The Mesa/Boogie Lone Star 2x12 Combo Amp is a Mesa Boogie amplifier. Close alternatives include the Universal Audio Uafx Woodrow '55 Instrument Amplifier Preamp and the Catalinbread Dreamcoat Skewer Special Edition Box. It pairs well with the Beetronics Nectar and the Beetronics Swarm.
Mesa/Boogie Lone Star 2x12 Combo Amp
Mesa Boogie · amplifier
The Mesa/Boogie Lone Star 2x12 Combo is a 50-watt tube amplifier combo delivering warm, articulate lead tone with excellent touch sensitivity. Its 2x12 speaker configuration provides room-filling volume and natural breakup. The Lone Star combo appeals to blues and classic rock players seeking portable tube tone.
What stands out
“The Lone Star combo appeals to blues and classic rock players seeking portable tube tone”
— from the listing
“Loo… • New favourite house amp — I retired this from session work an old Boogie combo it sounds like a dream it has old valves in it and some 10 year-old Celastions and”
— from the community notes
“The gain channel, despite its numerous voicing options, suffers from the classic post-90s Mesa mush-tone syndrome”
— from the community notes
“• tolerable — During an aborted quest to find a channel switching amp I could wrap my ears around I experimented with some mesas”
— from the community notes
“Its 2x12 speaker configuration provides room-filling volume and natural breakup”
— from the listing
- tube
- valve
- natural breakup
- touch sensitivity
- classic rock
- lead
- house
- session work
Good for
- Live
- Studio
- Worship
Genres the Mesa/Boogie Lone Star 2x12 Combo Amp is commonly used in
- Blues
- Classic Rock
Pedals that stack with the Mesa/Boogie Lone Star 2x12 Combo Amp
Beetronics Nectar
Beetronics
28% matchclean platform takes the driveA clean, high-headroom stage takes on dirt it can't generate by itself. (transparent → fuzzy)
Beetronics Nectar leans this transparent tone toward fuzzy, which it doesn't make on its own
Goes in front of the amp
Beetronics Swarm
Beetronics
26% matchclean platform takes the driveA clean, high-headroom stage takes on dirt it can't generate by itself. (transparent → fuzzy)
The transparent tone has headroom to spare — Beetronics Swarm leans it toward fuzzy to fill it in
Goes in front of the amp
Black Arts Toneworks LSTR Fuzz
Black Arts Toneworks
26% matchclean platform takes the driveA clean, high-headroom stage takes on dirt it can't generate by itself. (transparent → fuzzy)
The transparent tone has headroom to spare — Black Arts Toneworks LSTR Fuzz leans it toward fuzzy to fill it in
Goes in front of the amp
JHS 3 Series Harmonic Tremolo
JHS Pedals
14% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
JHS 3 Series Harmonic Tremolo is voiced for Fender-style amps — Mesa/Boogie Lone Star 2x12 Combo Amp gives it exactly that
Goes in front of the amp
Origin Effects SlideRIG Compact Deluxe
Origin Effects
13% matchshapes the dynamic responseShapes how the tone responds to picking dynamics rather than its frequency or gain. (dynamic → compressed)
Into Mesa/Boogie Lone Star 2x12 Combo Amp, Origin Effects SlideRIG Compact Deluxe is right at home: it's built around Fender-style amps
Goes in front of the amp
Dunlop MXR M299 Carbon Copy Mini
Dunlop
9% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Into Mesa/Boogie Lone Star 2x12 Combo Amp, Dunlop MXR M299 Carbon Copy Mini is right at home: it's built around a clean amp's front end — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Sits in the amp's effects loop
Meris Polymoon
Meris
8% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Meris Polymoon's modulated voice goes in Mesa/Boogie Lone Star 2x12 Combo Amp's effects loop — it's not there to compete with Mesa/Boogie Lone Star 2x12 Combo Amp's own transparent character — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Sits in the amp's effects loop
Caline CP-16 MR. Mark
Caline
tonal matchGoes in front of the amp
Caline CP-16 MR. Mark goes in front of Mesa/Boogie Lone Star 2x12 Combo Amp in the chain
Alternativessee all similar tone character →
Universal Audio Uafx Woodrow '55 Instrument Amplifier Preamp
Universal Audio
72% similarityUniversal Audio Uafx Woodrow '55 Instrument Amplifier Preamp recreates this amp's tone in pedal form
Catalinbread Dreamcoat Skewer Special Edition Box
Catalinbread
72% similarityCatalinbread Dreamcoat Skewer Special Edition Box recreates this amp's tone in pedal form
Electronic Audio Experiments Model feT V3.8
Electronic Audio Experiments
72% similarityElectronic Audio Experiments Model feT V3.8 recreates this amp's tone in pedal form
Tone King Imperial Preamp
Tone King
72% similarityTone King Imperial Preamp recreates this amp's tone in pedal form
Matchless Chieftain 2X10 Combo Amp
amplifier
58% similaritySimilar voicing: transparent, dynamic
1958 Fender Twin 5F8-4
amplifier
54% similaritySimilar voicing: transparent, dynamic
3rd Power Dragon 45 112 Combo
3rd Power
50% similarityShared character: classic rock, lead
Matchless Clubman 35
amplifier
49% similarityShared character: classic rock
Swart STR Tweed
Swart
49% similaritySimilar voicing: transparent, dynamic
Suhr Hombre
Suhr
48% similarityShared character: classic rock
Blackstar Artisan 30 212 Combo 30W/2x12Zoll Class A
Blackstar
47% similaritySimilar voicing: transparent, dynamic
Ceriatone Delight 15 1x12 Combo
Ceriatone
46% similaritySimilar role and voicing
See all alternatives to the Mesa/Boogie Lone Star 2x12 Combo Amp (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Mesa/Boogie Lone Star 2x12 Combo Amp?+
The closest matches in character are the Universal Audio Uafx Woodrow '55 Instrument Amplifier Preamp, the Catalinbread Dreamcoat Skewer Special Edition Box, the Electronic Audio Experiments Model feT V3.8.
What pairs well with the Mesa/Boogie Lone Star 2x12 Combo Amp?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Beetronics Nectar, Beetronics Swarm, Black Arts Toneworks LSTR Fuzz — Beetronics Nectar leans this transparent tone toward fuzzy, which it doesn't make on its own.