Got my Mesa, what to get to boost distortion?

carlos grijalva · #1 08-24-2006, 06:19 PM

Hi, i just got my mesa yesterday, and i REALLY like it. I'm not that crazy about the distortion, it's not really a distortion for "solos" it's more for riffs and licks. I wanted to know what should i get to boost the distrotion for a more lead sound. I have a 550 with stock pick-ups. Should i get new pickups or should i get a pedal. What pedal? And if i get a pedal should i turn it on in the distortion channel (Ch.2) or the clean one (Ch.1).

P.S. I have $100 to spend.

Jaden · #2 08-24-2006, 06:22 PM

a lot of folk (including me) use a keeley DS-1 for a boost on the distorted channel.
works for me anyway

AirGuitar · #3 08-24-2006, 06:39 PM

You might find this link usefull!

Its a forum thread with loads of info on the Mesa F series amps, should really help you with finding some cool tones:

http://acapella.harmony-central.com/...0&pagenumber=1

**jaxadam** · #4 08-24-2006, 06:54 PM

What mesa?

I would check out some of the modded overdrive pedals.

carlos grijalva · #5 08-24-2006, 06:58 PM

Mesa F-30, I think the distortion doesn't have a good lead is beacuse i'm not using a higher volume than 1. The volume at 2 is to high for my house.

pawel · #6 08-24-2006, 07:08 PM

A nice sounding distortion/overdrive is probably the best investment because you can always take it with you to a practice/gig where you have to play through a different amp, and have at least a partly familiar tone available to you. Turn the gain down and they usually make good boosters.

I would go for a Tubescreamer of some sort - common enough, good sounding, work well as boosters, but do more than that too.

I use a Maxon SD9 myself, which is slightly different, but a good booster as well.

If you only want a boost to push the preamp you might look into the MXR micro-amp.

**jaxadam** · #7 08-24-2006, 07:08 PM

Yeah, I can see you running into that type of problem.

Check out some of the modded Boss overdrive pedal, like the SD-1. You might have some luck with it.

Also, with a few of my amps, I crank the treble down on them to get a smoother lead tone. It might take your ears a little getting used to, but I know so many people who don't play around with the eq, they just scoop it and think it will be the best of both worlds.

carlos grijalva · #8 08-24-2006, 07:34 PM

K, So i should def. get a pedal instead of changing my pups right? I'll probably get tubescreamer or a SD-1.

Silverburst · #9 08-24-2006, 07:50 PM

Hi Carlos,

I have about exactly the same problem. Some time ago I got myself a Mesa Dual Caliber 50 (pre F models in fact, but pretty much alike if I'm correct), because at that time I was really looking a tight Metallica-ish punchy palm mute sound as far as rythms were concerned, and the mesa pretty much delivered it to me. However, an upgrade from my bridge stock RG570 pup (typical V7-S1-V

to an EMG81, which made for my goal really a huge difference, was thus a must. The V8 just couldn't deliver that kind of power and tightness. Later on I decided to work on the solo sound of my rig, so I followed the "use an overdrive to push your tube amp's lead channel a little" so I got myself a Keeley moded DS-1 (great mod. when you use the pedal on a clean channel and don't touch your string, no noise at all, whilst using a useal overdrive, you're already bothered with a nize noize/hum

). couldn't test it because I had to order it in the us and have it shipped to Europe.

But when I kick in this DS1 on my lead channel I really get a very muddy sound far from a clear singing solo sound :/ Even with my recent buy, a JS1000 with Fred/Paf pups... (I figured my EMG81 where really too high-output). Still need some time to experiment on that one yet.

I'll be glad hear some tips & hints on that one

PS1 must say that my mesa still has his original Mesa tubes, pretty old, but the tube-chapter is again really some other story, one I still have to learn a lot about.

PS2 Just moved to a new house with a huge cellar, so I'm going to be able to cranck this mesa a little to a point where it breaks up as it should (I hope). you've noticed... those combo's a frigging LOUD uh ?

carlos grijalva · #10 08-24-2006, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pmike

Hi Carlos,

I have about exactly the same problem. Some time ago I got myself a Mesa Dual Caliber 50 (pre F models in fact, but pretty much alike if I'm correct), because at that time I was really looking a tight Metallica-ish punchy palm mute sound as far as rythms were concerned, and the mesa pretty much delivered it to me. However, an upgrade from my bridge stock RG570 pup (typical V7-S1-V

to an EMG81, which made for my goal really a huge difference, was thus a must. The V8 just couldn't deliver that kind of power and tightness. Later on I decided to work on the solo sound of my rig, so I followed the "use an overdrive to push your tube amp's lead channel a little" so I got myself a Keeley moded DS-1 (great mod. when you use the pedal on a clean channel and don't touch your string, no noise at all, whilst using a useal overdrive, you're already bothered with a nize noize/hum

). couldn't test it because I had to order it in the us and have it shipped to Europe.

But when I kick in this DS1 on my lead channel I really get a very muddy sound far from a clear singing solo sound :/ Even with my recent buy, a JS1000 with Fred/Paf pups... (I figured my EMG81 where really too high-output). Still need some time to experiment on that one yet.

I'll be glad hear some tips & hints on that one

PS1 must say that my mesa still has his original Mesa tubes, pretty old, but the tube-chapter is again really some other story, one I still have to learn a lot about.

PS2 Just moved to a new house with a huge cellar, so I'm going to be able to cranck this mesa a little to a point where it breaks up as it should (I hope). you've noticed... those combo's a frigging LOUD uh ?

Hell yeah it's loud. Can't get it higher than 1 cause i'm scared my ears will bleed, hehe. So you suggest i change my pups first and then get modded pedal? I think that's a good idea.

Silverburst · #11 08-25-2006, 05:40 AM

choosing pups is harder than a pedal because you can't really test 'em. if you have a good shop around with mesa F30 in stock, pick up you guitar and go test some pedals there. That way you can easely pick up a jem or JS in the shop to compare. here in belgium, there is really a lack of good shops with decent stock :/

ChopTart · #12 08-25-2006, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carlos grijalva

Mesa F-30, I think the distortion doesn't have a good lead is beacuse i'm not using a higher volume than 1. The volume at 2 is to high for my house.

Yeah, I always notice a huge drop in usable drive when the amp is set at a low volume. I'm not really reccomending these, but powersoaks let you crank your tubes without maxxing out the volume, just they kill your tubes super early. Just throwing it out there.

j.arledge · #13 08-25-2006, 03:06 PM

as far as the amp goes did you check out mesa's owner manuel or do you have one that came with the amp . They have suggested setups in there and you may be able to get closer to the sound you want by following some of thier settings . Like i have said before some mesa amps are wierd about how you set them to get the sound you want .

http://www.mesaboogie.com/manuals/F-Series.pdf

down to the 13th page

ScottB · #14 08-25-2006, 09:40 PM

When I demo'd an F-50 a few months ago, the distortion channel with the contour switch engaged was a raging beast. You should be able to get a heavy, Rectifier flavored distortion from the F-30 without using additional pedals.

carlos grijalva · #15 08-27-2006, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by j.arledge

as far as the amp goes did you check out mesa's owner manuel or do you have one that came with the amp . They have suggested setups in there and you may be able to get closer to the sound you want by following some of thier settings . Like i have said before some mesa amps are wierd about how you set them to get the sound you want .

http://www.mesaboogie.com/manuals/F-Series.pdf

down to the 13th page

That would work, but putting the master above 3 would destroy my house and get me grounded or something.

I think the pedal would do fine, probabbly a modded DS-1 or a TS-9.