RK2 or RA-100

[Steve Naples]

Hi,
I posted this in the main "Modern Era Amps", but figured I might get more traction here.
I am looking to get my first Mesa Boogie amp, I really like the sound of the Dual Rec. I also have heard online the RK2 and RA-100. I am considering the RA-100, but not sure I can get the gain that I want for modern metal. I also want to get tones for 90's hard rock as well as other hard rock.
Since I am not as familiar with these amps as I am Orange and Marshall, which I have one of each, any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Steve

 

[Chadd]

The Road King is going to be more versatile, and should be able to cover everything you are looking for.

 

[Steve Naples]

I was afraid that would be the case, as those are pretty expensive, but look like they can do everything.

I'm trying to see if I can work a trade, I have a Koch Multitone, so I am looking to trade towards a RK2 head.

Thanks

 

[bandit2013]

I have both RA100 and Roadster (little brother to the RK)

If your goal was classic rock or more of a vintage tone the RA100 would be it. Hi/Lo channel can get really bossy but will never get into the heavy metal territory as the RK or Roadster (or any of the other Rectifier amps).

Also the RK or Roadster can muster up very similar tones that can be achieved with the RA100, it is not exactly the same but very close. As for speaker choice, The RA thrives on the V30's. The RK or Roadster can be used with just about any speaker on the planet. I have two different cabs, the oversized Rectifier slanted 412 cab loaded with EVM12L and a traditional sized slanted 412 with the Mesa V30's. The Rectifier amps sound great though both separately or combined.

I would recommend either the RKII or the Roadster for Metal and everything else you can imagine.

 

[Steve Naples]

Ok, thanks, I was concerned about that, so I'll see what I can do.
The RKII is very pricey, so that is all that is holding me back.
So is the Roadster just to a lesser degree.

 

[Steve Naples]

I'm definitely looking at the Roadster as my next amp.
From what I can tell it will do anything that I need it to.

 

[ryjan]

The Roadster is a great amp. It has the best clean channel (actually both channels 1 and 2) that I've ever played and channels 3 and 4 will cover everything from classic rock to Metallica's Black Album to a tee. Add channel assignable rectifier and wattage setting, switchable loop, reverb for each channel, and a silent tuner out and you have the ultimate gigging machine.

 

[Steve Naples]

Very cool, I was looking to get some tones like Disturbed from their The Sickness album. I think this should be pretty close.

 

[bandit2013]

The Roadster is a sweet amp. Definitely will do the job. Metallica tone from the RA100, perhaps you may get close with an overdrive pedal but not close enough. I love the Mark V too but that is different from the Roadster or Road King as the RA100 is. I actually have Mark IV, V, Roadster and the RA100. The Roadster definitely fills the gap between the RA100 and the Mark V. I bought the RA100 because I was looking for an amp that has more of a vintage tone and will also perform well with blues and Jazz and primarily classic Rock like Lead Zeppelin to ACDC. The Mark V does it well too. The Roadster on the other hand can do what ever you imagine. Odd that 2 years ago I was after the Roadster and came home with the Mark V. I finally decided to hop onto the Dual Rectifier wagon.

Rectifier tracking at 100W, that is awesome. What you can do with this amp to tailor your tone and gain stack is amazing. The amp sounds even better when you get it set up with your rig. I am still defining my tone with the amp. I have only had it for about a few weeks.

 

[Steve Naples]

I was looking at the Mark V too, but not the same animal.
You have a nice collection of Mesa's, this will be the first for me, right now have a Marshall DSL100h, an Orange Jim Root Terror, Koch Multitone. I did have a 1986 JCM 800.
So I have the vintage classic rock tones covered, as well as blues and jazz, which I don't play.

I have been reading your other thread on getting the Roadster sorted out. I don't recall are you running 6l6s or EL34?

I am wondering what the difference would be in this amp. I have KT77s in my Marshall, I had put EH6CA7s in my JCM 800.

I still need a better cab, I am actually using a Marshall MG412A right now, either I put some good speakers in it or get a nice 212 I think.

 

[bandit2013]

The Mark V is a nice amp too. Much brighter in tone than say the RK2, Roadster, or RA100. The big difference is the tone of the three channels. CH2 is primarily voiced from the Mark I series amps. CH1 is quite similar to CH1 on the Roadster. CH3 is primarily voiced from the Mark IV series amps but has a Mark II setting. It does sound similar to the Modern voice of CH3 and CH4 of the Roadster. However the Mark V will not get close to the legendary DR modern metal tones. I like the variation of tone I can get out of the V. However, the gain stack of the Roadster is something else. Actually all three amps RA100, Roadster, Mark V are fun to play though. If I was to gig with either, I would probably choose the Roadster.

If you can locate a Mesa dealer that is reasonably close to you, it would be worth while to go there and try out a few of the Mesa amps.
I would have gone the Dual or Tripple Rectifier route but wanted a spring reverb so the RK or Roadster was the way to go.

The Roadster sounds great with the stock tubes (Mesa Branded Ruby STR 440 6L6GC) Also sounded great with EH EL34 which is about the same as the Mesa branded EL34. I have a set of Gold Lion KT77 that I had used in the Mark V. They sounded good in the RA100 and the Roadster but since I ordered them for a hot bias (Mark V runs on the hot side) they seemed to pale in comparison to the SED =c= EL34's or the EH-EL34 in the other amps. I have tried out the TAD6L6GC-STR and some NOS Groove tubes GT6L6R-2 gold series Vintage Svetlana (before the trade name changed to SED) those also sounded really good. The RA100 has the best sound with EL34, Roadster does not matter much, as it sounds great with them all.

 

[Steve Naples]

Right now, I might be going with a Tremoverb, can't swing any good deals on a roadster right now.
I may go with a RV 25 also later on. I haven't played either, but from what I have read and heard those would be the right sound. I had found a great deal on the RA-100. Not sure it's the sound I'm wanting right now, and considering I have a Marshall and an Orange head.

 

[Steve Naples]

Well, Tremo deal fell through. Have a Rev G Dual Rec that I might go with. Been kicking around the ROV25 and the Express 5:50+. I don't know if the 5 50 will do the job, but the Mesa videos show it doing Rock and Metal quite well. Thoughts? Or should I just stick with a Dual Rec? I don't gig right now, so 100w isn't needed for spl, I just like the tone and presence of them.

 

[bandit2013]

It is very difficult to decide what will be it, reason why I have thee. Mark V, RA100, Roadster are all great amplifiers. Each have their own distinct basic tone (with the exception of the Mark V which seems to have a dual personality, CH2 based primarily on the circuitry of the Mark I and CH3 is somewhat based on the Mark IV and IIC) The Roadster is almost reminiscent of the Mark I especially in CH4.

I would definitely find a Dealer and try them all out. Spend some time with each one and that will help or hinder your decision. The RA100 is incredible with an overdrive pedal.

Since I love the V, I bought the 5 band EQ for use with other amps. Does not have the same effect. However it did get some more gusto out of the RA100. I have only used it in the loop. Tried it with the Roadster, not needed there, the tone controls are enough.

It is hit or miss with the DR or TR. Some like the newborn versions some do not. I thought the TR sounded great but I do not need 120W and prefer spring reverb (one less thing to carry).

I would have jumped on the RK2 band wagon but in the long run, too many tubes to change. I have enough amps to manage. The progressive linkage would be cool though.

 

[Given To Fly]

Well, Tremo deal fell through. Have a Rev G Dual Rec that I might go with. Been kicking around the ROV25 and the Express 5:50+. I don't know if the 5 50 will do the job, but the Mesa videos show it doing Rock and Metal quite well. Thoughts? Or should I just stick with a Dual Rec? I don't gig right now, so 100w isn't needed for spl, I just like the tone and presence of them.

I would strongly encourage you to hold out for a Roadster. You pay for it, but its worth it. It's simply a better amp than the ones you listed and the ones you listed are good if not great amps! Good deals will pop up on Roadsters as with all Mesa amps. So hang in there and stick to your guns!

 

[bandit2013]

I would recommend holding out too for either RK2 or the Roadster.
If you have not taken the opportunity to actually play through any of them, look for the closest Mesa Dealer and plan a trip. For me that is a 3 to 4 hour drive one way depending on traffic. When I had interests in an RA100 I bid on one on Ebay, then realized what if I did not like it, so off to the closest Mesa Dealer and lucky they had two (head and combo). I was able to get the jist of it in the shop but hard to open it up to really hear it sing. I am very pleased with the RA100 but I bought it for a purpose, blues, jazz and classic rock and it does a perfect job. It will sort of get to Metal tones but it is not a Dual Rec or Mark V. I bought the Mark V over the Roadster in November of 2012. The V was a bit more familiar to me that the Roadster. Had I changed any of the settings on the back panel of the Roadster that may have changed. I was after something different than another Mark amp since I already had the IV. The V basically sold itself. However I was still missing that specific tone that is legendary of the DR, TR, and it is in there in the Roadster too.

The Mark V has two distinct tones to it. CH1 and CH3 are traditional Mesa quality tone and character that is similar to both RA100 and the Roadster as well as the Mark IV. However, there is CH2 which has a Mark I overtone that seems to govern the character of that channel. Super sweet and sinister low mid enhancements. There is a similar character to CH4 of the Roadster that is reminiscent of the Mark I but not quite the same range of mid enhancements. As for the RA100, the clean channel is all that is needed for blues, jazz, up to classic rock and is similar to CH2 of the Roadster. The Hi/lo channel (RA100) is more like Vintage and Raw voice of CH3 on the Roadster. The Lo setting on the Hi/Lo (RA100) is also similar to the Edge voice of CH2 (Mark V) Keep in mind that the RA100 had far more headroom than the Roadster so gain structure will be quite different. The range of gain as well as trimming the character with the Presence control makes the Roadster quite versatile. If I had to choose to keep just one, that would be difficult. I would probably keep the Mark V but yet regret loosing the other two.

 

[Steve Naples]

I did end up ordering a custom ROV 25 and matching 2x12 cab, I needed a new and good cab anyway.
I plan after getting this one paid for, to get a matching color Roadster or at least Dual Recto to go with it, I like the Mark V series and the RA but really looking to get the solid Dual Recto tone and sound.
http://www.mesaboogie.com/gallery/gallery.php?id=871

It sounds like the Roadster would be the way to give me most of what I want. If I want British sound I have a Marshall 100w DSL head that will do most everything else, and an Orange #4 Terror head that is amazing.

What do you think?

 

[Given To Fly]

I suppose that is one way of "sticking to your guns!" :lol:

 

[Steve Naples]

Something like that.

 

[Dreamtheaterrules]

Looking forward to your review of the ROV and 2x12 recto cab together. I have the Mini Rec and the 1x12 Recto cab but had been thinking about upgrading to the 2x12 which supposedly sounds much better.