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Average Price: $1,500
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$300
$801+
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Description
Unleash your tonal prowess with the Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier Roadster Amp Head, a beastly sonic machine designed for the discerning musician. Its Multi-Watt assignable power amp enables operation at two or four vacuum tubes, providing you with an array of tonal options. With its four selectable channels, this amp head takes you on a sonic journey, from sparkling cleans to a roaring, gain-laden snarl. Each channel comes with Raw, Vintage, and Modern modes, enabling you to effortlessly dial in a vintage Tweed tone, a throaty British sound, or a searing modern tone. This amp head also features selectable diode or tube tracking and a fixed bias select switch for hassle-free operation. With its versatility and power, the Roadster is not just an amp head, it's a gateway to a universe of tone.
Key Features:
- Multi-Watt assignable power amp allows for operation at two or four vacuum tubes
- Four selectable channels each with Raw, Vintage, and Modern modes
- Selectable diode or tube tracking
- Fixed bias select switch for easy operation
- Accompanying footswitch for easy tone selection
Product specs
| Brand | Mesa Boogie |
| Model | Roadster Dual Rectifier 4-Channel 120-Watt Guitar Amp Head |
| Finish | Various |
| Year | 2006 - 2017 |
| Made In | United States |
| Categories | Guitar Heads |
| Built-In Effects | Built-In Effects |
| Electronics | Tube |
| Impedance | 16 ohms, 4 ohms, 8 ohms |
| Number of Channels | 4 Channels |
| Number of Inputs | 1 Input |
| Output Power (Watts) | 120 |
| Power Tube Type | 6L6 / EL34 |
| Reverb | Spring Reverb |
FAQs
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What type of music is the Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier Roadster Amp Head best suited for?
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The Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier Roadster Amp Head is renowned for its versatility, making it ideal for rock, metal, and blues. Its high-gain channels deliver powerful distortion, while the clean channels offer rich, warm tones suitable for various styles.
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Can the Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier Roadster Amp Head handle live performances?
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Yes, with its 120-watt power output, the Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier Roadster Amp Head is more than capable of handling live performances, providing ample volume and headroom for gigging musicians.
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What kind of tubes does the Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier Roadster use?
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The Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier Roadster Amp Head uses 6L6 and EL34 power tubes, allowing you to switch between them for different tonal characteristics, from American-style clean sounds to British-style crunch.
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Does the Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier Roadster Amp Head have built-in effects?
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Yes, the Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier Roadster Amp Head includes built-in effects, such as spring reverb, which enhances its tonal versatility and allows for more dynamic soundscapes.
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How many channels does the Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier Roadster Amp Head have?
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The Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier Roadster Amp Head features four channels, providing a wide range of tonal options from pristine cleans to aggressive high-gain settings, perfect for diverse musical needs.
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Is the Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier Roadster Amp Head suitable for home use?
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While primarily designed for live performance, the Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier Roadster Amp Head can be used at home, though its 120-watt output may be more than necessary for small spaces without attenuation.
Videos
MESA/Boogie
MESA/Boogie Roadster Official Demo
Reviews
PROS
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Extremely flexible tone across genres
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Four channels offer a wide tonal palette
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Integrated reverb and multi-watt options enhance versatility
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Channels feature three modes for varied sounds
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Capable of sparkling cleans to brutal high-gain tones
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Tubescreamer enhances performance, offering control over gain
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High-quality construction and visually appealing design
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Renowned Mesa/Boogie reputation for reliability
CONS
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Loud popping sound when switching to channel 3 or hitting mute
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Heavy, making transportation challenging
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Variable wattage has minimal impact on volume
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Some channels may not clean up as nicely without additional pedals
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier Roadster Amp Head.
Value and pricing
User experience
Use cases and applications
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It's noted that the Roadster excels as a rhythm amp, filling the room with sound and requiring less preamp gain at higher volumes.
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The Roadster's ability to maintain clarity at high gain levels makes it suitable for genres requiring heavy, precise distortion without muddiness.
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Pairing the Roadster with different speaker cabinets, like an Engel cab, can influence its "muffled" perception and enhance its tonal clarity.
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Comparisons
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The Roadster is characterized as having a massive rhythm sound, contrasting with the 5150 or Mark series, which are preferred for lead tones.
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The Roadster is noted to have a thicker sound with low-mid focus compared to the Marshall JVM's upper midrange emphasis, excelling in "chugging" over "barking."
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Compared to the Triple Rectifier, the Roadster is perceived as smoother and darker, with users advising a boost pedal for a more modern, tight sound.
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Mods and upgrades
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Owners frequently use JJ 6L6GC tubes as a cost-effective alternative to Mesa-branded tubes, which are considered overpriced.
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Features and functionality
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The Roadster's clean tones are highly praised, with specific mentions of its ability to sound large and open when cranked up.
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The Roadster offers four channels and a three-way voicing switch per channel, with 50/100 watt options, FX loop, and reverb settings adjustable for each channel.
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The amp has a tendency for loud popping when switching channels, which can be mitigated by cycling through the footswitches immediately after powering up.
Source
Build quality
5.0 out of 5
Based on 1 Review and 8 Ratings
72
Awesome Amp!!!
Just purchased this amp in the last year however it has proven to be very a versatile amp for me. Being a guitar player in Rock cover bands it allows me to cover all basis...Classic Rock, Modern Rock, Grunge, Alternative etc. Only issue I have with the amp is the annoying popping sound when switching to channel 3 and Mute/Tuner for the first time after power-up. If you're amp is at gigging levels this could be a very loud pop which would probably be bad for the ears not to mention the equipment.
Overall I'm very satisfied with the amp.
41029
that's mesa for you... super versatile if you wanna spend the time dialing in all those knobs and switches, but there's always an issue with the relays... watch out, the switching is notoriously unreliable on the complicated mesa heads of the 90s from the recto series
Artist usage
Add artist
In this photo, Myles Kennedy is shown using a Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier Roadster Amp Head.
From an interview in 2006:
"IC: What amps do you use live nowadays?
A: I’ve got a Mesa/Boogie Roadster and Joel [Stroetzel] is using a Mesa Triple Rectifier."
A longtime Boogie man, Gillard now plugs into a 2012 Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier Roadster which runs into a Mesa 4x12 cabinet.
According to Mesa Boogie's official site, Marcos use Mesa Boogie Roadster head.
Tarek Jafar when asked how he approaches bass parts live:
My go-to pedals for a great low-end push are the Double Rock by Z.Vex and the Pitchfork Octaver (in Nano size so it has less of a pedalboard footprint) by EHX
Otherwise, I achieve a thicker low-end by playing heavy gauge strings, using a boomy amp (currently on the Mesa Dual Rectifier Roadster with a 4x12 cab) and using guitar techniques like palm-muting to increase my presence.
Original interview here.
On the Primitive Man Instagram this photo shows the bands stage plan. You can see one of the guitar amps is labelled Dual Rec Roadster
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier Roadster Amp Head, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
Community setups
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