Thanks for getting this up! They actually sound very, very similar. When I did a shootout in store between the Mini Rect and Badlander 100 in 25 watt mode, I was surprised by how different they sounded, but I probably just dialed them in incorrectly. Badlander sounded much more Marshally and the Mini Rect had way more gain and bass. The Badlander is probably the better overall value because you have to put an overdrive before the rectoverb to tighten it up anyways, but I'm wondering if the lack of low end is really noticable? Probably doesn't matter in a mix, but that's been a complaint about it online. Rectoverb also lacks the DI Output and IRs the Badlander has, and I thought the Badlander had better cleans, but the Rectoverb does have 4 overall sounds (2 cleans, 2 overdriven) vs. 3 with the Badlander (1 clean, 1 cruch, 1 crush). I'm wondering if you'd miss the 4 seperate voicings of the Rectoverb by going to the 3 shares ones on the Badlander?
@@JJDon5150 Pushing the gain in the badlander's clean mode is a very similar tone to the Rectoverb's pushed clean mode.....so essentially you can get four voicings from the badlander as well!
@@AlexMessanoMusic Makes sense. So all in all, do you think the Badlander is worth it over the Rectoverb 25 or vice versa? Have you compared both jamming with a band yet or playing live to see which sounds better in the mix? Or boosted or unboosted?
@@JJDon5150 Yes I have...It is a little easier to get the Badlander to cut through a little more in a band setting. They both take pedals equally well.....so yeah, If you want to replace the Recto-verb with the Badlander, I'd say it be totally worth it.
I have no regrets almost 10 years. At these times mesa have not badlander, however with comparing to five25, RV25 have unbelievable huge clean tube tone. I guess it is the best clean tone what I heard. I move to garbage all my overdrive pedals and just playing, without GAS. In additional I want to buy something like orange rock reverb for nonmesa overdrive grain, but 10 yers don’t do that
I agree with your assessment of both amps at the end of the video, me personally I like the bass and mids more of the rectoverb, it suits my playing style more blues and not so heavy rock. Thanks for the video.
I'm older now .. I've been through my Triple Rec days (my 20's) & now I really just love the smaller wattage amps & the Rectoverb 25 is my go to! I use it live in small clubs & it cuts right through everything else on stage! Amazing little head & mini cabs!
Thanks for this comparison. Nice to hear some tones from these amps beyond the typical thrash riffs. Clearly both are great amps, but interestingly enough I came to the exact opposite conclusion-I liked the slightly darker, saggier gain sound from the RV because it reminds of classic grunge/alt metal tones like Soundgarden and Tool, whereas the Badlander tended to stay cleaner when pushed. However, I preferred the bright jangly cleans from the Badlander, which has come closest to my ear of any amp I've heard to reproducing the Roland JC clean sound. Well, it's all a matter of taste. I think the Badlander seems like the better investment given the integrated load/IR functionality.
The Badlander has a nice "sparkle" that the Recto is missing....I'm curious, those clean funk tones you were playing...Do you think you those amps can stay that clean in a live band context? Or will they start to overdrive when you start really pushing the volume to keep up up with a band/ drummer.
Badlander is just a tad less congested, perhaps? Similar enough that a decision could come down to features rather than tonality. The built in load box and direct capabilities of the Badlander keep me looking there. Can you load your own IR’s into it, or are you stuck with Mesa’s stock offerings?
You can load in your own via USB...but I find that the built in IRs are pretty damn good as is. Mesa licenses the same technology from Two Notes Audio Engineering, so the quality is on par with a Captor X, or Torpedo Cab M.
Here's ny thing with the Rectoverb: If you put a good quality EQ in the loop, you can get that extra high end that the Badlander has. However, i think the Badlander has a faster attack and isnt a loose as the Rectoverb. I say these things as a Recto25 and MkV25 owner.
Skip to 01:17 to get straight to the sounds!
Thanks for getting this up! They actually sound very, very similar. When I did a shootout in store between the Mini Rect and Badlander 100 in 25 watt mode, I was surprised by how different they sounded, but I probably just dialed them in incorrectly. Badlander sounded much more Marshally and the Mini Rect had way more gain and bass. The Badlander is probably the better overall value because you have to put an overdrive before the rectoverb to tighten it up anyways, but I'm wondering if the lack of low end is really noticable? Probably doesn't matter in a mix, but that's been a complaint about it online. Rectoverb also lacks the DI Output and IRs the Badlander has, and I thought the Badlander had better cleans, but the Rectoverb does have 4 overall sounds (2 cleans, 2 overdriven) vs. 3 with the Badlander (1 clean, 1 cruch, 1 crush). I'm wondering if you'd miss the 4 seperate voicings of the Rectoverb by going to the 3 shares ones on the Badlander?
@@JJDon5150 Pushing the gain in the badlander's clean mode is a very similar tone to the Rectoverb's pushed clean mode.....so essentially you can get four voicings from the badlander as well!
@@AlexMessanoMusic Makes sense. So all in all, do you think the Badlander is worth it over the Rectoverb 25 or vice versa? Have you compared both jamming with a band yet or playing live to see which sounds better in the mix? Or boosted or unboosted?
@@JJDon5150 Yes I have...It is a little easier to get the Badlander to cut through a little more in a band setting. They both take pedals equally well.....so yeah, If you want to replace the Recto-verb with the Badlander, I'd say it be totally worth it.
Both impressive but the Rectoverb Combo will be mine soon! Just LOVE that tone!
I have no regrets almost 10 years. At these times mesa have not badlander, however with comparing to five25, RV25 have unbelievable huge clean tube tone. I guess it is the best clean tone what I heard. I move to garbage all my overdrive pedals and just playing, without GAS. In additional I want to buy something like orange rock reverb for nonmesa overdrive grain, but 10 yers don’t do that
I've got the Rectoverb 25 with a slant & a straight mini rec cabs to make a mini stack! It sounds incredible! I love it!
I've been waiting for someone to do this exact comparison.
I agree with your assessment of both amps at the end of the video, me personally I like the bass and mids more of the rectoverb, it suits my playing style more blues and not so heavy rock. Thanks for the video.
I'm older now .. I've been through my Triple Rec days (my 20's) & now I really just love the smaller wattage amps & the Rectoverb 25 is my go to! I use it live in small clubs & it cuts right through everything else on stage! Amazing little head & mini cabs!
Really great comparison! I almost prefer the recto verb but both are great 👍
Great video!
Thanks for this comparison. Nice to hear some tones from these amps beyond the typical thrash riffs. Clearly both are great amps, but interestingly enough I came to the exact opposite conclusion-I liked the slightly darker, saggier gain sound from the RV because it reminds of classic grunge/alt metal tones like Soundgarden and Tool, whereas the Badlander tended to stay cleaner when pushed. However, I preferred the bright jangly cleans from the Badlander, which has come closest to my ear of any amp I've heard to reproducing the Roland JC clean sound. Well, it's all a matter of taste. I think the Badlander seems like the better investment given the integrated load/IR functionality.
Totally...the more old school Rectifier sound of the RV25 definitely has its charm!! Nostalgic early 90s vibes for days
Very nice demo of both...which Boogie has a looser feel when soloing....or being both 25wts does it matter?
The Badlander is a tighter amp overall since it's voiced with less low end going in the preamp section, so the Rectoverb has the looser feel
The Badlander has a nice "sparkle" that the Recto is missing....I'm curious, those clean funk tones you were playing...Do you think you those amps can stay that clean in a live band context? Or will they start to overdrive when you start really pushing the volume to keep up up with a band/ drummer.
To stay super clean at band volume, you'll definitely need to use a compressor in the front end
Badlander is just a tad less congested, perhaps? Similar enough that a decision could come down to features rather than tonality. The built in load box and direct capabilities of the Badlander keep me looking there. Can you load your own IR’s into it, or are you stuck with Mesa’s stock offerings?
You can load in your own via USB...but I find that the built in IRs are pretty damn good as is. Mesa licenses the same technology from Two Notes Audio Engineering, so the quality is on par with a Captor X, or Torpedo Cab M.
Badlander is the Rectoverb, minus the spring reverb pan. rRecto's Reverb is tube driven as well. You pay more for less with the Badlander.
@@MofiGoldCd I dont really go into it in this video, but you also get the cab clone IR with the Badlander and the ability to record silently
Here's ny thing with the Rectoverb: If you put a good quality EQ in the loop, you can get that extra high end that the Badlander has.
However, i think the Badlander has a faster attack and isnt a loose as the Rectoverb.
I say these things as a Recto25 and MkV25 owner.
which u like more, recto or mark