2channel early 90s Recto

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crankyrayhanky

crankyrayhanky

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Hey

There's one of these "legendary" amps available to me for sale..I have limited knowledge on these amps (aside from a Sacred Groove mts module that replicated the tone). Any thoughts/reviews on these amps? People tend to say these are the Recto that were great before the bee buzz 3 channels hit the market. keep in mind i love modern chainsaw crunch, so maybe a little fizz is a good thing for me, IDK. The SG module I had reflected a tone that was closer to a beefed up wholesome Marshally tone than the Red chainsaw I usually acquaint with Rectos. Also, estimated value? There's a 4x12 that goes with it, not that I need it...or need anything, just GASSing :thumbsup:

For alternatives, there's a couple of FJA Rectos I could consider, that may be the choice, but interested in thoughts here
 
The 2 channel rectos are what people think of when they think of that 'recto tone'.

The 2 channels are not buzzy in any way, but are very crunchy with a massive low end. Any muddiness can be eliminated with a good overdrive pedal in front. I have also owned a 3 channel recto and an FJA 3 channel recto and those just don't compare to the feel and detail the original rectos had.

Early revision Rectos (Rev C through F) all had differently voiced clean channels and massive amounts of presence, with the final production Rev G being the recto everyone is most familiar with. You can get early Rev tones out of a Rev G but not the other way around.

Check my sig for my YouTube channel which has a massive amount of 2 channel recto action.

Hope that helps.
 
Depends on the Revision #. Fluff and some other dudes here will be able to clue you in on everything about early Recto's....
 
Is this the one on the Seattle Craigslist? I was eyeing that myself... I had a late 90's Dual Rec a few years ago. It was definitely cool, but the early 90's Rack mount recto my friend has blows it out of the water. Great sounding amp.
 
The difference in sound would be a tube issue. The earliest Ractos are Rev. F circuits which where nearly identical to a Rev G head. Just slightly tweaked cleans.
 
thanks for the quick replies, great clips by fluff, makes me GASSY
No, this is not the Seattle Mesa
 
Oh and typical value for one in good condition is about $1000 tops for. Dual Recto. Triple up to $1200 in really nice shape.
 
great, thank you
Let me try to clarify: Are any of the revisions C-G good choices, but with diferent cleans; or is the G the one to ideally acquire?
 
It's not a bad price for both if it's the craigslist one. The armor plate on the cabs was an up-charge at the time. All that matters is how will it sound. You really want to demo it before buying if you can. Personally I don't think the original dual channels are anything special (yes, I've owned a few) but unfortunately they seem to command a little more used because of hype generated on forums :doh:
If it's really clean and with the armor cab $1800 is not horrible but as always it's worth what someone will pay :D
 
To add on top of this debate, I have an early Rev F Triple rec that is in the 1200's serial number wise I believe and I hardly ever see those things out there, black face and chrome chassis to boot!!! I will probably go to the grave with this monster, but is there anyone else out there that has these Rev F or earlier triple 2 channels? I forget when they started introducing those triple recs into the line.
 
IMO the regular production Rev G is the best out of all the revisions because it had the best cleans and the most refined dirty channel. The cleans on the previous revisions (#0-1500) would get as clean as an AC/DC record. I had a Rev E and it wouldn't get clean at all.

The blackface/chrome chassis were leftover from the first hundred Rectos made and more were found (and used) in 1995 around serial #5000. Cosmetically the same as an early Rev (attached cord, small logo) but internally a regular production Rev G.

The very first Triple Rectos were Rev F and are by far the best sounding a triples ever made.
 
If you don't care about cleans, the earlier the better. If you want to be able to get some sort of clean tone, then a rev F is the way to go. Fluff191 has a point about the cleans getting pretty decent with the rev G, but I disagree that it's the best revision. Rev G's sound more like the later 3 channels than they do a pre 500 dual. I'm one of those "it's a small logo recto, or who cares." kind of guys.

My rev F is a monster, no fizz, but grinding aggressive distortion with a huge bottom end. I'm also running the KT88/66 tube combo in mine that made it just that much more clear, and tight. Love it.

Long story short, if the one you are looking at is not a small logo head, I wouldn't bother.
 
lol, this is like a Rectro hotline...mucho appreciato!

#R-001300
What does that tell me?
 
The schematics are nearly identical for the red channels on the early and late 2 channel rectos. One of the only differences in stock form (NOT with KT88's) is the lack of negative feedback loop on the early ones.

All my point is is that the Rev G's are nowhere close to the 3 channels in sound, feel or response.

SN 1300 is a Revision F made in late 92 early 93 timeframe.
 
fluff191":2yky9wgl said:
The schematics are nearly identical for the red channels on the early and late 2 channel rectos. One of the only differences in stock form (NOT with KT88's) is the lack of negative feedback loop on the early ones.

All my point is is that the Rev G's are nowhere close to the 3 channels in sound, feel or response.

SN 1300 is a Revision F made in late 92 early 93 timeframe.
Click to expand...
Mine having KT88's is a mute point, since none came factory like that. I had a G triple for a couple weeks and that thing sounded just like my buddies 3 channel triple, where my rev F dual, doesn't.

It's a pretty general consensus on the boogie board that the rev F's and earlier sound more alike, and the G's are where the tonal change started happening. Some try to say it was Mesa changing them for the new fad of grunge that was getting popular in the 90's. But, that is just an internet rumor.
 
I have a 1300's rev F blackface/chrome chassis just leaving canadian customs on the way to me right now. I also intended to buy a 4000's rev G blackface/chrome chassis so I could A-B them. Unfortunately money got tight and I couldn't afford to buy both.

I prefer the Rev F tone based on the sound clips I have heard A-Bing them, but the tone is so very close between Rev F and Rev G dirty tone that (at least to my ears) you can't really hear the difference if they aren't side by side.
 
Skrapmetal":22wz8aos said:
The tone is so very close between Rev F and Rev G dirty tone that (at least to my ears) you can't really hear the difference if they aren't side by side.
Click to expand...

+1

My point exactly.
 
Never heard any of the early Rectos.
I bought mine (Later model 3 channel Dual) stock knowing I was going to have it modded by FJA.
Got it damn near mint for $900 with footswitch off Craiglist.
It sounded "Pretty decent" stock....but had the brittle ice pick highs and then flubby bass low end.
I could sorta dial it in.....but was quite there. Jerry hooked me up and fixed all that.
Amp sounds perfect and one of the best tones I have ever heard or played.
Not sure what he does with his mods....but damn if he dont straighten out everything I didnt like about the stock amp.
I should of held out for a Tripple....but oh well.... :lol: :LOL:
Super happy with my Recto. :thumbsup:
 
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