Mesa/Boogie LoneStar Amplifier Manual

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PAGE 12

REAR PANEL:

(Continued)

FX LOOP: Series

The

LONE STAR

handles outboard processing by providing an on-board patch point between the preamp

and power section. This loop is wired such that the dry signal is in series with the effected (wet) signal. The circuit also incorporates

SEND LEVEL

control allowing you to ﬁ ne tune the output of the preamp circuit to match the input sensitivity of your processor

(or ﬁ rst processor in a rack system). The

EFFECTS LOOP

circuitry

can be completely removed from the signal path with the

HARD

BYPASS/LOOP IN

mini toggle. This removes all associated loop

circuitry and two tubes from the chain and ensures the purest signal

path and maximum sonic performance when outboard processing is

not being used. The

SEND

and

RETURN

jacks incorporate switching

elements so that you may use the

LOOP IN

selection and activate

the Front Panel OUTPUT and SOLO controls with nothing connected

to the Loop.

NOTE:

The Front Panel OUTPUT and SOLO controls are both part of the Loop and therefore active only when the Effects Loop

is engaged. They are both part of the Return stage and will remain inactive as long as the loop bypass mini toggle is set to

HARD

BYPASS.

To connect your outboard processor(s) to the Effects Loop;

1.)

Connect the

SEND

jack on the

LONE STAR

Rear Panel to your processor’s INPUT using a high quality shielded cable of the

shortest possible length.

2.)

Connect the

RETURN

jack of the

LONE STAR

to your processor’s OUTPUT also using a high quality shielded cable of the short-

est possible length.

3.)

Adjust the

SEND LEVEL

control on the Rear Panel of the

LONE STAR

to achieve an adequate match on the INPUT level indicator

of your processor. Adjust the processor Output level stage (hopefully your processor has an OUTPUT LEVEL control) to match the

volume present before connecting the device(s) to the

LONE STAR.

You can check this by simply removing both the cables from the

SEND

and

RETURN

simultaneously.

4.)

Use the Front Panel OUTPUT control to raise and lower the overall volume as it is essentially an Effects Return Stage volume

control.

NOTE:

It is normal to experience some amount of change to the sound when using the

EFFECTS LOOP.

Normally this is minimal

and most often appears as a subtle roll off in top end characteristics. This is a series loop and therefore the results you get using

it greatly depend upon the quality of the devices you insert into the loop. We strongly suggest taking your ampliﬁ er and trying any

processor before buying it to make sure it is compatible with the

LONE STAR.

Normally, the more professional series lines of most

companies building outboard gear work well. However we have seen even so called pro stuff produce less than satisfactory results

in terms of tonal thievery.

NOTE:

Engaging the

EFFECTS LOOP

circuitry adds a substantial amount of circuitry and two tubes and this additional circuit re-

verses the phase of the entire amp. This is no cause for alarm and if we hadn’t told you of this, you probably would never have known.

Sonically there is no difference other than the incredibly subtle difference in the sound the circuit itself adds.

The only time you will ever need to consider this reversal of overall phase is if you ever run the

LONE STAR

in Stereo with another

amp (not another

LONE STAR

as it would be in phase with its Loop activated). In this case you would probably want to separate the

two ampliﬁ ers by at least a few feet if not on the other side of the stage.

NORMAL

MIN

SEND LEVEL

First set sound with

LOOP bypassed. Then

set SEND & OUTPUT

to 50% for unity gain.

With LOOP IN, adjust

SEND to match FX.

Use OUTPUT for

RETURN level and

live volume control.

SEND

RETURN

LOOP

HARD BYPASS

LONE STAR

TUBE LOCATIONS

1 x 5U4 4 x 6L6