Which one ???

Geiri · Jan 1, 2008

Hi guys and girls and thank you all for this amazing forum.

I posted earlier about my brand new express 5:50 and was quite loving it at the time. It had some mk4 mojo and a tiny recto mojo and was what I thought the last amp I'd ever buy,

but I found it wanting in all areas distorted, but cleans were amazing so with a sad heart I let it go. Got myself a three cannel dr and a 2x12 recto cab. I'm a pretty happy guy these days but there is this nagging in the back of my head that I should have tried more amps.

I like the recto growl and I set the orange channel as suggested by the manual to smoldering solo but with the gain on 11.

I'ts all sweet but finally the question, Is there a significant difference in the sound of the roadster compared to the dr. I'm talking about channel 3 and 4 on the roadster.

I have the opportunity to trade the dr for a roadster head with only a pocket change to sweeten the deal. Or should I just go all the way and order myself a brand new mk4.

Sorry for the long post but it's been awhile since I've been here and was starting to miss you people.

Kindest regards from tiny Iceland

Elpelotero · Jan 1, 2008

roadster and DR will have similar sounds in the gain channels. The Roadster may little clearer from the impressions I've heard. If you can afford the Roadster though, it's definitely worth it for everything else it gives you in the other channels.

A mark4 is a completely different sound from the rectifier. That decision you have to make on your own.

You should also consider waiting a month to see if Mesa brings out the Mark5.

Geiri · Jan 1, 2008

Thanks for the reply

I know about the mark 4 and have loved that sound for a long time. But I find myself strangely drawn to the recto and those who tame that beast get in my opinion a sound that is equally good to the mark but with a completely different character.

I was wondering about the difference in the dr and roadster. I read that the channels 3 and 4 can be duplicated in the roadster but are completely different in the dr. So the higain channels in the roadster, are they more like the orange or red on the dr ?

ToneAddictJon · Jan 1, 2008

The Roadster seems to be a little smoother than the 3 channel (through v30's), but before changing your amp, try changing speakers/cabs. The 2x12 cabs with v30's (in my experience) bring out the worst of the DR. Try some cabs with EV's in them (1x12, 2x12 vert, 4x12), and the character of the DR really comes to life.

art_n_music · Jan 1, 2008

If you like rectos, you might consider a DR Tremoverb. It has all the distortion DRs are known for, but have a better clean channel.

Geiri · Jan 2, 2008

Thanx again dudes

I have considered the tremoverb but it is not in stock here in Iceland and I rather prefer the three channel or more option. I used to own a dr back in '95. A two channel head with the side armoured cab. I never liked it so I sold it dirt cheap. But at the time I was aiming for a more mid based shred sound and it was probably more my inability to appreciate the amp rather than the amp itself.

Tell me toneaddiction what characteristics will be changing from v30's to EV's. Cause its not that I dislike the amp it's more like I don´t think I fully understand it. And that's why I was asking about the roadster. Mesa says you can duplicate the highgain channels there but it is virtually impossible in the dr for the reason that the orange and the red are separate preamps. That being the case what are the highgain channels on the roadster comparable to on the dr, the red or the orange ?

Please explain to me, all answers are appreciated.

fishyfishfish · Jan 2, 2008

Not to butt in, but I to have found my V30's have a nasty mid range hump. Kind of "Grainy" sounding at lower to moderate volumes. I swapped them out with some cheapo Celestion G12T-100's and made it a little better. What EV's are you recommending?