An Occasional Chugger... Getting the Badlander to sound like a Classic Rect

[rarebitusa]

Yea, I'm much more experienced in the classic/hard rock/heavy blues genre. Currently my Badlander is setup for that style and it really delivers on the Crunch front. I know this is Mesas "New/Fresh Take" on the Rect. with a much tighter lower end but I'm curious how close it can get to that boomy rect thing. Only an occasional chugger here and while I'd love to have a real DR there's no studio room plus I have no shame in kinda faking that tone a bit.

Any tips on amp settings, signal chain even speaker/cabs. FWIW routinely run a GEQ in the loop. TIA

 

[Neptical]

Don't own a Badlander just yet ( would love the 50 ). But as a Recto,RoV, Mark III, Express 5:50+ and F50/100 owner, everything gets very chuggy with an SD-1 in the front ( to tighten ) and an EQ in the loop (less bass on amp, more lows on EQ ). Lots of bite but also fat/thumpy.
Of course, pending cab/speakers as well. Love my V30 straight 412 for this the best. Works fantastic for all my Mesa's so I'm assuming the Badlander would just sound amazing as well.

 

[bandit2013]

I generally boost the bass control up just enough before it gets woofy. Also increase the midrange and drop the treble down a bit. Do what you want with the gain control. Sort of the same trick I use with the RA100 but they are unrelated amps in all respects.

You could try the 5BGEQ on the front end instead of in the loop. Just an idea and never tried that move yet.

I would assume a pedal up front will aid in getting to that sound. The BAD just cannot replicate the sub-harmonic content as the dual Rectifier since it is a hybrid design. The BAD lacks the cold clipper circuit that is responsible sub-harmonic content you get from the Dual Rec (for me it is the Roadster or MWDR). The other thing that is missing is the negative feedback disconnect like you get with Modern mode on the gain channels. The closest to that concept would be the Mark V90 in Extreme mode on CH3.

I would agree with Neptical on the V30 closed back cabs. That would have a tight response. BAD sounds awesome through the V212 as well as the slant front Standard Recto 412 cab. I do not have a straight cab to make use of. Actually, I feel they are quite universal for many other applications other than chugging.