Mesa Tone Sessions - Devin Townsend - ‘Willy Wanka’ - Dual Rectifier & Lone Star

When inviting long-time Mesa Artist Devin Townsend to perform in the Mesa Video Lounge, you learn to expect the unexpected. Devin brought his orchestral shred to the Tone Sessions in a mashup of various Ziltiod and Devin Townsend Band riffs that he calls ‘Willy Wanka’. What ensues is often as crazy as the facial expressions of the player who wrote them. Undeniably though, Devin is a true tonemeister and a self-professed fan of all-tube analog tone and a dedicated user of the Rectifier sound for most of his musical career.
Distant, long delays and lush spring reverbs morph into sparkling & spanky clean rhythm tones when played through our Lone Star 100 watt 2x12 combo and extension cabs. Devin’s searing single note leads and thick, HEAVY crunch and rhythm tones throughout this performance are delivered through his mainstay live and recording amp rig - a Multi-Watt Dual Rectifier and Standard Rectifier 4x12 Slant.
The rest… is just pure Devin.
Recorded with a Sennheiser e906 on the Rectifier 4x12 and a Heil PR30 on the Lone Star 2x12 Extension Cab.
www.mesaboogie....
www.mesaboogie....

[@DreaminginWaves]

Devin Townsend is so incredibly fun to watch. Doesn't hurt that he's also outrageously talented at everything.

[@nathansmith7446]

I want Devin and Steve Vai to just sit in a room making faces at each other

[@devinj]

It's probably happened already hahahhah

[@kschott425]

Nathan Smith They did it during the Sex and Religion recordings!!!

[@Marol2137]

holy shit, the potential is infinite

[@neeltheother2342]

they did an interview for Headbangers in '93 that features face making.

[@The.extra_chromosome]

Those two and mattias

[@lopolik]

Devin is not only the great singer, he is also a guitar virtuoso.. I absolutely love his playing!!!

[@mesaboogie]

Agreed, +Joseph Machon !

[@Sapere-Aude777]

Great inspiration and playing indeed, i remember that hé was the singer on the vaï's album sex and religion

[@jonathonvaughan96]

Seeing him with monuments and animals as leaders was the best show I've ever seen by far.

[@user-hk7hz9cn7v]

And now it’s coming back with Animals and Dream Theater ❤

[@b.j.surfdog3724]

What a gifted Musician. All that and a great sense of humor.

[@bmwm3cs]

One thing I love is that Mesa Boogie really knows how to mic amps. It sounds amazing yet realistic. Great playing, and love all the guitar faces!

[@mesaboogie]

Thanks,bmwm3cs - Trying to improve it everytime and thanks for the kind words!

[@Keywizzard]

For sure one of the most talented musicians on earth :0)

[@mesaboogie]

Agreed! thanks for watching, Eric. :)

[@heavenhaven3960]

Devin is from another planet! Devin is...divine! Thanks Mesa Boogie, cheers from Morocco

[@ese089]

Crazy song! Amazing!!!

[@vernerljung1947]

I was watching this video and my computer just straight-up turned itself off. I guess it couldn't handle that combination of tone, shred, and genious!

[@EytschPi42]

completely utterly insane in the most impressive way possible... the playing, the amps and the guitar....

[@Todesnuss]

+EytschPi42 Nice to see you here.... i guess

[@Derbixrace]

would be a cool story why you are not promoting MESA at all anymore

[@ctpmark]

Hevy Devy .. never fails to impress.. excellent guitarist, singer, producer, song writer and Damn Funny to Boot.. Love this guy!!

[@GregLynn]

It always frustrates me Devy is so anti-soloing most of the time, because he is SO good at it, and so fluid and melodic... Someone talk some sense into this guy.....

[@mesaboogie]

Agree, Gregrg7 - Devin rips!

[@chazzchapman2381]

hes not anti soloing, he just isnt into shredding

[@Mobi666]

I fully agree with you Greg... even on his latest album Sky Blue, my favorite song universal flame, he begins a great solo then it ends way to soon. That solo reminds me of the november rain solo from guns n roses.

[@tylerjacobson8012]

He’s against what he called guitar wanking. I get why he doesn’t like to do it. Everyone can do it nowadays. Showing off is boring. The best soloists are the ones who can inject emotion into their stuff.

[@francescoideo9330]

he also said he doesn't quite enjoy his voice. which is nonsense, since he is my major reference when I think of GODDAMN GOOD VOCALS

[@TheShreddDude]

I love Devin so much. Funny, smart, and has a great tone and talent.

[@VM0451]

He really needs to play Voldemort in a Harry Potter parody.

[@DaveRelph001]

+Vezonmodder So glad I'm not the only one that thinks that.

[@VM0451]

DaveRelph001 There are many. They're just not everywhere, hehe.

[@jordandayman1356]

+Vezonmodder Joe Satriani could be Dev's stunt double!

[@Safaraoh]

+Vezonmodder Yeah, I really want to hear from Voldemort: THIS BOOOOOOY MUST DIE!

[@russwilson2305]

+Jordan Dayman Totes!

[@rigorhead01]

Loved it! Mesa, keep making more videos!

[@osvaldorampolli3933]

Outstanding tone, outstanding player.

[@expressyourselfist]

Awesome Dual Rectifier studio recorded sound. I have Dual Rectifier, and I must say it takes an effort to setup the amp for great recording sound.As Devin said in his other presentation,he used EL34 tubes in the amp. I think studio engineer did a great job

[@yrbstah]

I like how you can actually hear his playing - as opposed to EMGtv videos where guitar is just buried under layers and layers of sounds

[@blainemorin]

The tuning at the end was great. Good stuff.

[@MateNako]

God damn that ending!!!! :DDDD

[@user-mj4sr4lt9i]

Great !! Thanks for Up , MESA.

[@ChristopherRoss.]

Dev is love. Dev is life. Dev is bae.

[@nomadicmonad40]

That ending is so priceless: "God dang, out of tune! Oh well *tunes in a hurry* = A sublime end note with a smile. Fuck Devin is aswesome!

[@mesaboogie]

Agree, +Monadic Monad ! Devin=ROCK! :D

[@henrihell]

+Monadic Monad That's what happens when he doesn't have an evertune like he usually does.

[@John-xh9ul]

This just melted whatever was left of my brain. Stunning.

[@Massjesty]

Absolutely amazing playing!!

[@46dwades]

He is my favorite human being

[@Piekartz]

Great tones and great playing. Nice expressions too

[@Billo1281]

I've watched this about 20 times already. Nothing makes me feel better at work, than watching this! Takes me out of work! Ha ha!

[@lmnguy]

devin is the man! uber talented, and super cool. very funny too! could go on tour as comedian if need be.

[@RubyRoks]

The best "scale exercises turned song" i've ever heard.

[@ajburkemuso]

Just the best moment was before he goes into the crushing heavy palm muted riff, he does and arpeggio and a bend, and pulls this hilarious face haha

[@krowland7584]

that guitar is A-mazin... Townsends the man

[@taztherocker1]

Agreed, great tone and player.

[@Busemann86]

someone should report this video, because this is porn.

[@cheneycap93]

Well! I had a talk with him last day at ShangHai! Awesome guy!

[@mattseidel6405]

Incredible.

[@fromthenorth2]

Dat tone is perfection o_o

[@EUSL84]

Excellent.

[@CrownedTerror]

beautiful.

[@Lanearndt]

I doubt anyone is a cooler than Devy!

[@123lowp]

that was great!!

[@HIVEMINDxMusic]

2:43 makes my life

[@DICKLAURENT2099]

THE BEST !!!

[@florisverweij4306]

How the fuck do you mesmerize all this, seriously!

[@ecomhicks]

How did I just find this and What the actual fuck did I just watch? IDK but I think MY brain is warped!

[@mesaboogie]

Glad you dig, Brian - Dev is the best! :D

[@dlpasco]

That...that was so awesome

[@ehambright]

It's ur fault I bought a Mesa Devin U crazy sick bastage \m/

[@mesaboogie]

spazmatron Ha!

[@rickfeith6372]

That was unreal

[@jonathonivie1114]

5:16 the face of God himself

[@60secondfrenzy93]

He who shall not be named 😮

[@micheleferro1510]

Che forte e che suono!!

[@essio1970]

DEVIN the great

[@nocab28]

Townshend, great name for a guitar player.

[@MattCooketheomniscient]

Townsend, but yes. ;)

[@nocab28]

Oh haha I didn't notice the missing "h".

[@KalleI260]

nocab28 but Townshend isn't bad too xD

[@user-hk7hz9cn7v]

My favorite Devin, not giving a fuck and just being his virtuosic self! He really needs to be this open and wild every chance he can. None of us think it’s extra or unnecessary. We eat if for breakfast with a huge fat smile 😍

[@BPToneReview]

this is ridiculous insanity

[@rjmcmooseknuckle]

Unreal....

[@charlessadler3653]

Sic sic sic.

[@1Maggot1]

3:17 Now i want a cheeseburger.

[@limonov_revolution]

Fucking perfect.

[@yeahuri4724]

Nobody ever know that hollow body guitar can sounds this heavy.... Townsend is awesome!!!! Mesa Boogie is awesome too

[@BlakeMullens]

Jeffrey Sim Devin can make a stretched rubber band sound heavy, and so can Mesa lol

[@niallcolbeck]

It has active emg's installed, not microphonic pickups so hollowbody is irrelevant

[@crazybadcuber]

niallcolbeck LOL no, by your logic, you will always get the same tone regardless of the guitar you are using as long as it has EMG pickups in it, which tells us you have no idea what you are talking about at all.

[@niallcolbeck]

Oh go on.. Educate me? Does a nitro finish change the sound? Rosewood fretboard? Go on, give me a giggle? How about why does a les paul sound 'fatter' than a strat, go on, give me some humour to wank to?

[@BlakeMullens]

niallcolbeck Les pauls have humbuckers, strats have single coils, humbuckers sound "fatter" than single coils, and who the hell cares if wood makes a difference? It doesnt matter AT ALL if it does or not, so it'd be great if people could stop getting into these stupid pissing matches over something that doesnt even matter in the least bit.

[@Ticoboeren]

24 carat genious!

[@Pitacle2009]

Can MESA BOOGIE tell us a little more about the mic setup used in this recording?

[@mesaboogie]

HiPitacle- The Lone Star was mic'd with a Heil PR30 and the Rectifier and 4x12 was mic'd with a Sennheiser e906. Great question - thanks for asking!

[@christianverdion8730]

MESA/Boogie Hey, isn´t it a Sennheiser e906 in front of the Recitfier Cab?

[@mesaboogie]

Hey Christian Verdion - fantastic eye and thank you! Changed in the original comment above and also the video description. Cheers!

[@magsuns7648]

EYEEEE CONTACT!

[@rcoveyduc]

+eek estaa when he pans from one camera to the other, it cracks me up lol.

[@protesttheburial]

I like how he owned that last out of tune note. Way to keep it real.

[@5urg3x]

How does he not have back problems playing like that?

[@Djymn]

Couldn't they just use a Mesa Road King? Isn't it a dual rectifier with the lone star cleans?

[@5150forevermore]

I had no idea

[@Poidini]

4:01 someone make a gif

[@DanielVerberne]

3:17 - the fun ramps up here, for my $$$

[@happylifefoundation]

Nicolas Brody shreds!

[@accidentalpatient4152]

Can mesa give us some information on the amp set up, how he did things with the amps?

[@JCFizz]

Voldemort can shred!

[@bicboi1930]

I will now indulge in some deconstruction.

[@TheBhannah]

way too cool ,,,,....what planet is he from ?

[@greghay7744]

Canada :-P

[@artcarsnguitarsAdamS]

TheBhannah New Westminster/Burnaby , B.C. where I live.

[@xchump]

Awesome tone. What guitar is that!?

[@DaveFuucck]

A custom Framus

[@xchump]

Tom Macgillivray thanks

[@Senium1]

is he using the vintage mode on the dual rec?

[@Astuddedbelt]

Devin is really reminding me of Frank Zappa these days.

[@shanepierce401]

Pedal in front of the recto? What channel and mode?

[@Mizziri]

Did you really have to censor happiness/happenis and drugs...?

[@itsMaTt123]

and im sitting here with my $100 guitar and amp trying to learn the d cord

[@gioros1000]

The last note would have been in tune if he already had the evertune lol

[@amzinggt]

Sounds like zappa;)

[@theneglected3144]

Not quite my tempo... HAHAHAHAHAHA

[@kennykissslipknot666]

Omfg!! Whats the name of this song?

[@BlakeMullens]

Kenny Fong Willy Wanka

[@RyanVoosen]

Kenny Fong And "The Mighty Masturbator"

[@RyanVoosen]

***** And "Deconstruction" haha :D

[@r.mccloud5413]

not the kind of stuff I usually listen to, but cool in a weird way. I don't get the Zappa refs unless Dweezil maybe but yeah I love anything that deviates from the norm and this guy does it with humor too.

[@mesaboogie]

Nice, R. McCloud - thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. Mr Townsend is an entertaining artist. :)

[@ericvalverderosado2046]

2:47 looking at me after my bad joke

[@aceofd1amonds]

If i could have the musical brain of any musician from any time, it would be Devin. Mozart as a close second for comparison...

[@user-hk7hz9cn7v]

Chopin as well! He was an otherworldly mind in a time where it wasn’t even a thing to be that damn adventurous on a piano. Fantasie Impromptu is something else…

[@LukeCannotSkate]

Is this an actual song or just something like a medley?

[@mesaboogie]

It's a medly of Devin Townsend songs. :)

[@rayne1897]

It’s The Mighty Masturbator and Deconstruction from the album Deconstruction :)

[@Lennoxvrgt]

Is he using el34s in the recto here?

[@letsbusk66]

5:16 Dat face.

[@Hagstrom4ever]

EL34s on the Dual?

[@mesaboogie]

This is 6L6s but EL34s are easily added if one wishes... +Hagstrom4ever ... :)

[@eladriladri]

Cheeseburger~~

[@Sticksandstones32]

4:01 Where's the hap-PENIS we've been promised? ...no, really!

[@damonstewart70]

what's the name of the song + him & vai are supposedly doing more music together

[@eirikbevektg3244]

Damon Stewart deconstruction or the mighty masturabator, im not sure.

[@damonstewart70]

+Eirik Bevektg thanks

[@Mobi666]

No offense but I was under impression that Devin was using an axe-FX or other digital modelling amp as his live rig?

[@Mobi666]

Ok I just found the answer to my question... He's using both a mesa & axefx live. I just saw his pedalboard and the central pedal looper is connected to both ;-)

[@mesaboogie]

HiMobi666 - Devin uses the AxeFX for effects and uses the Dual Rec for his guitar tones.

[@EclipseAtDusk]

Mobi666 Tho now he's using a powered Kemper with profiles of these mesas, and an Axe Fx for delays, and then a ton of pedals up front

[@talbrink9721]

Mobi666 Dev's rig is impossible to keep track of. As far as I know, he used 5150s with Strapping, a MESA Dual Recto/Stiletto pairing plus his Roland GP100 and an assload of effects for Ocean Machine/Ziltoid/Devin Townsend Band/ stuff, an Axe FX-II direct into the board for the first 4 DTP albums, and has subsequently re-adopted a Dual Recto into his rig for Z2/Sky Blue, which he's switched for a Kemper/MESA/Fractal combo. Who the fuck knows. Casualties was, I believe, a Fender Blues Jr.

[@TheCrawlShow]

What guitar is that?

[@mesaboogie]

Warwick/Framus , +The Crawl Show - Not sure of the exact model. Check it out on their site. Thanks for watching!

[@captainpiefox9133]

The Crawl Show it's his Framus Custom Shop of their Mayfield model. Haha

[@wolfgang2007aaaaaaaa]

Pity he doesnt give any tips on how to get a decent lead tone from that rectifier. I am stumped with mine, considering trading it for a mark series amp...

[@Varashtras]

+Neil lieN IIRC Devin uses EL34's in his Dual Rec, it might be worth giving that a try.

[@matt.lemonnier]

EL34 help removing the fizzyness and harshness of the Recto. Put two of them in my Single Rec, and it changed the world. Rich midrange, tighter bass frequencies... Give it a try !

[@wolfgang2007aaaaaaaa]

Varashtras I did try that that , and it sounded alot smoother, but..the tone changed a fair bit. I sold that amp a while ago and got a mark v, no complaints now.

[@Ruffnek310]

dude I fucking love you but I need ZILTOID!!!

[@malmstrethai]

I've never understood the appeal of the huge Gibson ES-style double cut… it sounds great, but it just looks so bulky and… awful. but Dev could play anything and make it sound great, so fair play to the guy

[@HBSuccess]

To each his own. Many of us love all things 335-ish. You may be the minority