Mesa V-twin Rack
Quintin Downing
I have the Studio and never thought of getting the rack V-twin. I wonder wether the V-Twin has something that is lacked in the Studio and I can get it to complement the Studio in sound (and vice versa) or I can bravely pass the Twin by.
If the V-Twin rack pre is essentially the same as the pedal version, then I can't imagine that you'd benefit much from buying one, based on the preamps listed in your sig. Probably a waste of money. I've tried the V-Twin pedal a few times, and it seemed rather muddy with less gain than the Mesa name implies. Between the Studio Pre and the MP-1, I think you have it pretty well covered.
The V-twin is dark and fat and just like other Mesa's, some patient tweeking is necessary. It's downfall is the amount noticeable gain. With the right guitar, I noticed I could still get a chunky-crunch, BUT with any guitar I found that there is plenty of sustain. The sound is very tight for how thick and dark it is, I didn't find it to be muddy.
It has 6 modes and each of them could be very usable, especially the cleans. I haven't tried the pedal, but it's probably the same tone-wise without all of the channel switching options and FX loop options. The rackmount is loaded with features most pre's don't have. I think it definitely has it's own tone and I miss it already for it's clean tones.
The V-Twin pedal has one tube, while the rack unit contains two ones. It is I think verry important for the sound. From what I found, the V-twin pedal has a worse tone than the H&K Tube Factor, but the V-twin rackmound device is better than H&K TubeMan. It's my conclusion after reading a lot of reviews.
The Digitech was supposed to be used as my clean tones, FX and booster. I think I'm going a different route in getting a separate pre for cleans and another FX unit. The Randall Clean module only sounds good with one of my guitars and I'd also like to get another hi-gain module to put in the Clean modules place. If I got a 2ch pre, then I could have 6 total dedicated tones and I could use my TS-9 as a boost and AC-2 as another clean tone.
Anyway, as far as I know the Randalls box is about $700 and each module is $200, and there are 16 modules altogether, so to place, say, 8 of them it might be needed to buy another box, which is extra $700. The Digitech may be a good decision, but I can't say I like its cleans as I like the cleans in my Egnater ie4 (which is supposedly the Randall's Clean). Actually, I have two 2101 and they have different clean voices despite my exchanging tubes.
And I think that the circuit/sound is basically the same from what I can remember. There may be some minor variation due to the form factor/component differences between the pedal and the rack but, personally, I'd expect them to be inherently the same in nature. There was a "version 2" of the pedal which was to improve/tweak the clean sound primarily. The V2 pedal has two adjustment screws on the bottom.
That's what I thought at first, too, but the V-twin definitely has it's own character. The "questionable rep" seems to stem from the lack of high gain. The V-twin has some very usable clean and mid-gain tones, though. The high gain can be boosted. It's one of kind-Love it or Hate it.
Specialists say that two caps and one resistor, which distinguish the foor and rack versions change the sound drastically. Actually I'm quite satisfied with my mesa studio preamp, it seems it can do everything crunch. And I'm only curious why the v-twin rack is more expensive on the secondary market.
The Randall Clean module is basically just that. A clean module...sort of like plugging your guitar directly into a power amp, but having a bass/mid/high EQ section to shape with a little. Good module if that's what you want, especially if you're using effects on that channel, but as a stand alone module, it's very utilitarian.
It's very tweakable so you can get the full range of gains out of it...if you know what you're doing...I guess they'd be ok for some stuff, but you'd have to be going for that sort of tone to appreciate it I think.
The high gain tones from my M4 are god like, so there's no need for using the high gain channels of the GL-100. I have 'em if I want 'em, but never use them. The clean on the other hand is the only clean that I've truly loved.
I thought that was an awesome clean tone as well. Everything else has just been clean as in a tone without distortion...nothing that would inspire you to want to sit and play thru it because you truly enjoyed the tone.
That's cool to know. I'm sure a lot of people bought it expecting a rectifier in a box. Since it is supposed to be a true preamp, the pedal version may be hard for some people to setup correctly, too, because they probably try to run it in series with another preamp. This preamp into preamp config isn't necessarily unworkable (in fact it can sound great) but it takes some care/understanding to setup.
1. Comparatively low gain on tap for a Boogie product (but like you say this does not mean it may be usable for something else). I was hoping for more of a heavy distortion since it was a "mesa preamp" and I would probably try to use it for metal/heavy rock.
I looked into the Mesa Studio at one point and really GASsed for it at one point. IMHO that's an impressive unit. (In spite of that GAS, I then ended up getting a Piranha when it was all said and done since it would fit my needs even better... ) So, I guess since separanets has BOTH of those units, that's another reason why a V-Twin doesn't seem to break new ground in my mind. But hey, I'm interested in hearing more about it too. A lot of times reviews and existing "reps" don't mean much when the rubber hits the road!
The V-twin did actually come from the early Dual Rectifier days. The DR's eq is a bit different and now the Rectifiers have more gain, hair, snarl, etc. The V-twin may be "dark", but it does have presence and lacks crispies. I used to use my TS-9 in front of it and it rocked.
I think the amazing thing about it is that it's so thick and dark while retaining clarity, even with the gain dimed. If I had the extra money for a FX unit I wouldn't have sold it and I'd use it as my Clean and Mid-gain tones.
The Static Fuzz is a gnarly fuzz that filters through a white noise "static" generator. It can go from crunchy overdriven "tube" sounding fuzz to all out squashed and compressed to shit nastiness!
This thing rules and is perfect for getting that dimed tube amp sound at normal volumes!!
Kicks ass on guitar and bass!!!
TESTIMONIALS:
"My static fuzz is just awesome (after a few tests of course). It replace the gain channel of my mesa Vtwin rack. (I keep the clean of course), and I take off my ada because no need anymore. The texture and the grain of the fuzz is so richer than these two distortion. Really satisfied!" -Xavier (Belgium)
"I like the wide range of the tone control and cranking the drive and the white noise is just wooo-hooo but still in a very musical way. Seems o stack well too...Anyway, it's my first Idiotbox pedal (finally) and I sure dig it!" -Marco B. (Switzerland)
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