studio preamp with no inputs on the front

[jrhaze]

I have a Mesa studio preamp that does not have the inputs on the front.. it just has the inputs on the back. is this a older model or a newer model ?

 

[Meson Boogie]

Older.
Does it not have a big fat serial number sticker on it? I've only seen one like that on ebay recently and it was #1 supposedly. You'll also find build dates on the big transformer inside and on the edge of the circuit board, I predict 86. If it still has the serial number I'd be interested in hearing it.

 

[jrhaze]

Thanks for the info.. I'm on the road tonight but will check that out when I get home tomorrow..

 

[jrhaze]

Well I guess this is number 84 of the first studio's made.. I haven't opened it up to check out the date but I will sometime this week end..

 

[jrhaze]

It has the name Tina inside, and its a 1988.. I also thought it was older.

 

[Meson Boogie]

Hmmm, that is odd. Either they hardly got any orders for the studio pre for the first 1/2 years which isn't too unlikely I suppose, or the date here is wrong http://www.grailtone.com/guitar-tone-articles/mesa-boogie.html
Mesa make amps in bulk loads so 84 would probably have been within the first few batches unless they really had only a handful of orders at first.

 

[jrhaze]

Well I'll be poppin it back out next week when my other preamp arrives.. I'll then check the control pot dates.. just to be sure.. I had one of these with the inputs in the rear only, back in the early 1990's and always wondered back then about these.