The Mesa/Boogie DynaPlex is a hand-built overdrive pedal from Mesa/Boogie, announced in June 2020 as one of three new overdrives alongside the Cleo and the Gold Mine. The maker describes it as a vintage-inspired, medium-gain overdrive that "goes straight to the heart of mid gain Brit, beyond Classic Crunch and '70s Rock sounds with a tactile feel and truly versatile, broad gain range"12. It listed at $199 when announced3.
The DynaPlex is discontinued. Mesa/Boogie's product page states: "Sorry, the MESA/Boogie DynaPlex is no longer available. We've left this page up for reference only."1
Where it came from
Mesa/Boogie announced the DynaPlex on 17 June 2020 as part of a trio of overdrives, each covering a different gain range, with the DynaPlex aimed at mid gain. Premier Guitar's press release quoted Doug West saying the DynaPlex was "going straight at the heart of mid gain Brit, beyond Classic Crunch and '70s Rock sounds"3. Guitar World reported the following day that the Cleo, Dynaplex and Gold Mine "clock in at $199 apiece"3.
The name points at the pedal's inspiration. As gearnews.com put it when the pedal was announced, "the clue is in the name, which pays tribute to those legendary Marshall Plexi amps we all know and love"2.
The controls
The DynaPlex has four knobs plus a hidden voicing switch12.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| GAIN | Determines the amount of gain (overdrive) in the signal path |
| TONE | Provides simple, global adjustment of the entire range of frequencies with one control |
| LEVEL | Master output level, controls the amount of signal provided to the host amplifier |
| PRESENCE | Increases or decreases the overall brightness of the pedal |
| DIP SWITCH | Selectable EQ voicing switch on the bottom circuit board, offering two EQ curves |
The DIP switch is the feature that sets the DynaPlex apart from a straightforward three-knob overdrive. It sits on the lower right edge of the bottom circuit board inside the unit, under the bottom plate, and selects between two voicings1:
- EQ ON (as shipped): a mid-scooped EQ response that the maker says excels at rock chording.
- EQ OFF (push the switch toward the left): removes the EQ circuitry for a flatter, punchier, more equally balanced response that retains the midrange frequencies, which the maker says is effective for single note soloing, especially at lower gain settings.
Power and connections
The DynaPlex runs on a 9V battery, or optionally on AC power via an external power jack input. If you use an external supply, Mesa/Boogie is explicit about the requirements: it "MUST be 9VDC with a NEGATIVE CENTER plug polarity and a jack plug size of 2.1mm x 5.5mm," and the maker warns that a wrong supply damages the pedal and voids the warranty. Current draw is 15 mA at 9VDC1.
The 2.1mm x 5.5mm negative center plug is the standard pedalboard supply format, so most regulated 9V supplies will fit, but the maker's warning about incorrect supplies voiding the warranty is worth heeding on any multi-supply board.
Other connections and hardware include a nominal input level of -20 dB, an On/Off status LED, and true bypass switching that bypasses all circuitry when off to ensure no tonal loss1.
How it compares
Within Mesa/Boogie's 2020 overdrive trio, each pedal was aimed at a specific gain range: the Cleo covered transparent boost and lower-gain overdrive territory, the DynaPlex took the mid-gain slot, and the Gold Mine covered high gain51. The DynaPlex's mid-gain British voicing also places it in the same broad territory as classic overdrive designs covered in Boss SD-1 vs Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer, though the hidden EQ voicing switch gives it two distinct curves rather than one fixed one1.
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Questions
Is the Mesa/Boogie Dynaplex discontinued?
Yes. Mesa/Boogie's own product page states that the DynaPlex is no longer available, with the page left up for reference only. The pedal was announced in June 2020 as one of three new overdrives, alongside the Cleo and the Gold Mine, and has since been dropped from the lineup.
Is the Mesa Dynaplex true bypass?
Yes. Mesa/Boogie describes the DynaPlex as true bypass switching, which bypasses all circuitry when the pedal is off to ensure no tonal loss. It also has an On/Off status LED to show when the effect is engaged.
Where is the Mesa/Boogie Dynaplex made?
The DynaPlex was hand-built in Mesa/Boogie's only shop in Petaluma, California, USA, which the company calls the Home of Tone. It was announced in June 2020 as one of three hand-built overdrive pedals from the same team.
What does the name Dynaplex refer to?
The name is a nod to the Marshall Plexi. As gearnews.com put it when the pedal was announced, the clue is in the name, which pays tribute to those legendary Marshall Plexi amps. That fits the pedal's stated aim of mid-gain British crunch and '70s rock sounds.
Sources (5)
- Mesa/Boogie DynaPlex, Gibson
- MESA/Boogie adds three new pedals to its lineup, gearnews.com, 2020-06-18
- Mesa/Boogie reveals 3 new overdrive pedals, Guitar World, 2020-06-18
- Mesa/Boogie Cleo, Gibson (gibson.com)
- Mesa/Boogie Introduces Three New Overdrive Pedals, Premier Guitar, 2020-06-17
