Dumb Dual Rectifier Question

[Silence Kid]

I had never played through one before and now have some questions. Please humor me: Is it normal for it to sound more "like a Recto" with the preamp cranked and the master kept lower? Meaning: chunky, bassy and scooped, with a decent sizzle, like just about every band from the 90s/early 2000s who you think of when you hear "Mesa?"

Re-phrased: Is it abnormal for it to sound awful and congested when adding any amount of distortion with the master cranked?

 

[dave74]

Re: Dumb Dual Rectifier Question

I've heard of guys doing it that way.
Have you tried it in loop-bypass so that the channel-master becomes the final output-level?

With the loop/solo engaged I always thought it sounded best with the channel-master only a little higher than output.
I'm in the land of residential rockstar though, so it's not like I can really open anything up on a beast like that lol.

 

[Gone_Shootin]

Re: Dumb Dual Rectifier Question

It's very easy for them to sound like crap, and they can be finicky. So here's a couple tips, assuming that you're talking about the 3 channel variety.

I've had a couple 3 channel Triple Recs (the only difference between the Dual and Triple is a bigger power section), and here's how I ran/run them. On both of them, the sweet spot for the master volume is noon or a little higher, then I use the channel volumes to adjust volume. And on both I put a jumper in the effects loop. On the older one you had to crank the send and blend knobs, on the Reborn you only have the send knob (I assume that the Reborn has a series loop). This slams the phase inverter tube a little harder and gets the power section cooking a little easier. Also if you want more grind out of the power section, get a JJ that's been selected for high gain and put it in the phase inverter hole.

All of this makes the amp sound better in my opinion.

 

[some_dude]

Re: Dumb Dual Rectifier Question

I had never played through one before and now have some questions. Please humor me: Is it normal for it to sound more "like a Recto" with the preamp cranked and the master kept lower? Meaning: chunky, bassy and scooped, with a decent sizzle, like just about every band from the 90s/early 2000s who you think of when you hear "Mesa?"

Opposite. Rectos don't produce "that sound" until they're at earth shaking volumes.

Bypass the effects loop, put the channel master up around 11:00 to 1:00 and the gain around 12:00 to 1:00. EQ to taste.

Re-phrased: Is it abnormal for it to sound awful and congested when adding any amount of distortion with the master cranked?

There's not enough information here to know what your issue is, but if the effects loop is engaged and you have the channel masters turned up you may be overdriving the effects loop, which sounds like a harsh, fizzy mess. Try bringing the channel master on the modern channel down to around 9:00, then balance the other channel(s) off that. If this makes the amp too quiet then turn up the master output to compensate.

Or, just bypass the effects loop. Rectos typically sound better that way.

 

[Van Noord]

Re: Dumb Dual Rectifier Question

With Rectos, I found it more beneficial to eq the amp with your ears, not your eyes. Abandon previous eq preconceptions and go at it...

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Dumb Dual Rectifier Question

Pretty much the case for all Mesas.

 

[Silence Kid]

Re: Dumb Dual Rectifier Question

Thanks for the comments, to clarify it's not my amp so I didn't do much more than plug in and mess with knobs at the front end of it.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Dumb Dual Rectifier Question

I think the important thing about Rectos is that they really need some volume behind them for 'that sound'. And that volume is way higher than most people would accept if you aren't playing with a loud drummer.

 

[chadd]

Re: Dumb Dual Rectifier Question

I think the important thing about Rectos is that they really need some volume behind them for 'that sound'. And that volume is way higher than most people would accept if you aren't playing with a loud drummer.

I've been playing Mesa amps for years and I agree. You need to run a healthy amount of stage volume to get it to open up and that can be a problem in a small room.

The most important thing when setting up a Mesa amp is to read the manual and understand what the knobs do. Turning something down is often far more effective that turning something else up

 

[Gone_Shootin]

Re: Dumb Dual Rectifier Question

I think the important thing about Rectos is that they really need some volume behind them for 'that sound'. And that volume is way higher than most people would accept if you aren't playing with a loud drummer.

That's why I have some 2x12s in the collection.