Mesa Lonestar

[cust22]

Anybody try this amp yet? Just curious about your opinions. And just wondering how heavy it can get.

[PaulS]

I had one for about 6 months and liked the clean channel though the dirty channel just never quite worked for me. The amp felt somewhat muddy but could get it into a useable range cutting the mids and bass. Bought a Fuchs 30 ODS Combo a few months back and in an A/B scenerio with the Lonestar it felt like a wool blanket had been taken off....felt much more detailed, smoother, articulate, etc, etc. Lonestar has been sold since.

[jimmieb]

Anybody try this amp yet? Just curious about your opinions. And just wondering how heavy it can get.

I have one it's a 2x12 version. I love it! I've owned a lots of Boogies and this is my favorite amp yet. It's base tone to me is vintage Marshall like blues breaker or early Page. Though it can get a more fender clean tone warm clean not spanking clean, like BF deluxe but warmer. I play my Drop Top (Alder) through it. I do believe a dark sounding guitar could get muddy but nothing a Beano pedal couldn't clean up. I use the clean channel a lot and use pedals to get the OD tones I want. It does have an lead channel which is not over the top distorted. In fact the amp is more of a bluesy, non-modern as far as break up tones go. The amp is very dynamic which is my favorite part about it. You really feel the subtle parts of your playing. I use the tube rectifier at 50 watts with the variac on, or tweed switch they call it. So it's running at around 30 watts. I just got an Xotic RC which really reponds well. Especially if I drive the bass on the pedal. I'm getting a Mosferatu pedal which should arrive soon. I'm hoping this pedal will work for more medium gain tones. I really not looking to get a real Ka-chunka drop-D Recto type of tone from this amp, I don't think that tone is in that amp.

Jimmie B

[cust22]

Thanks for the replies. I have actually tried the amp since my post. I kinda like it. I like the general sound of the amp, the frequencies are easy on my ears ( if that makes any sense). I was playing at a moderate volume and it didn't have any woofiness in the bass, and the top end was nice. Just seems a bit lacking in gain. I played the 1x12 combo. It seems perfect for blues, but
I really don't play the blu :( es. Anyway the clean was really nice.

I'd like to try the lead channel with a od pedal and see if It could get more modern. Which is a shame because if it had 10% more gain it would be just what I was looking for.

[jimmieb]

Thanks for the replies. I have actually tried the amp since my post. I kinda like it. I like the general sound of the amp, the frequencies are easy on my ears ( if that makes any sense). I was playing at a moderate volume and it didn't have any woofiness in the bass, and the top end was nice. Just seems a bit lacking in gain. I played the 1x12 combo. It seems perfect for blues, but
I really don't play the blu :( es. Anyway the clean was really nice.

I'd like to try the lead channel with a od pedal and see if It could get more modern. Which is a shame because if it had 10% more gain it would be just what I was looking for.

Actually, I just got a Mosferatu and it is amazing sounding with that amp. If I back off on the drive on the Mosferatu and use it together with my Xotic RC with the drive turned down and the bass driven I can almost get a Recto tone. The Mosferatu alone definately is enough drive to get a Marshall driven hard. This is all on the clean channel of the Lone Star. The amp alone is definately lower gain, still you can get most Marshall vintage tone on the drive channel without pedals. Then add pedal and this amp will soar. I'm using a Fulltone Fat Boost, then an Xotic RC, then a Fulltone Fulldrive 2, and last a Mosferatu. I'm on the waiting list to get a dual ZenDrive and I'm considering replacing the Fat Boost with another Xotic RC and the Full DRive 2 With a Barber Burn Unit.

Jimmie B

[John Price]

I use the head version! this gives me the chance to run it through different cabs. I can't say enough good things about this amp so I'll just keep it simple....It's for me....this amp gives me all the vintage tones that I grew up with! From a great fenderish clean to a nice Plexi drive! I also use the Xotic RC Booster and the Smart People Factory Ego Booster with this amp!

Lots of fun!

I've never been a fan of Boogie Cabs! So I suggest trying this amp through another cab! It really comes to life!.....

make sure you try the tweed power/tube rectifier/50 watts! that's were the sponge is.......

[jimmieb]

John,

Thanks for the suggestion on the speaker cab. I've been thinking of using the
Bogner Cube especially after hearing Tom success with it. What are you using? Is is you who are using a Genz-Benz cab? Someone on the forum is in conjunction with a LoneStar... Have you heard or played through the class A version yet? I heard one at the Namm Show and it sounded a little too thin.

Jimmie B

PS The 50 watt, tube recto, tweed power is my favorite setting. I love it!
It's supposed to be about 30 watts at that setting.

[John Price]

Yes! I have both the 2x12 and 4x12 G-Flex Cabs using the 2x12 for all my gigs and the 4x12 stays home!
The Lonestar Special is the class A version and doesn't really sound as good as the Lonestar! I'm not a big fan of the EL 84's and that's what's inside of the LSS!

[ShaunzNoiz]

I had this particular model for about three weeks and got rid of it. I tried it outside on a large stage and it just didn't work for me. Sounded great in the store. Got it to the gig and I was less than happy. I tried the new one with the EL 84's. You have to try that one through a 212 cabinet. Nice "Vox" AC30 tones. Not dead on, but I can hear what Mesa is going for. In all fairness, I think that if I could have tried the 100w in a head format through a different cab I would have enjoyed it much more!

[jimmieb]

Yes! I have both the 2x12 and 4x12 G-Flex Cabs using the 2x12 for all my gigs and the 4x12 stays home!
The Lonestar Special is the class A version and doesn't really sound as good as the Lonestar! I'm not a big fan of the EL 84's and that's what's inside of the LSS!

You know I think Boogie was making a big deal out of a new speaker set up in the Lonestar before release and after I didn't see the speaker in any production amp or any time after that. I can't remember what brand they were.

Jimmie B

[guitarzan]

That speaker you're referring to was the (I think) Fillmore speaker that they're putting into production. However, it's behind schedule as far as I've been able to read on the internet.

personally, I just tried this amp yesterday for a couple hours at Rockit Music in Brea (a new Anderson Dealer!!!!!!!!) and went nuts over it. Tried it with a LP Special and an American Strat Dluxe and was crazy-insane over both. This is my next amp- without a doubt. I'm mentally putting price tags on my whole arsenal... including that Tone King Meteor that I think lays golden eggs.

So can anyone give me the liabilities? Harmony Central is loaded with guys who love it with 10's in every category. Nothing's perfect and I need more objectivity than the guys who just dropped 1600 bucks on an amp and need to tell the world they didn't get screwed to the wall.

thanks in advance.

[jimmieb]

That speaker you're referring to was the (I think) Fillmore speaker that they're putting into production. However, it's behind schedule as far as I've been able to read on the internet.

personally, I just tried this amp yesterday for a couple hours at Rockit Music in Brea (a new Anderson Dealer!!!!!!!!) and went nuts over it. Tried it with a LP Special and an American Strat Dluxe and was crazy-insane over both. This is my next amp- without a doubt. I'm mentally putting price tags on my whole arsenal... including that Tone King Meteor that I think lays golden eggs.

So can anyone give me the liabilities? Harmony Central is loaded with guys who love it with 10's in every category. Nothing's perfect and I need more objectivity than the guys who just dropped 1600 bucks on an amp and need to tell the world they didn't get screwed to the wall.

thanks in advance.


You are exactly right, Fillmore. They are going to release them?
If you have a Tone King Meteor it is a real complement that you like the Lone Star too. I was thinking about getting one. It seemed to me that the Meteor would be a great compliment to the Marshall like tone of the Lone Star.
As far as the down side of the Lone Star. I'm not as wild with the drive channel as the clean channel. I really like the clean channel with pedals. Honestly I haven't experimented much with the drive channel. Still, it's hard for me to think of anything else I don't like about it. Actually I sold a $2500 rig to get the Lone Star and haven't regreted yet. It's definately not a high gain amp. To me it has a soul or base ingredient to add different sounds to it, with pedals and the likes.I'm very impressed and am probably a little biased. Still it can't hurt to get a take on it from someone whose had one for a year.

Jimmie B

[guitarzan]

I find it notable that guys are disliking the drive side of the Lone Star.
Maybe it's because I have very little experience with gainy amps. My boutique amps have been a TopHat Club Royale, my Tone King, and a Trace Elliot Velocette (that I just traded for a Velocette Twin 2x10 30watt stereo) which I wouldn't call boutique, but it's essentially a Gibson Goldtone from before Gibson acquired Trace Elliot. NONE of those really have any gain to speak of. They get warm and hairy, but not milk-chocolatey like I heard in the LS 1x12. Anyway, all that's to say that I was blown away by the saggy smoothness of the 50w/tube recto/tweed setting of the drive channel. It was the perfect gain. syrupy. Maybe a Fuchs is the way to go, but at 16 bills vs. $3500+, there's no question which one I'd spend my gear money on. With a wife, three kids, and a mortgage, $1600 is tough enough, even with a fairly heavy gigging schedule. I dunno- maybe I gotta go spend an afternoon test driving heavier amps (no pun intended- I hear the Lone Star weighs as much as a truck). But what's the point when everything boutique starts at 2k? And often- the MORE boutique an amp is, the MORE of a purest it's creator is... which often means single-ended class A point-to-point..."the fewer knobs the better". I can't say that I wanna spend thousands on one guy's quest to make the most tonally pure amp out there. The fact of the matter is that I'm playing gigs where my rig just has to be solid and versatile and GOOD. And that sounds like the Lone Star to me. Even my Meteor is a little too clean for me. I'd like a little more breakup than it gives so that I wouldn't have to rely solely on pedals for my OD.

lots of- babbling... must... stop.... typing....

[jimmieb]

It's a little difficult to call Boogie boutique anymore, at least as a company. They have kind of established themselves as a one of the big guys. Knocking on the door of Marshall and Fender so to speak. Still with this one amp Boogie has really hit something. Even more than any other amp so far. So it's like a boutique amp, meaning it's a departure from main stream. It is the closest thing to Marshall Boogie has made. Even more than their Silletto which is more modern Marhall. The Lone Star is definately vintage in it's root. It is so dynamic, especially in the 50 watt tweed power, tube recto mode. If you switch to the diode recto it reacts faster, but it loses something in the way the tubes distort and bloom, especially with with chords. So far every pedal I use in front of it sings. Of course, using great pedals helps. The Xotic RC is amazing and seemed like it was plenty of drive. Then I used the Mosferatu and Wow! The gain even at low volume was amazing. It got some cool sustain and feedback even at a whisper volume that sounded huge. To me this is more than enough distortion for now. All this still on the clean channel. The drive channel is still functional and has it's use. I just am so blown away with the clean channel and pedals I really just haven't spent the time to work with the other channel. It is a little too dark and I'm wondering if a Rangemaster type pedal will help. Like Keeley's Java or an Analogman Beano pedal. It needs something with a Cobra like guitar. Which is what the Blues Breaker Marshall was like for Clapton and where the Dallas Rangemaster started. I'm going to get one for that reason, and now that settles it.

Jimmie B

[guitarzan]

JimmieB, I dunno how trusting you are (or how trusting I am with having my Meteor out of my sight :) ), but I'd love to do an amp-switch for a sunday or something. I'd love to test drive a Lone Star in a real world situation and a church gig would be just right. I'd might be willing to offer up the Tone King Meteor as a trade for the day. You're just up the 57 a bit from me, I think.

[jimmieb]

JimmieB, I dunno how trusting you are (or how trusting I am with having my Meteor out of my sight :) ), but I'd love to do an amp-switch for a sunday or something. I'd love to test drive a Lone Star in a real world situation and a church gig would be just right. I'd might be willing to offer up the Tone King Meteor as a trade for the day. You're just up the 57 a bit from me, I think.

I'm sure we could work something out. Even if I was to go to your church one Sunday and bring my amp.
Actually, if you want to we can communicate by our E-mail or the forums private message. One thing though, I'm moving and probably couldn't do anything till March 13th. Let me know...

Jimmie B

[Suriel Zayas]

corey, is your meteor series 2? what configuration do you have 30/40 watt and speaker? how heavy is it?

thanks.

[guitarzan]

Hey Suriel, mine is the Meteor series I and I bought it from Tone Merchants here in Orange, CA about a week before the series II was released (grrrrrrr). So I've had it since late October/ November-ish. Mine is the 20-watt version, 1x12, which is the lower of the 6L6 versions. It weighs a little over 30lbs. so it carries like a duffel bag. The cab is also the sweetest cab I've ever heard because the cleans just blossom out of it. As you can see from the previous posts, It's my only real collateral that I have to offer to move up to the Lone Star and the cleans in the Lone Star are going to have to be jaw-dropping for me to forsake the TK.I don't really have an amp with any drive to speak of and I'd liek something a little more versatile. BUT, there's no argument that it's a beautiful amp and a light one too.

[michaelomiya]

Resurrecting an OLD thread.
John P/Jimmie B, do you still have your Mesa Lonestar? If so, still feel the same as 2005?
Cory, did you ever p/u a Lonestar or was that before the MOD50?:p

[John Price]

Hello Michaelomiya,


Wow! it's been that long?

Somethings have changed but for the most part stayed the same. Yes! I still have my Lonestar amp and I'm still loving it. I've had some temptations along the way but with each one I tried out I gained that much more respect for this amplifier and now I have 2 LS Heads. One original version and the other one is the latest version with the 10/50/100 watt section. I had a 2x12 combo but I had to sell that due to financial issues! The one thing that has changed for me is the cabinets. Shortly after my original post I started using Boogie cabs. I have 2 4x12 Stiletto Cabinets plus an early 70's marshall with tan backs and for gigs I'm using a Boogie 2x12 Lonestar cab. One thing about this amp is that it loves pedals.

JP

[michaelomiya]

Hello Michaelomiya,


Wow! it's been that long?

Somethings have changed but for the most part stayed the same. Yes! I still have my Lonestar amp and I'm still loving it. I've had some temptations along the way but with each one I tried out I gained that much more respect for this amplifier and now I have 2 LS Heads. One original version and the other one is the latest version with the 10/50/100 watt section. I had a 2x12 combo but I had to sell that due to financial issues! The one thing that has changed for me is the cabinets. Shortly after my original post I started using Boogie cabs. I have 2 4x12 Stiletto Cabinets plus an early 70's marshall with tan backs and for gigs I'm using a Boogie 2x12 Lonestar cab. One thing about this amp is that it loves pedals.

JP

John, thank you for the information! I had the opportunity to play a LSC and LSS yesterday. I'm definitely leaning towards the LSC due to the tube configuration (6l6 or 34's). Every one of the LS's has been a 212 combo. However (like you) I'm thinking of matching up with my own cabs.

For gigs/recording, do you prefer the Boogie 212/412?
Are they loaded with the C90's (BlackShadow)?
How does the LS head match up with the Marshall 412? (pre-rolas or Celestions GBs?)
thanks John!

[guitarzan]

Resurrecting an OLD thread.
John P/Jimmie B, do you still have your Mesa Lonestar? If so, still feel the same as 2005?
Cory, did you ever p/u a Lonestar or was that before the MOD50?:p

Hi Mike,
yeah, I ended up getting a little shorty head version of the LSS. It started the end of the amp GAS days and I kept it for a year and a half. It was the perfect size to put on top of a LS Classic cab turned on its side (I called Boogie for 4 extra rubber feet). Just a beautiful sounding rig, and yes it loved pedals. I felt like it was my Wayne-Krantz-in-a-box amplifier with a strat.

BUT, then Tonelounge turned me on to the MOD50 and I've played nothing else since. I keep my eyes peeled for another shorty head (LSS or LSC), but no luck. Even if I got one, I'd probably just love it for a short while and default back to the MOD50. I'm so stinkin' crazy about this MOD50 that it's hard to even think seriously about another amp. I just got a little Super Champ XD to play while I'm writing charts and woodshedding, and it's an amazing $299 spent- but I don't ever seriously consider playing it outside of the house because the MOD50 feels like home.

But back to your question: The Lonestar series are probably my second favorite amp ever for versatility and how well it plays by itself and with pedals.

[jimmieb]

Hey Micheal,

Yes, I still have the original LS. It has given me some troubles, but I still remain true. The variax switch failed, I believe it's because I stored the amp in a road case and had it in the camper of my truck for a time.The extreme hot and cold built up condensation in the case and caused the switch to fail. The bolts that hold the chassis also rusted, so it's not Randall Smith's fault. The only two regrets I have:
1 - To have not waited for the LS Special.
2 - The pre-amp section doesn't work well with Russian tubes when the Variax
power is dropped. I have GT Chinesee tubes whick are an ok compromise.

Other than that I love the way it reacts to pedals especially my Hermida Pedals.

If I had the money I'd buy a Bogner or the Egnater, but then I also would like a couple more Andies. Momma was right, "Should of gone to Med School". Oh well I'm so fortune to have what I do.

Jimmie B

[John Price]

John, thank you for the information! I had the opportunity to play a LSC and LSS yesterday. I'm definitely leaning towards the LSC due to the tube configuration (6l6 or 34's). Every one of the LS's has been a 212 combo. However (like you) I'm thinking of matching up with my own cabs.

For gigs/recording, do you prefer the Boogie 212/412?
Are they loaded with the C90's (BlackShadow)?
How does the LS head match up with the Marshall 412? (pre-rolas or Celestions GBs?)
thanks John!

That's the great advantage with having a head version. You can match it with any cab of your liking. I'm not a big fan of the EL84's but the LSS does have a great tone to it! I gigged with one for a few months but it just didn't cut through with my band like the Classic does for me. With the LS I tried the amp with EL34's but didn't care for the clean tones I was getting so I stuck the 6L6's back into it.
If I could take the 4x12 to my gigs I would! But I'm sure you know how that story goes. So I'm using my 2x12 for gigs and it's working fine. Recording I will use both cabs for different applications. I can stick the 2x12 in a small room in the house and crank it up but the 4x12 has to stay in the room! The 2x12 has the C90's and the 4x12 has the V30's 60 watt speakers. It took a few months to soften them up but I really dig the sound coming from them! What I like about these cabs is that they're the same size as the marshall cabs. I didn't like the Rectifier cab as much.... I enjoy both cabs but for some reason I enjoy playing through the Boogie cab more than the Marshall. With the Marshall cab I can hear the paper working it's magic! I really mean that! I can actually hear the paper working in the speaker and that's something I never experienced with any other cab and that's why I keep it around. The cab has tanback 25 watt speakers in it! That's all I know about it plus it's beat up pretty bad......


JP

[michaelomiya]

I enjoy both cabs but for some reason I enjoy playing through the Boogie cab more than the Marshall. With the Marshall cab I can hear the paper working it's magic! I really mean that! I can actually hear the paper working in the speaker and that's something I never experienced with any other cab and that's why I keep it around. The cab has tanback 25 watt speakers in it! That's all I know about it plus it's beat up pretty bad......


John, thanks for the feedback. I too LOVE old Marshall cabs especially the "cone cry" of an old, broken in pre-rola greenback. The 60W V30's sound great after all of that speaker doping is worked in.

Great info on the Boogie cabs as well - I hadn't realized that the LS cabs are smaller than the recto ones. Looks like I've got some C90's in my future!


Jimmie B, LS in the "camper"?? Sounds like there's a story in there somewhere!:P

Cory, somehow I knew that the MOD50 was your #1 (but it's good to know that you did pull the trigger on a LS!):cool:

[FFOGG]

The Lonestar Special is the class A version and doesn't really sound as good as the Lonestar! I'm not a big fan of the EL 84's and that's what's inside of the LSS!

I think there at least two of us here ..both Picnic and I that have LSS .He had both a LSC AND LSS and went back to LSS for cleans .I had a Tone King Meteor and it was the best sounding clean amp I have ever heard but the Drive channel was too wild to control in a Live situation.Having said that my LSS doesn't get much play in front of my Bogner Duende anymore but the LSS is the fullest sounding home amp I have ever played at low volumes perfect for jams and home playing ...put an OCD in front and its perfect

[picnic]

The LSS is back to my #1 slot for amps. After owning one for a short while and then an LSC for two years, I'm back to an LSS. I'll probably get an LSC in the future to replace the Carr Rambler. The Rambler has a nice clean, but I think I like what the LSC can do more. If the LSC only weighed in as low as the Rambler, there would be no delay.
I don't know why there are some many gripes about the drive channel. I like what it does for my ears. But to each his own. The clean channel gets loud enough to hang with one of the louder groups I play with. I like the channel switching feature, multiple wattages, reverb is very Fendery and it's a nice looking amp. My Bogner Metropolis was for sale within two weeks of the LSS arriving. And I thought would never sell the Bogner. Never say never!

[Mister T]

It's a little difficult to call Boogie boutique anymore, at least as a company.


I agree, Boogie is a pretty big maker in the amp world. I have had a few in the last few years and think they are fantastic amps. My Nomad 45 head is one of my fav amps ever.

[michaelomiya]

Mega huge thank you's to all you guys for sharing your experiences. I'm very close to pulling the trigger on a LSC.

For those who have "concerns" about Ch2, check this out...ever heard of this mod?
http://forum.grailtone.com/viewtopic.php?t=22160&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=ohms&start=0

Here's one where the 100/50/10W function is called into "question", although "BobL's" comments pretty much sum it up (for me!):D
http://forum.grailtone.com/viewtopic.php?t=23401&sid=1379608fcdb15896512b32e34c391614

..and finally one about what appears to be a grounding screw(?)
http://forum.grailtone.com/viewtopic.php?t=24676&highlight=lonestar

[John Price]

I read this a while back!
The first post had me wondering but would like to hear an amp that had it done first before I go doing any mods to mine.

As far as the second post goes I've had my concerns about the 10 watt setting! Let's say for instance I have channel 1 set for 100 watts or even 50 watts and then have channel 2 set for 10 watts the problem I have is the popping when you switch between the 2 channels. or if you decide to flip up the switch on the amp from 10 watts to the other 2 settings you get the same results! POP!.... I've tried several LS amps and had the same results. If you set both channels for 10 watts it's fine or any other combination without the 10 watts if fine too.....

And the third post! I've seen that screw in so many Boogie amps over the years and I'm surprised it took this long before someone made an issue out of it...... The power of the internet!.......

JP

[Dave K]

After reading one page on that forum.............wow.

The two channels are not identical. The first channel is based on a BF Super Reverb with a few tweaks, the second channel adds an additional gain stage before the tone stack.

[michaelomiya]

As far as the second post goes I've had my concerns about the 10 watt setting! Let's say for instance I have channel 1 set for 100 watts or even 50 watts and then have channel 2 set for 10 watts the problem I have is the popping when you switch between the 2 channels. or if you decide to flip up the switch on the amp from 10 watts to the other 2 settings you get the same results! POP!.... I've tried several LS amps and had the same results. If you set both channels for 10 watts it's fine or any other combination without the 10 watts if fine too.....

John, I experienced the same popping noise when demoing one of the LSC's at GC Hollywood this weekend. Do you know if there is any amp issues to consider (other than to the speaker cone) when channel switching at different wattages? I'd guess that Randy Smith/Doug West would've addressed this problem during design testing....I wonder what Tien Lawrence would say about this....:confused:

[Suriel Zayas]

John, I experienced the same popping noise when demoing one of the LSC's at GC Hollywood this weekend. Do you know if there is any amp issues to consider (other than to the speaker cone) when channel switching at different wattages? I'd guess that Randy Smith/Doug West would've addressed this problem during design testing....I wonder what Tien Lawrence would say about this....:confused:

hey mike, not my intention to derail the thread, but have you heard reason amps yet? got to play a few this weekend absolutely smoking amp. what amazed me about it was the attack, if you were standing in front of the amp, it could knock you over. lots of spl, great wall of sound. seems like an amp right down your alley.

once again my apologies for stealing the thread.

[John Price]

John, I experienced the same popping noise when demoing one of the LSC's at GC Hollywood this weekend. Do you know if there is any amp issues to consider (other than to the speaker cone) when channel switching at different wattages? I'd guess that Randy Smith/Doug West would've addressed this problem during design testing....I wonder what Tien Lawrence would say about this....:confused:


Hey Mike,

I think it has to do with the circuit changing from class AB to class A but I'm not positive on that. I did address this to the East Coast Rep but never received the answer to this issue. It doesn't bother me that much to pursue a reason from them but I would like to hear what they have to say about it. If you happen to get some input from Boogie please let me know OK!


JP

[kurt1981]

I too noticed this, and honestly, I like the old design of the lonestar a bit better. I had an early model number and regret selling for sure. The new ones just don't seem to quite have the mojo. And, I always kind of feared that class switching thing, just seems a bit like it would put a lot of stress on the transformer and power section of the amp. I can see dropping a pair of power tubes to cut the wattage in half, but the other part seems a bit much. I'm no electronics wizz though, so what do I know?!!!! Was this a pointless post, maybe. Sorry all,

[michaelomiya]

hey mike, not my intention to derail the thread, but have you heard reason amps yet? got to play a few this weekend absolutely smoking amp. what amazed me about it was the attack, if you were standing in front of the amp, it could knock you over. lots of spl, great wall of sound. seems like an amp right down your alley.

once again my apologies for stealing the thread.
thanks Suriel! Reason amps - I'll check it out!;)

[michaelomiya]

Hey Mike,

I think it has to do with the circuit changing from class AB to class A but I'm not positive on that. I did address this to the East Coast Rep but never received the answer to this issue. It doesn't bother me that much to pursue a reason from them but I would like to hear what they have to say about it. If you happen to get some input from Boogie please let me know OK!


JP


John, I appreciate the info. I'm calling today and will let you know!
mike

[Dave K]

Hey Mike,

I think it has to do with the circuit changing from class AB to class A but I'm not positive on that. I did address this to the East Coast Rep but never received the answer to this issue. It doesn't bother me that much to pursue a reason from them but I would like to hear what they have to say about it. If you happen to get some input from Boogie please let me know OK!


JP

When you shift a tubes DC bias point you get a thump.
I haven't been inside a LSS yet, but I wouldn't be surprised if that was the cause.
Whether it changes to a true class A circuit is another question.;)

[John Price]

I too noticed this, and honestly, I like the old design of the lonestar a bit better. I had an early model number and regret selling for sure. The new ones just don't seem to quite have the mojo. And, I always kind of feared that class switching thing, just seems a bit like it would put a lot of stress on the transformer and power section of the amp. I can see dropping a pair of power tubes to cut the wattage in half, but the other part seems a bit much. I'm no electronics wizz though, so what do I know?!!!! Was this a pointless post, maybe. Sorry all,


I still have an earlier model head (the one's covered in blue bronco) and will admit it does sound smoother with that worn in type of feel compared to the new version! But hey! It should be worn in being that it was constantly used several years before I got the new version!.....:D

[kurt1981]

What I love about that amp, new or old is how it's the only boogie that would play nice with all my pedals. All the others had some boxes they flat out didn't like. I do miss it for sure, and making my combo into a head was a great help, for matching up the right speaker config for certain gigs. But, I do love just grabbing my little rambler and my back thanks me profusely at the end of the night. That lonestar was a refrigerator!!

[Tremendo]

I've got a LoneStar Special that is my gigging and practice amp. By itself I like it. But through my 1960AHW cabinet I love it. It's got the G12H30's in it. I use no distortion pedals at all, and do classic rock, 80's rock, some modern pop rock, etc. I really dig the sound through single coil center & neck pickups and bridge humbuckers.