Mesa Lonestar

[indysmith]

Having sat in soundcontrol today playing a Mesa Lonestar Special amp for close to two hours, I'm so suprised that i don't hear much (anything?) about it on this forum!
It's an incredible amplifier! It is just such a fantastic sound; perfect for raunchy blues. The EL-84s give it a level of harmonic detail and a gain structure that i totally wasn't expecting from a Mesa. It is very expressive and responsive to your playing, and tweaks you make in the e.q.
I tried it with a gretsch white falcon, a PRS CE, a (£4500!?!?!) custom shop telecaster, and a 60's american vintage stratocaster - it definately sounded best to me with singlecoils, although there were plenty of useable and impossibly rich sounds from the humbuckers (the gretsch in particular). The tele was very nice, but the strat sounded INCREDIBLE - just perfect. And that's really something coming from me who's not usually much of a strat man at all.
What I'm really trying to do is get you guys to go out and try this amp!! (with a strat)
I hear plenty about laneys, marshalls, splawns, bogners, blah blah blah, and even certain mesa models on here, but this Lonestar is OUTSTANDING, and readily available in your local sound control!

[Will]

advertising :P

[FELINEGUITARS]

What I'm really trying to do is get you guys to go out and try this amp!! (with a strat)

The Lonestar is a wicked little amp and pretty damn versatile too.

Probably doesnt get much mention on here because in spite of being a brilliant amp - many of the players here are often drawn to what their idols or peers are using and others will only play an amp that has the gain preset to 11.

Ok - I'm kidding around and agree that a few would be impressed with this beast of an amp but asking me to play a strat is pushing your luck!! :P  :P

[viking]

Some friends of mine said the same thing about the Lone Star Special.In fact,"you won",i will try it this week... :lol: Is there a new model or is it still the same as before (few years)?(Lone Star Special is very different than LS,i think).Anyway,i found a new way to make my Nomad  fantastic sounding  :D ! I'm really happy with it right now.

[opprobrium_9]

sounds cool man, some day i will have to get my ass out to the store and try some nice amps.  But, in relation to your blah, blah, blah statement, I REAAALLY want to try a Bogner. :lol:

[sgmypod]

lonestars are great...but not in my budget even S/H

[hunter]

Hm, I haven't played a Lonestar, but Caliber, Nomad, Mark, Rectifier and recently an X:Press 5:25 model.

I always have issues with the EQ, somehow it seems not to be for me, too unforgiving, too versatile, I like older fashioned designs maybe.

However the Lonestar might be voiced differently though, haven't tried this one.

[indysmith]

However the Lonestar might be voiced differently though, haven't tried this one.

VERY differently. i felt the exact same way about mesas until i tried this baby.

[dave_mc]

I thought it was very nice. I just don't agree with mesa's pricing strategy in the UK. If I could get one for US prices, I'd be interested.

[blue]

yeah, i can understand them costing a bit more than in the US, but the price doubles by the time they get here!  second hand prices here are higher than the amps cost new in the States!

[Simon D]

A friend, who is a serious guitar collector, has a Lonestar Special. I've played a few things through it, including his mid-70s Les Paul Custom and Eric Johnson Sig Strat, and it sounds absolutely glorious. Very easy to dial in good sounds too (I have no other experience with Mesas, but have read they can be a little tricky to EQ).

On the drive channel, with the blues setting on and neck pickup on the Strat selected - instant Eric Johnson tone. Select the bridge and you've got instant SRV.

If I only ever played blues, country and light rock, I'd be saving up for one. As it is, I need something which can do hard rock/metal too, and good as it is, that really isn't the Lonestar's forte. It's a stunning amp though.

Prices - I'm with Dave on this one - Mesas seem to cost the same in dollars as they do in pounds, which, given the exchange rate is 2 to 1 at the moment, is crazy pricing.

Despite this, I'm still GASsing for a Mesa Roadster head.

[indysmith]

i wouldn't call it only a "blues, country, and light rock" amp. It has quite a bit of gain in it (not as much as many 'metal' amps, but a lot more than my JCM800!), i bet with a nice overdrive in front, and the right speaker cab it could be quite a rocker!
I really REALLY want this amp now. I'm working myself up into a state...i think if i see or hear one again I'll turn into a GAS.

[Simon D]

i wouldn't call it only a "blues, country, and light rock" amp. It has quite a bit of gain in it (not as much as many 'metal' amps, but a lot more than my JCM800!), i bet with a nice overdrive in front, and the right speaker cab it could be quite a rocker!
I really REALLY want this amp now. I'm working myself up into a state...i think if i see or hear one again I'll turn into a GAS.

I guess I meant classic rock really, rather than light. You're right, it does have a fair bit of gain in there. I just mentioned those styles because they were the ones it seemed (to me) to be very well suited for tonally.

[dave_mc]

Prices - I'm with Dave on this one - Mesas seem to cost the same in dollars as they do in pounds, which, given the exchange rate is 2 to 1 at the moment, is crazy pricing.

Yeah. I mean, they frequently go for less in dollars than pounds... it's ridiculous. On principle, I refuse to buy one.  :twisted:

[Simon D]

Prices - I'm with Dave on this one - Mesas seem to cost the same in dollars as they do in pounds, which, given the exchange rate is 2 to 1 at the moment, is crazy pricing.

Yeah. I mean, they frequently go for less in dollars than pounds... it's ridiculous. On principle, I refuse to buy one.  :twisted:

I agree, at least in principle.

Although given that I'm GASsing for a Roadster, it may end up being a case of (to quote Groucho Marx) "Those are my principles. If you don't like them, I have others."