The hard choice

[Nightburst]

Right! Now that I've got my money I'm looking to get the best buy for it.
I know I want something like a Mesa Dual Rectifier but I'll have to go 2nd hand as a new one will cost me too much. (Please keep in mind that I live in Holland so gear is much more expensive than in the USA) My other option is to get a new Randall RM100b head with a Recto, SL and blackface module. The Randall will be cheaper but probably sound not as good as the real rectifier?

I played the combo version of this amp (the Randall) with the blackface and Recto module but I didn't get to crank it and I played through it with an Epiphone SG standard with gibson humbuckers. (at least that's what the stickers on them said) I liked the Recto tone right away but it wasn't as heavy and grinding as I thought it was. The blackface module sounded much better the more I raised the volume (untill the store guy told me to turn it down) but I really missed some reverb. There is no reverb on this amp!!! And the Dual Rectifier also doesn't have reverb.

Now I have this adress of an amp modder here who can buld in some reverb (well I hope) in whatever amp I'm getting.

Man I'm at a total loss, I haven't found any 2nd hand dual recto's for sale and I'm not shure if the Randall I've been gassing for will cut it in years to come.

So I figuered, you guys are pretty smart huh!? Got any ideas what would be the wisest choice? Any alternatives?

My ultimate goal is to get a head, cabinet and possibly a guitar for my money. I'm looking at €2000 burning in my pocket now. Should be enough me thinks?

Man this is some weird post...

 

[Nightburst]

Re: The hard choice

Oh yeah, I forgot. What would be a good cab to go with it? I don't really care if things are matched for looks, I just want it to handle enough bass to get real heavy but still remain clear and articulate and smooth heights. (wait a second, doesn't everyone want this :laugh2: :dance: )
Please keep in mind that I live in Holland so I can't go the avatar route...

 

[y2stevo]

Re: The hard choice

Well firstly your much better off getting the amp you WANT..If you go with the cheaper one that you dont really mind getting at the time as consellation in 2 months when you have a little more money that you could have afforded it then you'll be saying "Aww dang, i should have gone for the recto"..and i know being in europe stuff is much more expensive especially mesa's..I was looking on Thomann.de and the Dual Rectos there are €2500.. Thats Mighty Expensive, The Single Recto is €1990..So your best bet is to wait a little and look for a second hand one cos you will regret not getting The amp you want..

 

[Nightburst]

Re: The hard choice

Thanks stevo you are probably right... But the Randall is so damn tempting...
Damn GAS!!!

 

[Guitarist]

Re: The hard choice

Yep. Save your money for the real deal. Also, I'd look into a Single Rectifier if you aren't already settled on the Dual. There's really no situation that I don't think a 50W can pump out, and it'll saturate your wantings in tone easily at lower volumes as compared to the 100W Dual. JMO, however, there really is no sufficient volume difference between the two, so if you want the 3 channels and whatnot. Go for it. Just a suggestion.

 

[nuntius]

Re: The hard choice

go for the recto if thats the real tone you want

if you dont want versitality dont get a modelling amp.

check ebay for second hand maybe?

also i cant tell from your post if you've actually played a recto (im knackered tho - might have missed it lol)

make sure you do. i made them out in my head to be some awesome amp but when i got to try one i realised it wasnt for me.

 

[y2stevo]

Re: The hard choice

Yep. Save your money for the real deal. Also, I'd look into a Single Rectifier if you aren't already settled on the Dual. There's really no situation that I don't think a 50W can pump out, and it'll saturate your wantings in tone easily at lower volumes as compared to the 100W Dual. JMO, however, there really is no sufficient volume difference between the two, so if you want the 3 channels and whatnot. Go for it. Just a suggestion.

Yeh also i forgot to suggest that too, Unless the 3rd channel is essential i would definitly go for the Single Recto....Volume-wise you will never run into a situation where you need all 50watts yet alone alll 100watts so you'll proboly want an attenuator even if you opt for the single..But alos its good to try out the amp before..

 

[DeadSkinSlayer3]

Re: The hard choice

As far as wattage goes, don't even trust the 50W rating. Mesa's aren't rated like other amps, just like older Marshall's arent. 50W Recto or JCM800 style is friggen loud, and may very well be pushing out more than that. I remember one guy in the 80's had a Marshall head that pushed out 180 watts, even though it said it was only 100....

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: The hard choice

It all depends what you're looking for. If you love everything about the Dual Rectifier, then you know what to get.

However, if you want better versatility, maybe the Randall would be right up your alley. Randall's module system supposedly sounds great and if it's as accurate as people are saying you could be going from Fender blackface cleans to Marshall plexi to Mesa all out gain instead of just having Mesa's so-so cleans and full on distortion.

 

[some_dude]

Re: The hard choice

I remember one guy in the 80's had a Marshall head that pushed out 180 watts, even though it said it was only 100....

I was just checkin' out your age.....


....were you even alive in the '80s?



:joke:

Just pokin' fun is all. No harm intended.


:ban:

 

[some_dude]

Re: The hard choice

People tried to talk me out of a Rectifier.

I bought it anyway.

I couldn't be happier with it.

If you want a Recto, I'd keep saving and keep searching for a used one.

I bought mine used, and I love it.

The End.

 

[Nightburst]

Re: The hard choice

Thanks for your point of view guys, really appreciate it.
That's what Í need to do first, try out a real rectifier. I've heard different things about the clean channel, is it really only so-so?
Maybe I should worry some more about the cabinet to get with it.

 

[Hoss]

Re: The hard choice

i agree...

keep saving man...fight the gas...fight...fight...fight... :smash: :chairshot :sword: :butkick:
:firing: :rocket:


i once read a good saying...

"It is easy to chose a path of simplicity, the path of difficulty is a hard one to follow."

actually it's a line from my book.. :smack:

 

[some_dude]

Re: The hard choice

Thanks for your point of view guys, really appreciate it.
That's what Í need to do first, try out a real rectifier. I've heard different things about the clean channel, is it really only so-so?
Maybe I should worry some more about the cabinet to get with it.

It depends.

If you can only run your output (master volume) at 09:00, it sucks.

If you can run your output above 12:00 (it really comes alive at 13:00) it's great. I run my clean channel overdriven alot (above 15:00) and it gives great old time rock and roll type stuff, lots of definition, and great dynamics.

The solo boost feature is great, as it boost your output instead of your gain, so you can use the clean channel for clean and overdrive.

 

[skyydogg01]

Re: The hard choice

i'd say go for a Mesa 50 watt rect-o-verb combo. its a single recto, 1X12, 2 channel, with effects loop and reverb. ya can't go wrong with that and it'll be plenty loud enough for anything you need. the guitarist in this band i used to follow had a single recto head with a peavey 5150 cab ... the clean was amazing, very bluesy feel, and the overdrive was great, it handled everything from ultra clean all the way up to deftones/tool type sound. the only difference from the single recto to the rectoverb is the reverb.

 

[Nightburst]

Re: The hard choice

Well I intend to use this head with a cab to play gigs and use it for band practise.
Our drummer has some LOUD crash cymbals... so I should be able to turn up the volume.
The reverb thing isn't my biggest worry, I'll just have that modded in there along with a gain mod perhaps .

I notice Screaming Daisy has the 19'' version of the rectifier, is it true that those are better sounding than the newer rectifier heads? I found some guy selling one for €1990 and he claims this one sounds better than the newer mesa's.

 

[Nightburst]

Re: The hard choice

i agree...

keep saving man...fight the gas...fight...fight...fight... :smash: :chairshot :sword: :butkick:
:firing: :rocket:


i once read a good saying...

"It is easy to chose a path of simplicity, the path of difficulty is a hard one to follow."

actually it's a line from my book.. :smack:

Lol! :laugh2:
GAS is terrible when you actually have the money...

 

[y2stevo]

Re: The hard choice

Well I intend to use this head with a cab to play gigs and use it for band practise.
Our drummer has some LOUD crash cymbals... so I should be able to turn up the volume.
The reverb thing isn't my biggest worry, I'll just have that modded in there along with a gain mod perhaps .

I notice Screaming Daisy has the 19'' version of the rectifier, is it true that those are better sounding than the newer rectifier heads? I found some guy selling one for €1990 and he claims this one sounds better than the newer mesa's.

Are you sure that you really want reverb.. In Nearly 99% of live situations you will be looking for a way to stop the reveb from rooms and such.. I think thats the reason Mesa didnt put one on the rectos because if your playing at such high gain reverb makes everything muddy and messy..

 

[Dime59hum]

Re: The hard choice

Real Deal. VHT fat bottom cab.