Off Topic Mesa Lonestar....should I?

[puppyonacid]

Last year I bought a Maverick and flipped it. I bought it with that intention cos I knew it wasn't higain enough for what I wanted. Now, I have a good lead on a lonestar. But I'm wondering, isn't the lonestar just kind of the newer version of the maverick? I know JP has used a lonestar and Timmons has/does also. So, will it give me a JP like tone (without sounding too much like a clone). See, I keep thinking I want a MkIV or something like but then I remember that much as I love JP, I don't wanna be a clone or seen as a fanboy (which I clearly am ).

I'm looking for something that'll give me all round performance. Nice crunchy, tight rythym, soaring leads. Yadda Yadda Yadda. So waddya you boogiers think?

 

[RocketRalf]

I read somewhere that the Road King Series II has the Lonestar cleans. JP uses the lonestars just for cleans I think. And he uses the MkIV for leads, so if you get a RKS2 you won't be copying him. And I guess it's versatile enough to let you find your own sound. I have never had a chance to try any Mesa thought.

 

[Octavarius]

Last year I bought a Maverick and flipped it. I bought it with that intention cos I knew it wasn't higain enough for what I wanted. Now, I have a good lead on a lonestar. But I'm wondering, isn't the lonestar just kind of the newer version of the maverick? I know JP has used a lonestar and Timmons has/does also. So, will it give me a JP like tone (without sounding too much like a clone). See, I keep thinking I want a MkIV or something like but then I remember that much as I love JP, I don't wanna be a clone or seen as a fanboy (which I clearly am ).

I'm looking for something that'll give me all round performance. Nice crunchy, tight rythym, soaring leads. Yadda Yadda Yadda. So waddya you boogiers think?

Whether the Lonestar is an all round amp depends a lot. I wouldn't say it does tight, crunchy rhythms and high gain leads like a Mark or a Recto, for instance. It is capable of fantastic leads and nice rhythm tones, but not the high gain Petrucci type you might be looking for. At least not without a boost-pedal. The Lonestar isn't really a new Maverick, in my opinion. You might look at it as a futher developement of the Mark I, actually. But it's really meant as a brand new amp model/tone.

I would look into a Mark, personally, if you're after that kind of high gain voicing á la Petrucci, found on Scenes From A Memory, Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence, Systematic Chaos, even Liquid Tension Experiment 2.

I currently own a Mark IIC+, which I'm very very satisfied with. It pretty much does everything I want it to do. Everything from warm middy jazz tones to Dream Theater high gain stuff. However, it's a two channel amp with really old technology and I'm a bit weary of gigging with it, to be honest. It died on me five minutes before going on stage on my last concert, giving only a loud buzzing noise! (well, it's 25 years old and never has never been done any electronic maintenance on, so I guess it had the right to do so) Probably needs a good and healthy cap change!

I would either look into a used/stock Mark IV or wait for the new Mark 5 to come out. (probably January '09, along with possibly a new TriAxis (yes, it's in the works) and several other new amp models)

If you dig the Train of Thought kinda stuff more, I'd check out a Road King, like RocketRalf suggested. However, it's a completely different voicing, and although it has a lot of bells and whistles, that may not be the exact thing you want. I find the Marks to be a lot more versatile in tone than Rectifiers. It's still a very versatile amp, though, and a godsend for live use.

My best advice is to try out the amps first, perhaps even bring some settings with you, and decide which one you feel is the most appropriate for your playing style.

I don't think you should be worried about the amp determining whether you're a copy of John, really. If you like that kind of tone he has, why not go for something similar? As long as you're not playing his music and not trying to copy the tone exactly, I wouldn't worry about it.

Just go out and try a lot of amps!

Good luck!

 

[colinboy]

I contacted the mesaboogie distributors in the uk myself as i was thinkin about a boogie myself also.
I too was advised by them to check out the roadking series 2 as it does seem to be a very versatile amp.they sent me a brochure on all the boogie models and it does sound like a great amp with an arsenal of tones.

the only problem for us my friend is the price of it in the uk&europe!its crazy expensive!

 

[Octavarius]

I contacted the mesaboogie distributors in the uk myself as i was thinkin about a boogie myself also.
I too was advised by them to check out the roadking series 2 as it does seem to be a very versatile amp.they sent me a brochure on all the boogie models and it does sound like a great amp with an arsenal of tones.

the only problem for us my friend is the price of it in the uk&europe!its crazy expensive!

Keep in mind that the Road King is a Rectifier, though. It's very versatile, but don't expect it to give you Mark tones.


Yup, the prices are sick. The rule of thumb is three times the price in the US. Really. Here's a link to a comparison chart that I made, illustrating the retail price differences between the US and Norway;

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l4/Octavarius/PriceComparisonChartUS-Norway.jpg

 

[fatoni]

dont worry bout seeming like a fanboy. i have a jp6 and i use the mark iv. i dont even own a dt cd. i bought the mkiv because it was the best amp ive ever heard at the time (and was kinda influenced by lamb of god) and the jp is the best guitar i ever luckily played while waiting for the salesman to get me a prs off the wall. the lonestar wont get you there, get a mark or even a dc series

 

[Roxy]

The Lonestar is more for roots/blues styles. It has a loser feel and lower gain structure. I used to own one. Even with a Wylde Overdrive in front of it I couldn't get a tight metal tone. I bought the Roadster Head and Traditional Recto 212 Cab and couldn't be happier. If you don't need all of the Road King II features, save some money and get the Roadster. Also, try the Mark series too. I've never been fortunate enough to try one out yet.

 

[Octavarius]

Here are some videos you can check out. Might give you a better idea of its tone;


[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUj5vh9h47I"]YouTube - Andy Timmons Amp Rig[/ame]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiW22O914Cg&feature=related"]YouTube - Andy Timmons - BB Preamp - Mesa Boogie Lone Star[/ame]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kqli_Jd7bCk&feature=related"]YouTube - Andy Timmons Young Guitar DVD 2[/ame]

 

[robelinda2]

Gosh how the Lonestar is great, such beautiful cleans and breakup, my perfect amp. One day....

Love those Timmons vids, all time classics those ones!

 

[mikeller]

I have a Maverick - if you play with the post and pre-gain and fat knobs, the gain channel is capable of plenty of high-gain. I also drive the clean channel with an MI Audio Crunchbox for high-gain sounds

 

[roburado]

JP used the Lonestar mainly for cleans. His high-gain stuff is Mk IV.

 

[73h Nils]

If you chuck an OD infront of the Lonestar, the leads are searing liquid! Hence, Andy Timmons

 

[mesavox]

I played a Lonestar at GC the other day and loved it yet again. It's not a metal amp, but sustain isn't going to be a problem... but not MkIV type sustain... you'd need a boost for that.

JP uses the Lonestar for the solo on Repentance. It's not JUST for cleans.

The Lonestar is a wonderful clean, and fat distortion thing... thingy... um.. yeah. I loved it. I was just plugged into the front end with a Satriani model guitar. GC in OKC doesn't have any MMs (argh), but they have a Jem and Satch, both of which play like a dream compared to the other Ibbys on that wall (man is Ibanez sucking it up big time lately or what?!).

Anyway, I'd say go try one out. The tone is huge, and it's very well rounded, but not intended for metal. Timmons uses a BB pedal in front of it, and I felt that if you want some nice extension of tones that are still Mesa like, but not the typical heavy thing that most of us already have, this is THE amp for you.

And, no... the Lonestar is not based on the Maverick. The Maverick is Dual Rec technology top to bottom... Lonestar is more like a supped up MK I.

 

[Axilla]

Buy a DIEZEL "Herbert" for ultra clean thru fat crunch to most insane lead.

Wanna go more rock ? Buy a DIEZEL "Einstein" like I did. Lifetime satisfaction and instant gratification

 

[DaPatrooch]

The Lonestar has an amazing clean sound. It also has a great lead sound, but it's not really a high-gain, crunchy amp. JP uses them mainly for clean sounds. He's used stuff from the Rectifier and Mark series, and currently uses the Mark IV, so I would start there. The Rectifier amps are super-high gain and sort of "loose" sounding, but the Mark IV is a high-gain, tight amp with creamy lead tones. Depends on what you like really. As previously mentioned, the Road King Series II has the Lonestar cleans with the Recto high gain. I would also look at the Roadster which is basically a slightly stripped-down Road King Series II.

 

[JMB27]

Mesa Boogie? Lonestar?

I've not had much love for 'em.

That said, I do like the Mark I (original and re-issue) and I like the Mark IV

happy shopping, eh

Joel

 

[Lou]

I saw Andy's Mesa clinic last week and he sounded great thru both his lone star and Stilleto. The soloing has lots of creamy sustain and sounded very Eric Johnson-like to me. Great amp.

 

[KoreyD]

I want a Mesa!!! Did I read right on Mesa's site that the Mark IV is out of production? Are there still quite a few floating around out there? That lotto win would come in handy about now!

 

[Octavarius]

I want a Mesa!!! Did I read right on Mesa's site that the Mark IV is out of production? Are there still quite a few floating around out there? That lotto win would come in handy about now!

Yup, both the Mark IV and the Mark I Reissue. I'd wait for the Mark 5 to come out before I'd buy anything though. There will still be plenty of Mark IV's around anyway. After all, the amp has been in production for nearly 20 years now.

 

[CudBucket]

I've had 2 Mark IVs, a Road King II, F50, Studio Pre and more. I now have a Lonestar 2x12 combo and it has plenty of gain and a better lead tone than the RKII. JP used the LS for the Repentance solo BTW. I was at an Andy Timmons clinic in NYC a couple of weeks ago and his LS through a 4x12 recto cab sounded magical. You won't regret the amp.

BTW, I spoke with a Mesa rep at the clinic and he said there are NO plans for a Mark V as of now. I asked about the picture of RS soldering one up and he said that could have been a prototype from years ago. In fact the chassis reads Mark 5 and not Mark V. I wouldn't hold my breath for it.

Dave