MESA/BOOGIE LONE STAR

some boost, which is accessible only viafootswitch. Channel 2 offers a three-positionvoicing switch that provides Normal (cleanwith shimmering highs), Thick (throaty mids),and Thicker (maximum saturation) modes.You can also remove the lead circuit onChannel 2 to elicit a vintage “cranked” tone.The back panel’s bias switch lets you easilyswap the included 6L6 power tubes for EL34s(if you desire some vintage British crunch), andthere’s also an innovative Diodes/Tube RectifierTracking switch. When in Tracking mode, a 5U4rectifier tube is automatically engaged whenyou run at 50 watts to produce a groovy powersag. In Diodes mode, a solid-state rectifier deliversoptimum headroom and a tighter attack.T H E S O U N DSome people dig the high-end gronk (somecall it “nasal”) associated with many Boogies,and some don’t, but that little debate isn’t anissue with the Lone Star, because that timbreis gone. Treble frequencies simply blossominto the heavens, and I couldn’t find a tonethat wasn’t absolutely musical. The overdrivetones definitely have an old-school vibe—you’ll have no problem dialing in the thick,syrupy sustain of a Paul Kossoff, the raunchysnap and gristle of a Malcolm Young, or mostany tone in between the Small Faces and theSex Pistols. Clean settings can deliver chunkymid girth and sparkling highs, and if asmidgeon of personality is missing, evokingsome truly aggro spank is simply a matter ofswitching to EL34s. And while the Lone Starisn’t designed to uncork so-called “modernrock” sounds, I was very pleased with its liquidand soaring high-gain tones—very coolfor ambient stylings, detuned riffs, heavyriddims, and spasms of inspired lunacy.The only thing that may be strange for someplayers is that a timed mute with delay kills thereverb for about three seconds when you switchbetween channels. Boogie patented this featureto prevent “reverb backwash” when, say,switching from a raging lead tone to a rhythmsetting. While this makes perfect sense—as itprevents situations where “ghosted” reverberantnotes from your solo make all kinds of messaround your very sensitive verse melody—someof the GP editors weren’t comfortable with thereverb going away and then sneaking back.The Lone Star can deliver so many incredibleshades of tone that where you take theamp is totally up to you. But wherever yougo, rest assured the Lone Star will deliverenough lows, mids, highs, headroom, sag,and overdrive to match your sonic aspirations.The Lone Star is one fabulous boutique-oriented,multifaceted, versatile, tonespewingbeauty, and it absolutely earns anEditors’ Pick Award. g