Mesa Boogie Badlander 50 1x12” Combo Guitar Amplifier, Black Taurus

The Badlander 50 1x12" Combo pares the Rectifier family down to a leaner, more immediate feel. Two channels share three duplicated modes—Clean, Crunch, and Crush—so the same gain architecture is available on either side for straightforward A/B setups. The result is a tighter, more aggressive response at practical volumes, aimed at ensemble work and tracking where the punch of EL34s and a faster top end matter more than sheer wattage.

A pair of Mesa EL-34s drives switchable 50-watt or 20-watt operation. Full power delivers higher headroom and authoritative low end; Half power reconfigures to triode wiring for earlier clip, a mid-scooped, harmonic-rich response, and a different sag profile from the same tube set. Five Mesa 12AX7s handle preamp duties. Master Volume is present for level control independent of gain staging, enabling saturated tones without pushing the output section.

The combo format centers on a single 12" Celestion Creamback, chosen for its focused midrange and balanced compression under drive. A buffered tube FX loop sits between preamp and power section for time-based effects or outboard processing without dulling the core tone. Footswitch is included for onstage channel/mode changes, and a fitted slipcover is included for transport between rehearsals, sessions, and the next “why is this staircase so long” load-in.

Onboard CabClone IR makes the amp a direct-recording tool—quiet stages and silent nights included. Channel-specific IR assignment lets each channel call up its own virtual cabinet from eight Mesa captures, with a reactive load preserving feel when running without a speaker. Go direct alone or in parallel with the Creamback, and maintain consistent miked-cab character from room to room without repositioning a microphone.

The IR library includes Mesa standbys such as the 4x12 Rectifier Standard (closed back), 2x12 Rectifier Horizontal (closed back), and 1x12 California Tweed 23 (open back), among others. The system is open to select third-party IRs via simple USB file management, with extra library storage available. (USB 2.0 A-to-B cable required, not included.) Because sometimes less mic stands equals more music—and fewer tripping hazards.

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