Noob & RoadKing V2 question

[larvokyte]

Hello everyone I'm new to this forum and I'm going to be buying my first Mesa in the near future.But I have some questions,I'm leaning towards the RK II mainly because of the progressive linkage and cab design.Never having actually played one (no one around here stocks them or they get one and it sells right away)I know the cleans are great and it can do the heavy recto stuff.but what about ch 2 or 3 can I get a good JCM 800 or Jubilee type crunch? It does'nt have to exact I'm really not a tone snob but I would really like to have that type of sound as well as the others.Any input would be great.Thanks and great forum.

 

[dennq45]

I find that my RK II doesnt really nail that Marshall sound. It sounds like a Rectifier for sure.

Try a Mesa Stilletto or a Rivera.

 

[edgarallanpoe]

My RKI can get **** close on channel 2 with the master cranked, and the gain down around 12 o'clock. I have it on the Brit channel (obviously) and I am using the EL34 section with the SS rectifier. Is it dead nuts on? No. But I play in a band that covers everything from 60s rock to modern hard rock and rap and the RK gets me **** close to everything I need and in some cases (modern stuff) will nail it to the wall.

Unfortunately there is a catch...

I really wasn't able to get where I needed with the stock tubes. The amp just had too much hair and fizz. Thats fine for the modern heavy stuff but doesn't do so well with the older stuff and is really disappointing in EL34 mode.

I have a set of Phillips 7581A power tubes in the 6L6 section to increase headroom in clean mode, and add a massive thump in overdrive/balls out modes. The EL34 section is driven by a pair of Sylvania labeled Mullard 6CA7s and I run them in triode not pentode mode. The triode mode is essential to getting the tone you are looking for and unfortunately I think that the RKII does not have that option. For preamp tubes I am currently using a set of Tesla(not JJ) E83CCs from 1982 stock. The Teslas take all of the hiss and noise out of the signal that the Chinese and Russian tubes create. The also have a killer amount of gain and tend to smooth things out a bit.

After the tube swaps I couldn't be happier with this amp. Everything I need is right at my feet and the tone is absolutely spectacular. Every single sound guy that runs us loves my tone...my playing is another issue. LOL!!!

Good luck!!