NAD! Single Recto halfie score. What do I need to know?

[GJgo]

So over the weekend I was down in the "city", and surfing Craigslist for used gear. I scored a minty Single Rectifier series 2 half stack with the 70w V30s! This thing is so clean, it still has the freakin' hang tags on it. Original owner, scored the whole setup with pedal & cover + boxes of extra tubes & original manuals for $900. I didn't even try to haggle with the guy, just paid him & left. My little halfie now has a big brother.



This is my first Recto so hoping to learn what I need to know. I've already figured out the thing with the treble knob controlling tone, and have read tons of people saying that I need a TS in front of it to really make it METAL. I'm guessing these are U.K. made V30s? Does anyone have an opinion on weather the 6L6 or the EL34s are more METAL? Think ...AJFA sounds.

First play tonight, the tone is so huge compared to my Diavlo. For the money I really like that RD20, and they actually have pretty good cleans, but this thing blows it away on the clean channel. The Single is a lot more versatile on the pushed and vintage channels. The RD20 may have an edge as it sits on the modern channel though, I need to explore it for a few more days. The Diavlo has great sounds but side by side it's very thin in comparison. Surprisingly enough the Recto is also a lot easier to control at bedroom levels. The pots have to be way higher quality.

After the first drive I'm only left with one concern. On the modern channel, when I push the gain towards the top it really starts to sound like shit. Right about the time the gain gets high enough for my taste (running EMGs) the sound breaks down pretty badly. Is this how these things sound, or do you think I may have a bad tube? They're all original.

Hey TIA for all your feedback.

 

[311boogieman]

Congrats dude. Killer amp.

I've got the Rectoverb Single Rec. I got it at Guitar Center for $490 because the reverb is busted. I have a standard Recto slant cab with V30s. All of the channels and settings are very usable for me. When I practice, I usually start out on the clean channel with a reverb pedal and I like how you can slowly bring the guitar tone and volume knobs up to get to some edge of breakup. So it doesn't stay super super clean but clean enough for what I'm going. Then move to OD channel with some vintage and raw stuff. Most of what I play is going to be on the modern setting though - with a boost pedal (Bad Monkey). My Gain is at say 1 oclock and the channel volume and output volume varying between 9 and 10 oclock. Heavy enough for the KSE type stuff I like. My only beef is if I have too many effects in the loop going the loop 'mix' knob up to high the amp gets 'motor-boaty'. Not sure if that is an issue with loop or what.

What settings do you have the gain, volume and output set at. I can't see needing the gain any higher than 1 oclock. As far as tubes go, you can't go wrong swapping some tubes around for the best results. What preamp tubes do you have in there exactly? I've settled on JJs with a JAN 5751 in the phase inverter. I've also done some extensive back and forth between 6L6s and EL34s and I like EL34s for metal due the extra mid bite. Try that.


HAVE FUN

 

[napalmdeath]

The loop controls on back have a huge effect on the tone! Make sure you dial in the levels. Single Rec is my favorite Boogie, by far. EL34s are the way to go for me, KT77's REALLY kill. Volume brings that amp alive.

 

[JackBootedThug]

turn the treble to zero and use the presence for treble. boosting is fun also.

 

[mchn13]

turn the treble to zero and use the presence for treble. boosting is fun also.

Also the way I used to use the modern channel. If I remember my old settings it was bass-9:00, mids-3:00, treble-9:00, presence-3:00ish. Always boosted with the gain around 1:00. May be a bad preamp tube if it's not enough gain til almost full on.

 

[GJgo]

I figured out why the modern channel got so weird, there was a 12AT7 in V1. ..? Seems to me they would want that one in V4, if even anywhere..?

Anyway problem solved with some Tung Sols. What are you using for tubes in your Recto? This came with all Mesa 12AX7 Russian tubes in it, save for that one 12AT7. In the power section it has Mesa 6L6 440s. I also have some 430s on hand.

 

[mchn13]

Mesa in v1 jj's everywhere else i think. Jj el34's and a bias mod. I have half a dozen old sylvania and rca 12ax7's i took out of a couple old amps that im going to start rolling thru my recto and vht soon tho.

 

[311boogieman]

Mesa in v1 jj's everywhere else i think. Jj el34's and a bias mod. I have half a dozen old sylvania and rca 12ax7's i took out of a couple old amps that im going to start rolling thru my recto and vht soon tho.

Mesa tubes are rebranded something else and you shouldn't need a bias mod to run EL34s - just flip the switch on the back to EL34. ??

But I agree with JJs. I have a NOS 5751 in the phase inverter. I have SED =C= EL34s in mine but I can't recommend those anymore at the prices they command now. I also have run Mullard EL34s with just as much success. I personally would contact Laura at thevalvequeen.com or Doug at dougstubes.com. If they don't have any JJ preamp tubes consider Bob at eurotubes.com

Also consider some EL34Ls

 

[mchn13]

Mesa in v1 jj's everywhere else i think. Jj el34's and a bias mod. I have half a dozen old sylvania and rca 12ax7's i took out of a couple old amps that im going to start rolling thru my recto and vht soon tho.

Mesa tubes are rebranded something else and you shouldn't need a bias mod to run EL34s - just flip the switch on the back to EL34. ??

But I agree with JJs. I have a NOS 5751 in the phase inverter. I have SED =C= EL34s in mine but I can't recommend those anymore at the prices they command now. I also have run Mullard EL34s with just as much success. I personally would contact Laura at thevalvequeen.com or Doug at dougstubes.com. If they don't have any JJ preamp tubes consider Bob at eurotubes.com

Also consider some EL34Ls

I could have just popped a set of mesa el34's in it but wanted the bias mod to warm i up.

 

[GJgo]

Right on, I'm going to try one of Doug's tone kits & see how it sounds. Have to try some EL34s, they seem to be popular!

 

[311boogieman]

Mesa in v1 jj's everywhere else i think. Jj el34's and a bias mod. I have half a dozen old sylvania and rca 12ax7's i took out of a couple old amps that im going to start rolling thru my recto and vht soon tho.

Mesa tubes are rebranded something else and you shouldn't need a bias mod to run EL34s - just flip the switch on the back to EL34. ??

But I agree with JJs. I have a NOS 5751 in the phase inverter. I have SED =C= EL34s in mine but I can't recommend those anymore at the prices they command now. I also have run Mullard EL34s with just as much success. I personally would contact Laura at thevalvequeen.com or Doug at dougstubes.com. If they don't have any JJ preamp tubes consider Bob at eurotubes.com

Also consider some EL34Ls

I could have just popped a set of mesa el34's in it but wanted the bias mod to warm i up.

10-4. I see.

EL34s work really well with Rectos - just a bit more focused in the mids. Ask Doug about a JAN 5751 and maybe one of his Penta Labs 9th Gen 12AX7s. Then get some JJ 12AX7s too.

 

[GJgo]

I've heard Mesas were biased cold but DAMN. Could this have something to do with why the chugga chugga sounds kind of crappy under high gain (modern)? Notes & riffs sound good, but palm mute chugga is broken up.

The Mesa 6l6GC 440 yellows that came in it: 465 pv, 24.6ma, 38% bias.
A spare set of Mesa 6L6GC 430 greens: 465 pv, 19.9ma, 31% bias.

For giggles I switched to the EL34 bias setting with the 440s: 445 pv, 64.2ma, 95% bias.
I then left it on EL34 mode & dropped in a set of Tung Sol 6V6GT: 465 pv, 26.0mv, 86% bias

*OR*

Do I just need a TubeScreamer 9 out front? I've read this solves the problem. Kind of crappy to buy a high end head & need a boost, but I have to agree that as it sits the high gain modern sound is way too loose.

 

[mchn13]

I've heard Mesas were biased cold but DAMN. Could this have something to do with why the chugga chugga sounds kind of crappy under high gain (modern)? Notes & riffs sound good, but palm mute chugga is broken up.

The Mesa 6l6GC 440 yellows that came in it: 465 pv, 24.6ma, 38% bias.
A spare set of Mesa 6L6GC 430 greens: 465 pv, 19.9ma, 31% bias.

For giggles I switched to the EL34 bias setting with the 440s: 445 pv, 64.2ma, 95% bias.
I then left it on EL34 mode & dropped in a set of Tung Sol 6V6GT: 465 pv, 26.0mv, 86% bias

*OR*

Do I just need a TubeScreamer 9 out front? I've read this solves the problem. Kind of crappy to buy a high end head & need a boost, but I have to agree that as it sits the high gain modern sound is way too loose.

I can get a solid tone without a boost, but prefer rectos with a tubescreamer or sd-1 in front. I mostly use orange set to modern with the gain at 10:30 and boosted with a maxon 808. Tight and punchy as hell. Without a boost keep the bass low; like 8:00 low. Use the treb and presence interaction to keep it tight. It's a tough eq, but the payoff is mean and awesome.

 

[cecilbag]

I love the single recs. I have a rectoverb 50 and love it. I think the singles have a little more present mids. There is just something about them that makes them easier for me to dial in quick and get a good sound in a band setting. That is a killer deal you got

 

[GJgo]

So I've spent a week now A/B-ing the recto setup vs. my other Diavlo / V30 cab setup. I have to say, and I really hate to say this, I'm really preferring the sounds that the Diavlo setup produces..?!?!?! Clean & gain!

Comparing the heads back to back. The Recto is definitely a tough EQ. I've come up with some sounds that I do like, but then when I switch back & forth the Diavlo is much sharper. Tighter bottom end, crisper on the cleans and much more gain & heaviness on the red channel. This is at normal volumes. If I really crank it up I can see that the Recto starts to sound better where the Diavlo starts to fall a little flat, but these are volumes where you need ear plugs.

Comparing the cabs back to back- this one really caught me off guard. The little Crate cab with V30s is much tighter & has a way better low end response. The Rectifier oversize cab sounds super loose & sloppy in comparison. This is A/Bing them, with both heads, going back & forth. Once again I think the Recto cab gets better with LOUD, but it loses at normal jamming volumes. How is this possible? I've always read that these Recto cabs had bottom end in spades.

I really want to love the Mesa setup but right now I'm not. Its sound is a lot looser & feels like it has a blanket over it in comparison. What am I missing here? Adding a TS9 in front would help the gain get sharper I'm sure, but from what I hear it would actually pull out some of the bottom end, and it doesn't really have any to lose.

 

[311boogieman]

Rectos need a clean boost up front and the oversized Mesa cabs are flubby


Try switching cabs with these two amps if you have not already.

-I ABY with a Splawn Quickrod and they balance each out out very well.
-I've never played a Diavlo.
-Try a Standard Traditional Recto cab
-I use a Bad Monkey

 

[GJgo]

I ordered up a Maxon OD9, should be here in a couple days. So do these boost better on the input or in the effects loop?

The Recto head does sound a lot tighter through the small Crate V30 box. that box actually sounds really good. While the Diavlo is definitely higher / tighter gain, the Recto does "sound" like a more expensive amp if that makes any sense.

I've spent a lot more time playing all the combinations, really there are good & bad things about both heads. It's usually a compromise, right? Spent last night rolling tubes, looking for my “metal” sound.

• V1 I definitely like the Tung Sol.
• V2 I also like the Tung Sol, although the LPS wasn’t bad. (I don’t have a JJ on hand to test.)
• V3 I need to buy a good tube for the CF. It came with all EH in it.
• V4 the effects loop, running a loop pedal through it I ended up hearing all the same tonal variations per tube that I heard with the same tubes moving through V1. If I used anything other than the Tung Sol I lost a little brightness & tone on the loop input.
• V5, the PI, the LPS was actually my least favorite. It was just a little damped & the gain was a little down. The EH tube was pretty good but brighter. I ended up liking the Mullard the best- it kept the hot gain, but it also added a little darkness to the amp that I really think it needs to tame the fizz.

 

[andross182]

Download and read the manual for your amp, Mesa uses a cascading EQ which you may not be used to since this is your first Mesa.

 

[311boogieman]

I ordered up a Maxon OD9, should be here in a couple days. So do these boost better on the input or in the effects loop?

Put that up front in your chain. For example, mine is after my Wah pedal but before my phaser and fuzz. Set the level to 10 and the gain to 'zero'. I am a big proponent of using EQ pedals in the effects loop of all my amps but not required. It must have a volume slider though.

The Recto head does sound a lot tighter through the small Crate V30 box. that box actually sounds really good. While the Diavlo is definitely higher / tighter gain, the Recto does "sound" like a more expensive amp if that makes any sense.

Some really like the oversized Recto cabs but it is a well known fact that they are pretty boomy. My Traditional Recto cab (w V30s) is a perfect balance of that type of tone variance. Korn vs Megadeth kind of thing. Not too much low end but plenty there when I need it. Consider selling or trading your O/S cab for something else. Vintage 30s are the way to go with this amp. Not the Chinese ones though.

I've spent a lot more time playing all the combinations, really there are good & bad things about both heads. It's usually a compromise, right? Spent last night rolling tubes, looking for my “metal” sound.

• V1 I definitely like the Tung Sol.
• V2 I also like the Tung Sol, although the LPS wasn’t bad. (I don’t have a JJ on hand to test.)
• V3 I need to buy a good tube for the CF. It came with all EH in it.
• V4 the effects loop, running a loop pedal through it I ended up hearing all the same tonal variations per tube that I heard with the same tubes moving through V1. If I used anything other than the Tung Sol I lost a little brightness & tone on the loop input.
• V5, the PI, the LPS was actually my least favorite. It was just a little damped & the gain was a little down. The EH tube was pretty good but brighter. I ended up liking the Mullard the best- it kept the hot gain, but it also added a little darkness to the amp that I really think it needs to tame the fizz.

Good job here. Tube rolling is a requirement IMO to get the most out of any amp. That, and the manufacturing variances means that no two of the exact tube or combination are going to sound the same. I personally despise Tung Sol, EHX, and Chinese tubes in general but that doesn't mean that there are not good tubes from them or good tones for that matter. Go with what works for your ears and your amps. I have a Tung Sol 12AX7 sitting in a box for example. Every now and then I take it out and pop it into V1 or V2 of one of my amps just to make sure I'm not crazy and although it is a very musical tube, it is just way to bright and trebly for me. But - treble is not a problem with either the Quick Rod or the Rectoverb. I run the Quick Rod with the treble at '0' but that is a different story.

I personally have just been very impressed and sold on JJ's.

 

[GJgo]

I have the original manual, came with it. Read it last night. I'm getting that the bass/mid/treb knobs are really for shaping the tone, not for the EQ. What EQs do you guys like? To be honest I'm really going for the "Mark" sound, but I can't justify the cost ATM. If I sell off everything else I could maybe afford a Mark Five 25 LOL.

The boost pedal & more tubes are en route. Got a JJ to try, some Chinese for the CF & some EL34 just to A/B it.