Mezzabarba Skill 30 - I Never Saw That Coming - How Wrong Could I Be!

In today's video, Paul Drew from The Studio Rats is checking out an amp from Italian amp manufacturer MezzaBarba called the Skill 30.
I've dismissed MEZZABARBA amps in the past due to the look of them, they've always struck me as just high-gain metal amps but how wrong could I have been these amps are awesome!
To check out our MEZZABARBA SILL 30 CAPTURES go to our website link below
TONEX capture
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Quad Cortex
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Here is what MEZZABARBA say about the SKILL 30
The first channel is derived from the M ZERO Standard in the view of granting it the best possible interface with pedals. A Bright and a Boost switch, together with the great equalizer, allow it to yield all of the sounds that a single channel amp can possibly deliver. The second channel is M ZERO Overdrive channel which starts as crunch and saturates exponentially with amazing sustain and harmonic richness, leaving musicians and audiences in awe.
The ingenious switching system does not alter the dynamic and fluidity of the amp, and allows to swap between channels in an unprecedented smooth fashion.
The innovative Power control allows the Skill to deliver a full-body, saturated sound even at very low volumes, which makes this amp a perfect tool to enjoy even at home. Finally, the switchable, full-tube effects loop allows for endless sound possibilities.
The Skill was born to Rock but can do anything, at any volume, in any place. Nothing will be the same anymore.
The Studio Rats are core band members Paul Drew on guitar/production/mixing, drummer James Ivey and Dan Hawkins on bass. They collaborate with singers and musicians to produce radio-ready songs.
#MEZZABARBA #MEZZABARBACUSTOMAMPLIFICATION

[@pmarona3667]

I was blown away by the tone Eric Steckel was getting with the 100W heads. Awesome!

[@jamesmillington2001]

That amp sounds Epic. As an aside, a few years back I bought a used Massotti (Sister company to Mezzabarba) rack preamp that had a fault, and Pierangelo Mezzabarba replied to all my emails personally and diagnosed the problem (A dodgy aftermarket mod) and helped to get it fixed. Totally blown away by his customer service and the effort he put in to help me considering I bought the gear used and didn't have a warranty.

[@richfiryn]

That Strat of yours is simply amazing. And of course it sounds divine thru that amp.

[@GuitarsAndSynths]

Love my Mezzabarba MZero Overdrive amp and like it even better than Soldano as has better tone range and features. Hand made quality. A masterpiece. Desert island amp up there with the best of Wizard, Diezel, and Bogner.

[@randyprice6445]

Great to know. I've been wondering. Now I know. Thanks so much, great show and a great touch on the Strat.

[@Funkybassuk]

I had a similar prejudice against Engl amps. I thought they looked metal and shred - turns out they also have incredible cleans and crunch tones too! I think we’re in an incredible era for amps.

[@enuxs]

Engl Retro Tube is unbelievable. ❤

[@shorerocks]

Great shout out. They are on my watch list for a while now. Mezzabarba rocks!

[@lukesteverything627]

I play Blues on a Mezza, Love them. Good to see the review.

[@TheStudioRats]

Cheers. They are cracking amps.

[@GuitarsAndSynths]

exactly can do chimey clean and boosted jazzy to blues to high gain metal like nobody business.

[@Fawkes1978]

The only question is, is this enough gain for Lee?

[@TheStudioRats]

That is THE question

[@floraly88]

No, he can never get enough

[@guidopopping754]

WOW I REALLY DIG THE CLEAN SOUNDS

[@TheStudioRats]

Me too!

[@r.llynch4124]

These are already legendary amps. I'll be getting the QC profiles very soon.

[@christopheroconnor8842]

WOW I have see this amp reviewed before but they never looked at the clean sounds, well done Paul

[@TheStudioRats]

Cheers Christopher

[@petrinagy1011]

Probably the best amp i heard. First with Eric Steckel and now you, amazing tone.

[@cyanidejunkie]

Excellent post, Mr. Drew. Really nice tones. Thank you.

[@TheStudioRats]

Thank you kindly!

[@toliskoskinas]

Very prominent pick attack here, and very balanced upper mids, impressive. Reminds me of older Fryette-VHT amps 🤩

[@AlexanderMues]

While we’re at Italian boutique amps, may I make the case for BRBS? Not trying to be derogative of Mezzabarba, just another awesomely versatile EL34 type amp and then so much more! Btw, divine playing and I DIG that Strat o yours!

[@BrunoAmaral2]

Love how it sounded with humbuckers. I may get the capture on Tone X (it's kinda expensive in my currency, so I need to really considerate lol).

[@GuitarsAndSynths]

has that open dirty grind I love for classic thrash metal to jazzy blues.

[@davidmultimedia2024]

Paul, that’s exactly what I was thinking about Mezzabarba amps for years.. until I start trying Tonex and NAM profiles of those amps.. then I realized how wrong I was! The texture is amazing!

[@TheStudioRats]

Yeah they are pretty outstanding

[@GraniteSoundtrack]

Loved it! It does look too metal, or modern, for me too, however the tone is there! And kudos for using a strat with gain. KZbin “knowledge” has nearly outlawed that and it’s annoying how much of a burden all these KZbin guitar “experts” for us all to use thing according to their categories.

[@floraly88]

I know I already said that, but your playing is incredible. You're the only guitar tuber that inspires me to pick up the axe again.

[@TheStudioRats]

Cheers Floraly that’s nice to hear.

[@JoelDucote]

You're killing me with the lack of Kemper profiles!! lol!

[@maxs.5163]

Sounds great!

[@Stelly669]

That is the greatest amp I have ever heard WOW

[@argocat99]

Mamma mia come suona!!! Spectacular!! As awesome as your guitar is, it sounds divine and the bridge pickup sounds like a humbuker.

[@Utube-g3g]

It is. Paul has two different black fender relics. One is 3 single coils and the one with the pink under it has a humbucker. Oh my mistake he’s only using the one fender black relic. The pick ups are ancho pablonas. Spicy and hot.

[@ajcajc5429]

Yeah good call Paul, had a look at this brand a few years back but being only a bedroom player I could not justify the price.

[@jodyinalaska1]

Wow! That has all the sounds you need!

[@ticklesmcqueen2702]

Beautiful tones there, guess im buying another tonex pack now

[@Gibbo1050]

Was thinking the same thing. Just need to get a Tonex first 😂. @TheStudioRats do the Tonex captures work with the Tonex 1? Guessing they do but I'm new to the capture thing.

[@nicholasguitars5527]

I saw Mrs Smith in the cutting room in NYC and that was through a Skill head, one of the best live guitar sounds I've ever heard! (I think if you search Mrs. Smith drone solo you will find a video that is unaltered audio..and its brilliant)

[@nuitari666uzgurzmor6]

The power knob is not an attenuator. When you turn the volume very low and the amp gets muffled, you then turn the power knob up and the amp opens. In reverse, if you like old plexi sound at reasonable volume, you turn the power knob down and you get this more compressed, dark brown sound, like a plexi all on 10. I was also very confused with the power knob when I got mine. I talked to Pierangelo Mezzabarba and he told me, the first editions had an attenuator, but on the newer ones they refined the volume knobs and added the actual „power“ function.

[@josephrusso7069]

Sounds very good. I wouldn't trade my Redseven The Dirt for it.

[@dadolin01]

That’s one killer looking strat!

[@TheStudioRats]

It’s funny how much this guitar splits people. Some people love the look of it and some people hate it. I love it.

[@nekkon1989]

Paul I think the more you try and make patches for tonex the more you discover your love for good old tube amps

[@WesLeRoy-z1t]

Just purchased!

[@GuitarsAndSynths]

Love your Strat! I love playing all styles through mine but need to get a Tele and try that.

[@andreapavia1975]

Brunetti, Mezzzabraba and Masotti are incredible italian jewels, like Ferrari, Lamborghini and Bugatti too and then so expensive... Not for Evreryone Thank's man for sharing

[@zdeslavjukic5040]

What pickups do you have in that black strat...the sound is just wonderful...

[@Sylvain44]

Sounds awesome! You should try the ENGL Fireball 25, it's also a metal amp that can do amazing cleans and crunches.

[@89digits59]

Me likes Mezzabarba Amps - nice cleans and powerful dirty 👍

[@paulbradshawguitar]

a good el34 clean/edge of breakup is a thing of beauty, would love to hear you check out a Brunetti Mercury amp, i think that'll tick some solid boxes great tones here in any case

[@lostinpa-dadenduro7555]

I just visited their site. Looks like they make a lot of interesting heads. Seems you can also select upgrade options like dual masters, extra boost, etc on many. Nice.

[@TheStudioRats]

Yes they do, great to have all the options

[@colebertram8482]

I hope you get to try out the mzero OD!

[@TheStudioRats]

Me too

[@ivicapavlovic3879]

Finally that AMP!!!

[@EddieB2047]

Great amps

[@RECTIFIER101]

Every amp they make is awesome !

[@TheStudioRats]

Cheers

[@robertbuffalo8287]

Time to interview Mrs. Smith.

[@maozac71]

Mezzabarba (and Masotti too) are super amps!!!!! I have it… but a question: kemper profile of it..????

[@galtonestudio]

6:40 - damn, great amp! :)

[@JudgeFredd]

Wow - what was the signal chain ?

[@GCKelloch]

Funny, the gain channel sounds similar to Rockman lead channel. It's a nice sound. The clean is unique. Much wamer than a Marshall. Maybe, more like a Tweed DR?

[@maxs.5163]

Dont you want tosell your strat?))

[@colinparks619]

Is that a master built ?

[@ajwilliamsguitars]

WHOAH! Yes!,,

[@petedemarzo3010]

sold, where can I get my Italian hands on one?

[@sharkair2839]

listen to those cleans.

[@GitarovoSK]

perfect strat... what type is it exactly? 😍😍

[@TheStudioRats]

It’s an Ancho Pablano

[@GitarovoSK]

@@TheStudioRats amazing guitar :)

[@shaharbar]

@@TheStudioRats that’s food name not guitar, LOL. Maybe I need to name my guitars the same way, check out my Fender Jager Schnitzel

[@colinparks619]

Bought the pack , not bad

[@bluwng]

Those frets look huge is that just an optical illusion?

[@TheStudioRats]

No they are big uns!

[@MrSpike7590]

What kind of Pickups are in your Strat? It sounds Amazing to me.

[@TheStudioRats]

They are fender Pablano pickups,

[@MrSpike7590]

@@TheStudioRats Thank you for the info and for the content you create!!

[@DeloreanDave]

Get a Diezel VH4 Paul. 4 amazing channels. Watch Tim Pierce video and you will want to try one :P

[@sharkair2839]

are you using a cab sim? or actually cab?

[@jross68052]

What are the pickups in the guitar?

[@lewischappell335]

Pickups in the strat??????

[@TheStudioRats]

they are Ancho Pablano pickups

[@rolandmengedoth2191]

Really horny Amp. Looks good Sounds amazing 😊

[@jasonwilliams8321]

Sounds great but way too pricey!

[@johnstephenson4159]

Check out Erik stekkel he’s there signature artist , he’s got the best tone I’ve ever heard 🤘

[@giambu]

Your favourite guitar….😉

[@TheStudioRats]

It’s definitely one of the favourites

[@wjdavey3]

♥️🎶🎵🎸🎶🎵👍🎶🎵🙏🍀😎

[@christopher-miles]

it sounds like a "mezza". no really it's like a little boogie.

[@deathmaybeyoursantaclaus]

4:32 what's that riff? I've heard Paul play it a few times! 🤔

[@TheStudioRats]

It a song by the studio rats called This desire. You can find it on iTunes/ Spotify etc and it’s on KZbin

sounds great!