Guitar Amp: Mesa Boogie Roadster

[MrSandMan]

What was Mesa Boogie thinking when the designed the Roadster? I mean this thing has more bells and whistle than Nasa's new shuttle... And more knobs than a hooker :fawk:

6L6 to EL34 switchable
100 to 50 watt switchable
reverb
gobbs of channels, and loads of buttons
Footswitch wider than a doorway
More buttons than anything that I've ever played... I don't know how to opperate this bad boy yet, it'll take some time.

Are we ready for pictures?




http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c66/Chazzy29/Roadster/DSCN4128Small.jpg

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c66/Chazzy29/Roadster/DSCN4127Small.jpg

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c66/Chazzy29/Roadster/DSCN4130Small.jpg

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c66/Chazzy29/Roadster/DSCN4126Small.jpg

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c66/Chazzy29/Roadster/DSCN4129Small.jpg

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c66/Chazzy29/Roadster/DSCN4133Small.jpg

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c66/Chazzy29/Roadster/DSCN4136Small.jpg

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c66/Chazzy29/Roadster/DSCN4135Small.jpg

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c66/Chazzy29/Roadster/DSCN4137Small.jpg

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c66/Chazzy29/Roadster/DSCN4138Small.jpg

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c66/Chazzy29/Roadster/DSCN4139Small.jpg


Enjoy

[MrSandMan]

awsome amp

[indytruckboy]

Yea, I had a go on a Roadking once. What a overkill of selectablity. I don't know about live use, but it would make a great amp for me at home. If only they weren't so disgusting in the price field.

[jackal]

Hi there, I have a Roadster and I've had it about 4 months... lots of bellz on this one, lol.. i am trying to get two different sounds from it.. i was wondering if you could held me get them.. i already have great clean sounds..

I'm looking for the Metallica - "Don't tread on me" sound for channel 3 if possible
and the Dimebag guitar sound for channel 4

can you help me out??

[MrSandMan]

Metallica should be pretty easy to nail. I don't have my roadster anymore.. but I'm guessing:

turn down the treble to 11ish o'clock
Mids 12:30 - 1ish
Bass (depends on cab) probably 10:30

Precence to taste- (prolly 2 o clock)
gain would be 3 o clock.

This is just a wild guess. I could be way off.

For Pantera, your not going to nail his tone with a stock Roadster, Dimebag used lots 0 stuff in there. Like (2 -I think) Furman PQ3s. I tried a old 1980s greenface PQ3 with the Roadster and it didn't do it for me. The Furman sounds amazing with the Randall RG100ES.

I'm not sure if I can help you out with getting Dimebags tone from the Roadster. You'll need a pedal or parametric eq.

[jackal]

thanx man.. umm not to sound dumb, but i never get these "o'clock" settings .. im used to the 1 - 10 stuff.. can you help me out with that please

[jackal]

my boogie...
http://www.angelfire.com/myband/oftheReknown/images/013_13.JPG

[MrSandMan]

Roadster are awesome amps.

o'clock just means looking at your knob like a clock. For example, If the pointer is straight up, that means 12:00 ( aka level 6)

I guess 3:00 o'clock would be maxed at 10 and etc...

[willow]

Hi everybody.

I was interested,in your opinions, i was considering buying a Mesa Roadster 2 X 12 combo. I play in a rock band, here in the UK and allthough the amp is expensive, it looks a very versatile and top quality amp. I use obviously clean, Overdriven ( signal on the point of break up), classic rock( AC/DC) and good solo setting (Angus Young).
I currently own, an original Vintage Vox AC30 approx age 1964-1967 i think not the Top boost version though, which i have had for over 27 years(this amp is older than me) :) and have gigged with it in many bands, with stomp boxs to give me, the different levels of drive. This is a great sound, but allthough the vox has never let me down and has just been serviced, i feel it is getting old and should be retired or sold, perhaps to help finance the purchace of a Roadster or maybe Steletto Ace 2 x 12.
Or the other dilema is i do have a Line 6 Flextone 2 x 12 XL, which is also very versatile, with the floorboard, which gives me a multitude of sounds, plus i have a setting for, an electro acoustic too plug straight in, as well.
Look forward to your feedback, what would you guys do, and if you did purchase a new amp would you go for a head with 4 x 12 cab or a 2 x 12 combo. My view is, if you've played and owned both and had lots of amps, your opinion would be of grat value to me. Many thanks from willow, Heysham, nr Morecambe, Lancashire, England, Uk, Europe.

[MrSandMan]

Hi willow,

Welcome to gear-monkey! I have experience with the amps you speak of and I can tell you this.... you can't go wrong with either.

The flextone (line 6) is a very versatile amp and sounds good... It's a cheap gigging amp and it is versatile. It's digital and one of line 6's lower end models so you can hear and feel it. Your trained ear will be able to tell the difference from valve amps. But for the price, it's a good bargain! esp. since it has all the built in effects. (make sure you get a FBV shortboard) -- you could probably find the complete combo package for around $500ish

Personally, I would look into the Line 6 Vetta instead, that is MUCH more amp! And they sound absolutely amazing!

Now for the Mesa Boogie Roadster.... The Roadster is the almighty amp over the Line 6- It's valve =D Very versatile with 4 channels. Unlike most valve amps, it has independent reverb and each channel is switchable to 50 watts or 100 watts and switchable to 6L6 or EL34s.

The amp is another great gigging amp, but much more expensive.. so you will probably pamper it much more. I would buy a second hand Boogie Roadster.. which will run about $1700 - $1750ish for a nice head. (the 2x12 combo Roadster are heavy to lug around. Therefore, I am turned off)

You might like the EL34s in the head, they're hotter valves and will break up better for the AC/DC -- classic rock tone. However, the 6L6GCs are my favorite (I play metal and love the thick tone)

Here is a blog that I wrote about the Roadster: http://74.52.142.82/~cbeers/gs_blog.php?profile=1&bid=23

I'd go with the head and 2x12 Recto cab with Celestion Vintage 30s if you choose the Mesa Boogie Roadster. It's easier to lug around over the Roadster combo and sounds HUGE! If I were to decide for you, I'd pick the Roadster over the Line 6 Vetta. (I wouldn't consider the Line 6 Flextone as I doubt it much of an upgrade)

It really depends on your budget.... I'm sure you would be happy with either!

[willow]

Thank you for that Mr. Sandman I'm certainly going to bare your advice in mind. I had been considering a JVM 410c combo but it's 100watts which is a bit to loud for my requirements. Where as with the mesa Boogies you can alter the wattage to suit, which i think is a distinct advantage. Marshall do a 50 watt JVM, but unfortunatlely, they only have 2 channels, which i personally think is a mistake, but such is life, and has taken it out of my consideration. I appreciate what you say about a line 6 vetta, but as you quite rightly point out, you can hear the difference between digital and valve.
i think i'll have to save my pennies(English saying) for a while to come and see whats on offer then. I am leaning towards a mesa.


Thanks for Now Willow.

[jackal]

I would agree with mr.sandman.. the Line 6 are good practice and small gig amps, because the variety of sounds they offer, but no matter what setting your on the sound way to digital for me..

I currently own a mesa roadster and i love it. I was a randall man, but now i'm a mesa man.. it options are almost endless only to the Roadking.. with offers the option of different tube combanations.. the roadster is the ultimate gigging amp, the tone is amazing and qualitiy too.. the 50 watt settings for the distortion channels are perfect for practice and gigs... i really do recomend trying one out, at a place that will let you crank it at least to 12o'clock on your Output dial.
I play everything from southern gospel to death metal ... it works for everything

[jackal]

I've changed my metal settings a little bit, acctually a lot to suit my style a bit better, like most metal heads when i first got my roadster all i did was crank everything and mosh out, but now that im getting more comfortable with it, and practising and playing shows i've changed it to sound much better let me share..

No keep in mind i am a rythem guitarist so i dont need many high to rip through, just a massive thunderous sound.
On 50 watts to lower headroom, voicing on Modern...on Tubes
Output - 5
Master - 3
Presence - 3.5
Bass - 9
Mid - 3
Treble - 6.5
Gain - 7

This is a HEAVY setting, to heavy for some, but this is my sound... try it out, and if it's to much just start lowering the bass till you get that sweet spot you want...

[MrSandMan]

I've changed my metal settings a little bit, acctually a lot to suit my style a bit better, like most metal heads when i first got my roadster all i did was crank everything and mosh out, but now that im getting more comfortable with it, and practising and playing shows i've changed it to sound much better let me share..

No keep in mind i am a rythem guitarist so i dont need many high to rip through, just a massive thunderous sound.
On 50 watts to lower headroom, voicing on Modern...on Tubes
Output - 5
Master - 3
Presence - 3.5
Bass - 9
Mid - 3
Treble - 6.5
Gain - 7

This is a HEAVY setting, to heavy for some, but this is my sound... try it out, and if it's to much just start lowering the bass till you get that sweet spot you want...



Can you post sum clips? :biggrin:

[senor_penguin]

jesus! so many knobs and inputs, but why :confused:

[jackal]

Why you ask... Its a gigging amp.. I play everything from blues to death metal to gosple, and it has a setting or 4, lol for each of them.. if you just play a specific type of music then i agree it is to much.. but if you want an amp to last your life and to go through all your music phazes with you from your metal to rock to blues to classic rock to country to just strumming away when you 75 yrs old then this amp is perfect.

[V-Type]

Mesa does make quite a few outstanding amps. Their pricey new but that "wet or hydro" tone they produce is amazing.
Ive owned a 95 Single Recto and id literally covered everything and well. Sadly I didnt realize that before trading it for of all things a JC120 combo and Bassman head project.
Doh!
I really like the F30 I messed with and the Mavericks have a wonderful tone as well.
I so wish to swing a Mesa again at some point.
And why the cleans get a bad rap I just cant figure out cause they were VG..