Any non-EL84 Recto-ish amps that don't need really high volume to come alive?

[buller]

Been lurking for a while reading up on boutique high gain amps and finally decided to make an account and post. My favorite high gain tones are in the Dual Rectifier realm or maybe somewhere between a Dual Rec and a 5150, but I'm just a home player and can't play super loud and it seems like Mesa's Rectifiers really need a lot of volume to come alive. Seems like maybe the Badlander 100 would be best for this out of Mesa's amps that aren't the EL84 lunchboxes?

I'm wondering if there are any boutique amps out there that do the Recto sort of thing, or maybe in between Recto and 5150, but do better at lower volumes? Ideally I'd want something with at least 2 channels and a good transparent effects loop. Other than Recto tones, I really like things to be harmonically rich (Carstens Grace comes to mind) and if possible I'd like to avoid the lack of character that @braintheory describes many modern amps as having. The stuff I like playing ranges from indie/alt rock, to hardcore, to post-metal and sludge, to OSDM and dissodeath. I don't listen to really modern metal, so I'm more into the 90s/00s tones. Appreciate any suggestions, but would also appreciate being told to fuck off and that this sort of amp doesn't exist.

 

[braintheory]

If you can find one I’d say a Rev 1 or 2 Uberschall or Megalith Beta. No one talks about it, but those early Uber’s imo can be great at low volumes if you have the channel volume up very high and global volume set low. I haven’t really played around with the new ‘90’s reissue Recto at lower volumes, but maybe it can be decent. Will try

 

[RaceU4her]

Mini recto? PRS MT15?

 

[Frehley12]

50W Rectoverb. I think EL-34s in that amp sound really good over the stock 6L6s.

 

[cardinal]

I think a Recto sounds fine at modest volumes, though some have a touchy volume knob. Bypassing the loop IMHO is key though. The loop (even with nothing in it) has a negative impact until the amp is up loud.

Otherwise, I know this might not be popular, but I think some of the capture/profile tech is really good. I didn't get on with the Kemper, but the Neural Cortex stuff really makes captures of my amps that are right on to me, and of course you can run the captures into a power amp nice and quiet. I hear nice things about ToneX too.

 

[Greazygeo]

Makes no difference with a recto if they are loud or not. They are all preamp gain/ distortion. The power section doesn’t distort.

If you can’t play loud get a ToneX and play thru a computer /studio monitors.

 

[buller]

I haven’t really played around with the new ‘90’s reissue Recto at lower volumes, but maybe it can be decent. Will try

That would be great if you get a chance, thanks! 90s Dual Rectifier reissue or Triple Rec Multi-Watt would be the dream, just wasn't sure they'd be any good at home (like loud tv) volumes.

Mini recto? PRS MT15?

I'm allergic to EL84s so I've ruled out the Mini Recto and Mini Badlander lol. I know that they can sound pretty good but they just seem way too expensive for a little EL84 lunchbox. Can the MT15 get into Recto territory? I thought it leaned more towards the aggressive mids, really tight and modern sound.

Maybe I'm underestimating the Mesas' performance at lower volumes and should just be looking at them. I am really drawn to builders like Sloane, Monomyth, Headfirst, Carstens, etc though. It's just hard to keep track of whose designs are based on what amps. Are there any really good boutique builders like these that are in the Recto realm?

 

[braintheory]

That would be great if you get a chance, thanks! 90s Dual Rectifier reissue or Triple Rec Multi-Watt would be the dream, just wasn't sure they'd be any good at home (like loud tv) volumes.

I'm allergic to EL84s so I've ruled out the Mini Recto and Mini Badlander lol. I know that they can sound pretty good but they just seem way too expensive for a little EL84 lunchbox. Can the MT15 get into Recto territory? I thought it leaned more towards the aggressive mids, really tight and modern sound.

Maybe I'm underestimating the Mesas' performance at lower volumes and should just be looking at them. I am really drawn to builders like Sloane, Monomyth, Headfirst, Carstens, etc though. It's just hard to keep track of whose designs are based on what amps. Are there any really good boutique builders like these that are in the Recto realm?

I’ll try it later today. Monomyth’s IME are very good at low volumes if needed, but have a totally different sound than Recto’s or 5150’s and didn’t care for them much myself

 

[mnemonic]

The thing about recto’s at low volume is it can kind of be hard to get them the right volume. They tend to go from whisper to very loud with the most minute movement of the volume control. Also agree with the above to keep the loop hard bypassed. Maybe some revisions are better than others in this regard but my experience is it’s a tone sucker that kills punch.

 

[napalmdeath]

Try the Archon 50 MKII. EL34 or 6L6, inexpensive, punches well above it's price.

The master volume is superb. It's definitely a Mesa/5150 flavor.

 

[DanTravis62]

PRS mt15 and Archon both come to mind

But if it's just volume and not headroom that's the issue, i would get the badlander or new 90s rectifier and just say fuck it

 

[cobrahead1030]

I’ve got the badlander 50 & it’s not great at home volume levels honestly. It’s decent there, but the price tag isn’t justifiable unless you can play it pretty loud.

 

[acidvoodoo]

Have you looked into the Synergy stuff?

 

[311boogieman]

Been lurking for a while reading up on boutique high gain amps and finally decided to make an account and post. My favorite high gain tones are in the Dual Rectifier realm or maybe somewhere between a Dual Rec and a 5150, but I'm just a home player and can't play super loud and it seems like Mesa's Rectifiers really need a lot of volume to come alive. Seems like maybe the Badlander 100 would be best for this out of Mesa's amps that aren't the EL84 lunchboxes?

I'm wondering if there are any boutique amps out there that do the Recto sort of thing, or maybe in between Recto and 5150, but do better at lower volumes? Ideally I'd want something with at least 2 channels and a good transparent effects loop. Other than Recto tones, I really like things to be harmonically rich (Carstens Grace comes to mind) and if possible I'd like to avoid the lack of character that @braintheory describes many modern amps as having. The stuff I like playing ranges from indie/alt rock, to hardcore, to post-metal and sludge, to OSDM and dissodeath. I don't listen to really modern metal, so I'm more into the 90s/00s tones. Appreciate any suggestions, but would also appreciate being told to fuck off and that this sort of amp doesn't exist.

What did you end up doing @buller ?

I asked for several reasons, namely your Super Strat HB pup in C tuning question, your need for Jazz IIIs and your liking of the G12H30. I'm familiar with all of these. I know you were talking about getting rid of your Duncan Custom but have you considered a TB-11?

Also, I was going to say, focus on the amp before focusing on the pups or a new guitar.

Also, you got to 49 posts so what happened?

For this thread I can also vouge for the Single Rec + EL34s. I also have a Dual, and with the Dual, what you need to do is the serial loop mod, put replace the return jack with a better one. Then patch the loop with a patch cable. That way it is not hard bypassed. Then, you can use the loop master as an overall amp master volume. This gives you so much more control over the amp. I don't even need an od pedal.

 

[dave74]

Also remember that you have the send-level knob, which most people just leave at noon by default.
It is just there to knock down the level for sensitive effects/pedals in the loop, so experiment with setting it higher, especially if you have nothing in the loop.

The 50w solo/rectoverb never had any send/attenuator control, so on those amps it is basically running full-out into the effects, so if you do a serial-loop mod on those you should consider adding a send-level/attenuator control in the place of the mix/wet-dry control that would otherwise be useless after the mod.
I mean you can control the effects input somewhat with the channel volume control, but having the send-level right before the pedals makes it easier.

 

[napalmdeath]

The Engl Fireball 25 is a little monster too. The KT77 version was my favorite, (had the 6L6 version too, which is the more modern sounding version, obviously).

A Triple XXX is a good choice on the cheap, but they're heavy AF.

The Thrasher 50 is a killer little amp too, but Randall priced themselves out of the market. I got my first one for $600 used, but they were $999 new back then. Now they're $2100, and people want $1200 used, which are both ludicrous.

 

[headlessdeadguy]

The Engl Fireball 25 is a little monster too. The KT77 version was my favorite, (had the 6L6 version too, which is the more modern sounding version, obviously).

A Triple XXX is a good choice on the cheap, but they're heavy AF.

The Thrasher 50 is a killer little amp too, but Randall priced themselves out of the market. I got my first one for $600 used, but they were $999 new back then. Now they're $2100, and people want $1200 used, which are both ludicrous.

I second the XXX