Roadster Lag & GCX Questions

[Monsta-Tone]

I've been basically Mesa less for months now. I really like the tones that I can get out of my Rivera S120, but it just can't get as aggressive as I would like!

I still have it narrowed down to these 3 choices:
Roadster combo (yeah, I know it's heavy, but I want a combo)
Mark V combo (I don't really like the Mark IV though, so not sure if I could really bond with the V)
Triaxis

I have a Ground Control Pro and GCX.
I was wondering how I would go through the "Roadster Lag" fix of cycling all channels while on Standby, or if it would even be necessary.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[screamingdaisy]

The cycling of channels is to reduce the initial pop after turning it on. Mine used to do it bad but after a few months it went away. Now I just power up normally and play.

The Roadster should have no channel switching lag, although the reverb mutes for a second after switching channels so that the trails don't over power the dry signal when switching between channels of different gain/volume levels.

 

[domct203]

Hi Andy,
As screamingdaisy said cycling thru the channels is the "pop" fix.

The "lag" fix is to leave the reverb switched on all the time.

I still cycle thru the channels out of habit, and my Roadster never pops at gig/band volume.

I notice a very, very small channel switching lag from time to time but it disappears in the band mix.

IMO if you don't jive with the MKIV you will most likely have the same issue with the MKV & Triaxis.

Once you go Recto you never go back LOL.

Dom

 

[screamingdaisy]

IMO if you don't jive with the MKIV you will most likely have the same issue with the MKV & Triaxis.

+1. Particularly if you're going combo. Mark combos do better at jazz, blues and blues rock than they do at modern rock or metal. It's all in the way the cab voices the midrange and bass response. If you're going for the sorts of tones I suspect you're going for you'll jive better with closed back cabs.

 

[Monsta-Tone]

Right on, thanks guys.
I really like the lead tones and the clean tones are ok on the IV.
I just never liked R2. I'm not really sure I like the rhythm tones on the Lead channel either, but I never tried it with a 2x12 or 4x12.
I'm limited on space, so combos seem to work best for me.

As far as the Reverb is concerned, I would just set it for the 2 clean channels and turn the knob down for the lead channels.
I never turn it off, except for my Rivera amp because there is a very noticeable volume difference.

 

[iceman]

Maybe you should consider the RA-100. Kinda a cross between recto and mark, but still its own thing. Also super easy to dial in (can't really get a bad tone out of it).

I didn't really bond with the MkV combo, I switched to a head with port city cab loaded with ET65 and Vet30, now it slays. I would go with the MkV over the Triaxis.

The Roadster 2x12 is really heavy ~120lbs or something, moving it gets old, but very versatile and sounds great though. If you are sure the weight isn't a problem you can't go wrong with the Roadster. It does need volume to open up though, and is darker than a traditional recto, but there are ways to improve it. I have EL34s in it, but many have said tungsol in v1 slot works great (actually going to give that a try today).

 

[Monsta-Tone]

Right on, thanks guys!

IMO if you don't jive with the MKIV you will most likely have the same issue with the MKV & Triaxis.

Once you go Recto you never go back LOL.

I thought there was a version that did Recto tones? Wasn't it Ver. 2 w/No Phat mod?

 

[screamingdaisy]

I thought there was a version that did Recto tones? Wasn't it Ver. 2 w/No Phat mod?

It sounds like a Mark trying to do Recto tones.

 

[boss4]

IMO if you don't jive with the MKIV you will most likely have the same issue with the MKV & Triaxis.

+1. Particularly if you're going combo. Mark combos do better at jazz, blues and blues rock than they do at modern rock or metal. It's all in the way the cab voices the midrange and bass response. If you're going for the sorts of tones I suspect you're going for you'll jive better with closed back cabs.

...or Trem-O-Verb Combos! I remember Incubus Guitarist Mike Einzinger playing S.C.I.E.N.C.E. album (good metal/numetal tone) live, with two of those, with great results!

 

[domct203]

I thought there was a version that did Recto tones? Wasn't it Ver. 2 w/No Phat mod?

It sounds like a Mark trying to do Recto tones.

+1. IMO it's the worst mode in the Triaxis.

Dom

 

[YellowJacket]

Once you go Recto you never go back LOL.

Dom

Really? I fought with my Recto for 10 years and I'm still REALLY enjoying my Electra Dyne, over one year later. I still have the Recto though, because sometimes you just gotta play HEAVY music.

 

[domct203]

Once you go Recto you never go back LOL.

Dom

Really? I fought with my Recto for 10 years and I'm still REALLY enjoying my Electra Dyne, over one year later. I still have the Recto though, because sometimes you just gotta play HEAVY music.

I think I would have made a switch 7-8 years ago. If I don't jive with somethin with in a few months I move on. If you fought with the amp for 10 years I guess that would not apply.

Maybe I should have said "Once you dial in a Recto you never go back"

Dom

 

[YellowJacket]

I think I would have made a switch 7-8 years ago. If I don't jive with somethin with in a few months I move on. If you fought with the amp for 10 years I guess that would not apply.

Maybe I should have said "Once you dial in a Recto you never go back"

Dom

Tried many settings on the recto =-p

Maybe I should have moved on, but I really didn't like much else on the market at that time.
I think I might have got on better with the Recto if I had a Stiletto / Traditional 4 x 12 instead of the oversized one, but the Electra Dyne is just the 'it' amp for my needs. I'd be sad without the Recto but it gets probably 10% of the playtime on average.