Tempting Trade offered to me... What say you?

[PhloridaMan]

Recently I picked up a Mesa Roadster head, an amp I have wanted since they first came out. Just didn't have adult money like I do now back then and they became a little difficult to track down over the past few years.

I absolutely love this thing. It sounds (to me) dramatically different than my 6505+ and EVH 5150III Stealth the only grip I might have is that it's not as tight as I typically like amps and sounds a little rough to my ears with my 7 String, but that's also perfectly fine with me as I like to play all kinds of stuff and it does everything else I enjoy playing really well.

Now for the trade offer... My buddy has a really minty KSR Orthos II, another amp I have been curious about mostly because of the internet chatter about them, but have never heard. I am really intrigued by the idea, but first and foremost, I do not want another amp that does the 6505/5150III sound and I am really digging the mesa sound and would like to keep something in the collection that is mesa or at least in the realm of the mesa tone.

He and I have been trying to get our schedules to align and have me jam on it a bit but he's about 2hrs away and I am always out of town on the weekends with the race team I work with this time of year so it's been challenging. Figured I'd post up here and see if anyone could give me a general idea of what these amps are about or if it's something that would fit what I am looking for above.

Thanks Ya'll!?

 

[Devin]

They want to trade the KSR for your Roadster?

Since you love the Roadster, you should keep it in my opinion

 

[pipboy90]

Keep the Roadster. KSRs sound completely different. Very smooth, controlled amps if you’re into that (lots of negative feedback). You will regret it if you trade, I promise.

 

[japetus]

Keep the Roadster

 

[JackBootedThug]

Mesa ftw….?

 

[BeZo]

Mesa

 

[Beyond Black]

If you love the Mesa, Keep it.
Or meet him halfway and temporarily trade for a few weeks to feel it out.

 

[SBlue]

Roadster and Road King are two of my all time Mesa fave. Extremely underrated amps. I would keep the Roadster. But that's just me.

 

[psychodave]

Keep the Mesa.

 

[NowYou'rePlayingWithPower]

7 string? KSR.

 

[japetus]

What would be the one thing the KSR can do that the Roadster could not?

 

[angelspade]

Keep the Mesa

 

[esizer]

I would take the KSR, personally

 

[ClintN667]

I love KSR. But you had a hard time tracking the roadster down. Keep the roadster. Buy a ceres to see if you dig the ksr sound.

 

[NowYou'rePlayingWithPower]

What would be the one thing the KSR can do that the Roadster could not?

Sell for more?
I would also guess it's going to be a bit tighter, though I don't have any experience with the roadster.

 

[Texsunburst59]

No intercambies la Mesa, te arrepentirás

 

[ZEEGLER]

Another vote for keeping the Roadster. I'd really like to try out any of the KSR amps, but no way in hell would I trade my Roadster for one.

Also, yes the Roadster isn't as tight as it could be. Boost it!

 

[japetus]

Sell for more?
I would also guess it's going to be a bit tighter, though I don't have any experience with the roadster.

 

[hellzington]

Definitely keep the Roadster. That amp has a ton of classic sounds in it that will never go out of style. Throw an 808 in front of it and stand back.

 

[stratjacket]

Agree with others, if you love the Mesa then keep it. I have a KSR Artemis and love it, but it is different than the Mesa. It’s aggressive but has a smooth rounded sound, closer to a SLO to me. Not that one is better or worse, worth it or not but you’d be losing something it sounds like you wanted for a long time that’s a sure thing.