All Mesa Studio Pre-Amp Users

Greg Derksen · Post by **Greg Derksen** » 10 Mar 2001 6:05 pm

The one problem I see with these is overloading the input, I have BL 705's and
they overload the input quite nicly, what happens is there is a slight distortion and
its noticable in recording, I am referring
to a Clean Belllike tone.
Anyways the way I am getting around it is
lowering the input volumn by going into my
Roland Delay First and cutting the Attenuater
down to -20 db or so.
Finally this thing is working, and I am getting the best tone I ever have had, The
Roland doesn't seem to be thiefing to much
tone at all.
Anyone else struggle with this? Greg

Don Townsend · Post by **Don Townsend** » 11 Mar 2001 4:18 pm

Obviously not, Greg.

Earnest Bovine · Post by **Earnest Bovine** » 11 Mar 2001 4:23 pm

There are other pickups whose output is sometimes too high for the preamps and buffer ampd that we usually use. Lawrence 710 (712) is another one.

Steve Schmidt · Post by **Steve Schmidt** » 12 Mar 2001 12:56 pm

Greg,
I use to have one of these. One thing I remember is to use the recording inputs. It seems to offer more flexability in the preamp.

Greg Derksen · Post by **Greg Derksen** » 13 Mar 2001 7:12 am

I have tried a buffer ( Matchbox ) didn't
help, Steve , I think you are refering to
the recording Outputs, the inputs are both
the same its just one is in the back and one is in the front. The Input is one gets overdriven a tad.
Brian thanx for your email on the Boogie,
thats exactly what I was looking for. Greg

Olli Haavisto · Post by **Olli Haavisto** » 13 Mar 2001 12:11 pm

I used a Boogie preamp for years and changing the first tube to a 12 AT7 helped.More headroom because AT7`s have about 25% less gain than AX7`s

------------------
Olli Haavisto
Polar steeler
Finland

Harry Hess · Post by **Harry Hess** » 13 Mar 2001 11:54 pm

I bought my older Mesa Boogie Stereo Studio Preamp used from a fellow who turned out to work for Mesa. While he was not a steel player, he knew of the mod that Mesa did to Paul Franklin's Mesa Preamp. I had it done for $50 to $100 when I bought it. It now has two input volume controls on the back I could use if I played my steel through it, since steel pickups have so much more output than the unit is designed to handle.

I have it in my studio rack and use it to record many guitar parts as well as all of my bass parts.

They're pretty good units. I see 'em for sale often at really reasonable prices (used).

Regards,
HH

Greg Derksen · Post by **Greg Derksen** » 14 Mar 2001 2:45 pm

Thanx for the Info, Mesa Faxed the Mod to me
today, problem will be solved. Greg

Dag Wolf · Post by **Dag Wolf** » 14 Mar 2001 3:25 pm

Harry, Greg can you give us some details about the mod? Is it the same as Paul uses?

Thanks, Dag.

Greg Derksen · Post by **Greg Derksen** » 15 Mar 2001 7:25 am

Dag, Mesa calls it the Paul Franklin mod,
it lines up the input section with hotter
steel pick-ups like BL Pick-ups.
It is the only thing that the Stock
Pre-amp lacks in my opinion.
It's not complicated, and runs about 75.00
to do right at Mesa. I will be a happy camper
now.
Again my beef was not being able to get that
clean, Real clean Sparkle, from it.
As far as they know it is the Mod Paul uses.
I would be curious any thoughts from Paul
himself, as I remember Paul stating his pre-amps were not modded at one time, having
said that, this only has to to with input
attenuation, thats it. Greg