NAD: Triple Rectifier Rev C

[braintheory]

Just had my Triple Rev F come in last week with the Rev C mod (done by Mike Bendinelli). It was already in my top 5 favorite amps as a rev F and now I think it could be top 3. Not super different than before as a Rev F, just a bit tighter, clearer, and brighter without comprising what I liked about it from before. Worth it imo. It was already a great amp and now it just got the little improvements I felt it needed basically. I was worried that maybe I’d lose some bottom end, thickness or something, but I don’t hear anything being sacrificed for the improvements that I can tell

I really just live on the orange mode on channel 1. So much low mid girth and throaty growl. The 2nd (red) channel is cool too, but I could live without it because of my no stripe ++ coliseum and iic+. A few of my amps are at my tech right now, but compared to the other high gainers I have at the moment, this Triple Rev C sounds so much more rich, growly, angry, and detailed in the higher end in comparison to those amps. It still very much has that recto sag and isn’t as tight as my other current high gainers, but can get plenty tight when boosted. Right now this and my coli no stripe ++ are my 2 favorite high gain amps, but when I get the Purpleface, 3 channel Cameron modded Marshall, and ‘79 JMP2203 back from servicing from my tech those will also probably be up there. That ‘79 boosted was one of my top 3 favorites when I had it. This isn’t gonna send any other amps packing unfortunately, but is definitely one my favorite amps. I recommend the C mod if any of you guys get an older 2 channel Recto unless you really prefer a darker sound, but you can more or less get the rev F sound if you dial back the presence and still have the C’s little extra clarity. For my taste the orange mode with a good boost smokes almost any other high gain amps I’ve tried and I’ve owned at this point 100+ amps over the years (own 23 currently). The only amps on my radar that I have yet to try are Larry’s, Tim Schroeder’s and Trainwreck’s. The latter 2 not metal amps

 

[Snave]

Congrats on the freshly modded amp! Orange mode is where it's at, though I tend to prefer it on red channel.

What boost do you use?

 

[braintheory]

Congrats on the freshly modded amp! Orange mode is where it's at, though I tend to prefer it on red channel.

What boost do you use?

Mostly an original Klon Centaur Silver (No Horse), but have also tried it with my Fulltone Ranger and Coppersound Broadway, which gives a more classic rock/bluesy flavor. Will try it later with my rack pq’s (Furman PQ3, TC 1140 and Audioarts 4100)

 

[Fordman65]

Awesome! From what I hear it's a great mod. Are tech specs identical to a Rev C, or is it "close"?

For something that isn't your typical recto sound, try this out for the helluvit.

Orange high gain, Vintage mode, 6L6 (EL34s probably work also) Bold, tube

Ch vol 12 noon. Dial desired volume in with fx loop master
Presence 10-11am
Bass 9-10am
Mid maxed
Treble maxed
Gain 9am

Add a mild clean boost for flavor.

 

[MetalHeadMike]

Sounds killer!

The MW Recto I had is not obviously a Rev F, C...but it too had a grinding low mid throaty growl that no other amp I've owned can achieve. Yet another amp I probably should have kept. A little slow on the tracking, even boosted, but still plenty tight when boosted. Just a angry sound that is in a class of its own IMHO.

 

[Racerxrated]

Congrats Sam!

Orange to Modern is where I liked my F Triple. Little boost or not, killer amp. My C+ Coli was just 'better' at what I liked about the F. Still considering a G Triple and having Mike 'C' it. At some point anyway.

 

[Beyond Black]

Glad you dig it! The C mod is killer for sure, and you’ve still got more than enough available low end. I also live on Orange/Modern. It’s much more raw and aggressive than the red channel. I’m also rolling with JJ E34L’s and love them. They’re much tighter, punchy, and angrier sounding than 6L6’s.

 

[braintheory]

Congrats Sam!

Orange to Modern is where I liked my F Triple. Little boost or not, killer amp. My C+ Coli was just 'better' at what I liked about the F. Still considering a G Triple and having Mike 'C' it. At some point anyway.

I still overall prefer my c+ and ++ coli since they tick more boxes (better cleans, leads, tighter, faster tracking, etc), but they just can’t match the low mid girth or throaty growl of that orange channel, which is enough to make it top 3 material for me. Nothing I’ve tried has as much growl imo as the orange channel except for maybe my Purpleface or a good fuzz pedal lol

The C might give you just what you need: a bit more clarity, cut and focus without taking away the good stuff about it

 

[braintheory]

Glad you dig it! The C mod is killer for sure, and you’ve still got more than enough available low end. I also live on Orange/Modern. It’s much more raw and aggressive than the red channel. I’m also rolling with JJ E34L’s and love them. They’re much tighter, punchy, and angrier sounding than 6L6’s.

Absolutely! The only amps I have with more bottom end than this recto is my blueface vh4 and maybe my Hiwatt with the master up past 1 ‘o clock, but nothing I’ve tried comes close to matching the blueface bottom end, just unfair. Yeah the red channel doesn’t do as much for me. I’ve only tried EL34’s in it and so far don’t see any reason to switch. Punchy and angry sounds right. Probably my most angry amp I have currently

 

[braintheory]

Sounds killer!

The MW Recto I had is not obviously a Rev F, C...but it too had a grinding low mid throaty growl that no other amp I've owned can achieve. Yet another amp I probably should have kept. A little slow on the tracking, even boosted, but still plenty tight when boosted. Just a angry sound that is in a class of its own IMHO.

Yes that specific low mid throaty growl seems to something only Recto’s have. The MW Recto’s are nice too and the same flavor, but honestly the old Rev F’s and earlier are on another level to my ears. I use this analogy a lot, but it’s like comparing Tropicana to fresh squeezed OJ. Same flavor, but quality difference

That being said, I wouldn’t generally choose this amp for very tight or fast types of riffing or fast/shreddy leads (even boosted) because my c+ or Monomyth would almost always be better for that. It really excels for stuff that involves lots of power chords. The type of riffs I heard in your Peters clips would be amazing on the orange channel boosted of this amp

 

[braintheory]

Awesome! From what I hear it's a great mod. Are tech specs identical to a Rev C, or is it "close"?

For something that isn't your typical recto sound, try this out for the helluvit.

Orange high gain, Vintage mode, 6L6 (EL34s probably work also) Bold, tube

Ch vol 12 noon. Dial desired volume in with fx loop master
Presence 10-11am
Bass 9-10am
Mid maxed
Treble maxed
Gain 9am

Add a mild clean boost for flavor.

Well mine has EL34’s in it currently, which seem to be great, but have tried similar settings to what you’re describing and yes it’s a very cool tone too, especially for a more classic kinda vibe

I have no idea honestly if it’s close or exactly a rev C. You’d have to ask Mike Bendinelli or someone more tech savvy. NewWorldMan has a clip where he compares various Rev G, F and C Dual Rec’s and the difference I hear between the F & C in that clip is the same difference I hear in the before and after with my triple

 

[cardinal]

Congrats! I had a Rev C and F Dual at the same time. Preferred the C but the F sounded great too. Pretty close. C was a bit more in-your-face. F was more relaxed.

FWIW I also had a factory IIC+ DRG at that time. I preferred either Recto by a mile.

 

[Wizard of Ozz]

The modified Rev F/C is really close to the original Rev C. The modified orange channel is different as it is sacrificed to get the red channel to Rev C specs. I still like the Rev C better overall or my Rev C Triple which is a sub #250 serial with no recto tubes and 6 power tubes. One of 2-3 Rev C Triples made. That’s about top of the Recto heap for me. I’ve owned tons of them.

 

[braintheory]

The modified Rev F/C is really close to the original Rev C. The modified orange channel is different as it is sacrificed to get the red channel to Rev C specs. I still like the Rev C better overall or my Rev C Triple which is a sub #250 serial with no recto tubes and 6 power tubes. One of 2-3 Rev C Triples made. That’s about top of the Recto heap for me. I’ve owned tons of them.

What differences do you hear between the orange channel of a triple rev f/c vs a real c? Do you think Mike B could mod the orange channel to be closer or even identical to a C if he sacrifices the red channel and other stuff? That would be ok with me because I really just use the orange channel

 

[Wizard of Ozz]

The modified Rev F/C is really close to the original Rev C. The modified orange channel is different as it is sacrificed to get the red channel to Rev C specs. I still like the Rev C better overall or my Rev C Triple which is a sub #250 serial with no recto tubes and 6 power tubes. One of 2-3 Rev C Triples made. That’s about top of the Recto heap for me. I’ve owned tons of them.

What differences do you hear between the orange channel of a triple rev f/c vs a real c? Do you think Mike B could mod the orange channel to be closer or even identical to a C if he sacrifices the red channel and other stuff? That would be ok with me because I really just use the orange channel

In the mod, the gain and compression on the Orange Channel is increased... a lot. You lose some of the syrupy thickness and vintage feel. There’s no way around it according to Mike B. You can’t have both... which is why I keep my Rev Cs around. But if you only care about the Orange Channel... maybe? I wanted both... but when it comes down to it, I use Red more often, so that’s the deal breaker for me. I have a feeling, when all is said and done, they will always be close, but not identical. Too many differences according to Mike and lots of the parts aren’t even made anymore. He has to get creative sometimes just to get things done now. I have a lot of his modified amps and some of his techniques can be very creative.

 

[braintheory]

The modified Rev F/C is really close to the original Rev C. The modified orange channel is different as it is sacrificed to get the red channel to Rev C specs. I still like the Rev C better overall or my Rev C Triple which is a sub #250 serial with no recto tubes and 6 power tubes. One of 2-3 Rev C Triples made. That’s about top of the Recto heap for me. I’ve owned tons of them.

What differences do you hear between the orange channel of a triple rev f/c vs a real c? Do you think Mike B could mod the orange channel to be closer or even identical to a C if he sacrifices the red channel and other stuff? That would be ok with me because I really just use the orange channel

In the mod, the gain and compression on the Orange Channel is increased... a lot. You lose some of the syrupy thickness and vintage feel. There’s no way around it according to Mike B. You can’t have both... which is why I keep my Rev Cs around. But if you only care about the Orange Channel... maybe? I wanted both... but when it comes down to it, I use Red more often, so that’s the deal breaker for me. I have a feeling, when all is said and done, they will always be close, but not identical. Too many differences according to Mike and lots of the parts aren’t even made anymore. He has to get creative sometimes just to get things done now. I have a lot of his modified amps and some of his techniques can be very creative.

Interesting. I don’t hear this C mod as having more gain or compression on the Orange channel than before when it was an F nor it being less thick or vintage, but if you’re referring to it being that way compared to a real rev C then I wouldn’t know. It seems the same to me in those regards (on the orange channel) before and after the C mod and for the most part sounds very much like how I remember it being as a rev F, just brighter, and a bit clearer and more focused. I’ll have to have to give Mike a call. Would be interesting to compare to a true Rev C if I get the chance

 

[Wizard of Ozz]

The modified Rev F/C is really close to the original Rev C. The modified orange channel is different as it is sacrificed to get the red channel to Rev C specs. I still like the Rev C better overall or my Rev C Triple which is a sub #250 serial with no recto tubes and 6 power tubes. One of 2-3 Rev C Triples made. That’s about top of the Recto heap for me. I’ve owned tons of them.

What differences do you hear between the orange channel of a triple rev f/c vs a real c? Do you think Mike B could mod the orange channel to be closer or even identical to a C if he sacrifices the red channel and other stuff? That would be ok with me because I really just use the orange channel

In the mod, the gain and compression on the Orange Channel is increased... a lot. You lose some of the syrupy thickness and vintage feel. There’s no way around it according to Mike B. You can’t have both... which is why I keep my Rev Cs around. But if you only care about the Orange Channel... maybe? I wanted both... but when it comes down to it, I use Red more often, so that’s the deal breaker for me. I have a feeling, when all is said and done, they will always be close, but not identical. Too many differences according to Mike and lots of the parts aren’t even made anymore. He has to get creative sometimes just to get things done now. I have a lot of his modified amps and some of his techniques can be very creative.

Interesting. I don’t hear this C mod as having more gain or compression on the Orange channel than before when it was an F nor it being less thick or vintage, but if you’re referring to it being that way compared to a real rev C then I wouldn’t know. It seems the same to me in those regards (on the orange channel) before and after the C mod and for the most part sounds very much like how I remember it being as a rev F, just brighter, and a bit clearer and more focused. I’ll have to have to give Mike a call. Would be interesting to compare to a true Rev C if I get the chance

Correct. As compared to an original sub #250 Rev C. The parts and some of the circuit is indeed different on the Rev F, which is also why the modified amps will get close, but not sound identical to the originals. He kinda wanted to talk me out of the mod, as he prefers the Orange channel himself. Lol.

 

[cardinal]

I thought the C vs F difference is whether there's an additional LDR on the cathodes of V1 and V2. You can just jump the LDRs essentially. Not sure about changes with Rev G.

 

[Racerxrated]

The modified Rev F/C is really close to the original Rev C. The modified orange channel is different as it is sacrificed to get the red channel to Rev C specs. I still like the Rev C better overall or my Rev C Triple which is a sub #250 serial with no recto tubes and 6 power tubes. One of 2-3 Rev C Triples made. That’s about top of the Recto heap for me. I’ve owned tons of them.

This reminds me of a thread here a few yrs back...this was before I owned a 2C or any Dual/Triple...I believe Brent SSL found what he called a 'Frankenrecto' at a GC out west. It was 899, and he posted a pic here of it..it looked like someone hacked and modded a Dual to be a Triple. Everyone mocked it and laughed...until Steve K chimed in and said that everyone missed out on what was the FIRST prototype Triple...it was a Rev C circuit without the Recto tubes like the one you have Wizard. Steve didn't buy it but he knew who did.

899!!!!!!

 

[fretout]

Congrats on the Rev. C mod! If you’re living on the Orange channel, make sure you take note of where the red channel presence control is set. Most people don’t realize that the Orange channel can be dialed in using both channel Presence controls.