Rectifier Guitar Amp

[Bfeeney]

I have a Peavey Vypyr 30 amp and a Digitech RP255 and on both there is a 'rectifier' setting, I really like it for distortions. I know that Metallica uses Mesa/Boogie duel and/or triple rectifiers, and they're the band that got me playing. I went online and looked up "Rectifier Guitar Amps" thinking I'd get prices on a small one. Am I blind or is super-expensive Mesa the only company that makes rectifier amps? I was thinking a good but lesser brand would have like a 50 watt or something but all I found was Mesa.

 

[some_dude]

Re: Rectifier Guitar Amp

Mesa's are made in America by people who get paid American wages... those added costs get passed along to the consumer.

Check out a Peavey 5150 or 6505. It's not the same as a Recto, but it's along the same general bent and around half the price.

 

[Surgeon]

Re: Rectifier Guitar Amp

"Rectifiers", be them single, dual or triple, is a model made by Mesa amps. Therefore, you'll only find "rectifiers" made by mesa if you're searching for "rectifier".

Many will argue that if that's the tone you're looking for, you have to buy the real thing. I tend to agree. If you really want the "real" tone (which is, no offense, miles beyond what a modeler will get you), get the real thing.

That's not to say that there aren't many amps out there that will do the high-gain distortion sound beautifully, but the Mesa Recto sound will only be achieved properly (IMHO) with a Mesa Recto...

 

[CTN]

Re: Rectifier Guitar Amp

Bugera makes a copy called a TriRec.

buyer beware though, bugera is notorious for having reliability problems, even though the amps sound good (they're cheap component copies of well known, well built amps)

 

[UberMetalDood]

Re: Rectifier Guitar Amp

You can get rectifiers fairly cheap. You would love the single rect which can be had mint for about $600-700 on average. You might not want to limit your choices to rectifiers. You can get a DC model or a used Mark IV or something too. If I'm not mistaken, Metallica's best sound was something like a Mark IV through a Marshall power.

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Rectifier Guitar Amp

As stated above, Mesa are not the only company using tube rectifiers, but the sound they are known for has become known as the 'recto' sound, which is funny because a dual rectifier (for example) can be run using one of two different rectifiers ...

That saturated, very high gain, scooped mid tone was really made famous by Metallica using Mesa amps and I've yet to come across another amp maker that does it quite the same.

I don't know if Mesa qualifies as 'super expensive' these days, either, since the so-called boutique amp market began full-swing here in the US ...

 

[Phantasmagoria]

Re: Rectifier Guitar Amp

Cheap(er) option... just get this russian guy to make you one of these:

 

[Mont97]

Re: Rectifier Guitar Amp

wampler train wreck distortion pedal is made to sound like a dual rectifier... and boy it sounds killer!

 

[Bfeeney]

Re: Rectifier Guitar Amp

^I watched a Youtube video with one of these pedals, The guy was jamming on some Ride The Lightning which helps. The pedal sounds good I might get one..
As for the amp, I found on Ebay there is a Mesa Triple with broken switch (tone shaper, forget which one on back) going for like $400. I might get this but it's 150 watts which is about 100 watts more than I'll ever need. I see Mesa makes a 50 watt version which I really want, I'll watch the used bin for a good deal.

I'm new at tube amps I have zero experience with them (only solid state). I have a Marshall JCM 900 SL-X 2100 that needs repairs. I'm not trying to nail Metallica's sound for my own, it's a great tone thus a great starting point for my own sound. That being said, can I maybe EQ the Marshall to get it in the ballpark of the Metallica sound?

 

[Binnerscot]

Re: Rectifier Guitar Amp

Go to a store and try a recto if you can. They have a very unique feel to them, you may like the sound you hear from other guys and may hate playing on one yourself (that is how I am with a LP and Marshall)

 

[Dezzy]

Re: Rectifier Guitar Amp

I have a Peavey Vypyr 30 amp and a Digitech RP255 and on both there is a 'rectifier' setting, I really like it for distortions. I know that Metallica uses Mesa/Boogie duel and/or triple rectifiers, and they're the band that got me playing. I went online and looked up "Rectifier Guitar Amps" thinking I'd get prices on a small one. Am I blind or is super-expensive Mesa the only company that makes rectifier amps? I was thinking a good but lesser brand would have like a 50 watt or something but all I found was Mesa.

MESA amps are so expensive IMO.. You can buy other amps that sound as good for half the price, The MESA amps do have a lot under one roof, nice cleans, and great overdrive and gain, they are lush, I thought about getting a transatlantic for some fun loving home use, but I will Waite till a used one comes up, as I just missed one local on my local forum, I really dig small amps at home, I used to have around 20 pedals to use with my silverface vibrochamp, then I went out and bought a vox night train 15w, so I sold most of my boost pedals, the amp sounds much nicer than a pedal, people may disagree, but natural overdrive outta an amp beats any pedal IMO, the only pedal I own now is a fender 63 reverb and a vox over the top boost tube pedal, the vox is being sold also, as I now have a night train, but if you have your heart set on a mesa boogie, my advice is, try and get one, as you will always want one no matter what you get to try and sound like it, I wanted a princeton reverb, but tried many fender amps that were just as nice, old vintage bassman ect, but I am now going to get one and stop chasing other amps to try and sound like one

 

[Bfeeney]

Re: Rectifier Guitar Amp

MESA amps are so expensive IMO.. You can buy other amps that sound as good for half the price
...but if you have your heart set on a mesa boogie

Thats basically my question, I like the Mesa (Metallica) overdrive sound but not the price (#1) and the 150 watts (#2). I was wondering about another brand that sells compairable stuff, cheaper/smaller.

 

[jmh151]

Re: Rectifier Guitar Amp

Metallica tone is easy to get and you don't necessarily need a Boogie. If you take an MXR 10 band EQ, set it to the "Metal" setting they have in their manual, and put it in the effects loop of most high gain amps (I've used a Marshall JCM 800 2210, Blackstar HT-5 and Carvin V3), it's extremely easy to dial in a Metallica tone. This easily gets you the Master of Puppets, AJFA tone. The Black album is all aboy layered guitars

Maybe I'm bad at dialing in Mesas when I see them in Guitar Center, but except for one time when I played a cranked up Dual Rec stack, most Mesas I plug into sound like any amp an MXR 10 band EQ in the loop

For Kill em All and Ride the Lightning it's a Marshall just EQ'd a little differently.

 

[Mattr4president]

Re: Rectifier Guitar Amp

Metallica tone is easy to get and you don't necessarily need a Boogie. If you take an MXR 10 band EQ, set it to the "Metal" setting they have in their manual, and put it in the effects loop of most high gain amps (I've used a Marshall JCM 800 2210, Blackstar HT-5 and Carvin V3), it's extremely easy to dial in a Metallica tone. This easily gets you the Master of Puppets, AJFA tone. The Black album is all aboy layered guitars

Maybe I'm bad at dialing in Mesas when I see them in Guitar Center, but except for one time when I played a cranked up Dual Rec stack, most Mesas I plug into sound like any amp an MXR 10 band EQ in the loop

For Kill em All and Ride the Lightning it's a Marshall just EQ'd a little differently.

or a metalzone...

Mesa's are amazing amp but so many people F them up and make them sound like a metalzone. I believe most of that early Metallica stuff used a markIII c++ or something like that. I'm not a boogie expert but I would say to look for a Mesa Nomad used. They're pretty well priced used and will get you in the general area you want. Also they're made in a 45 watt combo.

 

[some_dude]

Re: Rectifier Guitar Amp

I own a bunch of Mesa's and in general I find it easier to get Metallica out of a Recto than a Mark. The trade off is the volume required... Rectos don't sound right at low volumes. They're thin, buzzy and kind of wimpy until they're turned up loud, at which point the speakers kick in and they turn into monsters.

To the OP... have you considered a Mini-Recto? They're 25w or something like that. I've never tried one myself but I've read a lot of favourable comments.

 

[Mr 9finger]

Re: Rectifier Guitar Amp

I was kind of thinking the same thing on the mini Recto. I've not played one yet, but it's on my to do list.

The newer Triple Rectifiers have a 150/50 switch that lets you cut the power down to 50 watts. I've not played one, but I can tell you either way, 50 watts is going to be loud. The single rectos are cool and are probably your cheapest bet. I usually see them for around $700 or $800 in good shape. I've not seen a mini recto on the used market yet, but they're around a $1000 new.

 

[Phantasmagoria]

Re: Rectifier Guitar Amp

I just got myself an all-tube 15 watt Chinese Goldea Rex head ..and while it's supposedly based on an Engl of some sort, it definately has the gain to take me well into Mesa territory. Metallica/Pantera etc..it's ideal for that stuff, brilliant for shred, br00tal death metal is'nt a problem either...it can get really nasty.

 

[Bfeeney]

Re: Rectifier Guitar Amp

I liked listening to him talk more than him playing!

That is a nice sounding amp, I'll check them out. (their kinda 'flashy' though)

 

[H8Red442]

Re: Rectifier Guitar Amp

Buy a Single Recto which is 50W used or grab a Mini Rectifier. The minis are switchable 10/25W.

 

[Phantasmagoria]

Re: Rectifier Guitar Amp

I liked listening to him talk more than him playing!

That is a nice sounding amp, I'll check them out. (their kinda 'flashy' though)

Yeah, maybe for some..

Mine actually arrived from China with the blue lights DOA. The Plexi front had been pushed back into the amp a bit while shipping (easily pushed back out again) and the wire that runs around it and connects the Blue LEDs had snapped..so this is what it looks like when it's running now..

btw...it's the same amp as the one in the demo, they're OEM manufacturers so some get re-branded.

And while the mini recto is a nice sounding amp...there are a lot of nicer options out there for $1000, especially used. On the other hand, the Goldea Rex costs $156/- new in the box (about double that with intl shipping costs included).