| BY ERIC KIRKLAND
The multichannel boutique amps and innovative
tone-shaping circuits created by Mesa/Boogie founder Randall
Smith have shaped
expectations of how a guitar amp should perform. But nothing Smith
has done could have prepared me for the new Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier
Road King head. Boasting four channels, 12 preamp modes, and controls
that govern each channel's power tubes, rectifier type, loop activation
and cabinet selection, the "NOS-injected "Mesa/Boogie
Road King head effectively gives guitarists a clear path to their
ultimate tone.
Under the Hood
My test rig included a Road King head and a 2x12
closed-back Recto cab loaded with Vintage 30s. Both were covered
in tough Black
Taurus vinyl and featured leather corners.
The Road King appears to have a valve for every job:
the head boasts four 6L6, two EL34, two 5U4 and five 12AX7 tubes.
Mesa's
Progressive Linkage power section allows you to use the four 6L6
and two EL34 tubes in five combinations, for power ratings of 50,
100 or 120 watts. Each combination can be used together with any
of the amp's four channels to produce authentic reproductions of
the circuits found in classic amplifiers.
Each of the Road King's four channels has independent
controls for master, presence, bass, mid, treble and gain, all of
which are
arranged in neat rows of chrome knurled knobs. Next to each row
is a three-position mini toggle that allows you to select among
three modes. Channel one offers a choice of clean, fat or tweed
settings; channel two lets you select from among clean, fat and
Brit modes; and channels three and four have options for raw, and
vintage and modern high gain.
The active-channel and effect-loop status are indicated
by bright , multicolor LEDs in the center of the control panel,
and a second
LED display on the panel's left side specifies the active rectifiers
and power tubes. As a final measure of control , the output dial
lets you set the amp's overall level, which can be boosted by
engaging the solo feature via the Kontroller footswitch (included).The
front panel is rounded out with heavy-duty power and standby switches
and a single input.
I t 's on the Road King's awe-inspiring back panel
that the magic begins. Here, a phenomenal 16 knobs, 19 switches
and 21 1/4-inch.
jacks cover every inch of space. Starting from the panel's left
side, there is a slave output with a level control , reverb controls
for each channel and six speaker output jacks that can simultaneously
manage multiple cabinets with different ohm ratings.There is also
a pentode/triode switch, which is effective only on the EL34 tubes.
Next are the channel management controls. Grouped
into individual clusters for each channel they allow you to prese-lect
the number
and type of power tubes, the active speaker banks, tube or solid-state
rectification, the active effect loop ( 1 series or 2 parallel)
and loop 2's mix level . Once you've set up the controls for
each channel, the Road King will activate them whenever you select
a channel with the footswitch or back panel manual channel selection
knob. Unbelievable!
The head's backside also holds the external trigger
inputs, effect loop jacks, loop mix level controls and external
switching jacks
for several features . Of special note is a powerful mini toggle
that activates or bypasses the head's effect loop system. When
by passed, the Road King's front panel output and solo controls
are disengaged and the individual preamp masters become the final
volume controls. I preferred this set up for times when I wanted
the most immediate response and open tone.
Other features on the back panel include the manual
channel-selection knob, the eight-pin jack for the Kontroller and
a switch for spongy
or bold power voltages. The Road King's numerous back panel controls
are augmented on the Kontroller, which has switches for each
channel and loop, as well as for reverb, the solo boost and an
external trigger.
On the Track
With channel 1 set for two 6L6s and silicon diode
rectification, I achieved sparkling clean sounds that were focused
and fast, with
superb clarity. This is the clean channel I've always wanted in
a Boogie. Switching to the fat mode increased the torque for chunky
low-end girth that kicked like an angry mule. With channel 2
set for a pair of EL34s, the Road King delivered dark splendor
and blues-breaker sting.
Channels 3 and 4 covered a huge range of traditional
and contemporary gain tones, from harmonic Plexi crunch to wild
MKII distortion.
Of course, if the famous Recto insanity is what you're after, then
light up all the Mesa's tubes in channel 4's modern mode, and hold
on. This improved and supercharged tone redefines the industry
standard for ear-bleeding modern aggression. Furthermore, throughout
my test, the Road King seemed absolutely married to the deep Vintage
30-loaded cab, cranking out complexity and projection without fatiguing
my ears .
THE BOTTOM LINE
I've owned or played every Mesa/Boogie production
amp to date, and the Road King eclipses them all. It has a ridiculously
good
clean channel and an indescribable range of gain and tone options,
plus its fine-tuned circuits and progressive-linkage power section
are the best Mesa has ever produced. Despite its plethora of features,
the Road King is simple and intuitive to operate. Boasting bou-tique
tone and the most versatility ever offered in a tube amp, the Road
King blows the doors off the competition.
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