REVIEW > Mesa/BooGie
Because the power amp utilizes Mesa’s
Dyna-Watt technology, the amp’s two channels can be switched to either 10 or 25
watts independently, which is really handy
for studio use when you want to crank the
power section without overloading the mixer’s preamp. If you’re used to using Mesa’s
Dual and Triple Rectifier amps, dialing in a
tone on either channel is extremely simple.
Each channel has a 3-band EQ (bass, mid-range, and treble) along with dedicated
presence, gain, and master volume controls.
Each channel also has two modes. On the
clean channel, you can select clean or pushed
(gain-boosted) modes. On the second channel, Mesa included the vintage and modern
modes from the Rectifier’s red channel.
There’s no onboard reverb—just like the amp’s
bigger and beastlier brethren. But Mesa also
threw in a series effects loop located on the
back panel of the amp that can be used to
connect time-based effects or any other external pedal or rackmount units. Both channels
can be selected via a switch on the front panel
But what’s doubly cool about
the amp—and the key to its
individuality—is the coupling of the EL84 power section. This gives the Mini a
unique voice, while allowing
it to roar at less than the face-ripping volumes the Single,
Dual, and Triple Rectifiers
are known for.
or from a single-button footswitch that’s
included with the amp.
A pint-sized powerhouse such as this
wouldn’t be the same without a matching
set of cabinets. So Mesa designed closed-back 1x12 cabs—both slant and straight—
that look like micro versions of their larger
Rectifier 4x12s. They’re dressed in the
company’s leather-like Black Taurus vinyl
covering and loaded with a single 60-watt
Celestion Vintage 30 speaker. A mini full
stack looks super cool—even intimidating—in spite of its size.
raging Bull
Given that the Mini Rectifier generates
its tone from an actual full Rectifier series
preamp circuit, it’s little surprise that the
Mini Rectifier really nails the sound that
made its bigger brothers famous. But
what’s doubly cool about the amp—and
the key to its individuality—is the coupling of the EL84 power section. This
gives the Mini a unique voice, while
allowing it to roar at less than the face-ripping volumes the Single, Dual, and
Triple Rectifiers are known for.
With a Les Paul Custom configured
with Tom Anderson humbuckers driving the Boogie, channel 1 provided a
clear, hi-fi voice throughout the entire
frequency range. Because of the EL84s’
greasier tone tendencies, the top end was
rounder than the 2011 Dual Rectifier
Multi-Watt I was using for comparison.
And it’s great for slow blues rhythms
and softly picked arpeggios. The attack
is a little slower as well, which is fun to
play with at higher gain levels and in
Southern rock-oriented riffage. Standard
Rectifiers have a very focused and
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