Really nice playing on the Aretha track and nice mixing job showcasing the different combinations. Thanks for your efforts.
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Mesa Subway+ DI vs Broughton Messenger
- Thread starter Turn Em Loose
- Start date
Thanks!
Those early Aretha recordings are fun to play along with. The drums and bass are panned hard in opposite directions. So you can isolate the bass track, without drums, to figger it out. Then isolate the drums, without bass, to play along. Great way to play along with one of the best rhythm sections that have ever been recorded. And I can pretend I'm Tommy Cogbill, David Hood, Jerry Jemmot, etc etc. Emphasis on "pretend".
Used the SW+ on my church gig with a very fine, pro soundguy. He was digging the SW+.
The pendulum has swung (Swinged? Swang??) in the SW+'s direction.
The pendulum has swung (Swinged? Swang??) in the SW+'s direction.
Kept the Subway+. Sold the Broughton stuff I had.
Can't explain it, really. Though part of my reason for selling the Broughton stuff is the brand is really in demand right now so I knew it'd be easy to sell. But I really dig the SW+ after getting it dialed in.
I started by using the HPF and Voicing control and then using the EQ to taste. But then I tried this: I used the HPF and EQ and THEN used the Voicing control last. BINGO!! Success.
Can't explain it, really. Though part of my reason for selling the Broughton stuff is the brand is really in demand right now so I knew it'd be easy to sell. But I really dig the SW+ after getting it dialed in.
I started by using the HPF and Voicing control and then using the EQ to taste. But then I tried this: I used the HPF and EQ and THEN used the Voicing control last. BINGO!! Success.
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I’m going through similar indecision with the Messenger and the Starlifter.
The Messenger is surgically precise, super clean, and incredibly versatile.
The Starlifter is clean but fat and warm, not as versatile, but really easy to dial in a few excellent tones.
Both have crazy amounts of clean gain on tap.
Ramblings:
The Messenger sounds like my bass. The eq is powerful and two sweepable mid bands are awesome. The mid bands are maybe a bit narrower than I would like, which means the frequency you choose pokes through more than on the Starlifter’s (single) sweepable mid. The Starlifter adds a nice color even when the eq is toggled off (the preamp is always in the circuit). It also has three preset voicings: flat, modern, and vintage. Modern is a bit too scooped for my tastes, but vintage is great. Slightly rolled off highs and a low mid bump make a really supportive but articulate sound. I add in a bit of highs and high mids with the eq and bingo, I have my tone. Much like the Nordstrand on-board pre, the full range of each control is usable, even cranking the bass control sounds great. The Messenger can get more tones, and I got some really cool synth sound by combining the filters with the eq. The Starlifter has a tuner out hitch is nice, because that way the instrument signal doesn’t have to pass through another pedal/cable.
Currently on my board I have the Starlifter plus a Broughton HPF/LPF. But the Messenger calls to me also.
The Messenger is surgically precise, super clean, and incredibly versatile.
The Starlifter is clean but fat and warm, not as versatile, but really easy to dial in a few excellent tones.
Both have crazy amounts of clean gain on tap.
Ramblings:
The Messenger sounds like my bass. The eq is powerful and two sweepable mid bands are awesome. The mid bands are maybe a bit narrower than I would like, which means the frequency you choose pokes through more than on the Starlifter’s (single) sweepable mid. The Starlifter adds a nice color even when the eq is toggled off (the preamp is always in the circuit). It also has three preset voicings: flat, modern, and vintage. Modern is a bit too scooped for my tastes, but vintage is great. Slightly rolled off highs and a low mid bump make a really supportive but articulate sound. I add in a bit of highs and high mids with the eq and bingo, I have my tone. Much like the Nordstrand on-board pre, the full range of each control is usable, even cranking the bass control sounds great. The Messenger can get more tones, and I got some really cool synth sound by combining the filters with the eq. The Starlifter has a tuner out hitch is nice, because that way the instrument signal doesn’t have to pass through another pedal/cable.
Currently on my board I have the Starlifter plus a Broughton HPF/LPF. But the Messenger calls to me also.
Been using the Starlifter for months and love it. It's went head to head with several same price and some 2-3 times the price and won out against all of them for me.
