New Mesa Amp - Recto-Verb 25

[Chris6870]

Is it the same basic voicing of the recto? I had the Mini Recto, for about a week. Didn't do it for me. To raspy. The Jet City JCA22 kicks it's ass at a third of the price.

 

[cardinal]

^ true on the price, but kudos to Mesa for continuing to make these in the USA. (not trying to start a debate on that, just an observation on the price).

 

[higher]

I think this will replace the mini rec. They are having a lot of problems with volume oscillation in the 10 watt mode and were either going to have to release a "B" version with the fix or replace it with this model under the radar to avoid bad press.

I'm not so sure this is the case. I received a replacement mini rec in July and I believe the replacement may be the "B" version as it has no FX loop on/off switch. I was told by a Mesa rep that it was newer design. Also, the 10w modes work great on my new unit (I had experienced the volume oscillation and hum problems on my original MR).

I am very interested in the new rectoverb 25, particularly the combo. I use a Digitech Hardwire reverb pedal with my Mini Recto currently and while it sounds great, the spring option is really the only setting I use. I'm hoping this will let me make room for another pedal on my board. I've already listed my Mini Recto for sale on craigslist.

Oh yeah, forgot to mention that they just look sexy. This look is much more appealing to me than the metal cab and diamond faceplate.

 

[ke2]

My concern with this amp is the transformers - they look like toys! This thing can't move much air at all......



However, as evidenced on the Mesa website, under a mic it seems to have a balanced tonality and decent low end response. Interesting.......

The transformers in the Caliber .50 aren't that big either, but it's still more than loud enough to gig with.

The concern isn't with volume. Every Mesa I've played can be deafening. But little tubes and little transformers don't imply a lot of low end response. EL84's tend to be raspy and lean sounding IME. Some .50 calibers had 6L6 tubes, too.

I had hoped they'd eventually move the Mini Rec to 6L6 tubes, but this implies they have no intension to do that. Bummer. But used Single Rectos are plentiful and are basically the same, just larger and cheaper.

True, true.

 

[Chris6870]

^ true on the price, but kudos to Mesa for continuing to make these in the USA. (not trying to start a debate on that, just an observation on the price).

Yea good point on the price. The mini recto would probably be $399 if it was made in China. I hate the fact that the Jet City is MIC, but it just sounded much better to me. I really wanted to like the Mini Recto because it looks so much cooler than the Jet City .

 

[some dude]

I wonder what the deal is with the Fillmore FM75 speaker they used for it? I know that Fillmore is Boogies house speaker brand, but I wonder why they went with it instead of the standard V30 and how they differ from each other?

The Fillmore 75 is the culmination of a nine year effort that saw over 500 custom prototypes from the world's leading speaker manufacturers. We drove 'em crazy with our fanatical demands! Finally, our old friends in Eminence Kentucky (USA!) captured the magic of our Golden Reference speakers that date back to the peak of the hand-built British era.

Our new FM-75 is a vintage voiced speaker providing slightly lower lows, more punch, and a more balanced, less-scooped mid-range. Best of all, the highs have a vocal quality with harmonics that don't "separate" from the fundamental tones, eliminating that thin mosquito buzz of today's offshore speakers in high-gain applications.

We're excited to present this first offering in the coming full range of Mesa Fillmore speakers. We've stressed over this project for nearly a decade, realizing we needed to develop our own speakers to best compliment our amplifiers. And we're pleased and proud that, once again, Made In USA triumphs!

- Mesa/Boogie

 

[richedie]

The mini amps never sound as big and full as a typical 50 or 100 watter. For rock or metal, I think it is best to stay with the bigger amps.

 

[slev]

The lower wattage amps that are on the market now are pretty awesome if you ask me. I don't play anywhere, even when I play out that 18 or 25W can't handle. I play through a Budda SuperDrive 18 and a mesa Studio .22 before that and never had to even mic either one. A 100W head is awesome when it's cranked but there just aren't that many opportunities to do that.

 

[richedie]

The lower wattage amps that are on the market now are pretty awesome if you ask me. I don't play anywhere, even when I play out that 18 or 25W can't handle. I play through a Budda SuperDrive 18 and a mesa Studio .22 before that and never had to even mic either one. A 100W head is awesome when it's cranked but there just aren't that many opportunities to do that.

Do you find these smaller, low wattage amps sound big and muscular enough for a rock show in a club or bar? I was always under the impression that for rock gigs, you would do better with a 50 or 100 watt amp set to lower volumes than a low wattage amp. No?

Thanks!

 

[slev]

The lower wattage amps that are on the market now are pretty awesome if you ask me. I don't play anywhere, even when I play out that 18 or 25W can't handle. I play through a Budda SuperDrive 18 and a mesa Studio .22 before that and never had to even mic either one. A 100W head is awesome when it's cranked but there just aren't that many opportunities to do that.

Do you find these smaller, low wattage amps sound big and muscular enough for a rock show in a club or bar? I was always under the impression that for rock gigs, you would do better with a 50 or 100 watt amp set to lower volumes than a low wattage amp. No?

Thanks!

My budda 18 into a 2x12 is pretty thick sounding and is plenty unmic'd for a bar gig. For a larger gig, especially something outdoors, you'd probably want to mic it. A 50W Marshall with a 4x12 is generally overkill for a typical bar gig. Don't get me wrong, it sounds amazing but for me it's just too much for a moderate sized bar.

Also a plus is that I can set the clean channel on the edge of breakup then push it with an OD pedal for some insane blues tones.

 

[PBGas]

I just picked up the recto-verb 25 rackmount version which is very rare to find at this point. Absolutely killer little amp with a huge sound. So happy with it!