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DUAL & TRIPLE OOGIE
B
M
ESA
SOLO HEADS
Owner's Manual
DUAL & TRIPLE 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. By purchasing and
choosing this unit to be a part of your musical voice, 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 a great 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 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 friend. Precautions
OVERVIEW & INSTANT GRATIFICATION
1
FRONT PANEL CONTROLS
POWER-UP
2
GAIN / TREBLE / MIDDLE
3/4
BASS / PRESENCE
5
MASTER and LOOP ACTIVE MASTER
6
TOGGLE SWITCHES:
POWER / ON and ON / STANDBY
7
REAR PANEL CONTROLS, SWITCHES & JACKS
OVERVIEW
8
FUSE
8
RECTIFIER SELECT
8/9
BIAS SWITCH
9
FX - Send & Return
9
SEND LEVEL CONTROL
10
LOOP SELECT ROTARY CONTROL
10
SLAVE LEVEL CONTROL
10
SPEAKERS
10/11
EXTERNAL SWITCH JACKS
11
CHANNEL STYLE SELECT
11
CHANNEL SELECT
11
FACTORY SAMPLE SETTINGS
12
PERSONAL SETTINGS SHEET
13
TUBE DESCRIPTION & TASK CHARTS
14/15
TUBE NOISE & MICROPHONICS
16
DIAGNOSING PRE-AMP TUBE PROBLEMS
17
BIAS ADJUSTMENT: A feature article by Randall Smith
18/20
SPEAKER IMPEDANCE 7 POSSIBLE HOOK-UP SCHEMES - Amplifier to Speaker Cabs
21/26
TRIODES, PENTODES & IRISHMEN: A feature article on the workings of tubes
27/29
PART SHEETS
30/31
DUAL & TRIPLE RECTIFIER
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SOLO HEADS PRECAUTIONS & WARNINGS
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:
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.
WARNING: EU: permission from the Supply Authority is needed before connection.
WARNING:

Vacuum tube amplifiers generate heat. To insure proper ventilation always make
certain there is at least four inches (100mm) of space behind the rear of the amplifier cabinet.
Keep away from curtains or any flammable objects.
WARNING:

Do not block any ventilation openings on the rear or top of the amplifier. Do not
impede ventilation by placing objects on top of the amplifier which extend past the rear edge of
its cabinet.
WARNING:

Do not expose the amplifier to rain, moisture, dripping or splashing water. Do not
place objects filled with liquids on or nearby the amplifier.

WARNING:

Always make certain proper load is connected before operating the amplifier.
Failure to do so could pose a shock hazard and may result in damage to the amplifier.
Do not expose amplifier to 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. 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. Remove the power plug from the AC mains socket if the unit is to be stored
for an extended period of time. 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. 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 it was purchased and return to

Mesa/Boogie
. Congratulations for choosing either the DUAL or TRIPLE RECTIFIER Solo Head. You have purchased a handbuilt instrument
of the finest quality and craftsmanship. A unique blend of yesteryears black magic power section design combined with our race-
shop approach to finely tuned, high gain pre-amp circuitry leaves both of these amps standing alone...instantly classics and destined
for vintage status. With two channels housing three definitive and distinctly different Modes, a complete array of supremely dialed
guitar sounds can be obtained quickly and easily. Add to this Patented Switchable Rectifiers (Tube/Silicon Diode,) and Channel
Style Select, a hard Bypassable / Channel Assignable FX Loop, Spongy / Bold AC. Power, Reverb and youve got the most performance
packed, bodacious self contained guitar amp ever. And if all these features dont tell the truth about the DUAL or TRIPLE
RECTIFIER Solo Head...how about the on board Bias switch that enables you to use either 6L6 or EL34 power tubes. Customize
this dynamic power section for the tube style that fits your music best!
Looking to the Rear Panel assures that all your interfacing needs are covered. A Parallel Effects Loop with a Mix control provides
tone insurance for even those questionable effects. To use either of these two RECTIFIER Solo Heads in larger rack systems, or
to interface to other power sections, the Slave Jack and Level control is a welcome feature. Three speaker jack combinations have
been provided...two 4 Ohm, one 8 Ohm and one 16 Ohm - to ensure the proper impedance match to many types of speaker
enclosures. The other features will prove to be quite valuable to you and further along in this manual they are covered extensively.
Below are illustrations of the TRIPLE RECTIFIER Solo Head - the DUAL RECTIFIER Solo Head has the identical Front and
Rear Panel layout and features. Therefore, we will be using the illustration of the TRIPLE RECTIFIER Solo Head throughout this
owners manual in regards to identifying and explaining the various on board features and controls.
First familiarize yourself with the layout of the Front Panel and locate the Footswitch Input jack. This jack, when connected to your
footswitch will allow you to select either the Lead or Rhythm channel remotely. The Rear Panel Channel Select toggle must be in the
PAGE 1
INPUT
FT.SW
POWER
ON
ON
STANDBY
MASTER
GAIN
TREBLE
MID
PRESENCE
BASS
LOOP
ACTIVE
MASTER
CLEAN
LOOP
SOLO HEAD
FRONT VIEW :
DUAL or TRIPLE RECTIFIER
Solo Head
Instant Gratification Demo Settings
REAR VIEW :
DUAL or TRIPLE RECTIFIER
Solo Head
FUSE
IMPORTANT: First, set sounds with
Loop Bypassed. Then set Send,
Mix & Loop Active Master (front) to
50% for unity gain. Loop on, adjust
Send to match FX use Loop Master
as return level & live volume
control, set Mix for effect depth.
SPEAKERS
HAND BUILT IN PETALUMA CA.
16 OHM
8 OHM
4 OHM
4 OHM
EXTERNAL
SWITCHING
CHAN.
LOOP
ORANGE
SET TO ORANGE
WHEN USING
FOOTSWITCH OR
EXT. SWITCH
CHANNEL STYLE SELECT
ORANGE CHANNEL GAIN
CLEAN
VARIABLE
HIGH GAIN
RECTIFIER SELECT
4A SB
2A
BOLD
SPONGY
POWER
RETURN
SEND
SEND LEVEL
BIAS SWITCH
6L6
EL-34
CAUTION
BIAS SETTING
MUST MATCH
TUBES IN USE
LOOP SELECT
EXT
SW
RED
AUTO
ORG
AUTO
LOOP ON
ORG & RED
BYPASS
LOOP
MIX LEVEL
100% 0%
VACUUM
TUBES
(NORMAL)
SILICON
DIODES
(HI POWER)
120 VOLTS
60 Hz
4 AMPS
SLAVE LEVEL
SLAVE OUT
NORMAL
ORIG TO
MODERN
RED TO
VINTAGE
RED
CHANNEL
SELECT
Operating Instructions
DUAL & TRIPLE
RECTIFIER SOLO HEADS UP position (Orange.) If you dont have a footswitch available, the Channel Switch located on the Rear Panel ( far left end of panel
if facing front of amp ) will activate this switching procedure. Before we get intimate with each control, lets audition the two channels
with a basic clean setting in the Vintage Orange ( Rhythm Channel ) and a fairly high gain overdriven sound in the Modern Red (
Lead Channel.)

POWER-UP:

First remove the protect