I don't like Boogie but...

[skoora]

I think I really want a Roadster or a Roadking.

I tried many Boogies over the years and even owned a 2 CH Triple but never seemed to jive with the mid and treble response of these amps. Too soft or not cutting enough I guess. I'm a long time Marshall/Fender tweed guy and love my superleads with their roar and kerang.

But.....I keep visiting with the Roadster and/or Roadking and really dig Channel 1 and 2. Especially the Tweed voicing on 1. I actually get some sounds on 3 and 4 that are pretty good but just good not amazing. Why am I drawn to this brand even though in general it hasn't worked for me? Is it a disease? :lol:

I'm thinking about buying a Roadster or a Roadking, maybe just for CH 1 and 2. Am I nuts? Plus on the Roadking being able to switch to a different cab ala open 2x12/2x10 vs. 4x12 just seems genius.

FWIW I play 70's classic rock stuff and metal in the vein of Sabbathy stuff like COC.

 

[YellowJacket]

Here is my two cents: You shouldn't let brand name dictate what you like or dislike for gear. If you like a road king, you like a road king. It is ok to have a Marshall of some flavour and a Mesa Road King in your arsenal since they do different things. Obviously, you use the Road King for channels 1 and 2 and run the Marshall for other applications. My brother doesn't jive with a recto but he plays a Lonestar Special because that is what he likes. (He uses a Red Bear for high gain)

 

[thejay]

A "name" is a hard thing to break but you like what you like and you just have to find what you specifically like and get it. Sounds like you want a Road King, I don't think thats crazy

 

[Metaltastic]

I dunno, a Roadster/Road King seems a bit overkill if you only want a couple of sounds; maybe give the Stiletto series a try? I'd imagine they'd be up your alley!

 

[ryjan]

Buying a roadking for chanel 1 and 2 is like buying a ferrari for the radio and keychain. :lol:

 

[YellowJacket]

Buying a roadking for chanel 1 and 2 is like buying a ferrari for the radio and keychain. :lol:

Not everyone is about :TEH BRUTALZ: you know :? :lol:

If the dude likes a Road King, he should get a Road King. Maybe Channel three and four will grow on him but maybe not. (Mesas are definitely tweaker amps) There are settings on my Dual that I never use--like the spongy one, for instance--but that doesn't mean my having the amp is purposeless. BTW, there is a great blues overdrive tone on a Dual if you run channel 1 with the gain fairly high and play that through a breakup speaker like a greenback.

 

[b0nkersx]

I think I really want a Roadster or a Roadking.

I tried many Boogies over the years and even owned a 2 CH Triple but never seemed to jive with the mid and treble response of these amps. Too soft or not cutting enough I guess. I'm a long time Marshall/Fender tweed guy and love my superleads with their roar and kerang.

But.....I keep visiting with the Roadster and/or Roadking and really dig Channel 1 and 2. Especially the Tweed voicing on 1. I actually get some sounds on 3 and 4 that are pretty good but just good not amazing. Why am I drawn to this brand even though in general it hasn't worked for me? Is it a disease? :lol:

I'm thinking about buying a Roadster or a Roadking, maybe just for CH 1 and 2. Am I nuts? Plus on the Roadking being able to switch to a different cab ala open 2x12/2x10 vs. 4x12 just seems genius.

FWIW I play 70's classic rock stuff and metal in the vein of Sabbathy stuff like COC.

Check out a Lonestar. Mesa claims to have made the Road King channels 1 and 2 clones of the Lonestar cleans. You lose the mode selections, but it's worth looking into before you put forth the dough for something like a Road King. My old man has a Lonestar, and it can (almost surprisingly) pull off some really convincing Jimmy Page tones, even with 6L6's. Think "Celebration Day" from How the West Was Won.

That said, I have a Road King, and I love both the clean and dirty channels.

 

[skoora]

I think the Lonestar Special is an awesome amp and I dig it more than the 6L6 Lonestars. I didn't mean to say I didn't like CH 3 and 4 at all. They're fun for sure but when I owned a 2 CH Triple, the Modern heavy sound just didn't record that well and all the impressive low end was rarely captured and you were left with a lacking of midrange and treble detail. Plus I'm all about the bass guitar handling the big lows anyway. I'm more of a classic rock guy now so those channels would be for fun playing in the room but I doubt I would try and record a heavy sound with them. Honestly the Tweed setting on Channel with the gain up past 12, ,low bass and hum's sounds like it would record great for heavy stuff. I'm not talking Carcass but more sabbathy type stuff.

The reason I'm looking at Boogie is because I have Marshall covered with my Superlead. I'm not looking to get the same sound out of a Roadster or Roadking, just a complimentary one. That's why no interest in the Stilleto.

 

[b0nkersx]

Well, if you know what you like, then what are you asking us for? Go for it!

 

[skoora]

Well, if you know what you like, then what are you asking us for? Go for it!

I guess I feel I'm doing the definition of insanity where you do the same behaviour repeatedly expecting a different result. Whenever using a Boogie either borrowed or owned it always seems to fall short eventually.

 

[YellowJacket]

I think the Lonestar Special is an awesome amp and I dig it more than the 6L6 Lonestars. I didn't mean to say I didn't like CH 3 and 4 at all. They're fun for sure but when I owned a 2 CH Triple, the Modern heavy sound just didn't record that well and all the impressive low end was rarely captured and you were left with a lacking of midrange and treble detail. Plus I'm all about the bass guitar handling the big lows anyway. I'm more of a classic rock guy now so those channels would be for fun playing in the room but I doubt I would try and record a heavy sound with them. Honestly the Tweed setting on Channel with the gain up past 12, ,low bass and hum's sounds like it would record great for heavy stuff. I'm not talking Carcass but more sabbathy type stuff.

The reason I'm looking at Boogie is because I have Marshall covered with my Superlead. I'm not looking to get the same sound out of a Roadster or Roadking, just a complimentary one. That's why no interest in the Stilleto.

Are you saying you weren't happy with the recorded tone of the Triple? Perhaps that is a problem with how you recorded it? There are lots of thread on this site about how to most accurately capture the tone of amps in a recording. There is quite a science to it!!

If you aren't sure about the Road King, can you rent one for awhile to see if you get bored of it?

 

[jdurso]

also aside from the lonestar other boogie amps to check out would be the express 5:50 and the new electradyne. I'd even say something like the Mark V might do the trick.

 

[b0nkersx]

also aside from the lonestar other boogie amps to check out would be the express 5:50 and the new electradyne. I'd even say something like the Mark V might do the trick.

Off topic: I love your avatar. I'm going to see Tool tomorrow night (technically tonight).

 

[jdurso]

also aside from the lonestar other boogie amps to check out would be the express 5:50 and the new electradyne. I'd even say something like the Mark V might do the trick.

Off topic: I love your avatar. I'm going to see Tool tomorrow night (technically tonight).

Thanks man... aside from loving Tool, Alex Grey is an amazing artist. If your ever in NYC check out the his studio, its awesome.

 

[MF]

also aside from the lonestar other boogie amps to check out would be the express 5:50 and the new electradyne. I'd even say something like the Mark V might do the trick.

Off topic: I love your avatar. I'm going to see Tool tomorrow night (technically tonight).

Thanks man... aside from loving Tool, Alex Grey is an amazing artist. If your ever in NYC check out the his studio, its awesome.

That studio closed at the end of last year. I think he moved into a new facility upstate somewhere. I was actually fortuitous enough that i happened to be in NYC for new years and visited the studio the day before it closed. Very neat place.

 

[R_ADKINS80]

I'm not talking Carcass...quote]



Speaking of which....the rest of the guys are about ---> <----- this close to getting Bill Steer back on board for a new album......minus Ken Owen, of course, do to his heath problems.

 

[skoora]

also aside from the lonestar other boogie amps to check out would be the express 5:50 and the new electradyne. I'd even say something like the Mark V might do the trick.

The express has some nice drive sounds when the contour is used a little. I just played an Electrodyne combo and the clean sound really wowed me but the inbetween and harder dirty sounds didn't quite do it for me. Unfortunately no MK V's have showed up in my area. I did play a used MK IV that I got quite a few good sounds out of. I find if I approach Boogies when dialing in sounds like a hot rodded Fender and not Marshall related I get much better results matching hopes/expectations with results. ie. not as stiff or snappy but still some nice drive tones with a sensitive low end reponse. I think that's why I always keep checking them out because I think they're making the Fender derivitive that Fender should be making.

 

[jdurso]

also aside from the lonestar other boogie amps to check out would be the express 5:50 and the new electradyne. I'd even say something like the Mark V might do the trick.

The express has some nice drive sounds when the contour is used a little. I just played an Electrodyne combo and the clean sound really wowed me but the inbetween and harder dirty sounds didn't quite do it for me. Unfortunately no MK V's have showed up in my area. I did play a used MK IV that I got quite a few good sounds out of. I find if I approach Boogies when dialing in sounds like a hot rodded Fender and not Marshall related I get much better results matching hopes/expectations with results. ie. not as stiff or snappy but still some nice drive tones with a sensitive low end reponse. I think that's why I always keep checking them out because I think they're making the Fender derivitive that Fender should be making.

I found the electradyne to be pretty good as far as classic Vox type overdrives... especially with a boost infront.

What i would recommend doing if you haven't already is bring some of the settings from each model's manual with you when you test drive them. I find the manual settings give you a good look at what the amp can/cannot do and once you fine something close to what you're after, fine tweaks will usually get you what you want if that is indeed the right amp for you. Also check out the Stiletto if you're into a more hot rodded marshall type sound.

IMO if the Roadster's channels 1/2 are what does it for you and you can't find those tones in the lonestar, there is nothing wrong with using the Roadster just for those two channels. Actually you may find some other gems in channels 3/4 using the raw mode and the vintage mode with the gain set low.

 

[KH Guitar Freak]

I actually thought that the Electradyne sounded a tad Plexish in the low gain mode, and JCM 800ish in the high gain mode... :mrgreen: