Roadster owners...please chime in!

[ibanez4life SZ!]

Hey guys!

So, I spent an hour at my local store trying out a Roadster, and I have to saw, WOW!

I recently joined a regularly gigging band, and I'd like to turn my recto and stiletto into one amp....a head and combo is just too much to be lugging around that often.

The Roadster seems to fit everything I need....GREAT cleans, more features than anyone would ever need, and good lead, and a rhythm drive that stays VERY true to the 2 channel I have right now. I kicked the front end with a Maxon OD808, and it really did great for quick metal gallops even.

Roadster owners....how has the amp been treating you? Any comments for me? My biggest problem with amps is that the things I don't like seem to always come out later.

So...did anything rear it's ugly head with the roadster after a short time? Or you still perfectly happy with it?

Appreciate it!

Eric

 

[wildrat666]

works åerfectly.tight and nasty
great amp

 

[TheBlackman]

Had a roadster since aug 07 and love it! Had a repair shop issue but the dealer replaced the combo with a new head and i bought a 4x12....sounds even better than the combo. We play anything from Johnny Cash to Black Label Society and this amp covers it all.

 

[ibanez4life SZ!]

Sounds good...keep it coming!

 

[jdurso]

For the price and the amount of variety you get out of it (especially when using an OD infront) its a great value. I'm able to cover anything from fender like cleans to over the top brutal and pretty much everything in between. As far as reliability, I have not had one issue with mine aside from the popping which is more a design flaw and not a repair type issue. So unless some amp comes around that sounds better and does all the roadster does for the same price I dont see myself getting rid of it.

 

[LithiumZero]

I love my Roadster more each time I play it! It KILLED at rehearsal last night! I have been through a LOT of amps in the past few years and none have left me as satisfied as the Roadster has.

 

[TFridgen]

The only problem that I have ever had is that the instant I turn it on, my wife gets mad at me. Strange really, must be a design flaw(with the wife, not the amp.)

 

[Elixir]

Just bought my first Roadster/Rec. It's coming in any day. I also went out and got a 10 band EQ and the tubescreamer to put out front.

Any suggestions on settings for these things? (10band, OD,)

I've heard they tend to be kinda flubby so i'm trying to get rid of that. I'm looking to play mostly metal.

 

[155]

get some el34's in there too, you will love them

 

[Elixir]

get some el34's in there too, you will love them

Already did that. :wink:

 

[Anonymous]

Amazing amp!!! got mine two days ago....couldn't be happier

 

[LithiumZero]

I put EL34's in mine for a while. They are pretty nice but in the end I went back to 6L6's and prefer it. The cleans are much better and it just sounds like a Recto should with 6L6's. If I were a bedroom jammer I would use the EL34's. With 6L6's I think that the amp needs to be cranked up to really shine.

 

[Robusto]

The only problem that I have ever had is that the instant I turn it on, my wife gets mad at me. Strange really, must be a design flaw(with the wife, not the amp.)

you need to do the "mute" botton upgrade and you will be fine. :lol:

 

[CoG]

Terrific amp, if my bandmate didn't own one I'd buy one without a second thought. Been messing with it for about a year and a bit now. It really will do it all with 6L6s, with EL34s it's more of a strictly heavy rock amp. You'll want an OD, too.

If you want to use all four channels at the same time be prepared to make a few small compromises on one or maybe two of them to get the volumes to balance perfectly.

Overall I feel it's an amp that you really do need to turn up if you're doing anything except lead noodling where lots of preamp gain will suffice.

 

[JW123]

I have one.

My only gripe is it can get spikey sounding compared to my Triple.

Ive learned that very very small changes in the treble and gain can change the whole feel of the amp. I tend to keep the mids low.

I have the combo and am taking it out this weekend for a gig. If anything rears its head I will post back.

Ive used both EL 34s and 6L6s in mine. Lately Ive been using the 6L6s, but both work real well. Ive learned to get a really good tone at a lower volume with this amp.

Having the combo I have to watch my volume cause playing live I cant hear it as well as a 4x12. I dont like it on a stand I prefer to leave it on the floor.

It is a great all in one amp.

A TS-9 works well in front of mine for solos instead of an eq pedal, just my preference. But really I can jst plug into this amp and cover all the variety I need in my cover band. We play everything from 70s classic rock to 90s alt rock.

Welcome to the Roadster Club!

 

[jdurso]

Just bought my first Roadster/Rec. It's coming in any day. I also went out and got a 10 band EQ and the tubescreamer to put out front.

Any suggestions on settings for these things? (10band, OD,)

I've heard they tend to be kinda flubby so i'm trying to get rid of that. I'm looking to play mostly metal.

For the OD i like (as most do) diming (maxing) the volume, turn the gain down all the way or nearly all the way and adjusting the tone to your liking. The more gain you add the more muddy things sound so keeping the gain off or almost off is the key. The gain will add a little "hair" to your sound but just use a little. I like keeping my tone near noon or below so it keeps things smooth for leads. If your more of a rhythm player you may like a little more treble.

They true key though is how you have your amps eqs set up. First off dont scoop the mids or things will start sounding a little sterile. I always recommend checking out the factory settings in the manual and tweaking from there. They give you a great ballpark approximation off where certain tones lie in the amp. So before you try out any external eqs or ODs make sure you nail the ballpark tone in the amp. think of the OD and loop eq as your finishing touches, adding a little of this a little of that.

On the loop eq, dont go nuts, make slight tweaks at a time. You'd be suprised what slight tweaks will do on both the amp and the eq, so remember subtle changes are usually the path to finding your tone.

 

[LithiumZero]

While I have a boost that sounds good in front of my Roadster I find that at gigging volume I don't need the boost. Tons of gain without it and a nice creamy lead tone

 

[Elixir]

what's the best set up for low volume playing?

 

[LithiumZero]

Bad monkey in front it. Volume up, gain down, eq to taste. Great for practice volumes

 

[vitor gracie]

I also did the 2 amp thing (TremOVerb and a 2 channel Rec) and yes the Roadster is a perfect solution to that combination. Whatever it is that you seem to give up from the respective amps whether it be a certain mode (blues mode on the TOV) or a feature, having 4 usable channels in one box will more then make up for it. there is nothing worse then showing up with 2 complete rigs, the a/b switchers and the mess of cables on the floor as WELL as the FX for each and taking 45 minutes to set it all up. So annoying.

When I am rich and famous, I'll get all the gear but for now having 1 half-stack that does 90% of the 2 rigs makes me smile. I have nothing at all bad to say about the amp and will NOT be one of the guys who sells my Roadster for a Mark 5. If I want a new Mk5 that bad I'll save my pennies for it like a grown man. LOL!