Mesa Badlander. Has this amp died or what?

[PurityS.L.G]

I don't hear or read much about it anywhere. Is it abandoned in the amp community? Why the hate or lack of praise? I've only played one at GC and it seemed pretty damn cool to me. A bit on the thin side but it was like an angry Marshall mixed with some Recto. Am I missing something? I kinda have interest in one again but don't want to waste my time if it won't hold up against an RI 90's Recto or even a Rev G. Talk to me...thoughts?

 

[Sixstringflannel]

Seems like a lot of people still dig them but I think going in knowing that a majority of folks are going to want to throw a Hot Mod / Lynch in there and that adding to the cost could be a turn off. I haven’t played one but I have played the 90’s RI Dual of my buddies and now have the 90’s Triple. Both 90’s RI’s are insanely good. I remember some badlander 100’s popping up in the 1,100-1,400 range and I think I’d be a buyer there. I’d probably pick a Marshall or Marshall variant before a Badlander and let a Recto be a true recto there to cover that base rather than having my subconscious going “yeah but where’s that big booty”. I’m an ass man what can I say.

 

[vultures]

It was marketed as the modern rectifier that doesn't need a boost. I custom ordered one on release. When I got it it was spongey and did not have enough gain saturation for the typical recto sound. Even with the gain knob dimed it didn't have enough balls. Still needed a boost. OK Rock amp, not a great metal amp. I sold mine within weeks of owning it. A normal 3ch Rectifier will crush it.

Randall admitted in one of his youtube videos that he had nothing to do with the Badlander design, no input.. Which explains why it falls flat.

 

[Mr. Chainsaw]

I had a 100w one for a while. Cool amp, but didn't have enough gain for me. Clean and Crunch were good, Crush just had something off with it that I couldn't make work for how I play. With the 90's RIs out all the hype went there, that's what people really wanted, and that's what I'd rather have too. Honestly liked the Triple Crown more for that Marshall/Recto or Mesa-ish mix.

 

[srommes]

I guess I’m in the minority but I have the 50 watt combo with an oversized Recto 1x12 underneath it and I love it. I keep mine on Crunch, gain dimmed and hit the front end with a Maxon OD808. I just think it sound killer.

 

[RaceU4her]

dont see any talk of it here, other places though its well liked

 

[bubbastain]

I do want to get one at some point. I want the 50 watt head. Most likely a curiosity purchase that I won’t keep to long, but who knows? From the clips I’ve heard it has plenty of gain for me.
Also, this might sound stupid but I would prefer it if it just had one channel.

 

[ilikehats]

Seems like a lot of people still dig them but I think going in knowing that a majority of folks are going to want to throw a Hot Mod / Lynch in there and that adding to the cost could be a turn off. I haven’t played one but I have played the 90’s RI Dual of my buddies and now have the 90’s Triple. Both 90’s RI’s are insanely good. I remember some badlander 100’s popping up in the 1,100-1,400 range and I think I’d be a buyer there. I’d probably pick a Marshall or Marshall variant before a Badlander and let a Recto be a true recto there to cover that base rather than having my subconscious going “yeah but where’s that big booty”. I’m an ass man what can I say.

The ass man of guitar tone.

I love the badlander for what it is. It's not a recto, it's not a pure marshall, but I kinda like what they did with that style/voice more than some of the Friedman's? I think it rules.

 

[sloanthebone]

Love my 50w Badlander with Mr Scary mod.

 

[67mike]

Love my Badlander.

In fact, probably like it as much or more than my dual rec multiwatt.

 

[DanTravis62]

I like the badlander a lot It has less gain, sure, but it's also a lot less fizzy

That tradeoff will be either worth it to you or not

 

[VHTStark]

Love my Badlander 100w. Gain is on the dry-ish side, plenty punchy, doesn't have the big sub-lows of a normal Recto, but still more low-mid growl than a Marshall.

I don't like/need lots of saturation, so the Badlander is great as is for me.