My LSS just isn't cutting it...

[Vogelsong]

I've been messing with it now for a over a year and I just can't get happy with any of the gain I dial in.

I just got done watching the Haggerty vids on youtube.

I think I need a Mark V.

 

[Barry]

Mind you , you are comparing apples to oranges . The LSS is voiced completely different than the MV and was never intended to go where the MV goes . Comparitively the LSS is more of a mid gain amp . I own a LSC and the MV and I still say the LS is one of the best amps mesa makes but its totally different than the MV .

 

[screamingdaisy]

I sometimes think the issue with the LSS is that the LS preamp is basically a Mark I preamp, and as such it performs best when run into a high powered/high headroom power amp.

However the LSS being EL84 means relatively early breakup on the power tube side. I love the LSS' second channel when run at relatively low gain settings (drive 9:00/Gain 12:00) because it gives up some great 'dying Fender' type tones, however when I try to run it much higher it's stacking preamp gain on top of power tube breakup and the results are kind of messy. Particularily if you're running an open back combo and expecting any sort of thump in your rhythm tone.

I should add that I use LSS combo turned up loud and stacked on a matching 1x12 open back cab. I use it for something along the lines of southern rock to old school Fender punk tone.

If I want to play heavier, more modern stuff... stuff that includes a lot of heavier, thumpier, palm muted stuff that requires cleaner/clearer sounding distortion/breakup and a tighter response I switch to my Mark V.

 

[Vogelsong]

Yea I hear you guys, I've had the LSS for about 4 years now. When I got it, I bought it with the main intention of clean rhythm, and driven blues tones. The dying fender reference is perfect I like that tone.

But in the last 6 months I have found myself in a spot where I need a 3rd channel with a lot of gain. The LSS is a great amp, high gain just isn't in its blood.

 

[Barry]

I use a tonebone vt head switcher so i can use the MV and LS with one cab . I still prefer the LS clean over the MV clean .

 

[SBG200]

Yea I hear you guys, I've had the LSS for about 4 years now. When I got it, I bought it with the main intention of clean rhythm, and driven blues tones. The dying fender reference is perfect I like that tone.

But in the last 6 months I have found myself in a spot where I need a 3rd channel with a lot of gain. The LSS is a great amp, high gain just isn't in its blood.

Well there are probably a thousand different overdrive/distortion pedals you could choose from to give it a 3rd channel sound. Definitely much easier than swapping amps. I used a Crunch Box and a Rat with my LSS when I had it and it did the job pretty well.

 

[Vogelsong]

Yea I hear you guys, I've had the LSS for about 4 years now. When I got it, I bought it with the main intention of clean rhythm, and driven blues tones. The dying fender reference is perfect I like that tone.

But in the last 6 months I have found myself in a spot where I need a 3rd channel with a lot of gain. The LSS is a great amp, high gain just isn't in its blood.

Well there are probably a thousand different overdrive/distortion pedals you could choose from to give it a 3rd channel sound. Definitely much easier than swapping amps. I used a Crunch Box and a Rat with my LSS when I had it and it did the job pretty well.

So you what do you have now instead of the LSS.

 

[SBG200]

Yea I hear you guys, I've had the LSS for about 4 years now. When I got it, I bought it with the main intention of clean rhythm, and driven blues tones. The dying fender reference is perfect I like that tone.

But in the last 6 months I have found myself in a spot where I need a 3rd channel with a lot of gain. The LSS is a great amp, high gain just isn't in its blood.

Well there are probably a thousand different overdrive/distortion pedals you could choose from to give it a 3rd channel sound. Definitely much easier than swapping amps. I used a Crunch Box and a Rat with my LSS when I had it and it did the job pretty well.

So you what do you have now instead of the LSS.

Fender '59 Bassman LTD

 

[Vogelsong]

Well there are probably a thousand different overdrive/distortion pedals you could choose from to give it a 3rd channel sound. Definitely much easier than swapping amps. I used a Crunch Box and a Rat with my LSS when I had it and it did the job pretty well.

So you what do you have now instead of the LSS.

Fender '59 Bassman LTD

I'd love to A/B one of those sometime with my Bandmaster just to see how close they may be.