Looking for someone who knows Mesa Dual Rectifiers from A to Z.

[MetalManiac]

I'm going to be getting myself a used Mesa Dual Rectifier amp. One thing I've decided is that I want an older 2 channel amp. I've been looking at the 2 channel Rectos, anmd I see some variations , such as "Revision G", and "Revision F", and "Pre-500". Are there going to be different prices for these?

Does anyone know about all this, or can someone direct me to a website that could have some information?
What is the best old 2 Channel Dual Rectifier?

 

[kramersteen]

Re: Looking for someone who knows Mesa Dual Rectifiers from A to Z.

The Z models aren't all that good. The A model on the other hand is perfect.

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: Looking for someone who knows Mesa Dual Rectifiers from A to Z.

I would talk to the customer service guys at Mesa, and some of the guys at www.grailtone.com which is the Boogie Board Forum.

There are probably going to be as many different opinions as there are versions.

The main question is, as always, do you like the amp you're trying out? Make sure it has the tone you want, and then worry about which model it is.

Bill

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: Looking for someone who knows Mesa Dual Rectifiers from A to Z.

Revisions A and B were only prototypes

The first production revision was C When they talk about "pre 500" these are BOTH revisions C and D.

People get huge boners over these because supposedly they had the transformers out of the 100 watt MKIII's in them and sound better. But this isnt really true Revisons E and F also have the same exact transformer. The sound difference isnt in the tranny.

There are minor component differences between C and D. C's are a touch brighter than D's but are close enough that a tweak of the prescence knob make them sound the same. E and F sound a bit different and have passable clean tones. The clean tones on the C's and D's are pretty fuzzy.

The last 2 channel dual recto revision was the G and is easy to spot as it it has a bigger mesa engineering logo. It is also by far the most common to find revision.

Heres the bottom line. They all sound good which you would like I will not speculate on. But no matter what you do a C or D will command more money but why pay more if its not the sound you dig? The solution? You gotta try them out. There is no guarantee you will like a "pre 500" better. In fact only metal heads like the C's and D's better. E, F and G are less aggressive and a bit more flexible.

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: Looking for someone who knows Mesa Dual Rectifiers from A to Z.

Oh and as a side notw Jer dont turn your nose up at the 3 channel recto just yet. 2 channels are kinda notorious that when you crank the gain to get a good metal saturation there is this fizz to the sound in the high end. The 3 channels dont seem to suffer from this.

If you are buying only for snob appeal then get the earliest revision you can get your hands on.

If you are after usable tones give the 3 channel a spin. They will give 2 channels a run for their money.

 

[Surgeon]

Re: Looking for someone who knows Mesa Dual Rectifiers from A to Z.

Oh and as a side notw Jer dont turn your nose up at the 3 channel recto just yet. 2 channels are kinda notorious that when you crank the gain to get a good metal saturation there is this fizz to the sound in the high end. The 3 channels dont seem to suffer from this.

If you are buying only for snob appeal then get the earliest revision you can get your hands on.

If you are after usable tones give the 3 channel a spin. They will give 2 channels a run for their money.

That's good info from Crusher... I hope some_dude gives his input as well.. Dude's a recto-bible as far as I'm concerned.

 

[vinta9e]

Re: Looking for someone who knows Mesa Dual Rectifiers from A to Z.

The best two channel Dual Rectifier is the Soldano SLO100. Flog me.

 

[Shooter.556]

Re: Looking for someone who knows Mesa Dual Rectifiers from A to Z.

The 3 channel Rectos are pretty darn sweet! I am gassing for one really bad at the moment.
I wouldn't say no to one but that is just me.

 

[hydro]

Re: Looking for someone who knows Mesa Dual Rectifiers from A to Z.

I would talk to the customer service guys at Mesa, and some of the guys at www.grailtone.com which is the Boogie Board Forum.

There are probably going to be as many different opinions as there are versions.

The main question is, as always, do you like the amp you're trying out? Make sure it has the tone you want, and then worry about which model it is.

Bill

+1 on this, grailtone.com has a lot of archived discussion of the different recto versions and various mods available for them.

I have a 3 channel I have been thinking about selling for a while. It's a great amp but more than I need. The new 3 channels have power scaling which is nice, but they are serious bux and you can get older 3 channels pretty inexpensively now.

 

[dystrust]

Re: Looking for someone who knows Mesa Dual Rectifiers from A to Z.

Oh and as a side notw Jer dont turn your nose up at the 3 channel recto just yet. 2 channels are kinda notorious that when you crank the gain to get a good metal saturation there is this fizz to the sound in the high end. The 3 channels dont seem to suffer from this.

If you are buying only for snob appeal then get the earliest revision you can get your hands on.

If you are after usable tones give the 3 channel a spin. They will give 2 channels a run for their money.

The red channel on the 2ch & 3ch Dual Rectifiers are very close tone-wise; you could probably dial in identical tones with a bit of knob turning. As a bonus the 3ch's clean channel is lightyears ahead of a 2ch, even the Trem-o-verb. If you're not going to use the tube rectifier or 'spongy' power setting, give the 50W Rectoverb a look. Those things have a great clean & driven sound and outperform a Dual Rectifier at less than window shaking volume.

The best two channel Dual Rectifier is the Soldano SLO100. Flog me.

Agreed, and honorable mention goes to the Peavey 5150/6505.

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: Looking for someone who knows Mesa Dual Rectifiers from A to Z.

I'm going to second the recommendation on the three-channel Rectos, but it just depends on what you're looking for. They are certainly worth a listen. The Rectos can be pretty versatile, more than most people realize. And now, with the range of models from the Mini, Single, Recto-verb, Roadster, Road King, Dual and Triple--there's something here for anybody that likes gain.

My only concern is that I see SO many used Dual and Triple Rectos available used. It's not because they are bad amps, either. But they are a LOT of amp, more than most players need. Over the years I've talked to many players that were selling or already sold their Rectos, and I'd say 98% moved down to a smaller amp. (A common scernario over the last few years.) So, the good news is that there are some really good deals on used amps out there. Bad news, it's easy to over-spend on an amp that doesn't really meet your needs. So make an honest assessment before you buy...it can save you a lot of dough, and a lot of frustration. And it's not just Rectos, it can happen with any high powered model: Twins, Plexis, Splawns, Soldano and the 5150 family. My Mark III half-stack with the 200-watt 6x6L6 Coliseum head hasn't been out of the house for eight years now; a darn shame too, because it's such a great sounding amp.

I'm really excited for you...be sure to show it off when you get it!

Best wishes.

Bill

 

[Jeff5]

Re: Looking for someone who knows Mesa Dual Rectifiers from A to Z.

I know people love the pre-500, etc., and I'll be frank I have never played one.

I will say that a newer Reborn 50/100 watt (or 50/150 if you want a triple) is just a phenomenal amp and you can get them really decently priced. ($1000 would be a crazy deal, $1150-$1250 is probably average for a dual) That's actually the benefit of so many being on the used market.

I don't know about it being too much amp. Honestly I don't know what that means. Maybe with the power scaling that't not relevant anymore. They also removed some of the buzz from the red channel with the Reborn so maybe you don't need to crank it as much. I think folks sell them just due to not liking the Recto tone or not figuring out how to EQ them. They're not hard to dial in imo, and as tight or loose as you want it to be, can do anything from jazz to blues to full blow face melting metal. Personally, I'd rather put my money there and get a great deal than a 25 year old amp (old dual channel pre 500 recto) that I will definitely over pay for.

 

[chadd]

Re: Looking for someone who knows Mesa Dual Rectifiers from A to Z.

I owned a pre-500 and played a couple others, a lot of it the hype is the typical "older is better" mentality. The Roadster I have now is light years more versatile and sounds better to my ears. The only thing that I liked more about the older Rectos was the STR-420 tubes. They sound better to my ears than the current production. I still have an old pair that I use from time to time and there is just something different about them to me.

 

[hydro]

Re: Looking for someone who knows Mesa Dual Rectifiers from A to Z.

I don't know about it being too much amp. Honestly I don't know what that means.

For me -

Too many knobs
too many channels
Too many tubes
too many pounds

That having been said it is a GREAT amp. But the orange (middle) channel is where I spent most of my time - for stylistic reasons - yet it's the weakest of the three in my opinion. Maybe that's why the 2 channel models are so popular; simpler, and without the third "vintage" voiced channel that is hard for so many to dial in.

I scaled down to an Express 5:50+ which doesn't do the drop-tuned, scooped mid chunk as well as red channel recto, but does everything else as good or better. It's better suited to what I play in the bands I'm in. But for pure metal, especially thrash, and drop tuned stuff the Rectos are really great.

 

[9core]

Re: Looking for someone who knows Mesa Dual Rectifiers from A to Z.

dont write off the reborn its great

 

[newking70]

Re: Looking for someone who knows Mesa Dual Rectifiers from A to Z.

unco jer lives in a shipping container.....i dont think he's concerned with snob appeal

 

[some_dude]

Re: Looking for someone who knows Mesa Dual Rectifiers from A to Z.

I own an old 2 channel (rev F) and a Roadster.

I play the Roadster because IMO it sounds better.