Mesa Boogie V-Twin Rack User Manual
M
ESA
OOGIE
B
RACKMOUNT
Owners Manual
The Spirit of Art in Technology
1317 Ross Street Petaluma, CA 94954
USA
Hello from the Tone Farm...
..You, 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 pre-amplifier and
by choosing this wonderful unit, 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 an archetypal guitar pre-amp, bred of
fine all tube amp heritage...benefiting from the many pioneering and
patented MESA circuits that led to the refinement of your new
instrument. Feel confident, as we do, this pre-amp 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
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.
YOUR AMPLIFIER IS LOUD! EXPOSURE TO HIGH SOUND VOLUMES MAY CAUSE
No user serviceable parts inside. Refer service to qualified personnel. Always unplug AC power before
removing chassis.
PERMANENT HEARING DAMAGE!
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.
FRONT PANEL
RACKMOUNT
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Overview
V-Twin Hook-Ups
Set Control - Quick Set-Up
Front Panel Mini Toggles
CONTROLS
Volume
Treble
Midrange
Bass
Presence
Master
Mix & Mix Master
REAR PANEL
Instrument Inputs
1
2 & 3
3 & 4
3
3
5
5
5
6
6
6
7
8
8
Footswitch
Effects Loop
Main Outputs
Record Out
Headphone Out
External Channel Select
Power On & On / Lift
A.C. Receptacle.
Sample Settings Clean Channel
Sample Settings Solo Channel
8
8
8
9
9
9
9
9
10
11
OPERATING INSTRUCTION
OVERVIEW:
CONGRATULATIONS on your purchase of the V-TWIN as your choice of rack mount pre-amplifiers! This one space wonder is
the perfect adddition to any system. From a simple two or three space rack, to the world class coliseum size rig utilizing multiple
pre-amps, the V-TWIN will likely become a favorite right away. In the studio it will become invaluable to you for capturing great
direct to tape sounds fast and effortlessly. The RECORD Outputs deliver shimmering clean sounds of every shape and color,
while the overdrive sounds could likely send your favorite solo amp into retirement. With a no hassle, mic-free interface, V-TWIN
lets you get your freshest ideas down fast...instead of spending hours tweaking just to find a sound, only to lose your creative flow.
As you have probably noticed, V-TWINS' Front Panel houses two separate pre-amplifiers...a CLEAN and a SOLO Channel.
Each channel boasts the full compliment of Gain / Master combinations as well as the standard array of rotary Tone controls and
Presence. Both of the channels are fitted with a three position mini toggle switch that allows you to choose between one of three
distinct voicings. For the CLEAN Channel You have Bright, Fat and Scooped. In the SOLO Channel the voicings are
dependant on their individual gain structures as well as their tonal characteristics. The choices are Blues, Solo and Crunch and
they increase in gain and intensity in this respective order.
In addition to the versatility of these six Modes,V-TWIN packs still more into one space. The two channels may be activated
simultaneously and then blended together in any ratio you desire! The MIX Mode sums the the CLEAN and SOLO
Channels and gives you a MIX (ratio) Control as well as a separate Mix Level (master volume) control, turning the MIX Mode
into a third switchable channel. External Channel Select ports for all six sounds are fitted to theV-TWINS' Rear Panel, enabling
you to trigger these sounds individually or in a Mix configuration from a remote switching source. This translates to no-hassle
interfacing when it comes time to loadV-TWIN into a large system using MIDI Program Change Commands as the switching
logic. Signal processing is handled via the On Board Auto-Assignable, Stereo, Parallel FX Loop. A mono SEND and a pair of
stereo RETURN jacks are provided as well as a rotary MIX Control - to keep your tone intact even when using those questionable
effects. Triggering of the loop is done via the FOOTSWITCH / ASSIGN three position toggle switch located in the loop section of
the Rear Panel. For practicing late at night or in a quiet enviroment theV-TWIN provides a stereo HEADPHONE Output
assuring you privacy in your own personal world of great guitar sounds. To put it mildly...theV-TWIN is packed with all the
features a pro could need and is the perfect beginning for any small rack rig.
FRONT VIEW
INPUT
REAR VIEW
POWER
ON
ON / L IFT
SOLO 1
SOLO CHANNEL
SOLO 2 SOLO 3
1
3
SOLO
2
EXTERNAL CHANNEL SELECT
CLEAN 1
SOLO CLEAN
FOOTSWITCH
CLEAN 2 CLEAN 3
HEADPHONE
OUT
PAGE 1
MIX LEVELGAIN TREBLE MIDDLE BASS PRESENCE MASTER MIX GAIN TREBLE MIDDLE BASS PRESENCE MASTER
RECORD OUT MAIN OUTPUT
L
R
OUTPUT
LEVEL
FOOTSWITCH
L
R
1
CLEAN CLEAN CHANNEL
EFFECTS
LOOP
50%
0%
MIX
3
2
RETURN
L
100%
R
AUTO SOLO
FOOT
AUTO CLEAN
SEND
POWER
FOOTSWITCH
FX
SW.
CH
INSTRUMENT
INPUT
OVERVIEW:
At this time, we would like to remind you that for any rack guitar system to sound amazing,
(Continued)
it must not only have a great pre-amplifier such as the one you have just purchased...it must be combined with a musically warm
and expressive power amplifier that is tuned to the needs of the guitar as well !
May we humbly suggest trying one of the three all-tube power amplifiers that we have worked for years developing specifically for
this application. They range in power from the twenty watt per side, one space wonder - the 20/20, to the powerful and popular
Fifty/Fifty, to the tonefully unabashed SIMUL-CLASS 2:NINETY...with its' two ninety watt power sections tucked snugly into
an unbelieveable two rack spaces! One of these compatible soul mates will enhance the enjoyment of your new V-TWIN greatly
and put the finishing touches on your rack system.
Now that you have a better perspective on the layout of your new pre-amp, let's get into the controls and how they interact to
create the sounds you want to hear.
First you will need to connect the V-TWIN to a live guitar rig or a recording console to audition the two channels.
V-TWIN CONNECTED TO LIVE GUITAR RIG
POWER
ON
ON / L IFT
SOLO 1
EXTERNAL CHANNEL SELECT
SOLO 2 SOLO 3
SHIELDED CABLE
CLEAN 1
HEADPHONE
CLEAN 2 CLEAN 3
RECORD OUT MAIN OUTPUT
OUT
L
R
OUTPUT
LEVEL
EFFECTS
LOOP
50%
L
0%
R
MIX
RETURN
L
100%
R
AUTO SOLO
FOOT
AUTO CLEAN
SEND
FOOTSWITCH
FX
SW.
CH
INSTRUMENT
INPUT
STEREO SIMUL - CLASS 2: NINETY
INPUTS
BA
L
I
INPUT LEVEL
N
E
MODERN
3
DEEP
1
EXTEND
HALF
2
DRIVE
B
SPEAKERS
B
I
N
S
T
8 OHMS
A
4 OHMS
4 OHMS
UN-SHIELDED
CABLE
A
1 X 12 Extension Cab
8 0HMS
1 X 12 Extension Cab
8 0HMS
PAGE 2
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