IIC+ HRG RI (..and DR RI) in the hizzouse!

[GJgo]

I'm with you on this. Most of the reason I use old/NOS tubes is because of reliability, not tone.

Thank you doing these comparisons, I'm especially surprised with how much the HRG kicked the JP2c's ass.

You're welcome! I'm low on amps these days to compare any more to the Reissues, just have the DSL100 & the IIB+ (the GOAT) left. ..but no one really cares about those amps.

You know funny story, of the hundreds of 6L6 I've tested, I've had BY FAR the most problems with 415s. So much so that I'm over paying what they go for.

...and yes, back on topic, the HRG really did kick the JP's ass. It was significant in the room. IMO the DR RI is ~110% as good as the OG, and the HRG RI is ~90% as good as the OG, Both ass kicking amps that I can get behind! I'd happily recommend the HRG RI to someone looking for the C+ experience without the cost of an OG. This is not something I would say about any other Mark since the OG.

 

[Beyond Black]

You're welcome! I'm low on amps these days to compare any more to the Reissues, just have the DSL100 & the IIB+ (the GOAT) left. ..but no one really cares about those amps.

You know funny story, of the hundreds of 6L6 I've tested, I've had BY FAR the most problems with 415s. So much so that I'm over paying what they go for.

...and yes, back on topic, the HRG really did kick the JP's ass. It was significant in the room. IMO the DR RI is ~110% as good as the OG, and the HRG RI is ~90% as good as the OG, Both ass kicking amps that I can get behind! I'd happily recommend the HRG RI to someone looking for the C+ experience without the cost of an OG. This is not something I would say about any other Mark since the OG.

Great vids and research, Jeremy.

 

[Beyond Black]

Do you have a comparison vid between the RI c+ and the RI Recto? Obviously I know they are different amps with different core sounds, but there's no way I would ever try both in this universe

You know well i'm not really a "mesa guy" but these new RIs seem my best opportunity to get a good representation of the classic mesa sound for a reasonable money, and I'm kind of debating which would work for me best

I'm leaning towards the C+ reissue as i've always hated the low end on rectos, but if the reissue recto is as tight as the early revisions that might change the math for me

The RI is the tightest of all Rectos, even the C, and the lows are much less boomy, more focused and usable.
That being said I still wouldn’t call it a tight amp, Jeremy’s vid is a pretty accurate representation, and that’s with EMG’s unboosted. With a boost it’ll get even tighter (obviously).
I’ve recently compared my RI Recto to my buddy’s 6505 (don’t you have one?).
With both boosted on red channel they actually sounded very similar in tone and tightness, but the RI flat out sounded deeper, richer, better.
That was my first experience with a 6505 and was extremely impressed with it though, especially for the cost.
If a 6505 boosted is tight enough for you, the RI will get it done. If you need tighter than that, go C+ RI.

 

[mentoneman]

the cab i recently picked up had a matching Mark III blue stripe (which i left behind) that sounded pretty cool.
it broke up earlier than my amp and the reverb in it was way nicer sounding than the one in mine for sure!

 

[GJgo]

The RI is the tightest of all Rectos, even the C, and the lows are much less boomy, more focused and usable.
That being said I still wouldn’t call it a tight amp, Jeremy’s vid is a pretty accurate representation, and that’s with EMG’s unboosted. With a boost it’ll get even tighter (obviously).
I’ve recently compared my RI Recto to my buddy’s 6505 (don’t you have one?).
With both boosted on red channel they actually sounded very similar in tone and tightness, but the RI flat out sounded deeper, richer, better.
That was my first experience with a 6505 and was extremely impressed with it though, especially for the cost.
If a 6505 boosted is tight enough for you, the RI will get it done. If you need tighter than that, go C+ RI.

Just to clarify- the Recto RI red vs orange vid was all straight in, however the Recto RI vs HRG RI vid had the Recto boosted (and HRG straight in).

To my ear the Recto RI orange channel is the same looseness as any other Recto orange (with much better feels) and always needs a boost. The red channel however is noticeably tighter and I don't "need" a boost at home- however, I still want to boost it for high gain in the band. (Though I have been running unboosted for songs with mid-levels of gain.)

Yeah the 6505 is like this DSL100- it's a shit load of amp for the money, and I'd happily recommend either to a guy that's on a budget.