help with single rectifier head

[aa173]

So the only amp I've ever had was a ****** 1x12 spider, so I don't know much about tube amps/heads/cabs etc. I haven't even played any really. I got a bonus so I'm gonna go ahead and get a nice head. I was considering a DLS50, a XXX, or a 5150. Now I'm thinking a single rectifier would be good. How much can I expect to pay for a used one off ebay? I'd like to keep it under 800 for the head. A few quesions....

- What are the differences (besides wattage) between the single and dual?

-Is 50W still loud enough to play bars/small clubs? (just mnaking sure)

-How will it sound at low volumes? The majority of it's use will be me in my bedroom, with 2 roommates around the apartment. I know it's not going o sound as good if it's not cranked, but will it be decent? I was considering a combo for this reason, but I only afford 1 or the other, and I decided to go with a head. Won't the fact that it's 50w rather than 100 be better for low volumes?

I know there are a lot of questions, but for me this is a pretty big investment so I want to make sure I get it right.

Oh, and one more thing....I have friends with avatar cabs and always hear great thinga aobut them, so I'll probably go wit one of those. WOuld a 4x12 with greenbacks help it at lower volumes, or should I stick with v30's? Oh, btw, my main priority with tone is pretty mch just metal/rock, so lots of gain. I love the dual rect sound, so hopefully i'll get close. Thanks

 

[Marcel]

Re: help with single rectifier head

50 watt is loud enough!!
it will not sound as good at bedroom level as cranked!
I would the sound at low levels describe as cold and fizzy... but i find it decent enough but that's just my opinion

I've just played a dual recto...

 

[flipside]

Re: help with single rectifier head

I played a Dual Rect and a DSL100 side my side and the Recto absolutely punished the DSL in every way. The Recto could do better everything the DSL could and then we got into what the Recto is known for.

I believe the Single only has two channels (5 modes) while the Dual has three channels (8 modes), but i could be wrong, the new single might have three (somebody care to clarify for me?) The Dual also has the option of a tube rectifier in addition to the silicone diode rectifier that both amps have. I believe also that the Dual has a built in power attenuator so that you can play at either 50 or 100 watts.

And 50 watts would definately be loud enough for small gigs, without a question. Have you ever considered the Single Rectifier combo? It would be much better for an apartment, and halfstacks are a little overkill IMO if you don't play live often.

you'll prob be looking at 750-850 used on ebay for the Single and around 1000-1100 for the Dual.

Hope that helped

 

[Marcel]

Re: help with single rectifier head

The old dual have just two channels too and it's said the two channel dual rectos sound better than the three....

 

[flipside]

Re: help with single rectifier head

The old dual have just two channels too and it's said the two channel dual rectos sound better than the three....

yeah they say a simpler circuit yields a better sound, but all i have played is 3 channel Duals and they sound amazing.

kinda like the DSL>TSL debate

 

[BluesGuyJ]

Re: help with single rectifier head

50W is plenty of power and will sound better for small gigs rather than its bigger brothers IMO. You wont get the modeled Mesa tone from your Spider with a real Mesa at low bedroom volumes. You have to crank the Mesa as well as any other high gain tube amp to get them to their optimum tone. My Mark III sounds like crap untill she hits 2, and it's a 60W amp, technically 100W, but I keep it set at 60W.

 

[DeadSkinSlayer3]

Re: help with single rectifier head

- What are the differences (besides wattage) between the single and dual?

-Is 50W still loud enough to play bars/small clubs? (just mnaking sure)

Some setting switches on the back and the rectifier switching is omitted on the Singles.

50W is plenty loud.

I wouldn't say a 50W would make it better at lower volumes... nobody in hell is buying a Recto for its insane poweramp distortion. If anything, they want a lot of headroom to keep the nice tight preamp gain from getting too mushy.

 

[greendy123]

Re: help with single rectifier head

Volumewise the 100w and 50w difference is just a few dbs, so it's not much in the difference. If you get a head I suggest a 2x12 cab if you play at low volumes, it should be good enough for gigging anyways. On playing in lower volumes it will sound much better than your spider ss amp you have. After I switched from my ss practice fender amp to my marshall jcm900 slx amp, the tone was much better in comparison to my old amp at any volume. On the note of sounding better than a 50w at lower volumes, it will get power amp distortion on a lower volume but it will still be extreme loud still so it's not going to be much different with a 100w amp.

 

[34029324079]

Re: help with single rectifier head

single = good metal/hard rock
dual = better for punk and metal

my advice = keep the spider for bedroom volumes and jam cranked up with the recto

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: help with single rectifier head

50 watts is way, way loud for apartment volumes. I just got a Mk IV and it's brutal. I was playing it today at half power (45watts) in my house. I had it at 2 and it sounded good. I went up to 3 and I hurt myself. Seriously.

 

[HamerPlyr]

Re: help with single rectifier head

Nobody believes how loud 50 watts can be until they experience it. It's true for 30 watts, too. Also, keep in mind that Boogie's power ratings are notoriously low.

 

[muttonchopsrule]

Re: help with single rectifier head

What are the differences (besides wattage) between the single and dual?

as some have already said, the current production dual rectifiers have a 3rd channel, and the ability to switch between the tube/solid state rectifier mode, as well as the bold/spongy variac switch. the single rectifier doesn't have the option of using tubes for the actual rectifier part of the amp, but this is not a bad thing. most people (myself included) use the SS rectifer mode on the dual rectifier. also, the single rectifier doesn't have the bold/spongy switch.

another thing the dual recto has is a knob on the back panel that lets you assign the effects loop to any of the channels, or completely take it out of the circuit. the single also doesn't have this.

Is 50W still loud enough to play bars/small clubs? (just mnaking sure)

absolutely. i had a single rectifier for about a year and a half, and i didn't play a single show where the ap wasn't loud enough.

How will it sound at low volumes? The majority of it's use will be me in my bedroom, with 2 roommates around the apartment. I know it's not going o sound as good if it's not cranked, but will it be decent? I was considering a combo for this reason, but I only afford 1 or the other, and I decided to go with a head. Won't the fact that it's 50w rather than 100 be better for low volumes?

if you plan on using this only at home, i would consider a smaller, lower wattage combo if you want to go tube, or perhaps a better modeling amp.
tube amps really need to be played loud for them to sound their best, and even at 50 watts you have to crank it to much louder than bedroom volumes to get the best out of it. you can get an ok sound at reasonable volumes if you crank up the master volume and keep the channel volumes low, or even get an attenuater. but it would be a lot better for your wallet to just buy a smaller amp if you don't plan on playing out with it a lot.

 

[muttonchopsrule]

Re: help with single rectifier head

I believe also that the Dual has a built in power attenuator so that you can play at either 50 or 100 watts.

not exactly, but yes the dual rectifier can be run at 50 watts. this is accomplished by pulling two of the power tubes and dropping the impedence in half.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: help with single rectifier head

Mesas at half power are still really, really loud kids.

Like Muttonchops said, if you're planning to use it mostly at home, a better modeler would be better for you. I've heard good things about the Vox 120w combo.

 

[H8Red442]

Re: help with single rectifier head

acutally there is an attenuator in the dual. The effects loop serves as the attenuator as it has send and return volume levels. Duals just sound better. Singles sound fizzy, duals sound like they're gonna rip your face off. F triples.

 

[DeadSkinSlayer3]

Re: help with single rectifier head

acutally there is an attenuator in the dual. The effects loop serves as the attenuator as it has send and return volume levels. Duals just sound better. Singles sound fizzy, duals sound like they're gonna rip your face off. F triples.

That doesn't actually attenuate the amp... it just lowers the preamp signal going into the poweramp, letting you crank the preamp tubes more. It's tube distortion, but not powertube distortion.


In my experience, Dualies do sound best, but I would in no way, shape, or form say that Triples or Singles sound bad.

 

[muttonchopsrule]

Re: help with single rectifier head

That doesn't actually attenuate the amp... it just lowers the preamp signal going into the poweramp, letting you crank the preamp tubes more. It's tube distortion, but not powertube distortion.

exactly. an attenuater is placed after the power amp in the signal chain. it soaks up some of the power that is put out by the amp, and sends the rest to the speakers. as DSS said, the effects send/return levels just contro the level of the signal before it enters the power amp stage.

 

[some_dude]

Re: help with single rectifier head

- What are the differences (besides wattage) between the single and dual?

The Dual has more options and a third channel.

Some feel the Single has a better clean channel than the Dual. Both have a good lead channel, but they both have a slightly different sound/feel to it.

-Is 50W still loud enough to play bars/small clubs? (just mnaking sure)

Plenty

-How will it sound at low volumes? The majority of it's use will be me in my bedroom, with 2 roommates around the apartment. I know it's not going o sound as good if it's not cranked, but will it be decent? I was considering a combo for this reason, but I only afford 1 or the other, and I decided to go with a head. Won't the fact that it's 50w rather than 100 be better for low volumes?

Won't make a big difference. 50w is still really loud.

I know there are a lot of questions, but for me this is a pretty big investment so I want to make sure I get it right.

Oh, and one more thing....I have friends with avatar cabs and always hear great thinga aobut them, so I'll probably go wit one of those. WOuld a 4x12 with greenbacks help it at lower volumes, or should I stick with v30's? Oh, btw, my main priority with tone is pretty mch just metal/rock, so lots of gain. I love the dual rect sound, so hopefully i'll get close. Thanks

Greenbacks aren't as loud as V30s.....but it won't bring you down into bedroom range, particularily with a 4x12, but truthfully I have a 25w 1x10 that's still really freakin loud when turned upto where it sounds good....that's just one of the things you have to deal with when running tube amps at bedroom volumes, and is the reason I own a Roland Microamp for "bedroom" playing.