MESA/Boogie Debuts Three Overdrive Stompboxes
June 17, 2020 · 3 sources
MESA/Boogie announced three new hand-built overdrive pedals, which the maker described as "spanning the entire range of gain and stylistic spectrum": the Cleo, the DynaPlex, and the Gold Mine. All three are built at the company's shop in Petaluma, California, USA1.
The Cleo is a transparent boost/overdrive aimed at the lower end of the gain scale, a position MESA/Boogie said suits Blues, Roots, and Indie Rock, and lets it double as a boost. The maker described its character as "sweet, open top end clarity and not too much saturation," with a range running from a subtle boost through mid-gain drive to harmonically rich overdrive1.
The DynaPlex is a vintage-inspired, medium-gain overdrive that MESA/Boogie said "goes straight to the heart of mid gain Brit, beyond Classic Crunch and '70s Rock sounds with a tactile feel" and a broad gain range2. The Gold Mine covers the higher-gain end of the range, with what the maker called "soaring, smooth high gain that tips the hat to Boogie, but also includes a harmonic edge that's borderline Brit" in character3.
"Up there, a violin-like quality infuses single notes with saturation that blends attack and sustain with near perfection."
Controls
Each pedal carries a LEVEL control for master output to the amplifier and a GAIN control for the amount of overdrive in the signal path123. Beyond that the control sets differ:
| Control | Cleo | DynaPlex | Gold Mine |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEVEL | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| GAIN | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| TONE | Yes, global adjustment of all frequencies | Yes | No |
| PRESENCE | No | Yes, overall brightness | No |
| BASS / MID / TREBLE | No | No | Yes, separate low, mid, and high shaping |
| Internal DIP switch | No | Yes, two EQ curves | No |
| TIGHT switch | No | No | Yes, hidden on the circuit board |
The DynaPlex's internal DIP switch offers two EQ curves: a mid-scooped response for rock chording as shipped, or a flatter, midrange-balanced response for single-note soloing2. The Gold Mine's hidden TIGHT switch trims the bass response for rhythm playing and faster tracking of pick attack3.
Power and specifications
All three pedals run on a 9V battery or an external 9VDC supply with negative center polarity and a 2.1mm x 5.5mm plug, drawing 15mA123. The Cleo and Gold Mine use true bypass switching that removes all circuitry from the signal path when off, with an on/off status LED13.
| Specification | Cleo | Gold Mine |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 4.77 x 2.87 x 2.31 | 4.77 x 2.87 x 2.29 |
| Weight | 0.865 | 0.865 |
| Input impedance | 1M Ohm (500k Ohm minimum) | 1M Ohm (500k Ohm minimum) |
| Output impedance | 10k Ohm | 10k Ohm |
| Nominal input | -20 db | -20 db |
The external power input needs a 9VDC supply with negative center polarity and a 2.1mm x 5.5mm plug, so check that a power supply matches before plugging in1.
MESA/Boogie listed the Cleo at £199 in the UK, including VAT with free shipping1.
Sources (3)
- Mesa/Boogie Cleo, Gibson (gibson.com)
- Mesa/Boogie DynaPlex, Gibson
- Mesa/Boogie Gold Mine, Gibson (www.gibson.com)