Mesa/Boogie MARK VII

PAGE 7
Front-end, we suggest employing a Buer in your signal chain to make sure you keep levels and impedances
at their optimum and avoid excess cable capacitance created in all the additional wiring. Buers are small, af-
fordable devices readily available through many reputable companies, including MESA/Boogie. Your Tone will
be well-served if you employ one to mitigate any loss incurred by the addition of your Front-end processors
and subsequent cabling.
LOOP INSURANCE! Cabling quality is also important on “the Rear” of your signal chain in the Eects Loop. Here
as well, use good quality Shielded audio cable to prevent degradation in your Tone and added noise. Even
though the signal is buered in the Eects Loop, it is still a good idea to use good-quality cabling of the shortest
length possible. This patch point between the preamp and power section is a sensitive place in the amplifier’s
circuit, and anything you introduce here has the potential to change the sound.
PROCESSING: CHOOSE WISELY! Select the pedals and processors you wish to interface with the Eects Loop, with
the same discretion used on your Front End (Input).
Since the patch point between the preamp and power amp is a sensitive place in the signal chain and the qual-
ity of what you place at this junction will ultimately aect the signal for better or worse, it’s important to match
your amp’s level of quality with processors of similar quality. Price is somewhat an indicator of quality but not
always as indicative of compatibility.
We suggest taking whatever processors you intend to buy home to try. …Or taking your amplifier to the shop
selling the processor and trying it in the Loop of your amplifier to determine whether it’s a good match. With
short to reasonable-length cables, you should hear very little dierence once the Input (and possibly Output
levels as well) on the processor are set to achieve unity gain (same gain level/no volume dierence with cables
inserted and removed from the Eects Loop’s SEND and RETURN jacks).
If the level drops when you insert the Cables, increase the levels on the processor, if the level goes up when
the processing is introduced, reduce the levels on the processor. Ideally, there should be no dierence in Tone
or levels when the cables are inserted and removed - this is “unity gain” and represents little to no signal loss.
This step (trying before buying) isn’t always easy or convenient, but you probably didn’t choose your amplifier
based solely on convenience either, likely more for its inspiring Tone and performance. Discerning choices in
your outboard gear will honor that decision and keep your amplifier sounding and performing to its optimum
capability.
STAY CONNECTED! Sound waves transmit through objects and your body. This can be a good thing in the case of
electric guitar. It is preferable to have at least one speaker cabinet, or the combo amplifier, sitting on the floor
you are standing on while playing. The transmission, especially of the low end, will aect how the instrument
feels to play. Keeping one speaker cabinet on the floor ensures the instrument, the amp, and your body are
connecting and resonating in a harmonious, sympathetic feedback loop that makes playing your amp more
emotionally satisfying and ultimately more expressive.
NOTE: The exception to this advice above can be when you are playing on stages with many live microphones cranked up
and/or there are large monitors and subwoofers nearby (especially if too big and too many) …or when the stage itself is
extremely resonant in the lower frequencies. In any of these cases, it may be necessary to lift your cabinetry or the combo
amplifier o the floor, or sometimes even o a Drum Riser, to de-couple it from the floor and even your instrument to prevent
feedback. This type of feedback usually occurs in the low end. In some cases, and in certain environments, alternatively,
you can trim the low end in the live microphones via the Mixing Console and then be able to keep the amplifier coupled to
(sitting on) the floor or Stage. Having some coupling through the floor will likely always feel better to you and your hands.
SPEAK ACCORDINGLY! Cabinetry and Speaker Choice are hugely important to achieving the sound you want and
optimizing the amplifier to styles of music you may wish to play.
Whether you have chosen a Combo with its own internal speaker, or a Head format without one, remember
that speakers have a giant impact on the sound, as does the cabinetry they are loaded into.