My Own Ampfest:Day 2:Comparison(Recto's/MarkV/5150/JCM800KK)

[mightywarlock]

1st things 1st, check out my post from a day before...
http://www.rig-talk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=72339

Alrighty then.

Yesterday I was bummed out about not going to the Ampfest in Anaheim, due to time constraints on making it to the Iron Maiden/Dream Theater concert in time (which was overly packed, very glad I got there early!), and I did a little amp comparison between 4 of my amps.
Today, I decided to do another test!

to recap, from yesterday's post, with added new stuff...
here's what I did:

Goals:
A) to test out the Zoom H4n direct recording capabilities.
B) test out the tone differences in (5) of my amps.
C) test 2 of my mics together
D) See how my new Ibanez SZ2020FM records. Loaded with stock pickup which is a Duncan Distortion, as it turned out).
F) Finally show the the differences in pure tone between a modern 3 channel Dual Rectifier, and MY pre-500 Dual Rectifier.
G) Show the difference in the Rectifier, and the Mark V between 6L6's and EL34's.

So, here's what I did.
Left - Shure SM57
Right - Sennheiser E906
Mic Placements, 57-lower left speaker, 1" left of center. E906, upper right, 1" left of center.
cab, Mesa 4x12 Traditional Recto, V30's.

Amps: (look below at my Signature, same amps, except for the 3ch. recto, not pictured, but included.
Mesa Dual Rectifier #112 (pre-500), loaded with EL34L's and 6L6's. EH12ax7EH in V1.
Mesa Mark V, Ch.3 Extreme Mode, Full Power, 90w, EL34L's + 6L6's, Tung-sol in V1.
Mesa Dual Rectifier, Ch.3 Modern Mode, original stock 6L6 tubes (btw, this is for sale).
Marshall JCM800KK, Beast On, KT88's. Stock tubes. I lowered the gain from yesterdays recordings.
Peavey 5150. 6L6. I tried to dial this in better than yesterdays recordings. (this is for sale too).

Song: another original from my band "Evil Epitome" called "Total Chaos."
Can be seen here in it's entirety on YouTube So you can see how it all goes together. (video has Pre-500 in it and Ibanez Xiphos)
Watch this first.

So what's different than yesterday?

Yesterday I recorded the 3.ch recto with 6L6's tubes, the Marshall had too much gain, the Mark was loaded with EL34's, and the peavey wasn't reall Eq'd properly.

Today, I decided to rectify the situation! (literally!!)

What I did is as follows:
Played the same song though all the amps, this time including the Pre-500.
No Mic Movement (same as yesterday).
The 2 Dual Rectifiers had the exact same settings.
The 3ch. had 6L6's.
I took the 6L6's that came in my Mark V, and placed them in my Pre-500 Recto. Then I placed them in the Mark V.
Then I took the JJ-EL34L's and placed them in the Pre-500. Then in the Mark V.
Marshall, Stock KT88 tubes, just dialed back the gain very slightly from yesterday, (from 2-1oclock on preamp, 10-9oclock on beast). everything else the same. HUGE difference!
The peavey I dialed differently, and has 6L6's. Of course.

If anyone has any amps they would like to test out using the same testing ways I am using, and you are in the L.A. area, I alway offer other folks to come on over to try out my amps, or play for demo recordings, since I do not consider myself that great of a guitar player by any means.

I would like to record some Diezel stuff for Comparisons sake, as well as others.

OK, without further ado, here are today's Comparison Clips:

http://www.mightywarlock.com/amps/AMPTEST2/RECTO3CH6L6.mp3
http://www.mightywarlock.com/amps/AMPTEST2/PRE500-6L6.mp3
http://www.mightywarlock.com/amps/AMPTEST2/PRE500-EL34.mp3
http://www.mightywarlock.com/amps/AMPTEST2/MARK5-EL34.mp3
http://www.mightywarlock.com/amps/AMPTEST2/MARK5-6L6.mp3
http://www.mightywarlock.com/amps/AMPTEST2/MARSHALLKK.mp3
http://www.mightywarlock.com/amps/AMPTEST2/5150.mp3

NEW!!

Added a DIEZEL HERBERT to my collection today.

Here's 2 recordings of it, same way as before...
http://www.mightywarlock.com/amps/AMPTEST2/herbert1.mp3
and a little more midcut on this one...
http://www.mightywarlock.com/amps/AMPTEST2/herbert2.mp3
Herbert is loaded with 6L6's surround 2 EL34's, all JJ's.

Again, keep in mind, I did NOT change any settings on the Mark V between tube changes, nor the Recto Pre-500, and the Recto pre-500 and 3ch. Recto had the exact same settings.

Here they are, in case anyone wanted to try them...

So?

Whatcha think?

 

[mightywarlock]

 

[ruso]

So?

Whatcha think?

Mark V EL34 > *

 

[spawnofthesith]

Mark V EL34, Pre 500 EL34, and KK were my favorites by far.


I am running my Mark V with EL34's, it is quite a killer sound

 

[Holy-diver]

dude i need an old recto now to complete my boogie rig loved the clips!

 

[fek]

34's are the only way to go with Recto's in my opinion. I had a early Tverb and gigged with it loaded with the stock 6L6's for a little over a year. I swapped in some 34's and never looked back.

 

[mightywarlock]

34's are the only way to go with Recto's in my opinion. I had a early Tverb and gigged with it loaded with the stock 6L6's for a little over a year. I swapped in some 34's and never looked back.

I agree.

I also think it should be EL34L's.

They keep the low end thump there, but still give the gritty EL34 tone.

 

[spawnofthesith]

I definitely want to pick up a recto of some sort one day to run in stereo with my Mark V... that would sound sooo damn good

 

[Badronald]

Mark V EL34

 

[mightywarlock]

I definitely want to pick up a recto of some sort one day to run in stereo with my Mark V... that would sound sooo damn good

hmm.

I wonder if I should do another test recording, Left Ch. Mark V, Right, Recto?

I'm gonna have to to that I think.

 

[spawnofthesith]

I definitely want to pick up a recto of some sort one day to run in stereo with my Mark V... that would sound sooo damn good

hmm.

I wonder if I should do another test recording, Left Ch. Mark V, Right, Recto?

I'm gonna have to to that I think.

I look forward to hearing that! It seems like Mesa almost built the Mark and Recto series to compliment each other

 

[JakeAC5253]

To me the Mark V 6L6 might be the winner. It's a really close tie between that and the 3 channel Recto. The 5150 clip sounds poorly dialed. BTW, great work on the clips! Sounds great!

 

[Atropos_Project]

I am running my Mark V with EL34's, it is quite a killer sound

Same here. Ch 1 took a bit of a hit in a way, Ch 2 / 3 made up for it however.

 

[mightywarlock]

well, I won't be able to run anymore 5150 clips.

I just sold the head and will be mailing it out in the morning.

 

[mightywarlock]

So I picked up a Diezel Herbert, and of course, how could I go without giving it the same treatment??

I'm adding the Diezel Herbert head, on ch. 2, to the list of amp's used above, same song, same mic positions, recorded twice with slightly different settings, 2nd one, a little more mid cut.

 

[JakeAC5253]

So I picked up a Diezel Herbert, and of course, how could I go without giving it the same treatment??

I'm adding the Diezel Herbert head, on ch. 2, to the list of amp's used above, same song, same mic positions, recorded twice with slightly different settings, 2nd one, a little more mid cut.

Not a fan, sorry