How well does the Roadster take pedals?

[Monsta-Tone]

I've been using a Rivera S-120 combo for a while now. I love it to death, but it hates pedals!
Anything in the loop sounds fantastic, but OD pedals or GSP1101 in 4CM just sounds blah......

I'm thinking about selling the Rivera and getting a Roadster combo.
Does anyone here use OD's or Distortion or Compressor pedals in front of their Roadster? Does it like them?
Is anyone interested in a partial trade, my Rivera & some cash for a Roadster??? :lol:

 

[Chester]

I use either a BB preamp + or Fulltone FD2 through my Roadster. Not for more gain, as the beast has enough of that already in CH 3 / 4, but for different colouring, emphasis and sustain

It's LOVES the pedals I use out front (I never use the FX loop so cannot compare both), and sounds excellent. Better pedal compatibility than my MK V or Matchless, and on a par with the Lonestar :mrgreen:

 

[Monsta-Tone]

Thanks Chester!
I was hoping that was the case.
Although, a friend of mine has an RK-1 that he wants to sell.

I had a Mark V for a little while. Just couldn't get along with it. I had one of the original Roadsters and loved it, but wasn't playing in a band at the time, so I let it go.....

 

[knotts]

I always played pedals through my roadster but lately I'm finding that I like the tone from the amp with no pedals better. I like kicking in a sustain pedal for lead work and occasionally my xotic AC booster. I agree with Chester with respect to using pedals in a very limited way; like to color or just give a little push. Too much of anything starts to sound bad.

 

[Blaklynx]

Hi Monsta...

I don't have either amp but I'll throw in a few suggestions...

Not all pedals are going to sound good through an amp. Some a great in one amp, in another amp it's crap. I've got plenty of OD/Dist pedals and with the rectoverb some don't sound great but in the JSX they sound very good. Same goes the other way.

Also, keep the gain on the amp low(er) than you would if you just plugged straight in. Use the pedals gain and level knobs to get to where you want to go. Another thing to try: find a good crunch tone with one pedal and cascade with another after it to get lead tones. Just watch that amp gain....

Also try an EQ pedal after the drive pedal. This can help shape the tone before hitting the amp. Pedals with only a tone control are too limited in their tone shaping. For me, these pedals always end up with an EQ pedal after them.

I find there's a balance between the amp gain, the pedal gain and the pedal level. All three need to work together. Start with low settings and adjust one thing at a time to get a feel for the sound. Hear for slight changes when adjusting one knob, reset that knob, adjust another, hear for changes, reset and so on. Then start incrementing two knobs and hear what happens, reset and so on. Soon you'll understand what's going on.

Just for an experiment, try this with two pedals:
-turn amp gain high, say 60~70%
1st pedal: turn pedal gain up (say midway for a good crunch tone), turn pedal volume down very low
-adjust amp output with this pedal engaged

2nd pedal: turn gain up 15~20%, turn pedal volume up say 60~80%
-when kicking in this pedal, watch out for the amps volume jump.

The above method is basically a 'reversal' of boosting an amp. 1st pedal is used to create a weak input (like having weak output pickups) but the gain from the pedal gives some dirt. When the second pedal kicks in, it boosts the signal (like having hotter pickups) and pushes the amp. Properly setup, you can have a volume boost for solos :wink:

I'll leave it to you to experiment with different settings that suit you.

 

[Chester]

Good advice on the 2 pedal set up Blaklynx - balance and working "with" the amp are key. Mesa's more than most IMHO

Both my OD's have an additional boost or channel function, and it took ages to find that balance. But once understood, they are great tools when used with care. The Roadster (ditto the RK) is a roaring beast, but highly sensitive and interactive, so small adjustments in the signal chain are critical to it's response

 

[Monsta-Tone]

Right on guys, thanks!
How is the noise when using two pedals? I'm guessing that the lower levels helps a bit.

I'm really leaning toward the Road King that my friend has. It's a Series 1, but it's here on Maui, so I can try it out.

GC has quite a few used Roadsters, and believe it or not, shipping is only $12.95 from AZ to HI!
If I go with the Roadster, I have to come up with all of the cash. If I go with the Road King, it's my old Rivera and $400-$500 cash. Not sure if I'll like the RK cleans though.....

 

[Chester]

Right on guys, thanks!
How is the noise when using two pedals? I'm guessing that the lower levels helps a bit.

I'm really leaning toward the Road King that my friend has. It's a Series 1, but it's here on Maui, so I can try it out.

GC has quite a few used Roadsters, and believe it or not, shipping is only $12.95 from AZ to HI!
If I go with the Roadster, I have to come up with all of the cash. If I go with the Road King, it's my old Rivera and $400-$500 cash. Not sure if I'll like the RK cleans though.....

You could add sparkle to the RK cleans with a good transparent pedal like a Mesa tone burst boost, or Xotic EP boost ...

 

[Monsta-Tone]

Thanks Chester, I hadn't thought of that!