Carvin legacy versus Mesa Boogie Lone Star/ Stiletto Ace

SimpleMind · #1 02-15-2007, 06:22 PM

Hei there,
need a little help with this one. I am living in Northern Norway and don`t have the possibility to test out every amp around. Play the guitar for about 10 years now and want to invest in a decent amp. This will be a once in a live investment. So i want the best for the money. I am considering to buy a Carvin legacy or Mesa Boogie F50, Lonestar, Stilletto Ace and a Roadking cabinet. I play mostly Vai, Satriani, Malmsteen, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Hendrix.
The Carvin legacy costs about half as much as the Mesa Boogie but the Mesa Boogie is maybe more versatile and has a better sound? Any experience, suggestions?
Thanks a lot in advance.

Jemwielder · #2 02-15-2007, 06:41 PM

It has been my understanding that newer mesas are not worth the cash. The quality has gone down a bit over time. If you want my advice get a Legacy. I have one and it rocks. With a decent distortion pedal you can get any tone you want really. Hope this helps.

rlintz · #3 02-16-2007, 02:10 AM

I've played a Legacy and currently own a LoneStar 2X12. The Lonestar is not exactly a high gain amp but it completely nails the Hendrix, SRV, Walter Trout tone. With a overdrive pedal (I currently own a BB Preamp), it can pushed pretty hard and give some very satisfying gain tones.

I wasn't impressed with the Legacy's clean channel but did like the driven tones. The Lonestar 6L6 / tube rectifier / tweed (low wattage setting) is really awesome for clean tones.

Here's a tune I recorded last night with the Lonestar - features the clean tone, clean + BB tone, and driven + BB tone (solo).

http://www.lintzland.com/music/Leaving.mp3

Check here on the forum as I've also posted previous clips with the Lonestar and Ibanez TS-9 and BB Preamp. Also hit Carvin.com as there's some really helpful people there along with tons of Legacy clips doing different styles.

j.arledge · #4 02-16-2007, 02:22 AM

mesa has changed up the stiletto line a bit . they had what was called stage 1 model amps , which were the first take . they were vintage based and low gain , mesa's responce to the 800 and jmp . the stage 1 sold poorly because it was a mesa and mesa amps are suppose to have gain . so mesa pulled the orginal design and added a high gain feature something which someone would expect from a mesa . when they did this they changed not only the overall gain but apperantly the tone . i have been told the stage 1 version was weak, thin and was just overall lacking , however some people absolutly love the stage 1 compared to the 2 . it is just a matter of siting down and playing them .

as for the ace , i freakin love andy timmon's tone . i have been told that the legacy is hard to get a lot of versitlity out of simply by the way it is voiced . mesa on the other hand is known for it extermly versital control knobs and thier sweep range . i know that if andy can get his tone and then john petrucci get his cleans and lower gain cruch sounds out of the same amp there has got to be some versitlity .

as a bit of a disclamer , i have never played a stiletto , or a legacy . i have listened to clips and read many many reviews as the stiletto and legacy are both amps i have given great consideration to especially as of late because i am thinking about buying a backup amp , or adding another flavor (which ever way you look at it )

j.arledge · #5 02-16-2007, 02:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rlintz

I've played a Legacy and currently own a LoneStar 2X12. The Lonestar is not exactly a high gain amp but it completely nails the Hendrix, SRV, Walter Trout tone. With a overdrive pedal (I currently own a BB Preamp), it can pushed pretty hard and give some very satisfying gain tones.

I wasn't impressed with the Legacy's clean channel but did like the driven tones. The Lonestar 6L6 / tube rectifier / tweed (low wattage setting) is really awesome for clean tones.

Here's a tune I recorded last night with the Lonestar - features the clean tone, clean + BB tone, and driven + BB tone (solo).

http://www.lintzland.com/music/Leaving.mp3

Check here on the forum as I've also posted previous clips with the Lonestar and Ibanez TS-9 and BB Preamp. Also hit Carvin.com as there's some really helpful people there along with tons of Legacy clips doing different styles.

damn i am diggin your song there . very nice tone , what guitar are you using ?

dannymills · #6 02-16-2007, 09:07 AM

Get a good ENGL. Fantastic amps.

I played a Legacy the other day and didn't like the amp's gain channel one bit!

bammbamm · #7 02-16-2007, 09:20 AM

Mesa is an amp that you need to pay strict attention to the settings, they aren't exactly a plug and play amp, IMO.
The tone controls really shape the gain and how much drive you get from the amp. This I think is why they are so versitile.
The other thing is a Mesa will hold its value vs the Legacy.
The Carvin seems to be more of a one-trick pony.

goalkpr101 · #8 02-16-2007, 10:31 AM

Im going to preface this by saying Ive never played the Legacy but Carvins rep is excellent so I have no doubt that its made very well. I have however played most of what Mesa has out and am currently using both the Triple Rec, a Triaxis in my rack and a Stiletto.
The tone thats available with the Stiletto is excellent but be aware that with a Mesa you have to throw out everything you ever learned about Low Mid and Treble tweaking as its a completely different animal. The cleans on this head are outstanding and Id set them up against a Fender any day and the crunch and Low end with a Mesa cab is unbelievable. Also with the Mesa you get very good note seperation so if your a sloppy player (not saying that you are) youre gonna hear it. Mesa has made me a much cleaner and more precise player. Sorry to sound like a Mesa Rep here but I gig out usually 5-8 times a month and my gear gets alot of abuse but Ive never in 25 years had my Mesa stuff crap out on me, maybe a fuse or two but thats it.

Peace

ukwan · #9 02-16-2007, 10:53 AM

i've got a little bit of experience with all the amps u've mentioned my opinions are as follows..

Legacy,
nice crunchy amp lots of midrange and responds marshallesque in terms of eq and dynamics this would be my choice for the styles u've mentioned although you might want to stick an OD pedal infront of it for a bit more juice..

F50,
Very bland mesa style amp, not a big fan has the stereo typical flabby mesa bass, warm lower mids and lack of high end.. not really my cup of tea but it has it's uses.

Lonestar,
Probably the best sounding mesa i've tried for cleans and it's got a wonderful mid range and slightly more cutting than ur average mesa.. very sweet but isnt full of gain, more dynamic than the F50 in feel.

Stilletto,
After trying one of these at a Mesa/Boogie clinic i was quite impressed, very marshally but just bigger sounding with more bottom end and the advantages of the active EQ used on boogies..

they're all such different amps but my choice would be the Legacy.. just because im and EL34 marshall freak..

SimpleMind · #10 02-16-2007, 04:23 PM

Thanks a lot for the comments. Appreciate that a lot, especially the soundclip with the excellent playing by rlintz. Still not so sure what to do, some of you prefer Mesa Boogie som prefer Carvin. Doesn`t seem to exist an objective answer to the question. Found those videoclips on the Internet today. That sounds got a lot of what i am looking for. Maybe a Mesa Boogie Rectifier preamp is the way to go.

Here er the videoclips:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WWvG...elated&search=

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWgbMY-s_2g

Thats the equipment he is using:

Guitars: Ibanez JEM7VSBL, Ibanez Double Edge RG Custom.

Rack: Furman PL-Plus II Power Conditioner, TC Electronic G-Major Guitar Processor, Mesa/Boogie Rectifier Recording Preamp a.k.a. "Rec - Pre"

Pedals: Morley Bad Horsie, MXR Wylde Overdrive, Digitech Whammy 4, TC Electronic G-Minor MIDI foot controller.

Amps: Marshall 30th Anniversary Series Model 6101 made in 1992 (only output stage used).

Comments??

SimpleMind · #11 02-16-2007, 04:46 PM

Sorry, didn`t make myself clear enough with the last thread. That`s not the one and only sound i am looking for but one of the sounds amongst others i would like to be able to produce with my equipment.

seongkeat · #12 02-16-2007, 06:21 PM

i would say "LONESTAR" !!!!!!

j.arledge · #13 02-16-2007, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SimpleMind

Thanks a lot for the comments. Appreciate that a lot, especially the soundclip with the excellent playing by rlintz. Still not so sure what to do, some of you prefer Mesa Boogie som prefer Carvin. Doesn`t seem to exist an objective answer to the question. Found those videoclips on the Internet today. That sounds got a lot of what i am looking for. Maybe a Mesa Boogie Rectifier preamp is the way to go.

Here er the videoclips:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WWvG...elated&search=

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWgbMY-s_2g

Thats the equipment he is using:

Guitars: Ibanez JEM7VSBL, Ibanez Double Edge RG Custom.

Rack: Furman PL-Plus II Power Conditioner, TC Electronic G-Major Guitar Processor, Mesa/Boogie Rectifier Recording Preamp a.k.a. "Rec - Pre"

Pedals: Morley Bad Horsie, MXR Wylde Overdrive, Digitech Whammy 4, TC Electronic G-Minor MIDI foot controller.

Amps: Marshall 30th Anniversary Series Model 6101 made in 1992 (only output stage used).

Comments??

that dude is an extremly talented player , he is a vai.com member anyways he is a cool dude , i am sure if you emailed him he'd tell you anything about his setup .

as i said before , i love andy timmons tone .

in this video he talks about his setup a bit particularly the bb preamp , but the base of his sound is the stiletto line

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiW22O914Cg