Mesa Boogie Roadster Head

This amp is everything I had hoped for and more. I play in a cover band and we cover everything from CCR to Slipknot. I need an amp that could cover this range of music and provide inspiration when working on original material. The Dual Rectifier Roadster does not disappoint.

I use this amp with a couple of Fender American Deluxe HSS model strats. The cleans range from sparkling pristine to fat and warm. I absolutely love the brit mode in channel two. It's great for AC/DC and other classic rock tones. The amp has the Dual Rectifier sound in channel 3 but don't think that this is all the amp can do. This is the most versatile amp I have used and I have tried a lot of different amps before this one.

UTILIZATION

Aside from the awesome tone, the thing I love about this amp (and Mesa Boogie in general) is the attention to detail that has been put into it. The amp comes with a 30' footswitch cable. Never again will I have to set up right on top of the amp because the cable is too short. The amp also comes with a cover and is built like a tank.

SOUNDS

The clean channel blows my mind. I like playing Jazz from time to time and the clean channel can dial up some amazing rich warm tones as well as bright cutting Fender chime.


OVERALL OPINION

This is the last amp I'll ever need. It's like 4 amps in 1 and love the reverb with it too. It has all the gain you could ever need. After a 5 month "quest for tone" going out, trying other guys junk, waiting till someone is done showing off at crowded stores, buying a JCM900 SL-X and putting $300 into it and NOT liking the tone, I talked with my touring buddy who was selling his beloved Roadster to upgrade to a Mark V.

The Mesa Boogie Rectifier Roadster is one of the company's flagship Rectifier amplifiers. It features four channels with a whole myriad of different modes available and many different tones within. It's a 100w tube head that is selectable between 6L6 and EL34 tubes. Since it's such a complex amp, here's Mesa's full list of specs:

Multi-Watt™, Channel Assignable Power Amp (Patent Pending) allows you to assign either 2 or all 4 Power Tubes to each Channel for Power Ratings of 50 or 100 Watts of Class A/B Power via independent 50/100 Watt Power Switches / 4x6L6, 6x12AX7, 2x5U4
Bias Select Switch (6L6/EL34)
Fixed Bias for Consistent, Maintenance Free Performance
4 Fully Independent
Channels with 12 Modes (Channel 1 = Clean, Fat or Tweed™, Channel 2 = Clean, Fat or Brit, Channels 3 & 4 = Raw, Vintage High Gain or Modern High Gain)
Each Channel features Independent Gain, Treble, Mid, Bass, Presence, All-Tube, Long Spring Reverb, Channel Assignable Dual Rectification with Recto Tracking™ (Diode or Tube Tracking – Patents 5,168,438 & 7,193,458), All-Tube FX Loop with Send Level Control (over all channels when activated)
Output Level Control
(over all channels when activated)
Footswitchable Solo Level Control – Patent 6,724,897 (over all channels when activated)
Bold/Spongy “Variac” Switch (Patent 5,091,700)
True “Hard” Bypass Switch that removes FX Loops, Output Level & Solo Level Controls from signal path
Slave Out w/Level Control
Fan Cooled (combos only)
External Switching Jacks for Channels 1, 2, 3, 4, Solo, Reverb, FX Loop & Hundred Watt
8 Button Footswitch (Channel 1, Channel 2, Channel 3, Channel 4, Reverb, FX Loop & Solo)
Slip Cover

UTILIZATION

Dialing this amp in is a fair bit harder to do than certain Mesa amps for sure, simply because it is a 4 channel head that contains many different switching options and sounds for the player who is never satisfied and is always searching for a new tone that will work. It does everything from spanky, jangly cleans to bluesier mid gain tones to the highest order of metal fury, so it can take time to fully get dialed in to your taste. Each channel is laid out with gain, bass, middle, treble, presence, and master volume controls, and in true Rectifier fashion, it takes a bit of time to figure out how the controls react to one another. That being said, when it's all dialed in it sounds excellent.

SOUNDS

I've tried the Dual Rectifier Roadster with many different Gibson and PRS guitars. The clean sounds remind me of a slightly more hi-fi sounding Fender amplifier, though it doesn't quite have the typical warmth and forgiveness that I prefer in my clean sounds. The crunch tones are surprisingly good for a Rectifier, and at their best they remind me of a slightly fuller 6L6 loaded Marshall type tone. Channel three is where the fun starts to begin, and that's where the hard rock and classic metal tones begin to appear. This channel has a fair bit of gain, but still has enough of an open quality to work for 80s rock/metal stuff. Channel four is where the modern and super compressed high gain tones live, and this is the channel where you grab your dropped B guitar and just let loose with a barrage of chugalug. Despite playing at such high gain levels, this amp never lost definition or "mushed out," but rather it remained clear and defined at all times.

One thing to note... this amp loves volume. It's not for bedroom players unless you play in a hockey arena sized bedroom. This amp is built for the stage and to be cranked up. At lower levels it's generally too fizzy and weak for my liking, but as soon as you crack the master volume... look out.

OVERALL OPINION

All in all I feel that the Mesa Dual Rectifier Roadster is a great sounding, versatile amp in the Rectifier series. I'm more of a Mesa Mark series guy, but I found myself loving the tones of this amp overall. Like I stated prior, it does need volume in my opinion to sound its best, but when it's given that it's a firebreather. These amps come in at about $2,000 new, which isn't bad. You can find them for about $1,300-$1,400 used if you look which is a stellar deal for this versatile, metal shredder's dream.

This is in my opinion the best most versitile amp that Mesa has ever made. The Road King has a few more features with the biasing and such but I think it is something that keeps me switching modes and bias and ulitmately keeps you from playing the thing.

This amp is a players amp for sure. It has that familiar Rectifier sound that makes Mesa so unique. It is four channels that sound excellent between each other. So many amps will have multiple channels do one thing well and skip on the rest of the amp. This amp sounds amazing from channel one up to channel four. Each channel is very usable and sounds fantastic.

UTILIZATION

Details
Type Tube
Number of Channels 4
Power 50W Class AB, 100W Class AB Switchable
No Effects
Reverb
EQ Treble, Mid, Bass
No Amp Modeling
Number of Tubes 12
Preamp Tubes 6 x 12AX7
Power Tubes 4 x 6L6, 2 x 5U4 (Rectifier)
Inputs 1 x Instrument
Outputs 4 x Speaker, 1 x Slave, 1 x Tuner
Footswitch I/O
Effects Loop

SOUNDS

I liked keeping it on the diode tracking. It sounded just as awesome with the tube tracking but I felt it needed that extra umph or sizzle in the amp. The thing live on channel four on the modern mode.

Run a Les Paul or a humbucker style guitar in front of this amp and you can hear and feel the power it delivers. It has a unique sizzle only found in rectos. The sponge and tight feature is cool when you need to use it in drop tunings then switch it over to the tight side. If you are playing hard rock and need only a half tuning or regular then keep in on sponge. On the sponge setting you will find the amp a bit more forgiving.

OVERALL OPINION

This amp is a joy to play. It has a solid big sound to it that makes it uniquely Mesa and a raw modern power than defines the amp company itself. I would recommend this amp to anyone who needs a solid workhorse amp that will never fail you.

At new they come in at around $2000, but on the used market you can find them for about $1300. They have a five year warranty that is transferable which is commend Mesa for doing. They are classy company!

This is in my opinion the best most versitile amp that Mesa has ever made. The Road King has a few more features with the biasing and such but I think it is something that keeps me switching modes and bias and ulitmately keeps you from playing the thing.

This amp is a players amp for sure. It has that familiar Rectifier sound that makes Mesa so unique. It is four channels that sound excellent between each other. So many amps will have multiple channels do one thing well and skip on the rest of the amp. This amp sounds amazing from channel one up to channel four. Each channel is very usable and sounds fantastic.

UTILIZATION

Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier Roadster Head 100-watt Tube Amplifier Head Features:

* Handbuilt in Petaluma, California
* Multi-Watt, channel-assignable power amp
* 50/100 watts
* Independent 50/100-watt power switches
* Class A/B operation
* Tube complement: 4 x 6L6, 6 x 12AX7, 2 x 5U4
* Bias Select switch (6L6/EL34)
* Fixed bias for consistent, maintenance-free performance
* Four fully independent channels with 12 Modes: Channel 1 - Clean, Fat or Tweed; Channel 2 - Clean, Fat or Brit; Channels 3 & 4 - Raw, Vintage High Gain, or Modern High Gain
* Each channel features independent gain, treble, mid, bass, presence, all-tube long-spring reverb, channel-assignable Dual Rectification with Recto Tracking (diode or tube tracking), all-tube effects loop with Send Level control (over all channels when activated)
* Output Level control (over all channels when activated)
* Footswitchable Solo Level Control (over all channels when activated)
* Bold/Spongy "Variac" switch
* True "Hard" Bypass switch that removes effects loops and Output Level and Solo Level controls from signal path
* Slave Out w/Level Control
* External switching jacks for channels 1, 2, 3, 4, Solo, Reverb, FX Loop, and 100-watt functionality
* Eight-button footswitch (Channel 1, Channel 2, Channel 3, Channel 4, Reverb, FX Loop, and Solo)
* Slip cover included

SOUNDS

I liked keeping it on the diode tracking. It sounded just as awesome with the tube tracking but I felt it needed that extra umph or sizzle in the amp. The thing live on channel four on the modern mode.

Run a Les Paul or a humbucker style guitar in front of this amp and you can hear and feel the power it delivers. It has a unique sizzle only found in rectos. The sponge and tight feature is cool when you need to use it in drop tunings then switch it over to the tight side. If you are playing hard rock and need only a half tuning or regular then keep in on sponge. On the sponge setting you will find the amp a bit more forgiving.

OVERALL OPINION

This amp is a joy to play. It has a solid big sound to it that makes it uniquely Mesa and a raw modern power than defines the amp company itself. I would recommend this amp to anyone who needs a solid workhorse amp that will never fail you.

At new they come in at around $2000, but on the used market you can find them for about $1300. They have a five year warranty that is transferable which is commend Mesa for doing. They are classy company!