Re: Mesa Boogie Dual vs Triple Rectifier?
Guess I haven't posted in awhile. Quit my job and went back to school full time - not sure I c an keep up with all these young kids - I'm buried in classwork right now :smash:
I'd go for the Dual Rec, especially an earlier 2 channel. Classic sound and lower maintenance costs (buying a matched quad of power tubes is bad enough, 6 is ridiculous). I can't think of a situation where you'd actually need 150W headroom - the DR can get very loud on the clean channel. If you're doing the whole loud-quiet-loud modern rock thing, you'll be golden.
I like the Single a lot but it have to agree with the other posters that it is a bit brighter in overall tone. It's supposed to have the exact same preamp as the 2 Channel DR but it sounds just a little different. A Single Rec with EL34 tubes sounds like 2 parts Mesa, 1 part Marshall. Keith and I are both fans of that setup but it's probably not what you're looking for.
As far as the whole pulling tubes thing, I'm siding with Myles Rose on this one:
"Then there are those folks that have the great idea of pulling two tubes out of their 100 watt amp to turn it into a 50 watt amp. To put it bluntly
and get a lot of argument, this is a stupid idea. A great amp is made up of many components. Power transformers, output transformers, capacitors,
and other parts, make up the design. If one takes a Marshall 100 watt Super Lead, and pulls two of the tubes, and properly sets the impedance
selector, turning the amp into a 50 watt amp, what actually happens? Well, we have a 100 watt power supply, that is now even less taxed than
before. The "50 watt" Marshall will now have less dynamics, less feel, less touch sensitivity. It will be a nice, clean, 50 watt amp. Its 100 watt power supply will never reach saturation. Its output transformer will never be pushed. It will actually be cleaner than it was as a 100 watt amp at most settings and have greatly reduced touch dynamics. The only distortion you will get is when the output tubes are at their limit, and this will be an unbalanced sound, although some might think this is just to their own tastes."