Mesa/Boogie Royal Atlantic In Depth Review RA-100
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- Опубліковано 21 лип 2011
- The new Royal Atlantic is poised to become the next big thing from the tone masters at Mesa/Boogie. This amp delivers up big american clean tones as well as all of the classic and modified british tones you could ever want, and with each preamp mode having a dedicated control for the Multi-Soak power attenuator, you can have any level of power tube clip and any volume level.
In this review we show you several tones in each preamp mode, show you how the gain and tone controls respond, and let you hear how the Multi-Soak attenuator sounds.
Please note that as the Multi-Soak attenuator is demonstrated, you will not notice a change in volume because each audio clip was normalized to the same level in Pro Tools. The amp drops in volume considerably and that would not have translated well to the recording. By hearing each setting at the same relative volume, you will get a real sense for how transparent and natural the attenuator will sound, as well as how it would sound on a recording where low volume tracking is required.
For more information on the Royal Atlantic, please visit our web site at: www.haggertysmusic.com/shop/me...
We have them in stock and ready to ship!
Probably the best amp review I've seen. Loved how the tone knobs were turned whilst the guitar was being played, really gave me a feel for how the amp sounds. Good guitar playing helped :)
Great sounding amp! Don's demos are some of the best sounding and most complete on the net. Keep em coming!
Don, you do GREAT reviews. You've really done a great job running through the features.
Great demo and review as usual Don
This is such a good review! Going through the eq like that .. brilliant!!!!
this review is the best yet!
That's a review! This is how it should be done, thank you!
the best shootout ever! this review is unique. thanx!
WOW, Great review,
Mesa should pay you for this in depth and comprehensive demo and review. Thanks
you guys make fantastic vids. Not quite proguitarshop, but still extremely good :)
Both amps sound superb at low levels! Hard to pick a favorite.
PGS better watch out, great demo Don!
Man, I miss these thorough videos with Don! I see the RA DNA going into the TC, but the Royal seems to be a little more raw, which I really like. I almost took the plunge on the TC, but there is always a slight “nasal compression” to the tone which is great for higher grain riffs, but for blues and rock I’m not sure. This is a more open sound.
I like how you can play and turn the amp dials at the same time...and your fingers look so dainty!
@JohnnyTsak316 The audio clip was "Normalized" on each step of the attenuator. This is not compression. Normalizing raises the volume until the loudest peak hits -0dB. It doesn't effect the dynamics, quality, or tone of the audio file. It's just a way to balance the clips so that our ears don't trick us into thinking louder is better. The amp gets very quiet at the highest attenuation settings and this video hopefully showed you can still record or jam with it and get great results.
@TheEternalLeader Sure. You can have a custom Suhr built with whatever wiring scheme you want. It's also not difficult to customize the wiring of your any HSH guitar to function that way.
@digitrixster I'll clarify this in the video comments too.... but the audio was normalized to the same volume level of pro tools. The volume level drops considerably as you lower the attenuator and it would have been too quiet for the recording. Comparing all the attenuator settings at the same relative volume helps to demonstrate the transparency of the design. The fact that you didn't hear much difference is a testimony of how great the design works.
Awesome Amp!
Wow thanks Don.I have the amp i just cannot figure out how to use it. thanks form an old dual recto' user ...John
This concept is what I do with three amps...an old Fender Bassman, a 1969 Marshall 50 watt Plexi head and a 1981 Marshall JCM 800. Also, a few different boost and OD pedals in front. Nice Job Mesa...I just might buy one!
Hey Don, I really enjoy every demo that you do. I have a question for you! I have the Mesa Boogie Rectoverb 50 Single Rectifier. I do not use the Modern channel at all, i only use the Vintage Channel only. I know the RA is voiced different in the British way. My Question is does this amp have as much gain as the single rectifier? Also i noticed that the RA combo has Vintage 30's, does it have good bottom end with these speakers. From your demo it might be my next amp. Thanks for any info. Bruce
@chasingtone Yeah, I think the RA has as much usable gain as a Recto, but voiced differently. The gain on both amps can be pushed past the point of sounding good. If you need more gain at that point, a boost will work really well with either amp and take it over the top. You would get more bottom end with the RA head and a 2x12 Rectifier cabinet as opposed to the combo which has a smaller cabinet and part open back.
Hey Don, Great video demos on all the mesa boogie's man! I just had a question regarding this head. I'm realy into John Petrucci, Paul Gilbert etc. I just wanted to know how well this amp handles legato playing, fast alternate picking and string skipping licks, thanks for your time!
First off, I wanna say your videos are great, and helpful, but your radically awesome playing in this and the Mark V vids are making my life a bit difficult. Ya see I am currently trying to decide between getting this amp or a Mark V. If I get the RA, then I'll have some extra cash in my pocket for a pedal or two. If it were your $, what would you do man? Would ya get the Mark V or a RA with a couple pedals. (Side note, I play a lot of 90's music like the RHCP, Nervana, Foo Fighters etc)
@skunizzi It sounds amazing to me. The RA-100 will be my next amp.
@TheEternalLeader Check out the Ibanez S-model. It has the H-S-H config, coil taps, and a trem that blows the Floyd right out of the water. The ZR (for zero resistance) uses two ball bearings to pivot rather than the Floyd's two-point contact blades. It is so smooth and always returns to neutral no matter what you do to it. I cannot make it go out of tune, and the action is very low. And it's not too expensive. The Wizard neck is fast and the maple fretboard sounds fantastic.
I appreciate the effort that goes into making a demo like this and I am not trying to knock your efforts, but I think your videos would be so much better if you simply play instead of trying to read the product manual. Just be yourself and people will appreciate it much more. A good example of this is gearmanndude's videos. For what its worth I think your video quality is much better than his. Also a room mic would make the amp sound much more natural and less harsh. Keep up the great work!
@haggertysmusic Thanks! I really appreciate the response, keep up the great work! What would be the average price for a custom one? Is there somewhere I can learn how to wire it? Can I take it in somewhere to get done for me? You guys have got to be the greatest on UA-cam for what you do, great videos and great, friendly advice, keep rocking!
@skunizzi The reason you probably hear their videos as "harsh" sometimes is because they volume normalize their videos. A) in whatever audio program (probably pro-tools) and that pushes the decibels to zero, and makes it almost clip. and B) they probably use Sony Vegas (which I use) and it makes it sound a little different once the video is re-compiled. C) UA-cam compression takes some away again. All this adds up to the dynamic change. Mesa's are still king of the hill, though.
I'm curious to know if the RA-100 head (8ohms) would sound good through my Orange PPC412 (16ohms) cab with V30's. What do you think? Also, the fx loop on the RA-100 isn't footswitchable right? Nice video btw!
Thanks for playing and not talking the whole time. Do you think this is a better alternative for those of us that want good tone at lower vokumes? I know the mark V has variable wattage settings. Do you think this attenuation sounds better than variable wattage settings as featured on the lone star and mark V?
No wonder Mark Morton uses this amp... it sounds awsome for metal!! Very nice classic rock and clean tone too.
@dbenc This amp is great for metal. Use channel 3 and approach band volumes. I was jamming RUIN by Lamb Of God at the local guitar shop. Awesome metal tone! I prefer it over the Rectifier and Mark V when playing metal.
Thanks! mine is great...keep pulling..under
sounds massive
@skunizzi Haven't had anyone complain they are harsh sounding. What kind of speakers are you using to listen to the clips?
u guys should demo the lonestar!!
Awesome 4:00 he says in "Load mode now" and plays wasting my hate! Awesome!
I was just about to comment that I heard wasting my hate but you beat me to it. Good ears friend.
nice player
does the attenuation allow it to get to low almost bedroom volumes ?
i'm having a real hard time choosing between the ta-30 or the ra-100, the ta-30 seems more versatile, compact and sounds great and volume wise is more than i need. the RA has good clean and crunch, more headroom and can attenuate to the volume you want. I have a attenuator but this can do per channel which is amazing. someone please help me!
Hey Don, can the multi-soak get the Royal Atlantic to sound just as good at low volume as the Mark V does?
Beatle Master!
How would you compare this amp to the Mesa Boogie Electra Dyne?
I think the Solo feature in the Stiletto and Lonestar series is the most useful feature Mesa has added in some time. Why it is not applied across their entire line up is a mystery to me.
Definitely not something that I could afford...but I love that clean tone. Very warm.
@TheEternalLeader Also, try Carvin. They built your dream guitar for pretty cheap.
It is interesting the Marshall is going more knobs and Mesa less knobs. I must be dreaming,
ive enver ehard of this amp before jon skibic in the afghan whigs played it. while. what a great amp
Can anyone suggest or does anyone know of an H-S-H guitar with coil-splits/taps on the two humbuckers and preferably a trem like a Floyd Rose? Thank you.
Very clinical and informative....then he breaks in with 6:52 out of nowhere...nice
Does Don work at Haggerty's anymore?
Has anyone tried 6l6 tubes in the RoyalAtlantic? If so, what do you think?
@JME033089 Thanks for the compliments! You can give me a call if you would like, 605-348-4801 and we can talk tone, but based on the groups you just mentioned and that era of music, my initial instincts lean towards the Mark V. But give me a shout. It's easier over the phone to figure out exactly what kind of sound you are looking to get.
As far as the pgs comments go..... theirs is more "polished" but the are showing optimized setups and honestly haggertys is much more real sounding and they take the time to show you what it actually sounds like
the power soak didnt change the tone at all but I know that these videos must be balanced or compressed because the volume didnt change on the atteuation changes even though I know that this amp is made for big sound less volume with the power soaks -
What's new with Don, anyone knows?
great amp, but i have to disagree with Hagggerty's comment calling it one of mesa's best clean tones to date. my mesa tremoverb's clean sounds much better to my ears. that said, the mesa LSS has even better cleans if you know how to dial it in right.
No presence knob?
This is a bad example of the power attenuator modes. This function works very well and when set to the 3 watt setting it is very usuable and quiet. This video doesn’t show the decline in volume very well...
yea your right !
Why do your recordings sound so harsh and brittle?
Ibanez has a few good options as well.
I didn't like this review just because now I want this amp.
damn are you good
Hell yeah Dream Theater!
That distortion sounds pretty fizzy
Haha!
Am I the only one who didn't hear much of a difference (or any at all) when they demoed the power soak?
RUSH!
But it is soooo sweet for other stuff... *droowl*
a haggertys music video would not be complete without some dream theater
why do reviewers keep scooping the mids on the high gain channel when the gain is cranked? shitty compressed tone, crank the fucking mids up the amp sounds so much better..
This amp is not worthy Petrucci-riffs.
@scrapinger don't be silly, andy is cool, but he's not that good at all either. And why don't you make some vids yourself.