I have had my Studio Pre with 50/50 set-up now for about 6 months and am diggin it more and more each day. The clean is fantastic on this unit, probably one of the best Mesa has made, and of course the gain on the lead channel is signature.
I have read all the posts that say the Studio Pre is based off the IIC+ circuit and paired with a 50/50 is close in the power section as well. I have never played a IIC+ so who knows. The lead gain has a nice chunck to it and that signature Mesa Mark karaang sound when a big open chord is hit. With the mid scooped it also gets very Metallica Heavy. And with the mid up it gets very fluid for lead lines. What I like most though is how articulate the amp is with single notes, which seem to play very crisp and unmuddled. For being only two channels with sared EQ I have been getting a wide range of tones out of it from super chimey clean to blues OD to full on hard rock and metal.
I have read different things saying that Mesa discontinued the Studio Pre because it was too good and took sales away from their other amp lines, I am guessing this is probably a myth but to my ears it is very, very good and I am amazed it gets overlooked so often for the likes of the Triaxis or the Quad.
I have read all the posts that say the Studio Pre is based off the IIC+ circuit and paired with a 50/50 is close in the power section as well. I have never played a IIC+ so who knows. The lead gain has a nice chunck to it and that signature Mesa Mark karaang sound when a big open chord is hit. With the mid scooped it also gets very Metallica Heavy. And with the mid up it gets very fluid for lead lines. What I like most though is how articulate the amp is with single notes, which seem to play very crisp and unmuddled. For being only two channels with sared EQ I have been getting a wide range of tones out of it from super chimey clean to blues OD to full on hard rock and metal.
I have read different things saying that Mesa discontinued the Studio Pre because it was too good and took sales away from their other amp lines, I am guessing this is probably a myth but to my ears it is very, very good and I am amazed it gets overlooked so often for the likes of the Triaxis or the Quad.
