Re: The DC-5 and the Dual Rectifier
I have the Mark III, IV, and the Mark V trio. I also have a DC-3, and a Maverick. All are very different from each other and certainly from the big Recto family.
The trick is figuring out which amp is the most suitable for your application. The IV is a great amp, but the III is much easier to use live. The IV has more control of the R2 channel, and many more options in the power amp. It is a great recording amp, though I've used mine often live. The Mark V:90 has ALL the bells and whistles, yet is amazing forgiving and easy to use. The V:25 and V:35 offer a lot of the same flavors, but less power and fewer features at a lower cost.
The Rectos are high gain, professional quality, CONCERT amps. I've seen guys try to use half- and even full-stack Duals and Triples in clubs. Ridiculous.
Mesa's mid-line/"budget" amps like the Dual Caliber, F-Series, Nomad, Express, Lone Star, Maverick, et.al., all offer pro-features and great tones, but won't have the versatility and the feature set of the Mark Series. Each one has different strengths, different flavors. And most of those lines offered head and combo versions, and various power sections. The new Fillmore fits in here too.
The new California, Blue Angel, and Maverick are all what I would call niche amps...but they sound great. I love my Maverick, and I can get AC-30, Plexi and Twin tones from it. But, if you're looking for metal tones...you will be disappointed.
I have amps that can cover a wide range of material and in different sizes of various venues. I know how to get my tones from all of them, and feel totally confident on stage.
Like I said, getting the right model is important. After I bought my first Mesa, I'd found the amp I'd been looking for my whole career. I feel very fortunate.
Bill
