NAD: Mesa/Boogie Badlander 100

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braintheory

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Just got this 2 days ago. I know this amp has gotten some mixed opinions, but I’m loving it. Those who know me know that I rarely like any non-vintage amps, but this is one of those few. This is one of my tightest amps (the opposite of most other Recto’s), possibly the most growly amp I have currently, really nice feel, surprisingly great cleans. It definitely still sounds like a modern amp (no vintage warmth) and definitely not as organic sounding as the older amps I have and more compressed than many of them too, but for a modern amp is pretty good, definitely not an Engl. If this amp was as organic and beefy as some of my others it would have likely sent some packing because it’s so growly on powerchords and tight that most of my other amps sound really smooth and loose in comparison

I already gave an in depth review of how my Triple Rev F/C compared to the 50 watt Badlander when AB’ed, so I’m not gonna repeat that again, but it’s basically the same story with the 100 except that it sounds a bit bigger/beefier than the 50 watt version and when you get it very loud the low end really fills out. It’ll never come close to matching the lows or low mid girth of my Triple Rev F/C and lacks that more bluesy feel that I love in my Triple (Badlander is more modern flavored), but when you get it really loud it should have enough beef to please most guys I think. I’ve just been spoiled by some huge sounding amps in my collection like my Blueface, Coliseum’s, Triple Rev F, Cameron mods and Naylor. It’s not as big sounding as those, but still bigger than many high gain amps I’ve tried once you get it really loud and I’ve mostly tried them all at this point. The only high gain amps I still need to try are a Larry, MI Audio Megalith and JT. I’ve owned over 100 amps (played MANY more). You can see the amps I have in sig and of my current high gain amps this would probably land somewhere in the 8th to 5th spot of my favorites. I know I just made another glowing review of the Naylor (that’s a more impressive overall amp to me, but very different sound)

The Badlander is worth checking out if you guys get a chance. I guess some guys though don’t like it. It is pretty modern, but I feel in a good way. If you guys check one out I’d say have an open mind and forget about it being a Recto, but rather just think of it as another cool high gain amp. Maybe some of the disappointment comes from it being compared to other Recto’s and while it’s obviously in that family, I think it’s better to just think of it as it’s own amp. It’s not for a huge wall of sound or nu metal vibe like the stereotypical Recto sound. My Triple Rev F/C is still not going anywhere. The 2 amps fill different niches for me and I don’t really prefer one over the other
 
One of my buddies is getting the 100 watts rackmount version soon, can't wait to try it. Covid is complicating things but hope we can get together and compare amps again soon.
 
Smashedguitarist said:
You keep the Gibson. I want to try the Cameron
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Haha both cool amps that aren’t going anywhere. My Badlander is from November 2020 it says, so I guess mine is the highly prestigious and very rare pre-Gibson Badlander. Got it used
 
Ha! We need to find out what the serial number break off is. Doesn't Racerxrated work for boogie! This will be the next Rev C-G serial number thread/argument
 
Very nice review as usual Sam. You give very good analogies and I can always relate to the descriptions & comparisons you give.

Sounds like a killer amp!
 
I have a rackmount 100 preordered and haven’t been so excited about a new design amp in a few years. I dismissed it after the first couple clips appeared online, but the more info and sounds that I see/hear, the more I get impatient. I hope it’s everything I’ve wanted in a Recto!
 
That is the coolest thing about mesa. I really like the whole rack movement. I wish it wasn't trending in the wrong direction. I missed the original rack days. Good Luck with the new amp. It is fun when you get an amp that actually is as good as you dreamed it would be
 
MetalHeadMike said:
Very nice review as usual Sam. You give very good analogies and I can always relate to the descriptions & comparisons you give.

Sounds like a killer amp!
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Yeah I know you’re pretty particular about what you look for, but you might like the Badlander. In a way it kinda has some qualities I liked in the Engl’s (like the tightness and modern aggression) without being as compressed or synthetic sounding and has the Recto growl still that I always loved. I like it also more than the Dover
 
Smashedguitarist said:
That is the coolest thing about mesa. I really like the whole rack movement. I wish it wasn't trending in the wrong direction. I missed the original rack days. Good Luck with the new amp. It is fun when you get an amp that actually is as good as you dreamed it would be
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I actually had pretty low expectations honestly, but just always have this need to try out anything remotely having potential in gear and turned out a lot better than I was expecting. For my needs, I’d go as far as to say the Badlander is the only worthwhile product they’ve released in almost 30 years since the early Rev Recto’s. All the other stuff they’ve released between then I’d be totally fine if it never existed
 
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braintheory said:
Mine is serial BAD-000029, so that makes it Pre-500, Pre-Gibson Rev C++ Badlander. If anyone wants to trade their Larry for it hit me up
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Nope, sorry. I have insider information that Gibson actually bought Mesa 2 years ago; and anyone who thinks Mike B did their service think again...his name is Igor and he's been a longtime Gibson employee.


Anyway congrats Sam! And, IMO you can trust Sams ears to give any amp the proper review.
 
Racerxrated said:
Nope, sorry. I have insider information that Gibson actually bought Mesa 2 years ago; and anyone who thinks Mike B did their service think again...his name is Igor and he's been a longtime Gibson employee.


Anyway congrats Sam! And, IMO you can trust Sams ears to give any amp the proper review.
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Hah so that’s why Mike didn’t call me last time when modding my Triple

Yeah for a more modern flavor this is a cool amp. A nice contrast to my vintage stuff. I think it can also be for guys that want a Recto-ish flavor with a more mark-like response. It’s very fun to play for fast, tight riffing. I can see why Kyle (Bad.Seed) loves it so much. It’s perfectly suited to what he does

I tried also those Sylvania 6L6’s in it and not a huge overall difference, but liked the stock EL34’s in it more. Was tighter and more upper mid grind with 34’s, a bit smoother and bassier with the Sylvania’s, both done on EL34 bias mode
 
braintheory said:
Hah so that’s why Mike didn’t call me last time when modding my Triple

Yeah for a more modern flavor this is a cool amp. A nice contrast to my vintage stuff. I think it can also be for guys that want a Recto-ish flavor with a more mark-like response. It’s very fun to play for fast, tight riffing. I can see why Kyle (Bad.Seed) loves it so much. It’s perfectly suited to what he does

I tried also those Sylvania 6L6’s in it and not a huge overall difference, but liked the stock EL34’s in it more. Was tighter and more upper mid grind with 34’s, a bit smoother and bassier with the Sylvania’s, both done on EL34 bias mode
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Those Sylvanias kill in a vintage Mark, but when I've tried them in the Rectos I've owned they didn't make a bit of difference. The last was a Rev F Triple, put the Mesa 440s back in and the tone was no different.
Now, If/when they come out with a Triple Badlander I may have to take the plunge.
 
Racerxrated said:
Those Sylvanias kill in a vintage Mark, but when I've tried them in the Rectos I've owned they didn't make a bit of difference. The last was a Rev F Triple, put the Mesa 440s back in and the tone was no different.
Now, If/when they come out with a Triple Badlander I may have to take the plunge.
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A triple version would be awesome. I wish there was a vintage equivalent to this amp for more warmth and organic goodiness. It doesn’t have the monstrous power section of some of my other amps, but still pretty good imo

I also preferred EL34’s to Sylvania 6L6’s in my Triple Rev F/C
 
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GJgo said:
Sam, so Badlander 50 or 100 and why?
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Very hard to say without AB’ing them, but I liked both. Seems from what I can tell like the 100 sounds bigger, a bit thicker and the 50 maybe was a little brighter, upper middy. I think I’d lean more toward the 100

Again if you get one have an open mind and don’t expect it to be a replacement or direct competition to your Recto’s, but as more of it’s own thing
 
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Ever since Kyle (Bull) demoed his ive been itching to get one. I’m not a recto fan but these seem to fix all the things I don’t like about them.
 
I've been thinking about the BL 50 vs 100. Thinking about Mark IIs and IIIs, IMO the 60 watters have better grind & tone than the bigger power sections. But, they don't have the balls.

When I'm playing at home I've got the bass up & mids down. However, in the band I have the mids up & bass down. In terms of tone in the mix, the 50/60 watters I think have the potential to sit in a better spot naturally plus being able to get into the sweet spot on the volume knob at normal band volume. Note that flipping two of the tubes off on a 100W unit does not have the same effect.

On paper I'm always nervous about the 2 tube Mesas & Marshalls being thin, but really in the band they have the potential to sit in a pretty good place. What do you guys think?
 
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