Multi-Watt Dual Rectifier or Roadster

[cyber104]

Hi Guys:

I'm new to this board - hope I'm posting in the right section.

I have a question regarding the choice of a Multi-Watt Dual Rectifier or Roadster.

My son and I both play (often together) and we both like Alter Bridge.

Currently my son is using a 3-channel dual rectifier (2006 model I think). I am using a Fender Super Reverb with a Wampler "Triple-Wreck" pedal.

I'd like to get my own Mesa but I'm having a hard time choosing between the Dual Rectifier and the Roadster. My son's amp has a pretty nice clean channel but it's not very loud compared to the higher gain channels. My understanding is that the newer Multi-Watt rectifiers have a much better clean channel than the earlier ones.

I've also read that the Roadster can do everything that the Dual Rectifier can do and that it is also much more versatile from a clean channel perspective.

Your thoughts/comments are much appreciated.

Thanks,
Chris

 

[domct203]

Hello, and Welcome to The Board.

Here is a video comparing the two amps. Don at Haggerty's does some excellent videos like this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbAbCLZrxG8

I know the video doesn't compare the cleans, but both amps have very good cleans. BTW- Try using the SOLO function to bring up the clean volume.

Hope this helps!

Dom

 

[Resonant Alien]

Odd that your son's clean channel isn't very loud. I have a non-multi-watt 3 channel DR, and my clean channel is often the loudest channel.

I don't think you can go wrong with either amp. The Roadster would be more versatile of course being 4 ch vs 3. I think you will find them to be very similar. To me, the Roadster seemed to give a few more options in the mid-gain/crunch area, but I thought the cleans and high gains were very similar to the DR.

Whichever one you choose, my advice is to find a used one in good shape - typical resale on Mesa stuff is about 50-60% the price of a new one, and most people tend to take care of these amps, especially if they are the ones that bought it new.

 

[cyber104]

Hi again:

I guess I wasn't really clear on my son's clean channel - it's plenty loud if you introduce gain - but as the gain is increased it starts to move into the 'pushed' region - reminding me of a Fender tube amp being pushed toward tube saturation/distortion

However, in order to get that crystal clear clean the gain has to be dropped back to the point where the volume is much lower than that of channel 2 or 3 which inherently acquire more gain by design

Thanks so far!
Chris

 

[domct203]

I understand what you are describing with the clean's gain settings. The Roadster's "Fat" mode on ch 1 & 2 give more output while still remaining clean. My clean tone is with "Tweed" mode in ch 1, with the guitar volume rolled back a bit for true clean tones, and on 10 for pushed tones.

I can not speak for the new Multi Watt Rectos, but I did own a 2001 Triple Recto before the Roadster and the clean tones of the Roadster are a huge improvement in both tone and volume level.

Dom

 

[GuitarGuy503]

I'd recommend trying both out and making your choice based on the experience of both. Some people prefer the more aggressive tone of the multi watt rectos but then again the clean channel of the multi watts isn't nearly as good as the Roadsters. Myles Kennedy is listed as a Roadster User while Mark Tremonti is a regular recto user. The Roadster is a bit darker than the regular rectos. The Trem-O-Verb would also be another good option but you'd have to find one used as they have been discontinued since early 2000. Check out this guys uploads for clips of a Trem-O-Verb. He has a few clips covering some AlterBridge Stuff.....

http://www.youtube.com/user/Trunka34#p/u/37/NbcmWIJ0EYU

 

[cyber104]

Unfortunately there really isn't a place nearby where I can try both.

Marcus from Mesa thought the Roadster might be right up my alley........

Question to you guys who've owned both: Can a Roadster really get into Rectifier "High-Gain" territory with similar voicing?

Thanks again!
Chris

 

[cyber104]

BTW - here's my son doing some Alter Bridge also

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRlhxYk_EFk

 

[domct203]

Absolutly! Ch 4 Modern in the Roadster is pure Rectifier! It will be EQ'ed different then a standard Dual Recto due to the natural voicing of the Roadster, but in a blind A/B with the same guitar & cabinet it would be extremely difficult if not impossible to tell them apart IMO.

I find the Roadster much better for lead tones compared to my old 3 channel Triple also.

Dom

 

[domct203]

BTW - here's my son doing some Alter Bridge also

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRlhxYk_EFk

Excellent job, you've got yourself a rocker right there for sure.

Let me make one suggestion though, Hearing Protection. Get him used to it now and he'll be protected for life.

Dom

 

[cyber104]

Good idea! He usually wears the ear protection that you use for chainsaws - he just took them off for the video

 

[MesaENGR412]

Let me make one suggestion though, Hearing Protection. Get him used to it now and he'll be protected for life.

Dom

What? :arrow: :lol: :idea:

Great playing there. I love my multi-watt head, I tried the Roadster out before I bought mine, and I just found the overall tonality of the new 2010 Rectos to sound better to my ears. I could have had the Roadster, but I didn't really need the extra modes, and am still very happy with my decision almost a year later. If you get a OD pedal, you can mimic the milder gain modes pretty well, and have a 'fourth' channel when needed.

-AJH

 

[screamingdaisy]

Question to you guys who've owned both: Can a Roadster really get into Rectifier "High-Gain" territory with similar voicing?

Think of your son's Recto, then add a second clean channel and some extra features like reverb and power switching options.

The "Fat" clean on a Roadster is outstanding.

About your son's clean channel being too quiet, a lot of people run channel's 2 and 3 so loud that you can't get channel 1 loud enough. The solution is to turn channels 2 and 3 down until the volumes balance out.