Played Mk V, Roadster and new multi-watt DR today

[MesaENGR412]

Got to sit in the glass room at Guitar Center and crank on these toys for about an hour today, back to back to back with no interruptions.
I have played with the MK V some, but combo only, and this time got to play the head version through a Recto 4x12 and it sounded good. Messed with Ch1 and Ch3 the most, and dialed in both the graphic eq and preset in each. Very neat features. Sounded best to my ears in Extreme mode on Ch. 3 with the Preset EQ on in 90w mode with Triode switch. Roadster is well...a Roadster. It was a 2x12 combo, because the head kept
blowing fuses, so it sounded a little different, but still a nice head. Liked both the clean and overdriven sounds. I think they have had this one a while so the tubes were a little spent, but it still sounded gritty and beefy. I think the Overdrive channels are more aggressive sounding than my Triple, but just slightly......and then...
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There was the Multi-Watt Dual Recto. Played it through a 4x12 Recto cab. Diodes on. Bold power.
I only played on Channel 2 (that's all it took to hook me), dialed it in just like what I play on my Triple Recto (same tubes since I use Mesas now)
Vintage mode, not modern. And I took one of my Torero's to play through all three, so I had my guitar in my tuning (EMG 81/85 equipped).
It sounded AWESOME. The clarity of the distortion was noticeably different than both my head's sounds and even the Roadster's Ch. 3.
No high end fizz, just gobs of pure recto goodness. Switching between 50 and 100 watts on most amps does effect the sound and it's overall tone. NOT in this case. There was no noticeable difference at moderately high volume in the sound of both modes. It was awesome.
It has definitely thrown a monkey wrench into my plan of buying and using the seemingly
popular Roadster/Mark V duo. Now I'm actually contemplating getting two Duals and running one 6L6 and on EL34. It was that good to my ears.
I dunno. I really like some of the features of both the mark and the roadster, and maybe (more like hopefully) they are planning on taking the gain
channels from these new rectos and placing that circuitry in the Roadster/RK II. I asked Tim, we'll see what he says. I've got some time to think about it as I haven't
let go of what I have now to get the new stuff....but that is more than likely coming soon :twisted:

-AJH

 

[ibanez4life SZ!]

Hey man,

Glad you dug it! I personally thought it wasn't all that different than the 3 channel sitting right next to it. If I were to go from a 3 channel, I think the Roadster is the way to go...don't know how much you screwed with the clean channel, but ****...I can't sell the amp for that alone.

And channel 3 vintage can get buttery smooth for leads on the Roadster too...it's kinda crazy.

For all out Brootz though, I guess I can see the appeal of the newer 3 channel.

Let us know how it goes!

 

[vitor gracie]

I have a Dual Rec with a 4X12 as my standard rig on the contract for when I go out to play with the group I am with. I always assume the worst with sound companies and figure I'll get a beat up old 2 channel one with a nasty worn out cab. (it's happened before) Recently I did a gig in Louisiana with the artist and the backline was a BRAND NEW RECTO REBORN! I was so stoked! The clean to me was WAY better then my old two channel Dual Rec and certainly better then my Roadster I used to own. I also thought it was better voiced then the previous 3 channel Dual Recs (of which I have never been a fan of) I have to concur, it made me REALLY re-consider the functionality of having a 3 channel, multi-watt amp with fantastic sounds and not be over board like the Roaster tends to be. There where things that I thought where simply unusable about the Roadsters. I thought they are great amps, but all the functions are simply not musical to me. I really thought that the Newer Multi-Watt Rectos are very well laid out tone-wise. It seems that Mesa has really listened to the users.

They definitely sound different then the other models. I don't think they are necessarily like the older 2-channel rectos at all. I just think they are the best of all the versions put together in one box with some nicer Road King features...but not too much. I was just a little bummed that it was such a loud rig for the room that I opted to turn the 4X12 around to face the back wall so as to not cripple the first row of people...LOL!

 

[KH Guitar Freak]

I've played both the new Rectos and I own a Roadster, and I'll happily say that the cleans on the Roadster is still better than the new Rectos. That being said, the cleans on the new Rectos are better sounding now, and perhaps more useable for most people...

 

[konstantine RK]

great news... since I sold a triple rect 2 years ago to a dude in Louisianna