name, rather it's simply Lone Star and Lone Star Special. In Mesa forums and discussions you often hear the classic reference, but apparently that is colloquial. Yes, mine is a Special, something like 7-8 years old.

[helliott***]

Lone Star Special on the left

les paul standard 002.jpgles paul standard 002.jpg

[Robert****]

Nice. I'm guessing that's a Blues Driver on top of it!

Is the clean channel similar to any Fenders you've tried?

[helliott***]

Yes, BD Waza craft, which I love. Too many OD pedals for a little board right now. But they all do something different -- the Sparkle as I have noted, but also the old Full Drive 2. Board is crowded.

Re clean channel comparison (the so-called dirty channel has a world of potential without the drive engaged, too):

I think it's pretty subjective, but yes it is Fender-ish which makes sense sense that is what Randall was going for when he started modding. But it's not that similar. I find it mid-ier and with more smooth sustain. I think it sounds like a Mesa, a little like Fenders and nothing like Marshall's, which is what I was looking for. You can't get the scooped sound like you can get from an old Fender, but you can get anything else other than heavy metal stuff which I don't need anyway.