Roadster trade for MkV

[JAMz]

Hi folks, I’ve been toying with an idea for some time now and wanted to get your vibe about this. I currently own a roadster 1x12 combo in beautiful cocoa bronco. The amp is great but I find myself always tweaking the thing to get a sound that fits my particular taste. The matter of fact is that most of the time I gravitate towards my marks, (I have a IIb, III & IV). It’s clear I prefer mesa’s mark line over the recto line, so I’ve been thinking about trading my roadster for a mark v. Now pros and cons of a possible trade;
Pros:
1. With a MkV, I could expand on my collection on the mark series.
2. With a Mk V, I’ll have the sound I like.
Cons:
1. There are several MkVs around (I mean in the musicians circle where I live), so there is really no novelty here.
2. There not too many Roadsters around and mine is even nicer with the custom tolex and single 1x12.
3. As a boogie lover, I think it is nice to have at least one recto in the collection.
So what do you think? Thanks!

 

[LithiumZero]

If you have a mark 4 there is really no need for a mark 5. Covers the same ground. Keep the Roadster

 

[JMMP]

If you have a mark 4 there is really no need for a mark 5. Covers the same ground. Keep the Roadster

I agree with this for the most part. What the V has over the IV is a more flexible and, in some cases, better sounding clean channel, an R2 that is completely independent with different modes, and a stripped down version of the IV's power section tailoring. In my opinion, the roadster will do anything you could want the V's clean channel to do, and maybe a little more. The R2 would be a toss up. I know a lot of people like the r2 on a V, but I think a roadster on raw, Brit, or tweed could get you most of those tones.

If it were me, I would keep status quo and try out some overdrive/ effect pedals, or maybe another (different?) speaker cabinet. While the collection thing is cool, I don't think that's where you will get most of the enjoyment of owning Mesa amps. Now if you were looking to replace some of the mark series you already have, I think a V would be a great idea.

I have a roadster and a mark IV, and while I believe the mark makes my favorite sounds, if I was going to play a show with a lot of variety in it, I would choose the roadster. It does so many things very well.

Go play a mark v (you mentioned some buddies of yours have them) and decide for yourself if its worth it. If you never play the roadster, it's just a depreciating brick.
Only you can decide if its worth it to you.

 

[Chester]

I have both, and an LSC. Wouldn't flip one for the other as they do totally different things, but can inhabit similar territory with their different signature DNA dependant on settings. Swap a Mark for a V, but keep the Rec

If you have a mark 4 there is really no need for a mark 5. Covers the same ground. Keep the Roadster

I agree with this for the most part. What the V has over the IV is a more flexible and, in some cases, better sounding clean channel, an R2 that is completely independent with different modes, and a stripped down version of the IV's power section tailoring. In my opinion, the roadster will do anything you could want the V's clean channel to do, and maybe a little more. The R2 would be a toss up. I know a lot of people like the r2 on a V, but I think a roadster on raw, Brit, or tweed could get you most of those tones.

If it were me, I would keep status quo and try out some overdrive/ effect pedals, or maybe another (different?) speaker cabinet. While the collection thing is cool, I don't think that's where you will get most of the enjoyment of owning Mesa amps. Now if you were looking to replace some of the mark series you already have, I think a V would be a great idea.

I have a roadster and a mark IV, and while I believe the mark makes my favorite sounds, if I was going to play a show with a lot of variety in it, I would choose the roadster. It does so many things very well.

Go play a mark v (you mentioned some buddies of yours have them) and decide for yourself if its worth it. If you never play the roadster, it's just a depreciating brick.
Only you can decide if its worth it to you.

 

[JAMz]

Thanks for your input. I agree with you folks, I'm keeping the roadster. As I suspected, a mark V will be in a way just redundant of what I currently own.