Mesa/Boogie Tone-Burst, Grid Slammer, Flux-Drive and Throttle Box Pedals

The following content is related to the April 2013 issue of Guitar World. For the full range of interviews, features, tabs and more, pick up the new issue on newsstands now, or in our online store: store.guitarwor...
At the feet of practically every great guitarist is a box that many of them refer to as the secret ingredient in their signature sonic brew.
I'm referring to the boost, overdrive or distortion pedal that kicks their amp into sonic nirvana and creates a vital, gain-sculpting connection between the guitar's output and the amp's first gain stage.
Who better to create a new batch of high-octane stompers than the design team at Mesa/Boogie, the same family of dedicated engineers and sound artisans who have created more patented, gain-enhancing and tone-shaping circuits that any other amp company.

[@JuzJok]

He starts playing at 02:15

[@kazu.k.1828]

Thanks!

[@cjleavitt17]

I ordered the Flux Drive. This video makes me even more excited for it since I mainly use a Les Paul. Also some cool playing. Different than other channels for demos.

[@1969MARKETING]

I use the Flux Five which is the EQ version. Has a lot more flexibility. I run it in front of my Mesa Mark Five 25...it's literally a perfect match and creates some amazing tones.

[@DoobTube71]

Thanks for a great info vid on Mesa pedals! I own the Tone Burst and these Mesa pedals have the best fit and finish of any pedal made. Rock solid, durable and stylish, the Mesa pedals are built like a tank. Stacking the Tone Burst with other pedals (over drives, clean boost, fuzz...) is the way to go! Tone Burst stacking recommendations: Vertex Steel String; Ceriatone Centaur (Klon klone); Friedman Golden Pearl (low gain OD); J Rockett Archer Clean Boost; JHS Charlie Brown or TC Mojo Mojo (low to mid- gain ODs); your favorite Tube Screamer pedal; or, your favorite fuzz pedal.

[@hpsauce531]

I've never seen more controversial pedal in my life than throttle box. To my ears, it sounds better than dual rectifier, less harsh, more Hi-Fi if you like.

[@geko_guitar]

I like Taki Yoshimitu ,a great guitarist ,who plays in 9mm parabellum bullet. He uses amp of MESA BOOGIE. I like this tone!!!

[@MusicChannel-rf5zz]

Love the way you make the guitar yodel at 2:24!

[@aledelverne]

Flux Drive and Grid Slammer! Great pedals to work in conjunction with your fav amp! But the Throttle Box... it must be the audio capture... It can't be that bad. In this video the TB sucks quite a bit. I think Paul knows...

[@KevinCoblerOfficial]

they all sound incredible

[@AzaelVI]

These are too cool, I'm a sucker for pedals. Must have them all!

[@guitarzilla83]

I really enjoyed this! The boxes all sounded great. I've been looking to give my Carvin a lil more ooomfff and I think I found it

[@ArgentPure]

The Throttle Box was EPIC!

[@Notryce]

Good Demo. I totally get what these pedals bring in tone. Thumbs down people, do you understand that the demo the guy's giving is good? If you don't like his tone, don't give the demo a thumbs down. The fact that you're not impressed with his tone means his demo was great. It prevented you from buying something you don't want.

[@alexdavenport1]

very good review! finally something with good tone and no fuzz

[@christianwolf1408]

Obwohl schon älter.... Oldies but Goldies! :-) Diese Pedale klingen alle für sich sehr gut und daß man manche von Ihnen untereinander sinnvoll kombinieren kann ... um so besser! Das Video ist sehr schön aufgebaut und auch gut erklärt. Auch empfinde ich die immer zuvor angespielte Grundsound-Einstellung als imformativ im Verhältnis zum dann genutzten Zerrgrat vom jeweiligen Effektgerät. Einfach klasse!

[@ImprobableJoe]

Throttle Box sounds better in person. Of course, it has a setting other than "dime everything". The gain at about 11 is nice and full and not fizzy or farty at all, and the lo-gain toggle gives really awesome rock distortion.

[@dapperdanman1956]

Great job Paul, boogie makes great amps, but I can't help thinking any one of those peddles sound just like the one beside it. Maybe combine, delay, flange, phaze, make each unique in there kind.

[@benverret7968]

The throttle box sounds exactly like the rectifier on a Microcube. I like that.

[@Azthatlovestherock]

god i love that les paul

[@Trilobite8jesus]

There are so many pedals out now. I started playing just ten years ago and back then it was mainly boss, dod, and dunlop. Of course I could have just not known about the others companies... I still have my ancient v twin pedal.

[@MusicChannel-rf5zz]

Almost decided to get the Throttle but it sure sounds very fuzzy compared to sweetwater’s youtube video. I like the mid tone & not so much treble. I think you saved me some bucks!

[@benzuckerman]

The Grid Slammer had kind of a Joe Walsh sound. I like it.

[@Thekeon3]

Paul sounds fantastic! Stop the negativity and jealousy!!!

[@Ladalle0]

Definitly better sounding that the more high gain demos ! Great playing as well, but please don't let Paul do anymore Baritones/Extended range guitars demos !!

[@AltheCoug]

Totally agree. Particularly the vibrato at 5:10 or so.

[@inigoilarduya]

I like all of them except the Throttle Box

[@aliffdzulhailie4599]

Flux the best..very clear drive..

[@aldo_mores]

Really cool pedals.

[@RedMegaMetallica]

Finally great tones

[@TheDancingSaxophone]

Wait- what? Master volume is incredibly useful. Especially on an amp. And nobody has ever included one to make it seem like the amp is "loaded with features." Some of us can't exactly turn our amps up super loud all the time. Also "flux drive" isn't a knob. It's a pedal. Were you drunk when you commented?

[@THESONICSPEEDDEMON]

There’s gotta be a review somewhere of the tone burst on bass

[@xTehDoodx]

thats actually a great idea, youtubers make their own review better than paul. thus sticking it to guitar world :)

[@lawrencevillegas7152]

the pedals sounded awful on my end. =/ love to try it in person though.

[@phenixreturns]

the demo is not very good because the throttle box (all analog) is an amazing sound but not in this demo (like often lol ).try this with a tubes amp and you will have the best heavy metal - sound you can get from a pedal. Very good and bluesy for guitar solo, the same sound as JohN Sykes has (throttle box eq would be better )

[@ShoreStudios]

Can't see anything on the TRC but this looks like a Jimmy Page Les Paul or a Iced Tea burst with the bridge pickup cover removed, either way it is a perfect example of what a Les Paul should look like!

[@snotmale]

With that degree of musical gain on the amp you can sculpt the tone from your guitar and EQ - you don't need these pedals!

[@SeverinoSE]

Thanks for this video!

[@GregLynn]

Whatever lead channel amp he is using, that has some serious spank to it!

[@LaCooper]

good review, although i don't like seeing multiple pedals reviewed at once more time on each would be more appropriate.

[@yoitsmegabe]

The first two sounded great, the full throttle however sounded like a can of bees inside of a metal trash can through an old transistor radio.

[@denverrandy7143]

Awesome!!!🤘😎👍

[@Voxis77]

Anyone else having issues getting it to play the full video and not like 10 second clips?

[@HansDrums]

The Throttle Box sounds worse than some Rectifier digital emulations....I'm looking for good OD pedal for crunchy sounds, because my M/B Single Rectifier contains only 2 channels....i like Flux Drive most

[@deathmetalbob8900]

I run that pedal thru a marshall dsl and its fuckin brutal as a motherfucker dude.

[@SamLibman]

That's the Jimmy Page Les Paul, correct? Sounds great!

[@GregLynn]

I own a 2010 Dual Recto, and some of these Pedals sound ok, I love Mesa more than anything, but that Throttle Box sounds horrible.....

[@SevenSinsChoppers]

Grid Slammer is Dope

[@mightyjake182]

@heavy379 I don't have and Beats products. I didn't even use headphones.

[@gearhead2017]

I want the throttle box!!

[@KevinCoblerOfficial]

i want them all

[@Paulg2uk]

Beautiful Les Paul. Can ask what model it is and what pickups are in it? Many Thanks.

[@mightyjake182]

I couldn't hear a differences in the flux drive no matter how he turned the knobs.

[@spawngt5]

i only liked the last combo toneburst + fluxdrive

[@johndoe-xj1jo]

grid slammer and tone burst are cool as fuck, other two not so much

[@cboisits]

Why do some musicians insist on sporting that "I haven't showered in a week" look?

[@Ojoe2010]

We´re too busy playing to take showers....showers are overrated anyway. That´s why.

[@SuperReverbious]

In order of increasing gain: Clean tone: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iJWsmmWqidOqjdE Tone Burst: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iJWsmmWqidOqjdE Flux drive: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iJWsmmWqidOqjdE Grid slammer: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iJWsmmWqidOqjdE Throttle box (low gain toggle setting, gain cranked) : kzbin.info/www/bejne/iJWsmmWqidOqjdE Throttle box (high gain toggle setting, gain cranked): kzbin.info/www/bejne/iJWsmmWqidOqjdE

[@95dank]

I agree, his tone sucks, but you have to admit that his playing is bad ass.

[@metallijames]

It's like when car companies add hundreds of sharp little body lines and shiny things on the dashboard so you'll think the car is fast and luxurious. Pedal/amp companies occasionally add a knob with a fancy name like "Flux Drive" or "Master Volume" to trick you into thinking you're loaded with features!

[@MrRaphaelLippi]

thanks

[@ScurvyPiano5150]

does anyone else think that Paul kinda looks like Billie Joe Armstong?

[@spreepin]

youtube audio compression! yeah!

[@hrexel11]

hi Paul!

[@rkzeren8904]

Guitar's full model

[@Cosminen]

so ure are sayng, if a doctor foks up my appendix operation, I cant criticize it at all if Im not a doctor myself?

[@xFearTheWickedx]

please upload the video of you playing better than paul.

[@PJyrstinkangas]

Kick-ass!

[@prsfrank]

BB pre amp can do what all these 4 pedals do

[@mechemix]

fuckin' nice tones

[@justicewelsh]

r u holding?

[@PJyrstinkangas]

You mean Triple Wreck?

[@Gitaryzt85]

I've had the BB...can't do throttlebox period

[@riffinrob7231]

the throttle box is so noisy. theres like a really irritating sizzly sound. and it sounds real flubby when he palm mutes on the the low E. the flux drive and the grid slammer sound awesome though

[@metalvocalistwanted]

cool

[@bernaekin3777]

Guitar's full model?

[@bulenterdem1977]

Gibson Les Paul.

[@KingBig1984]

I have that shirt!

[@dmike03]

I believe that is a Jimmy Page signature. Not 100% positive, but pretty sure.

[@ironwolg]

wow this dude made the throttle box sound like shit. he completely turned me off to even thinking abut buying it but i just saw another demo where it sounded amazing.

[@chrisretro81]

Totally agree, I was so disappointed when he played it as I was nearly ready to part with my money before this demo.

[@ironwolg]

in my personal opinion, you just can't beat the amp's distortion. no pedal will sound as good unless you have an awesome clean sound and your distortion channel just sounds like utter bollocks

[@garethrowley8552]

Try the Wampler Triple Wreck instead. They do the Mesa sound (in pedal format) better than Mesa do themselves.

[@HimothyOHooligan]

define "stronger" transistors

[@arglbargl]

who knew badger from breaking bad worked for guitar world. guess twaughthammer panned out without jesse

[@mightyjake182]

Difference*

[@beenoopo]

It's not paul, he can play really well. When it does sound bad its because they have just been lazy with the microphones and put on the cone of the amp, and most people will agree that sounds awful on its own :P

[@Lydian7lc]

no scarf?

[@MrEmohdee]

Not bad but I'm still an AMT fan.....

[@heavy379]

Goddamn Dre Beats

[@kommi1974]

Comes just to read the "Paul sucks" comments.

[@sonnycrocket]

Guitarworld are true masters of making potentially good products sound like absolute crap..

[@216trixie]

You can ask, but he's not going to answer.

[@Jamble187]

The Throttle Box sounds like a can of bees.

[@AXESLINGER2112]

yep, Marty McFly.......that's his nick name. i guess matt may need some classes?

[@fabinblues]

What 's the amp with ?

[@johannesmaas4206]

That Throttle Box sounds like an ultra cheap solid state amp /-: - fizzy distortion

[@Smola9Lives]

stop on 2:03

[@1234Guitarboy]

What amp is that??

[@SolXIX]

The contrast in sound is ridiculous, paul is too quiet, the guitar is too loud.

[@Jamble187]

It's just you. He looks nothing like Michael J Fox.

[@Follow20091]

is it me..or is this guy michael j fox's twin??

[@Woji90]

Why they continue to keep paul? i'm not saying he sucks, just metal is not his kind of music (english is not my mother tongue)

[@lighteningboy]

Great pedals, until you hear that Throttle Box, nasty

[@xtort1220]

It's not his playing that is typically awful, it's his tone.

[@ExpositoSkywalker]

What is the name of second pedal reviewed??

[@tolentaine]

The best from mesa boogie is amps...not pedals,true story.

[@andy474x]

Man... that Throttle Box sounds like poop. So much fizz.