should i sell the mesa and get a triple xxx

[DankStar]

Re: should i sell the mesa and get a triple xxx

I had a single rectifier for about 2 days. I played it at home, and loved it. Not enough gain you say? Mine had plenty, so that's odd. My problem was, I took it to the jam room, and it got eaten up by the bass and drums. No matter where I set it, it didn't ring through. I took it back to GC and got my money back. I ended up with a Line 6 Flextone I that cut through the mix like a razor. Not that I'm saying get a Line 6.

Why not a 5150?

 

[DeadSkinSlayer3]

Re: should i sell the mesa and get a triple xxx

A xxx over a mesa recto hell no man keep the recto you might not have the eq just right.

Wow... please leave.



Guys, I know Mesa's are hard as hell to setup, and I had it down to a science... but in all honesty, they do two things: High gain rhythm chug, and clean. The lead tones blow. No way around it... the amp is just NOT voiced to do more articulate high-gain work. The mid voicing is all wrong, and the high end is too harsh.

Peavey's, on the otherhand, have a mid voicing PERFECT for lead playing and articulate high gain work, and are known for having a smooth top end.

I still don't really understand what you didn't like about the 5150? If you can tell me what you liked/disliked about it, and liked/disliked about the Recto, I can tell you if an XXX would work. After all, I owned all three, one of them twice .

 

[RatPoison]

Re: should i sell the mesa and get a triple xxx

Just do an A/B comparison and, 'do what feels right'. And try lots of other stuff; perhaps a Marshall or ENGL will fill that void you're looking for.

Why not after a Mark IV. I'm assuming you play metal or hard rock and they sound great. Lamb of God use them, so did Metallica 86-88.




Slight hijack; I actually prefer the XXX to the Rect... I find Rectos are a little too muddy to me... especially next to the XXX. I know this band that has one guy with a JB/Recto and another as 81/XXX....it's weird, the former was practicing with it and it sounded fine, but next to the XXX, it sounded muffled or something. Meh.
BUT THEN, it wasnt that bad one night. As stated, just play with the EQ again.

 

[Metalman_666]

Re: should i sell the mesa and get a triple xxx

I would say try out a Peavey Triple XXX if you can, beside your Recto and see what you like better. I've never actually heard the lead tones of a Recto in person, but I have no complaints about some bands that use them.

As for Peavey, I think I'll have to agree with DSS in saying that they are voiced very differently; in fact they are voiced for more versatility than the Rectos. Plus the active EQ on the Triple XXX definitely allows for some massive tone shaping. Try one out and I bet you won't be disappointed.

 

[Metalman_666]

Re: should i sell the mesa and get a triple xxx

Why not after a Mark IV. I'm assuming you play metal or hard rock and they sound great. Lamb of God use them, so did Metallica 86-88.

Slight hijack; I actually prefer the XXX to the Rect... I find Rectos are a little too muddy to me... especially next to the XXX. I know this band that has one guy with a JB/Recto and another as 81/XXX....it's weird, the former was practicing with it and it sounded fine, but next to the XXX, it sounded muffled or something. Meh.
BUT THEN, it wasnt that bad one night. As stated, just play with the EQ again.

About Metallica, didn't they use the Mark IIC+ in that time frame? AFAIK the Mark IV didn't come around until the Black album, but I could be wrong.

Recto/XXX comparison: I'm not sure that it's fair to compare a JB through a Recto to an EMG 81 through a XXX. I think in most if not all cases the 81 will be clearer in many amps. That said, there are those who claim the XXX has more clarity than a Recto.

 

[Kac]

Re: should i sell the mesa and get a triple xxx

I"d consider gettin' a XXX for the straightedge reference, but I would rather have the mesa...

good luck in the tone search.

Rock On ~ Kac

 

[DeadSkinSlayer3]

Re: should i sell the mesa and get a triple xxx

About Metallica, didn't they use the Mark IIC+ in that time frame? AFAIK the Mark IV didn't come around until the Black album, but I could be wrong.

Recto/XXX comparison: I'm not sure that it's fair to compare a JB through a Recto to an EMG 81 through a XXX. I think in most if not all cases the 81 will be clearer in many amps. That said, there are those who claim the XXX has more clarity than a Recto.

XXX is definately more articulate, but the Recto really has a 'clean' sound to it, actually. Pretty damn clear.

 

[metal]

Re: should i sell the mesa and get a triple xxx

i really like the tone of the mesa (modern channel) at low volumes thats weird it should be the other way around ! but when i crank it it sounds too harsh! the distortion stops being smooth, it doesnt sound natural sounds too fake like if it was a solid state amp (same problem with the 5150) i lower the gain and and stops sounding like a highgain amp i mean it stops sounding metal (tone), and i really like the lead vintage channel! i lower the gain, lower the treble , add a little bit of bass , and it sounds very santanish type i really like that , btw my dad says this is the first amp that it sounds good like a guitar! he says all the others just make noise including the 5150!

 

[34029324079]

Re: should i sell the mesa and get a triple xxx

you don't like the 5150 and the rectifier but you want a metal tone?

hmmm...

I don't think of the single recto as the end all be all high gain monster - that is reserved for the dual recto with the right tubes.

If you really like the tone of the xxx you should get it of course, but, how does the recto sound in a band setting? What about different tubes and/or distortion pedals? Check out your options; you have an outstanding amp at your disposal you lucky duck!

 

[DeadSkinSlayer3]

Re: should i sell the mesa and get a triple xxx

Either there's something really wrong with your ears, or really wrong with the way you're setting these amps up, if they sound 'faker' when cranked.


How close are you to the speakers? What are your eq/gain settings at??

 

[Kac]

Re: should i sell the mesa and get a triple xxx

DSS3... I finally understand the quote in your sig.

nice one. ~ rock on.

 

[DeadSkinSlayer3]

Re: should i sell the mesa and get a triple xxx

DSS3... I finally understand the quote in your sig.

nice one. ~ rock on.

Haha which one? I'll assume you mean the Ghandi one? That man was a genius.

 

[muttonchopsrule]

Re: should i sell the mesa and get a triple xxx

ditch the mesa cabinet and let some tone out of that amp!

to be honest, the worst tone i've heard out of a rectifier was delivered by one of the recto cabinets. there's something about the way those cabs are voiced that just doesn't compliment the head at all, IMO.

 

[ParameterMan]

Re: should i sell the mesa and get a triple xxx

I'd say before you get rid of it, go freakin' hog wild and try to adjust everything the worst way you never though of before- sometimes Boogies like something completely off the wall. Also, change the tubes to something other than chinese- I know my Quad sounded like slobbery broken glass when I first got it. A few NOS Tesla E83CC's and you wouldn't know it for the same preamp. You can also nuke the front emd with something like a treble booster. Boogies seem to be very sensitive to input levels. A little less bass feeding the distortion ought to tighten things up a bit.

 

[metal]

Re: should i sell the mesa and get a triple xxx

Either there's something really wrong with your ears, or really wrong with the way you're setting these amps up, if they sound 'faker' when cranked.


How close are you to the speakers? What are your eq/gain settings at??

what are your settings on the recto? output,master,presence,bass,mids,treble,gain?

 

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Re: should i sell the mesa and get a triple xxx

what are your settings on the recto? output,master,presence,bass,mids,treble,gain?

Now you're hitting on something. What sounds great playing alone may sound totally different in a band setting. You may have to completely re-EQ your amp once it's teamed up with crashing cymbals and a monster bass.

- Keith

 

[DeadSkinSlayer3]

Re: should i sell the mesa and get a triple xxx

what are your settings on the recto? output,master,presence,bass,mids,treble,gain?

Output at about 9:30, master to taste, presence at 0, bass at 11:30, mids at 11:00, highs at 2:00-2:30, gain at noon.

Maxon settings were drive and tone at 10:30, level at 3:00.



And yeah, the Mesa cabinet could be killing the tone. I can't stand those cabinets - dark and shrill at the same time.

 

[RatPoison]

Re: should i sell the mesa and get a triple xxx

About Metallica, didn't they use the Mark IIC+ in that time frame? AFAIK the Mark IV didn't come around until the Black album, but I could be wrong.

Recto/XXX comparison: I'm not sure that it's fair to compare a JB through a Recto to an EMG 81 through a XXX. I think in most if not all cases the 81 will be clearer in many amps. That said, there are those who claim the XXX has more clarity than a Recto.

I don't know for sure, but I know those two were being used then. RTL and before was all Marshall; around 86 to 88 they used both of those but I don't know EXACLTY which one. I think they used the Mark IV around Justice and used the IIC+ around Black..... this is probably so because Lamb of God uses Mark IVs, and their rhythym tone is VERY much like that of AJFA/MOP.


You're right about the pickup thing; EMGs are scary articulate. That's why I mentioned it, and it isn't entirely fair, I know.

I should also note that the Recto only sounded mushy on that night, but I was standing in front of the XXX, and the Recto sounded ok last week. EQ and pickups obviously came into play, or perhaps bad tubes, but on the whole I always found the Recto mushy next to alot of amps in many situations.
They sound best paired with another recto, in my opinion.

sorry for the hijack everyone, hope I'm not confusing nobody.

 

[RatPoison]

Re: should i sell the mesa and get a triple xxx

I"d consider gettin' a XXX for the straightedge reference,

wouldn't the mud flap girls defeat such a purpose? :smack: