Mesa Roadking

[stephen sawall]

So every few years I think I want a Roadking. Currently have a Tremoverb and Rev G Triple Rectifer.
My experience with the Roadking is limited. I only have played on a few for a few hours. My thoughts are it would be good with the band live. For gigs I prefer a single amp. Would be switching between a 4x12 and open back combo or 2x12.

Love or hate the Roadking what do you think ???

 

[garey77]

I had an OG 2x12 combo. .heavy as shit. I dunno…I think I liked the Roadster better. Just so much shit going on with the back panel, and tubes cost a half a testie. All the diff modes were insane and didn’t really make that much of a difference for me. And, I gigged the piss oit of mine and used it for regular (four night p/wk) band practices.

 

[Code001]

Cool amp. Darker and smoother sounding, but fiddle with the knobs, and you'll get there. Try to get the Version 2 of the amp. Has a better clean and fixes some known TSBs (cutting traces around V3 and V4, fixing the pentode/triode switch, fan mod, diode update, transistor fix, etc).

 

[Magic Dragon]

I had a V1 head for a few years. It wasn’t as nearly as inspiring as I had hoped given all the options. The whole amp just sounded sort of flat and one-dimensional. I replaced it with a MKV head and still have that. The MKV has enough flexibility for me without the brain-crushing optionality (and questionable utility) of the RK. Plus, as Code001 points out. There are a lot of TSBs for RKv1.

I occasionally think about giving a Road King V2 a try...then I see the asking prices and forget all about it. The oldest RKIIs are now pushing 20 years old and I have no interest in having to recap one. Sprague had some bad years between ’05-’17 (years of RKII production) and I’ve had a few amps with premature Sprague electrolytic failure come across my bench recently....Plus, the cost to retube one of these things is well over $300.

 

[stephen sawall]

Cool amp. Darker and smoother sounding, but fiddle with the knobs, and you'll get there. Try to get the Version 2 of the amp. Has a better clean and fixes some known TSBs (cutting traces around V3 and V4, fixing the pentode/triode switch, fan mod, diode update, transistor fix, etc).

Yes version 2 is what I want.

 

[JackBootedThug]

I had a version 1. It was nice but not better than either of your mesa’s you have. I honestly wasn’t that impressed. Flip switches and it still sounds pretty similar to what you started with.

 

[Bossman415]

The RoadKing II is a killer amp. Being able to mix 6L6's and EL34's is pretty sweet and change cabs. Just depends what your are looking for. If you're looking to gig it, I'd recommend other options due to weight and now a days with modelers you can get way more flexibility in a smaller form factor.

 

[Exo-metal]

Heads or combo only/version II?

 

[angelspade]

The Roadster is essentially a simplified Roadking...Correct?

 

[Alpha Stryke]

I always thought the RK would be the ultimate except when it came time to re-tube.

 

[Hiwatts-n-Gibsons]

I have been a long time Mesa fan, and for years because Mike B ran their repairs and service never hesitated to recommend picking up a used Mesa with the knowledge that if there are any issues you could send it in, they would go through it with a fine tooth comb, recommend any needed repairs, tell you what eles they believed the amp needed done at that time to prevent any future issues, and know they would get it back to 100%.

With the ownership change and Mike B leaving I can say I would be very hesitant to invest in something like a Roadking or Roadster until a couple years down the line of hearing nothing but the same glowing reviews for Mesa's service and repair department that were the norm before the changes.

 

[Bossman415]

I’ve own a RK2 and own/have owned many, many Duals, Triples, Tremoverb, etc…

The RK2 is a cool amp but it’s not for the faint of heart. Tonally speaking I’m a fan of single channel amps and believe in the philosophy of less switches/channels/gadgets = pure signal better tone. I also like Triples>Duals. More headroom and scooped tones…

With that said, I don’t see Mesa making a new RK. Perhaps a new Multiwatt with independent cabclones per channel, but the RK just has way too much going on with it.

It’s a unique amp with a lot of frills. Tonally speaking, smoother & darker than the other rectifiers. They still take a boost well and sound great.

Keep in mind the RK2 has progressive linkage so you can mix EL34’s and 6L6’s, but when using all 6 tubes, both rectifiers will be engaged to handle it (tubes & diodes). Meaning there is no pure diode rectification for operating all 6 output tubes (not a huge deal)

Mike and I have spoke about this before. We prefer the 2-Channel variants for simplicity and they do that classic rectifier tone which is on so many records.

Guess it all boils down to how big of a diehard rectifier fan someone wants to be. I like my RK2 and am keeping it alongside my Rec F Triple.

 

[skoora]

I’ve thought about a RKII too, on and off, over the years. The Tweed setting on CH1 can be a nice dirty channel that’s more rich in the midrange. I could never get a sound I loved out of the Brit setting on CH 2, even just using the two EL34’s. I guess I was hoping for an amp that could do recto, tweed and Marshall and switch cabinets at the same time. Run a 4x12 and an open back 2x12.
I might still not say no to one at the right price, tarted up in a colorful head-shell, but realistically I have Mesa’s that do all those sounds and better right now, so it would be superfluous.
Many years ago a GC that was local to me had both a Blacked our RKII and a purple headshell 101b. Both at about 2K. I kick myself still I didn’t get either one. But money was not as abundant back then, even for a promo on the gear card.
The re-tubing issue would be a serious consideration these days.

 

[stephen sawall]

I mostly want it for my band. I worked with these guys on and off since 1994. I wrote most of the music. The Rectifer was used a lot over the years. Some of the material definitely sounds best with a Rectifer.

I have more tubes than I will ever use. I could tube it several times.

I have digital rigs. I rarely use them. Never with the band.

Live I am using s straight Mesa Traditional 4x12. It weights 104 pounds. The Roadking combo is 96 pounds. For now weight is not a issue. If I was doing gigs all the time I would probably be using a THD Univalve and Orange 1x12.

Completely agree simpler circuits have a better sound and feel. Most of my amps are single channel. Several without a master. I'm fine using these types of amps live. But the RK versatility looks appealing.

Interesting about using all six power tubes and need a mix of tube and diode rectifer. Did not know that.

Currently have 17 amps. Mesa - Triple Rectifer G, Tremoverb, Mark IV, Heartbreaker, California Tweed.
Really don't need a other. But there is a few that always sound interesting.

I know a few people that can work on it if needed. I agree about the changes at Mesa. Things are not going to be the same.

 

[stephen sawall]

The Roadster is essentially a simplified Roadking...Correct?

I believe so

 

[Hiwatts-n-Gibsons]

I mostly want it for my band. I worked with these guys on and off since 1994. I wrote most of the music. The Rectifer was used a lot over the years. Some of the material definitely sounds best with a Rectifer.

I have more tubes than I will ever use. I could tube it several times.

I have digital rigs. I rarely use them. Never with the band.

Live I am using s straight Mesa Traditional 4x12. It weights 104 pounds. The Roadking combo is 96 pounds. For now weight is not a issue. If I was doing gigs all the time I would probably be using a THD Univalve and Orange 1x12.

Completely agree simpler circuits have a better sound and feel. Most of my amps are single channel. Several without a master. I'm fine using these types of amps live. But the RK versatility looks appealing.

Interesting about using all six power tubes and need a mix of tube and diode rectifer. Did not know that.

Currently have 17 amps. Mesa - Triple Rectifer G, Tremoverb, Mark IV, Heartbreaker, California Tweed.
Really don't need a other. But there is a few that always sound interesting.

I know a few people that can work on it if needed. I agree about the changes at Mesa. Things are not going to be the same.

I know on the Duals and Triples you can use a GZ34 to cut most of the sag from the 5U4's they ship with stock. With EL34s on the spongy power setting on the clean channel it gives up a great VOX meets Marshall kinda vibe, or at least on my old Tremoverb it did.

With three different pairs of tubes running off separate rectification circuits I'm not sure.

 

[glpg80]

The problem with the road king technically was their failing switching system of different power tube combinations and wattages per channel - it was a bad design and also caused channel popping between channels. V2 fixed a lot of problems but not that one to my limited knowledge - happy to be corrected if someone knows otherwise.

I believe the roadking V2 sounds better than a roadster but the roadster is a stripped down more reliable amplifier. The benefit of the road king was running 4x 6L6 and 2x EL34 at the same time. Throw a boost in front and it’s insane sounding.

 

[Shredneck]

Yeah I’ve got a mki roadking and run with it with all the power tubes engaged on all channels. It’s the most thunderous/brutal sounding amp when it’s boosted. Not much can hang with that thing. Even the new 90’s reissue doesn’t get as mean as the rk. Awesome amp.

 

[glpg80]

Yeah I’ve got a mki roadking and run with it with all the power tubes engaged on all channels. It’s the most thunderous/brutal sounding amp when it’s boosted. Not much can hang with that thing. Even the new 90’s reissue doesn’t get as mean as the rk. Awesome amp.

If I had my hands on a roadking, I’d mod it with the following:

disable the tube switch circuit on all channels permanently
provide a bias control for the 4x inner tubes bias
provide a bias for the 2x outer bias
add 150W or 75W global half power mode
add in a global resonance knob
add a global NFB knob.

I do believe it would be absolutely crushing with those changes and way more reliable. That would let you run a mix as stock, all 6L6, or all EL34.

 

[japetus]

If I had my hands on a roadking, I’d mod it with the following:

disable the tube switch circuit on all channels permanently
provide a bias control for the 4x inner tubes bias
provide a bias for the 2x outer bias
add 150W or 75W global half power mode
add in a global resonance knob
add a global NFB knob.

I do believe it would be absolutely crushing with those changes and way more reliable.

Thats a lot of mods. What and how would the Global Resonance react?