Five months with the Royal Atlantic -- my likes and dislikes

[BostonRedSox]

The honeymoon period is over and I am finally ready to write a more in-depth opinion of the RA-100.

Pros

• Very upper-mid heavy amp. Cuts like a knife in the mix with another guitarist.
  Easy to dial in.
  Glassy cleans with the Lo Mode
  Warmer American cleans with the Clean channel
  Very musical gain and overdrive
  Very quiet amp overall
  Great blues tones in the Lo Mode
  Lead tones are very easy to dial in
  Keeps guitar's characteristics intact
  Takes pedals really well
  Essentially a great sounding, two-channel amp (some may claim it's a 3-channel amp due to the Lo/Hi modes)
  Sounds great with a mix of V-30s and C-90s (factory custom 2x12 combo)
  I get lots of random compliments about my sound ("nice tone," "awesome breakup," and "you really cut through ..." are all things that've come up in conversation)
  Looks very BOSS

Cons

• Reverb is still very much like any other newer Mesa 'verb. Very good, but not great IMO (Hopefully, Mesa will eventually use a deeper, two-knob 'verb in the future)
  Insane high gain sounds (past 3 o'clock on the gain knob) can get noisy on the Hi Mode
  Heavy

If you use a Royal Atlantic too, please share your likes and dislikes too! Also, I don't use effects loops, so I can't judge whether or not the RA's loop is good or bad!

 

[JOEY B.]

I scored my RA100 head for $1300 to the door, and play it through a Genz-Benz Gflex 2x12 cab.

The only con that I can think of is that the reverb is not as good as the Electradyne. I do love the fact that I can select for the reverb to be active in the clean channel ONLY. This is the amp that I wanted the Stiletto Ace to be. 8) 8) 8) 8)

 

[BostonRedSox]

I scored my RA100 head for $1300 to the door, and play it through a Genz-Benz Gflex 2x12 cab.

The only con that I can think of is that the reverb is not as good as the Electradyne. I do love the fact that I can select for the reverb to be active in the clean channel ONLY. This is the amp that I wanted the Stiletto Ace to be. 8) 8) 8) 8)

Yeah, I think you're right about the reverb being better on the ED. I wonder what makes it better? Perhaps it has something to do with the preamp tube? The RA-100 uses a 12-AT7 to drive the reverb, where most newer Mesa's employ the 12-AX7.

It isn't that the reverb on the RA-100 is bad or anything. It just isn't as lush as I'd like it to be. I really hope Mesa creates an amp with a reverb function that Dr. Z utilizes on their EZG-50 amps.

 

[JOEY B.]

As per my users manual, V3 is the 12AT7 and is the Effects Send and Return tube.

 

[BostonRedSox]

I stand corrected. :lol:

 

[Sukodil]

Thanks for the review. Any opinions on the attenuator?

 

[BostonRedSox]

The attenuator is really good, especially for getting a pushed clean sound. I honestly don't use it though. I use it a little at home, but usually don't like to tweak so I generally just leave things as they are set in practice. The amp takes pedals so well, so whenever I want a good crunch at low volumes, I just employ my OCD.

If you use the attenuator, use the manual's settings for a good indication how to set the tone controls to get the best possible results.

 

[CoG]

My RA (had since beginning of August) ended up replacing my Mark III (which I still have for really heavy, tight, chunky stuff if I need it), my JCM800 2204 (sold), and the Orange RV100 I had been GASing for. That's the best way to put it-- it has pretty much every non-"extreme" tone I would want covered.

I stick by my original review saying this is the amp Marshall keeps sort of fucking up by either trying to include really over-the-top high gain sounds or by not going high-gain enough to play modern rock. Tonally, this amp's OD and high-gain tones are 100 per cent British.

Pros:
Best Mesa cleans ever.
You own the mix now. Tell the other guitarist to get used to it.
Blue channel heavy crunch sounds are amazing, pure EL34 awesome.
Red channel can cover a ton of territory.
Attenuator is awesome for rehearsal and live. Through a 4x12 I have one "notch" of attenuator on all three channels basically all the time, all the masters between 1:30 and 3:30, and that works out perfectly.
Even really bright, cutting tones have a very surprising warmth to them. You'll end up using the same sounds in your basement as in rehearsal, you won't be dialing in unusuably warm/thick sounds to play solo and then dialing up treble when the band shows up.

Cons:
Shared EQ on red and blue channels are really hard to balance-- if you want red to really cut blue is too thin, and if blue has a really good roar going red is kinda tubby.
Look elsewhere if you need to shake the room with bass. There's not much and it really reduces the "punch" of the amp.

 

[BostonRedSox]

For all of the future RA owners/users -- here are some really, really good settings that I use live/practice when I pair my Royal with my SG Standard. The sound just kicks so much ***! Seriously! I get massive compliments on my tone to boot. Like most Mesa's, my settings employ backing the bass off of the cleans. Very good for rhythm work and lead riffing. This amp may not have the low end that the Lonestar has, but don't add bass to try to make up for it. I find that the cleans sound ideal with the bass turned down.

I hope this is helpful. 8)

Clean

Gain - just past noon
Treble - 11:00
Middle - just past 9:00
Bass - 10:00
Master - 11:00

Hi/Lo

Gain - 1:00-1:30
Treble - 10:30
Middle - 1:30
Bass - 3:00
Master Lo - 10:00
Master Hi - a little past 10:00

These settings roar! And I notice you will get a much clearer clean tone that is less thumping, and not too piercing on the top end. The Hi mode is very punchy and very cutting as well!

 

[CoG]

Hi/Lo

Gain - 1:00-1:30
Treble - 10:30
Middle - 1:30
Bass - 3:00
Master Lo - 10:00
Master Hi - a little past 10:00

These settings roar! And I notice you will get a much clearer clean tone that is less thumping, and not too piercing on the top end. The Hi mode is very punchy and very cutting as well!

That's a much better "modern" sound on Hi than I have been able to get, nice. But it's way too quiet for my needs, lol. I need the master pretty much at noon w/o the attenuator. My drummer needs to go to the gym less, I think.

 

[BostonRedSox]

Yeah, I sometimes open the amp up more at practice too, actually. Mic'd, and gigging, the sound guys are always hard on guitar volume. I've sort of settled on 10-11:30 o'clock range for volume.

I'm glad you liked the settings, CoG. It's rad seeing another RA user on here. I'm really surprised there aren't more of us though. I really thought there'd be more people rocking RAs by now, regardless of the current market and economy. People are still buying amps, right? It's not like I need a bunch of people to be playing the RA to justify my own likes -- it's just fun discovering how others are using the amp.

What are your "go to" settings thus far? I find with Mesa's, getting the right amount of bass can be tricky. Especially when it comes down to dialing in your clean tones. I've tried the factory settings from the manual and don't really like what they suggest. I mean, I really liked the "fat clean" setting, but only for single note stuff. I can still recall using those settings in practice -- I think I pissed everyone off with all the flub I was playing with when it came down to clean chording!

 

[BostonRedSox]

You own the mix now. Tell the other guitarist to get used to it.

LOL! This is so true! The amp just cuts right through the mix. The harmonic richness of this amp's breakup is really the kicker for me.

Now all I need is to add a Lonestar Classic to the mix, so I can better cover the low-mids! Always wanted to run a wet/dry rig. Seems like a lot of work hauling gear though! My guitarist is obsessed with his Victoria Tweed Twin amp. We actually blend together quite nicely. His amp has quite the spank to the top end!

 

[CoG]

Yeah, I sometimes open the amp up more at practice too, actually. Mic'd, and gigging, the sound guys are always hard on guitar volume. I've sort of settled on 10-11:30 o'clock range for volume.

I'm glad you liked the settings, CoG. It's rad seeing another RA user on here. I'm really surprised there aren't more of us though. I really thought there'd be more people rocking RAs by now, regardless of the current market and economy. People are still buying amps, right? It's not like I need a bunch of people to be playing the RA to justify my own likes -- it's just fun discovering how others are using the amp.

What are your "go to" settings thus far? I find with Mesa's, getting the right amount of bass can be tricky. Especially when it comes down to dialing in your clean tones. I've tried the factory settings from the manual and don't really like what they suggest. I mean, I really liked the "fat clean" setting, but only for single note stuff. I can still recall using those settings in practice -- I think I pissed everyone off with all the flub I was playing with when it came down to clean chording!

We're instrumental and our stage volume is pretty crazy so the only thing we need in the PA is the kick and *maybe* overheads. Sound guys would hate us if they actually had to mix anything, but we're the easiest gig a sound man will ever have.

Okay, keep in mind this is generally with one "click" of attenuation -- the dB settings are totally fantasy and they are not linear.

Clean is all over the map, I just never, ever have the bass past 1130 because I am playing thru a Recto 4x12 with EVMs in it so I have clean bass response for days.

I too would not mind a bit more reverb than the amp has, or the feel of a longer tank. I find the reverb very "dense."

Hi/Lo is usually:

Hi Master 2:00
Lo Master 2:30
Bass 11:20-12:30
Mid 12:30-1:30
Treble 1:30-2:00
Gain 1:00-2:00

Hi is kind of a Matt Pike or Scott Kelly tone, like an 800 at about 3/4 throttle with a fat diode OD in front. Lo is a modern hard rock/metal thing, too tight for the 70s, more sort of Baroness/Isis/Mastodon/Priestess. The treble may seem high but there's a big treble rolloff on that first step of the attenuator. Also, the treble seems to increase "tight gain" slightly, like on a Mark, while the regular Gain makes things real fat. Generally I start there and then twitch the treble a little based on how everybody else is sounding that night.

These settings without the attenuator through the 4x12 are "oh god loud" and very bright, some treble needs to come off at that point. I will play or record that loud, though. Lo becomes SUPER crunchy at that point because you really hear the EL34s breaking up hard, the attenuator softens that a little.

I think the economy is soooo bad right now, especially in the States, that people just aren't buying new amps except for lunchboxes.

 

[BostonRedSox]

I'll have to give these settings a try-out tomorrow! They look promising and interesting. I don't really use the multi-soak, so this should be interesting indeed. I also only like the amp at full power. Sounds fine at 50 watts, but I like the 3D nature (to my ears) of the full 100-watts -- there seems to be more depth to the sound.

I use the combo, with a V-30 and C-90 and there is a lot of bass in that rig too! Too much for my ears at least. AND the combo has a port in the back!

Yeah, the reverb Mesa shows off in their vids, compared to the actual 'verb in the amp, seems a bit different. Not as lush or big sounding. I think "dense" is a good way of describing it. It sounds great, but there isn't enough depth to it ...

Thanks for the settings!

8)

 

[BostonRedSox]

Finally got the chance to try out your settings, CoG. I liked them a lot actually, and using them actually inspired me to try out the Multi-Soak more. All I can say is WOW. I think next practice I am going to change things up and utilize the attenuator. I am loving the thickness of the gain!

 

[CoG]

Glad you like it. Yeah, I think the attenuator is a key tonal feature and not just a convenience. There's a real thick tone in there that you can't get without it. I think what is happening is that, like most mesas, treble turns into gain in the preamp, but then you have a hi-cut happening in the attenuator either by design or because attenuators just kinda tend to do that. So you get the gain and tightening effect of the treble on the preamp section but the real glassy highs are getting cut in the power section. Like I said, if I use the same settings w/o the attenuator that I use with the attenuator, the treble has to come down or it's painful, esp. on blue.

 

[BostonRedSox]

Really rethinking what I previously formulated about this amp. The Multi-Watt is really a feature that SHOULD be used by anyone playing this amp. It adds so much depth and character to your sound that the amp doesn't have without it. Don't get me wrong, the amp sounds absolutely fab on its own -- no doubt about it. Yet, the added warmth that is achieved with the Multi Watt engaged, especially on the clean channel, really can't be beat. It makes the amp suddenly feel like the Lonestar, with better high end (Fender Deluxe Reverb-esque). The Multi-Watt also really helps in dialing in nice power tube grit on the Hi/Lo channel.

 

[BostonRedSox]

The Multi-watt also adds something else to the overall sound of the amp -- some much needed compression. That is another great thing I'm hearing on the clean channel with the attenuator engaged.

 

[JAZZGEAR]

The honeymoon period is over and I am finally ready to write a more in-depth opinion of the RA-100.

Pros

• Very upper-mid heavy amp. Cuts like a knife in the mix with another guitarist.
  Easy to dial in.
  Glassy cleans with the Lo Mode
  Warmer American cleans with the Clean channel
  Very musical gain and overdrive
  Very quiet amp overall
  Great blues tones in the Lo Mode
  Lead tones are very easy to dial in
  Keeps guitar's characteristics intact
  Takes pedals really well
  Essentially a great sounding, two-channel amp (some may claim it's a 3-channel amp due to the Lo/Hi modes)
  Sounds great with a mix of V-30s and C-90s (factory custom 2x12 combo)
  I get lots of random compliments about my sound ("nice tone," "awesome breakup," and "you really cut through ..." are all things that've come up in conversation)
  Looks very BOSS

Cons

• Reverb is still very much like any other newer Mesa 'verb. Very good, but not great IMO (Hopefully, Mesa will eventually use a deeper, two-knob 'verb in the future)
  Insane high gain sounds (past 3 o'clock on the gain knob) can get noisy on the Hi Mode
  Heavy

If you use a Royal Atlantic too, please share your likes and dislikes too! Also, I don't use effects loops, so I can't judge whether or not the RA's loop is good or bad!

I pretty much agree with all of the above, except for the con about the reverb. I think the verb is excellent and very lush in fact. It is the first Mesa high gain amp where I don't need a delay to have my leads get that huge spread. On the clean channel too, the verb sounds very 3D'ish.