Mesa V-Twin Rackmount - Happy Camper!

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 27 May 2001 9:35 am

I just replaced my older Real Tube II with a Mesa V-Twin preamp. Wow, what a difference!

The bottom end and the presence control give an astounding richness to the tone. The clean sound is just gorgeous, and the distorted channel is the best I've ever used.

Instead of just switching channels, you can blend the two using a "Mix" knob. Thrown all the way to the right, you get the clean sound. Then as you move the cotrol counter-clockwise, you gradually increase the sound from the distortion channel. Combining the two really brings out the harmonics in the tone.

I couldn't get my MPX-100 to work well in the effects loop, so I simply put it between the preamp and the Mesa Fifty/Fifty power amp. After I got it working last night, I just noodled on the back neck of my Williams for a couple of hours. I can't wait to get this out on a gig!

------------------
<img align=right src="http://b0b.com/b0b.gif" width="64" height="64">Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs
Sierra Session 12 (E9), Williams 400X (E9, D6), Sierra Olympic 12 (F Diatonic)
Sierra Laptop 8 (D13), Fender Stringmaster (E13, A6)

Chris Bauer · Post by **Chris Bauer** » 27 May 2001 5:04 pm

I have one of these too and could never understand why more steel players aren't using them. It's really quite versatile, easy to use, light, and sounds terrific. It also records well.

Len Amaral · Post by **Len Amaral** » 28 May 2001 7:42 am

Hi bOb:
Did you try the Mesa V Twin with a solid state amp and if so what was the sound like?
I have a Mesa 50/50 power amp also and love the sound but the weight factor is an issue lugging it around.

------------------

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 28 May 2001 6:32 pm

I don't have a solid state power amp, Len. My first experience with the V-Twin was when I recorded Fred Campbell through one, directly into the recorder. I was amazed by the rich, dynamic bass tones it produced.

I would expect it to perform well with any good solid state power amp. It's hard for me to imagine a better sounding preamp than the V-Twin.

Dave Van Allen · Post by **Dave Van Allen** » 29 May 2001 7:38 am

b0b- the mesa site shows the V-twin as a stomp box type unit... yet your post sez rackmount; is it an optional configuration?

also- what price range is it in?[This message was edited by Dave Van Allen on 29 May 2001 at 11:23 AM.]

Chris Bauer · Post by **Chris Bauer** » 29 May 2001 6:11 pm

I guess I don't even know if they're still being made but mine is also a rackmount. As for prices, I really don't know since I don't ever seem to see them being sold anymore. Mine was barely used and I got it for well under what I suspect it would usually sell for so, other than for the purpose of envy generation, I'm not sure the price I paid would be too helpful...

Again, though, it's a terrific unit!

Larry Clark · Post by **Larry Clark** » 29 May 2001 6:55 pm

I use a V-Twin and a MPX-100 as well. I also added an Aphex Parametric EQ between the two for extra "tweaking". For now I am running it through the power amp input of my Nashville 400. Even with the Lemay mod it sounds MUCH better than using the Nashville alone. I would love to hear it through a good tube power amp like a VHT or Mesa.
The rackmount version has been discontinued. I think Mesa dropped it when the Tri-axis came out. I would think that used V-Twins would be in the $300-400 range. Hope this helps.

BTW B0B, I couldn't get satisfactory results trying to run through the effects loops either. Larry Clark Herndon Va.

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 30 May 2001 8:26 am

I'm sorry to hear that they've discontinued it. I've heard that the stomp box isn't nearly as versatile.

I paid $300 for mine, used - a great deal from Wayne Paden (PLAYSTEEL9) in Buy & Sell here on the Forum. I think list price was about $500.

------------------
<img align=right src="http://b0b.com/b0b.gif" width="64" height="64">Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs
Sierra Session 12 (E9), Williams 400X (E9, D6), Sierra Olympic 12 (F Diatonic)
Sierra Laptop 8 (D13), Fender Stringmaster (E13, A6)

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 30 May 2001 8:27 am

Hey, has anyone tried a volume pedal in the effects loop?

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 30 May 2001 10:08 am

I use a volume pedal in the effects loop of my Boss GX-700 and it works great.

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 31 May 2001 10:28 pm

Can anyone tell me what the little toggle switches labeled "1 - 2 - 3" do? Also, what are the "Tuned Output" jacks for?

Larry Clark · Post by **Larry Clark** » 1 Jun 2001 7:18 am

B0B,The mini-toggles are different voicings. In the solo channel position 1 is crunch,2 is lead,and 3 is blues. The clean channel has #1 as scooped,2 is bright,and 3 is fat. As far as the tuned output, the earlier model of the V-Twin had it marked as record out. It's just a fixed level output. Unfortunatly the output seems too high and too distorted to be of much use. If you didn't get one you can download an owners manual from the Mesa website. Hope this helped... Larry Clark

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 1 Jun 2001 7:52 am

Dang, and I figured those switches were so you could program it in octal!

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 1 Jun 2001 8:50 am

Thanks, Larry.

Jim, you remind be of the programmer who always got Christmas and Halloween mixed up because Dec 25 is the same as Oct 31.

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 1 Jun 2001 9:30 am

b0b, I got that only because I'm 0x32 years old!

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 1 Jun 2001 11:11 am

My age is 111111 in binary.

Fred Murphy · Post by **Fred Murphy** » 1 Jun 2001 2:38 pm

I have the V-Twin stomp box. I don't seem to care that much for it for steel, but I love it to use with my guitar. I set it up for my guitar and then run it to the Peavey 1000, and I don't have to carry an extra amp and it sounds great with the Peavey. I don't have to reset anything when I change from steel to guitar. I believe it was in the $350 range. I can make it sound pretty much like a Fender twin with a Stratocaster or Tele.

Jerry Erickson · Post by **Jerry Erickson** » 4 Jun 2001 7:55 am

the V-twin is really nice for steel. I 've thought about getting one but I've worked over an old Twin and a 77 Pro Reverb and am quite pleased with them. I've previously had good results with the V-twin pedal, but I found that I had to place it after the volume pedal or it would distort at any setting because of the hot output of steel guitar pickups. I did a recording date when I got my new (used) Fessy and recorded it straight to tape with the V-twin pedal and had great results using the record out jack.

Larry Clark · Post by **Larry Clark** » 4 Jun 2001 12:11 pm

Just saw a V-Twin rackmount over on E-Bay in case anyone is interested. It's item #1435381275.