Mesa/Boogie Three Channel Dual & Triple Rectifier Solo... User manual

1317 Ross Street Petaluma, CA 94954
USA
The Spirit of Art in Technology
OOGIE
B
MESA
TM

Hello from the Tone Farm...
YOU, the 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. Our reward is that
we’ve made a classic amplifier and by choosing this amplifier, 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 an amp bred of fine all tube amp heritage...benefiting from the many
patented pioneering Mesa/Boogie circuits that led to the refinement of your new instru-
ment. 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.

TM
Precautions _________________________________________________________________________________ 0
Overview ___________________________________________________________________________________ 1
FRONT PANEL:
Power-Up ___________________________________________________________________________________ 2
Inputs ______________________________________________________________________________________ 2
CONTROLS:
Volume (Gain) _______________________________________________________________________________ 2
Treble ______________________________________________________________________________________ 3
Midrange ___________________________________________________________________________________ 3
Bass _______________________________________________________________________________________ 3
Reverb _____________________________________________________________________________________ 4
TOGGLE SWITCHES
On / Standby ________________________________________________________________________________ 4
Power ______________________________________________________________________________________ 4
REAR PANEL
Ground _____________________________________________________________________________________ 5
Fuse _______________________________________________________________________________________ 5
Recording __________________________________________________________________________________ 5
FX Loop: Send & Return ______________________________________________________________________ 6
FX Mix _____________________________________________________________________________________ 6
Silent Recording _____________________________________________________________________________ 6
Speaker ____________________________________________________________________________________ 6
Personal Settings Page _______________________________________________________________________ 7
TUBE MAINTENANCE
Tube Noise & Microphonics ____________________________________________________________________ 8
Diagnosing Power Tube Failures _______________________________________________________________ 8
Tube Noise __________________________________________________________________________________ 8
Diagnosing Pre-Amp Tube Problems ____________________________________________________________ 9
Bias Adjustment ________________________________________________________________________ 10,11 & 12
Part Sheet _____________________________________________________________________________ 13
_______________________________________________________________________________________________

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:
Do not expose amplifier to moisture, rain or water, 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.
Insure adequate air circulation behind amplifier.
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.
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.
Remove the power plug from the AC mains socket if the unit
is to be stored for an extended period of time.
Do not use solvents such as benzene or paint thinner to
clean the unit. Wipe off the exterior with soft cloth.
YOUR AMPLIFIER IS LOUD! EXPOSURE TO HIGH SOUND VOLUMES MAY CAUSE
PERMANET 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.

Precautions 0
Overview 1
FRONT PANEL:
Power-Up 2
Inputs 2
CONTROLS:
Volume (GAIN) 2
Treble 3
Midrange 3
Bass 3
Reverb 4
TOGGLE SWITCHES
On / Standby 4
Power 4
REAR PANEL
Ground 5 Fuse 5
Recording 5
FX Loop: Send & Return 6
FX Mix 6
Speaker 6
SilentRecording 6
Operating Instructions
FRONT VIEW: SUBWAY BLUES
REAR VIEW: SUBWAY BLUES
RETURN
GROUND
AOFF B
FX MIX
0% % 100
HANDBUILT IN PETALUMA, CALIFORNIA.
D YNA - W ATT
P OWER
TM
8 OHM 4 OHM 4 OHM
SPEAKERS
SEND
1A SB
FUSE
A
1
2
RECORDING
117V.
1A
60HZ
SILENT RECORDING
MUTE SPKR ON
Precautions 0
Overview 1
POWERSTANDBY
ON ON
MID BASS REVERB
VOLUME TREBLE
BRIGHT
FAT

INPUTS: First familiarize yourself with the layout of the front panel. Your SUBWAY amplifier is fitted with two INPUTS which are
voiced individually for very different personalities and feel. BRIGHT would be the choice for all clean playing styles where sparkling
highs are needed. This jack also lets the true sound of the instrument come through and would be the choice for traditional style solo
work. FAT enhances the lower to medium midrange frequencies producing a bolder voice that sings with conviction. This jack helps
saturate single notes while adding a percussive quality to the attack. It is very helpful when using guitars with lower output pick-ups i.e.
old single coils.
POWER-UP: Connect your favorite guitar to one of the two instrument input jacks. Flip the POWER switch “ON” while leaving the
STANDBY switch set to “STANDBY”. It’s always a good idea to practice this start up procedure, as at least 30 seconds of warm-up
time lessens the shock on cold power tubes, thus prolonging their life substantially. Next, set the controls per the example above:
NOTE: When disconnecting the instrument cable from the Inputs, it is normal to hear a metallic sound...This is not a microphonic tube
as you may have heard when tapping the faceplate of an all tube amplifier. This noise occurs because the Inputs are wired in parallel
and for a brief second they are floating as you unplug your instrument. Again, this is normal and no cause for concern. This noise
goes away completely as soon as you connect your instrument.
VOLUME: (Gain): This is by far the most powerful control in the amp. It not only determines the amplifier’s overall Gain amount,
shape and sensitivity...but it is also a powerful tone control. Generally speaking, whatever is dialed here ultimately determines the
amps personality. Set low, it allows cleaner, brighter sounds with enhanced dynamic response, espe-
cially in the higher frequencies. Set high, the whole personality of the channel becomes darker, fatter
and more overdriven.
In the SUBWAY we worked hard to make sure the entire range of Gain available is usable and more
importantly, musical. Don’t think for a moment that this simple one knob layout limits you as to the
amount and texture of Gain. Long neurotic hours were spent to ensure the range of Gain was stylisti-
cally accurate.
This would be a good time to mention that most of the great sounds can be found by setting the SUBWAY’S VOLUME control
moderately. Use of moderation here will reduce the likelihood of pesky tube microphonic problems.
FRONT PANEL:
POWERSTANDBY
ON ON
MID BASS REVERB
TREBLE
VOLUME
BRIGHT
FAT
CONTROLS:
Precautions 0
Overview 1
VOLUME
BRIGHT
FAT

Precautions 0
Overview 1
TREBLE: As with most guitar amplifiers, the TREBLE control is the strongest of the three rotary tone controls. Its setting on the
SUBWAY determines the blend and strength of the MIDDLE and BASS controls. Set high, it is the dominant control, minimizing the
amount of MID and BASS that would be possible in the mix. Set low, the TREBLE becomes the recessive control and a warmer,
darker blend is produced. Dial with care. Subtle tweaking of this control tends to produce the best results.
MIDRANGE: Through endless daily tone dreaming, the “if-only” design dictum led to the creation of this very useful tone control.
From to about to the taper is adjusted to act as a very effective MID control. As you increase the MID to and above, you
will hear the lower mids getting more pronounced and fatter. At about the MID leaves behind the old notion of being a tone control
and becomes a truly usable Gain control. The upper range of the MID control is a smokin’ addition to the SUBWAY’S VOLUME
control for all kinds of higher gain rhythm/lead sounds. Try the MID set
high and the VOLUME control at about for a cool blues solo
sound. If this still isn’t crazy enough for you...Max the VOLUME and
TREBLE controls as well. This should be sufficiently grinding for all you
crunch fiends. As you will hear, the versatility found in the MID control
greatly enhances the overall sound of this amplifier. The described set-
ting procedeure for this control would be the same for either of the two
input jacks.
NOTE: The lower region of the MID control determines midrange punch and boldness in lower gain sounds and a smooth vocal
blend in high gain sounds. It can be very effective acting as a “cut through the band control” in certain situations. Dial to taste,
remembering that the setting of the TREBLE control greatly affects this control’s strength.
BASS: This control blends in the lower frequencies, and its effectiveness, again, depends on the setting of the TREBLE control. It
should be set with moderation, as extreme settings in either low or high directions can produce an unbalanced tone. Be especially
careful when using the SUBWAY at high VOLUME level settings because too much BASS will cause a flabby, unfocused sound that
can’t be dialed out because excessive BASS has been introduced to the pre-amp in the early stages. Try setting the BASS to
while using the BRIGHT input jack, and when using
the FAT input jack.
These settings will vary with the amount of VOLUME and
TREBLE you have dialed up.
CONTROLS: (Continued)
TREBLE
VOLUME
BRIGHT
FAT
MID
BRIGHT
FAT
TREBLE
VOLUME
BASS
BRIGHT
FAT
MID
TREBLE
VOLUME

CONTROLS: (Continued)
REVERB: The SUBWAY BLUES has an individual REVERB control. This enables different amounts of the rich ALL TUBE
REVERB to be mixed with the dry sig-
nal.
NOTE: It’s normal for Maximum or even
very high settings of the REVERB to al-
ter the amplifier’s voice slightly. This is a
result of listening to the REVERB return
stage high in the mix and no cause for
alarm.
ON / STANDBY: Perfect for set breaks...this toggle switch also serves an even more important purpose. In the STANDBY position
the tubes are at idle so that during power up they may warm up before being put to use. Before the POWER is switched on, make sure
the STANDBY switch is in the STANDBY position. Wait at least 30 seconds
and then flip the STANDBY switch to the “ON” position. This helps in pre-
venting tube problems and increases their toneful life substantially.
POWER: This switch delivers the A.C. POWER to the SUBWAY BLUES. Make sure the unit is grounded (all three terminals of the
A.C. POWER cord must be connected whenever possible to avoid injury to the user as well as to the unit) and that the proper voltage
is present. Follow the cold start procedure described in the ON / STANDBY
section above when powering up your amplifier.
BASS REVERB
BRIGHT
FAT
MID
TREBLE
VOLUME
TOGGLE SWITCHES:
POWERSTANDBY
ON ON
POWERSTANDBY
ON ON
RETURN
SEND
GROUND
AOFF B
FX MIX
0% % 100
HANDBUILT IN PETALUMA, CALIFORNIA.
D YNA - W ATT
P OWER
TM
8 OHM 4 OHM 4 OHM
SPEAKERS
1A SB
FUSE
A
1
2
RECORDING
117V.
1A
60HZ
SILENT RECORDING
MUTE SPKR ON
EL- 84
EL- 84
Precautions 0
Overview 1

Precautions 0
Overview 1
GROUND: This switch reverses the polarity of the A.C. GROUND. It can be helpful in eliminating annoying hum or A.C. buzz as well
as those painful microphone shocks. It should be left in the center “OFF position when neither of
these problems are occuring.
FUSE: This is the A.C.’s (Alternating Current) main FUSE and provides electrical current protection from outside A.C. fluctuations, as
well as power tube failure damage. Should the FUSE blow, replace it with the same rating in a slo-blo type package. The domestic
U.S. version requires a 1 amp slo-blo FUSE. A power tube short or failure is often the cause of a blown FUSE...Follow the cold start
procedure mentioned in the ON / STANDBY switch section and watch the power tubes as you turn
the STANDBY to the ON position. If a power tube is going bad or is arcing you will see it! Flip the
STANDBY switch to STANDBY immediately and replace the faulty power tube and the FUSE if nec-
essary. If you see nothing abnormal as you lift the STANDBY, it is possible that a power tube shorted
temporarily and blew the FUSE. If this is the case it may work again normally. To be extra safe you
may want to replace all power tubes in the “shotgun” troubleshooting tradition and save the replaced
set as spares.
NOTE: Like tires on a car, spare FUSES are always a measure of good insurance. Your SUBWAY
BLUES amplifier was carefully constructed with reliability in mind! Given the proper care and maintenance, it will deliver years of
trouble free service. However, any pro guitarist who gigs a lot will tell you; spare FUSES are a must for the fabled cord bag and may
someday be worth their weight in gold. Spare tubes are also a very easy way to ensure an uninterrupted performance.
RECORDING: This jack provides direct-to-console interfacing for recording or sound reinforcement applications. It is a circuit dedi-
cated to reproducing the roll off that occurs in the output section with a speaker connected. With
accuracy, it faithfully captures the SUBWAY’S soulful character.
The send level strength is determined by the VOLUME (Gain) control. From this recording jack,
adequate signal level will be available for most of your recording or live direct sound reinforcement
needs.
REAR PANEL:
RETURN
SEND
FX MIX
0% % 100
HANDBUILT IN PETALUMA, CALIFORNIA.
D YNA - W ATT
P OWER
TM
8 OHM 4 OHM 4 OHM
SPEAKERS
1A SB
FUSE
A
1
2
117V.
1A
60HZ
SILENT RECORDING
MUTE SPKR ON
GROUND
AOFF B
RECORDING
GROUND
A OFF B
FUSE
1/2 A
RECORDING
1A SB
GROUND
A OFF B
RECORDING
1/2 A
FUSE
1A SB
FUSE
1/2 A
RECORDING
GROUND
A OFF B 1A SB

FX LOOP : SEND & RETURN: These two 1/4" jacks are the patch point for external processing effects. The FX LOOP is wired in
parallel with the normal signal. Connect the Send jack to your Effects Input jack. Connect the Return jack to the Output jack of your
effect. The FX LOOP is a patch point between the pre-amp and power section. There-
fore, the Return jack can double as a “Power Amp Input” jack. (MIX control level should
be set to 100% for this application.)
FX MIX: This control determines the dry/wet blend of the FX Loop signal in relation to the unaffected signal. Set to 0% you will
experience only the dry signal (no effect) and at a setting of 100% the entire signal will be wet (total effect.)
For the best results...Set the mix of your effect to 100% wet. Then dial in the
amount of effect that you wish to hear, starting at 0% with the FX LOOP MIX
control. The drier (closer to 0%) signal you use, the better your tone should
be. This is one of the advantages in having a parallel type FX Loop designed
into your SUBWAY amplifier. This circuit allows the amplifier to retain its
purity with the least possible degradation due to effects impedance mismatch-
ing.
SILENT RECORDING: This rocker switch which is located down under the chassis and selects between the live “SPKR ON” setting
and the silent “SPEAKER MUTE” setting. This is a perfect solution for all-nighters! This switch mutes all of the signal at the power
section driver stage, removing the need for a speaker load
IN THIS POSITION ONLY!
NOTE: When this switch is set to the “ON” position, a
speaker load must be maintained by either a load resistor
(8 ohms or 4 ohms and rated at least 30 watts power ca-
pacity, or a speaker itself.) Failure to comply with this in-
struction could result in major damage to the amplifier.
Leave your speaker connected.
SPEAKER: Sensitivity to SPEAKER mismatching in regards to ohmage differences is low, as long as a load is used at all times.
Hence no damage to the amplifier will occur. However, very low ohmage loads will cause the power tubes to wear faster. The
SUBWAY BLUES is equipped with a single 10 inch 8 ohm SPEAKER, but as you can see, other
SPEAKER configurations may be used. When using two 8 ohm SPEAKER, use the 4 ohm jacks,
this will insure proper impedance matching. MESA/Boogie 4X12 and 4X10 cabinets come stan-
dard wired to 8 ohms. They have four 8 ohm SPEAKERS wired in series-parallel.
Some cabinets other than MESA/Boogie, may be 4, 8 or 16 ohms. To confirm how your cabinet
may be wired and the impedance rating of your SPEAKERS, you may need to remove the back
panel to verify this information in regards to proper SPEAKER matching. Feel free to experiment
with the SPEAKER jacks, trying different loads. Keep in mind the greatest clean headroom is
always achieved with proper impedance loads...i.e. an 8 ohm SPEAKER connected to an 8 ohm
jack.
REAR PANEL:
FUSE
1/2 A
1A
GROUND
A OFF B
RECORDING
117V.
1A
60HZ
RETURN
SEND
FUSE
1/2 A
RECORDING
GROUND
A OFF B
RETURNSEND
117V.
1A
60HZ
FX MIX
0% % 100
1A SB
SILENT RECORDING
MUTE SPKR ON
RETURNSEND
FUSE
1/2 A
RECORDING
GROUND
A OFF B
117V.
1A
60HZ
FX MIX
0% % 100
1A SB
4 OHM
8 OHM 4 OHM
SPEAKERS
Precautions 0
Overview 1