Mesa Boogie 20/20 User Manual
M
ESA
B
OOGIE
20/20
Owner's Manual
The Spirit of Art in Technology
1317 Ross Street Petaluma, CA 94954
USA
Hello from the Tone Farm...
YOU, the smart player and all around intuitive human, have put your trust in us to be
your amplifier company. This is something we do not take lightly. Our reward is that
we've made a classic amplifier and by choosing this amplifier, you have become part of
the MESA family...Welcome! Our goal is to never let you down. Your reward is that you
are now the owner of the all new 20/20 power amp, bred of fine all tube amp
heritage...benefiting from the many patented pioneering MESA/Boogie circuits that led to
the refinement of your new instrument. Feel confident, as we do, this product will
inspire many hours of musical satisfaction and lasting enjoyment. It was built with you
in mind, by players who know the value of a fine musical instrument and the
commitment it takes to make great music. The same commitment to quality, value and
support we make to you...our new friend.
20/20
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Precautions
Overview ________________________________________________________________________ 1
Instant Gratification Hook-Up _______________________________________________________ 2
FRONT PANEL CONTROLS:
Presence ________________________________________________________________________ 3
Volume __________________________________________________________________________ 3
Power ___________________________________________________________________________ 3
Standby _________________________________________________________________________ 3
Fuse ____________________________________________________________________________ 4
REAR PANEL FEATURES:
Instrument Input A / B _____________________________________________________________ 4
Speaker Jacks__________________________________________________________________4 / 5
Slave____________________________________________________________________________ 5
Tube Task Chart __________________________________________________________________ 6
Personal Setting Pages ____________________________________________________________ 7
Parts Sheet ______________________________________________________________________ 8
Your Mesa/Boogie Amplifier is a professional instrument. Please treat it with respect and operate it properly.
USE COMMON SENSE AND ALWAYS OBSERVE THESE PRECAUTIONS:
Do not expose amplifier to moisture, rain or water, direct sunlight
or extremely high temperatures.
Always insure that amplifier is properly grounded.
Always unplug AC power cord before changing fuse or any
tubes.
When replacing fuse, use only same type and rating.
Avoid direct contact with heated tubes.
Insure adequate air circulation behind amplifier.
Keep amplifier away from children.
Be sure to connect to an AC power supply that meets the power
supply specifications listed on the rear of the unit.
If there is any danger of lightning occurring nearby, remove the
power plug from the wall socket in advance.
To avoid damaging your speakers and other playback equipment,
turn off the power of all related equipment before
making the connections.
Do not use excessive force in handling control buttons, switches
and controls.
Remove the power plug from the AC mains socket if the unit is to
be stored for an extended period of time.
Do not use solvents such as benzene or paint thinner to clean
the unit. Wipe off the exterior with soft cloth.
Be sure to have the warranty card filled out by the store at which
you purchased this product and send back to Mesa Engineering.
YOUR AMPLIFIER IS LOUD! EXPOSURE TO HIGH SOUND VOLUMES MAY CAUSE
PERMANENT HEARING DAMAGE!
No user serviceable parts inside. Refer service to qualified personnel. Always unplug AC power before
removing chassis.
EXPORT MODELS: Always insure that unit is wired for proper voltage. Make certain grounding conforms
with local standards.
READ AND FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS OF PROPER USAGE.
20/20
Operating Instructions
OVERVIEW:
Congratulations ...you have just become the owner of the most “Tone Full” one and three quarters inches of rack guitar
power available on todays’s market. Don’t let the one rack space size fool you - this small amp packs a BIGGER than life
voice and has been designed to handle all of what you’d expect and probably more from an amp this size. Though it weighs
in at 20 watts per channel, gruelling tone and headrooom test confirm its authority even against amps boasting twice its
rated power and yes...bulk. As with many of its Boogie cousins - the concept “Shrink the package - Enlarge the Tone” was
in full effect here. If you’ve already played your 20/20, you know how incredibly big and bold, sweet and juicy it sounds...if
you chose it by reputation alone, stop! Put this owner’s manual down and a second, connect it to your preamp (hopefully
one of our Mesa products) and favorite speaker cabinets (again, hopefully a Mesa product.) Begin the tonal experience so
many 20/20 owners rave about immediately! Don’t wait! One chord and one note will tell you more about this amp than we
could ever say here in print. Besides, you can come back and read this the day after tomorrow - when your finger’s are too
sore to play anymore - and you can better enjoy this manual with a blown mind and your previous idea of tone well rocked!
The 20/20’S power sections are fueled by two pairs of EL-84 power tubes wired for Dyna-Watt response which unlease
touch-sensitive dynamic punch far in excess of their twenty watt per channel rating. This is what happens when DynaWatt’s stored energy is released like a camera flash and controlled by your picking technique/style. With enough fan cooled power to cover small venues, the 20/20 can also double as the power-amp “tone generator” in bigger rigs. The Two
Stereo Slave jacks located on the Rear Panel marked SLAVE A - B allow you to capture the sound of a great small amp’s
musical clip. Two speaker jack combinations have been provided...two 8 Ohm (left & right) and two pairs of 4 Ohm jacks
(respectfully labled left & right) ensure the proper impedance match to many types of speaker enclosures.
While remaining straight forward and simple to operate, the 20/20 All Tube Stereo power amplifier is sure to measure up
to all your musical expectations and provide you with many hours of toneful bliss. Thanks again for letting us be part of
your musical journey, Enjoy!
FRONT VIEW: 20/20
2A SB
20/20 D
REAR VIEW: 20/20
A
8 OHMS
B
4 OHMS 4 OHMS
INPUT
YNA-WATT POWER
A
SLAVE
B
PATENTED 4,713,624
PRESENCE
VOLUME
POWER
FUSE
1A SB
PAGE 1
VOLUME
STANDBY
SB
PRESENCE
EL-84 ALL T
HANDBUILT IN USA
UBE STEREO
Loading...