Boost for a Mesa Dual Rectifier

[Mookakian]

Have your tried a few different sets of pickups/guitars into the amp?

If not give it a shot, take your amp in to a decent music shop and tell them you are thinking of swapping pups to get a different feel/sound from the Mesa (they may even have a D-Rec in shop to save lugging yours), and you want to test a few types out.


I have the Stiletto but a mate has the Tripple Rec. and they have great tones in there no doubt! Its hard getting use to the controls though reading your manual over and over then dialing with your ears as suggested helps to get the most out of them. I have only had my stiletto for a year or so and still just getting use to the way the thing works with all the swtiches and the way the knobs interact with one another, but the more I mess about the more I love the range of tones I have at my feet just with the amps pedal switch.

I found a set of JB/Jazz pups via a lester into the Tripple-Rec or My Mesa Stiletto gave me one of the tightest, heaviest rhythm tones I have heard, plug and play...so a pickup test run is worth a try

 

[Dino]

Have your tried a few different sets of pickups/guitars into the amp?

If not give it a shot, take your amp in to a decent music shop and tell them you are thinking of swapping pups to get a different feel/sound from the Mesa (they may even have a D-Rec in shop to save lugging yours), and you want to test a few types out.


I have the Stiletto but a mate has the Tripple Rec. and they have great tones in there no doubt! Its hard getting use to the controls though reading your manual over and over then dialing with your ears as suggested helps to get the most out of them. I have only had my stiletto for a year or so and still just getting use to the way the thing works with all the swtiches and the way the knobs interact with one another, but the more I mess about the more I love the range of tones I have at my feet just with the amps pedal switch.

I found a set of JB/Jazz pups via a lester into the Tripple-Rec or My Mesa Stiletto gave me one of the tightest, heaviest rhythm tones I have heard, plug and play...so a pickup test run is worth a try

Thanks.
I have SEVERAL guitars with various pickup combinations including the JB/Jazz combo.

The only pickups I haven't tried are EMG's and though they would probably help, I don't like the idea of having active electronics and having to rely on 9v batteries.

 

[Rhust]

the EMGs + dual rec seem to be metal heaven...


but maybe the TS9 just isn't your bag... you can go one way or the other... try something like a MXR micro amp for a clean boost,


or go OCD for the dirty boost

 

[Mookakian]

Perhaps not the amp for you then, the Mesa's we have around have more gain on tap than the DR, PLUS 150w...I do not have not much experience with the DR model, though if you have to run a pedal in front all the time and with all those slabs of wood+pup choices I can only suggest tweaking the knobs by ear as suggested earlier, or I hate to say it, different amp (PAIN IS THE ASS)

The Mids/Presence and Treble all interact in an odd way on my Stiletto, the more gain I use, the less treble I dial in and more presence I tend to need. I keep the mids around 11 O'clock and use an EQ in front to pull mids for sweeter clean tones or tight rhythm crunch tones.


Though my standard tone is just the amp, and never let the master output go below 12 O'clock or the amp does not let out its magic IMHO, I like to get those power tubes just right, then that solo button for those massive parts!! I hope you can find a way to dial her in and not go through the drama of an amp swap, good luck!

 

[Dino]

the EMGs + dual rec seem to be metal heaven...

That's what I've heard.
I just can't get past the whole 9v. battery thing.

Though my standard tone is just the amp, and never let the master output go below 12 O'clock or the amp does not let out its magic IMHO, I like to get those power tubes just right, then that solo button for those massive parts!! I hope you can find a way to dial her in and not go through the drama of an amp swap, good luck!

That's a very good point and it DOES make a big difference.
It sounds like our settings are very similar.

Based on everything I've heard, I think the Mark V or Stiletto were probably a better choice for me. Unfortunately, a big part of my decision was based on the reputation of the Rectifier and I didn't give those other models a fair look.

 

[Rhust]

Oh, I get it... I almost traded my charvel for another with emgs back in college... I took his guitar to a gig, and the battery decided to die, right then... And got weak real fast... Plus, I've always thought clean, the emgs sound sterile... But high gain... Whew!

I built an LP with 81/60 last year... And it does sound great for THAT sound...

I wanted a dual rec forever, but also love the thicker, meatier mark V... CoC's mid 90s sound... Pepper Keenan made those amps sound ungodly

 

[emptyisvarah]

I use three pedals when I use my recto live. ts type ped + decimator II in front ( I use an r8 with sheptone tributes - PAF type output) and an eq pedal in the loop. hth.

 

[Mookakian]

What cab/speakers are you running?


I found 4x12 was too airy and not enough low end punch, same deal with the Vertical 2x12 so went with a Horiz. 2x12 with V30's in one cab, very tight sound and loads of low end... and the other 2x12 with V-Types (cab on the way) for a sweet midrange to help the rig sing, just the Horiz. 2x12 W/V30's seems to get me most of the way there though!

Cabs and speakers can make a big difference as well, I am sure you know but worth mentioning I think

 

[Dino]

I use three pedals when I use my recto live. ts type ped + decimator II in front ( I use an r8 with sheptone tributes - PAF type output) and an eq pedal in the loop. hth.

That sounds sweet.
Is it best to have the decimator II in front?
Have you tried it both ways?
What's more noisy? ... your TS or EQ?

What cab/speakers are you running?

I found 4x12 was too airy and not enough low end punch, same deal with the Vertical 2x12 so went with a Horiz. 2x12 with V30's in one cab, very tight sound and loads of low end... and the other 2x12 with V-Types (cab on the way) for a sweet midrange to help the rig sing, just the Horiz. 2x12 W/V30's seems to get me most of the way there though!

Cabs and speakers can make a big difference as well, I am sure you know but worth mentioning I think

I'm using a Recto 4x12 cabinet with V30's.
I have a couple Marshall 1960A/B cabinets as well that I tried with the DR.
The Marshall's sound tighter but it still doesn't eliminate the need for some sort of preamp in front.

 

[Chadd]

What cab/speakers are you running?


I found 4x12 was too airy and not enough low end punch, same deal with the Vertical 2x12 so went with a Horiz. 2x12 with V30's in one cab, very tight sound and loads of low end... and the other 2x12 with V-Types (cab on the way) for a sweet midrange to help the rig sing, just the Horiz. 2x12 W/V30's seems to get me most of the way there though!

Cabs and speakers can make a big difference as well, I am sure you know but worth mentioning I think

Cabs make a huge difference, especially if you are looking for that big "RECTO" sound. Most people would never guess my amp was a recto, but I use a 1960 or 2x12 with greenbacks in both. It sounds great for what I play, just not what a lot of people expect when they see me wheel it in.

 

[Dino]

Just saw these new Mesa EQ pedals this morning.
This could be exactly what I'm looking for.

Mesa Boogie Pedals

 

[Rhust]

Just saw these new Mesa EQ pedals this morning.
This could be exactly what I'm looking for.

Mesa Boogie Pedals

yea, the tone burst especially for a boost...


for the $$ tho... I'd A/B it to the spark (TC electronic) or Xotic RC/AC boosters... same type specs...

 

[dogbone94]

Wampler Triple Wreck

I use the wampler and leave my mesa at home[ I don't use the fuzz side]...
it does mesa better than mesa does...
I have a klon klone that I like to use as a boost...

 

[stondoubt]

I honestly don't think that people using a boost is a side effect of the amp or a deficit. I think that people who are buying Dual Rectifiers are most likely experienced in what a Dual Rectifier offers and the tone that they want... however, there are lots and lots of guitar players that use a boost pedal with a various array of amps... just go watch some "rig rundown" videos on youtube and you will see what I mean... pretty much everyone who I personally like uses a boost and they use everything from classic fender amps to mesa amps.

 

[bjorn218]

Necro posting this thread to add information to the topic, not further the conversation unless you would like to comment on my input.

Everyone has been going about this all wrong. Myself included.

Tightening up a Rectifier.

Sit in front of your amp and turn the controls all off except for the orange and red channel volume if on a three channel. Two channel turn them all down.

Spin the head around. On some turn the loop on both channels. (2. Chan), Turn loop on (3 chan) turn loop return down. Don't care if you use it turn it down. We will turn it up in a bit.

Diode Rectifier and bold. Even if using el34s they won't overheat anyway seeing how cold these are biased (if you have a molded bias circuit, you're wrong. If you don't know why, welll bless your heart)


Plug your cabinet in (greenbacks, v30s, 65s, 75s suck with this amp. Sorry mine have v30s and wish I didn't so I'm there with you.) You want high wattage handling speakers. Start at C90s but let's quit dreaming here. Besides you aren't going to reload your cabinet when you have that Les Paul you want at the store down the street. Be realistic. I make half my inclmebplayingnlive and I'm not Changing out good speakers just to chase tone. Go look at what those 200 watt EV speakers Zakk Wylde uses cost per speaker.

OK turn the head back around and turn her on

I'll fi is this later tonight. I hit a wrong g button and wiped out about two more pages of tightening info.