No Love for 3 Channel Rectifiers

[Bad.Seed]

Until now. I've owned and sold more of the 3 channel rectifiers, dual and triple, than I can count.

I never bonded with them. They always just felt so scooped in comparison to the 2 channel models. I recently got this 3 channel triple rectifier for a decent price, not expecting much, as I had just sold my 3 channel dual a month ago and couldn't stand it.

I know rectifiers tend to vary in tone, but wow. This one sounds much better than I remember the others. Much more present in the mids, no hollowness. The modern mode is always scoopy on these ones, but it's actually bearable to me on this particular one.

I bought it to turn it around, but was super inspired by the tones, and decided to make a playthrough of it.

 

[Samhain]

Love mine.

 

[DragonCrestPC]

I love my multi watt, it's one of my favorite amps ever. Congrats!!!

 

[Wizard of Ozz]

Zero love here.

Find a sub serial #250 Dual Recto Rev C (not any of the later revisions)... and you'll forget about the rest. They are that good and very different sounding from the others that came later.

 

[War_in_D]

I've owned several of the three channel dual recs, but the triple rec never really appealed to me. Didn't need the extra wattage. But, I bought one a few years back because it was too good a deal to pass up thinking I would flip it really quick but there was something different about it. To my ear, sounded better than any of the dual recs I had so I ended up keeping it for a couple of years. I'm no Mesa expert, but maybe there is something different in the circuit on the triple.

 

[fusedbrain]

Bigger opt for the extra tubes.
Makes a difference

 

[saxxamafone]

I prefer the 2ch but you're getting some very nice sounds in this clip mate

 

[Bad.Seed]

Thanks fellas
According to Fluff, there were multiple revisions of the 3 Channel Rectifiers as well. This was news to me. He said the earlier ones were less scooped and fizzy with more mid presence, and this one falls into the earlier revision time period, according to him when I sent him the Serial #

Really interesting, as I thought the 3 channel was just the 3 channel, but it appears Mesa constantly updates all their amps behind the scenes, so it really should come as no surprise.

 

[Samhain]

Mine is around 2010-ish.
Mesa serial # do not nail down exact years.
I saw my revision on the PCB last time i had the chassis pulled but i don't remember.
I know everyone loves the Rev G and early one's but mine is really nice.
I play thru 70's Blackback cabs and not V30's which likely helps.
Tone stack is very responsive.

 

[Filter500]

Thanks fellas
According to Fluff, there were multiple revisions of the 3 Channel Rectifiers as well. This was news to me. He said the earlier ones were less scooped and fizzy with more mid presence, and this one falls into the earlier revision time period, according to him when I sent him the Serial #

Really interesting, as I thought the 3 channel was just the 3 channel, but it appears Mesa constantly updates all their amps behind the scenes, so it really should come as no surprise.

I think it's odd that Mesa has claimed one of the main reasons they use printed PCBs vs point to point along with other manufacturing techniques is assured consistency of sound from amp to amp, yet with all of these silent revisions they have amps of the same model circulating in the market which vary in sound.

 

[Racerxrated]

Thanks fellas
According to Fluff, there were multiple revisions of the 3 Channel Rectifiers as well. This was news to me. He said the earlier ones were less scooped and fizzy with more mid presence, and this one falls into the earlier revision time period, according to him when I sent him the Serial #

Really interesting, as I thought the 3 channel was just the 3 channel, but it appears Mesa constantly updates all their amps behind the scenes, so it really should come as no surprise.

There are also simple mods that can be done to any 2 or 3 channel Recto that brings the tone closer to the original Rev C Dual from ‘92. I have an F triple and have performed just a few simple “jumping some resistors, bypassing an LDR” and its even more killer now.
Your amp may well have some of these mods, making it sound much better than other 3 channel versions you’ve played.

 

[Samhain]

I think it's odd that Mesa has claimed one of the main reasons they use printed PCBs vs point to point along with other manufacturing techniques is assured consistency of sound from amp to amp, yet with all of these silent revisions they have amps of the same model circulating in the market which vary in sound.

Same with 60's & 70's JMP Marshalls. No surprise.

 

[Racerxrated]

Mine is around 2010-ish.

Mesa serial # do not nail down exact years.
I saw my revision on the PCB last time i had the chassis pulled but i don't remember.
I know everyone loves the Rev G and early one's but mine is really nice.
I play thru 70's Blackback cabs and not V30's which likely helps.
Tone stack is very responsive.

Make no mistake; Mesas (every one I’ve tried, owned) seem to be made for V30s. I never cared for them until I got my first Mark III, then later the C+ and Rectos. Perfect combination. Also great through vintage GBs but if I had to pick one cab it would be the Mesa Trad/OS. Either are killer

 

[jasonP]

I've bought and sold a lot of 3 channel Rectifiers, thinking how awesome having a 3 channel amp would be with 3 independent eq's. I have always found others to get some awesome tones out of them. Personally I never found one that I could stand the tone of. With the feedback removed from the power amp - from the Red channel i found they have so much top end presence and hollow sounding mids. The Vintage mode always left me with a dark muffled sound that I could never understand how to dial it in. After watching your video and also me learning how to dial that amp in more so I want to try another one!

 

[Shask]

There are also simple mods that can be done to any 2 or 3 channel Recto that brings the tone closer to the original Rev C Dual from ‘92. I have an F triple and have performed just a few simple “jumping some resistors, bypassing an LDR” and its even more killer now.
Your amp may well have some of these mods, making it sound much better than other 3 channel versions you’ve played.

I have considered doing these mods to my Rev G, but then I always come back to the fact that the Rev G tone is pretty much the Recto tone we all know and love. Why change it? I can get closer to the Rev C tone with a boost.

 

[Beyond Black]

I have considered doing these mods to my Rev G, but then I always come back to the fact that the Rev G tone is pretty much the Recto tone we all know and love. Why change it? I can get closer to the Rev C tone with a boost.

I’ve got a Rev G Triple that I had Mike B give the C mod to, and it improved it immensely. It’s now much tighter, focused, and more aggressive in the mids. The lows are much more punchy, and no longer boomy and flubby.

 

[Bad.Seed]

Now you guys have me wanting to keep this one and try to get it closer to the earlier revision specs.
SHUT UP

 

[Samhain]

Now you guys have me wanting to keep this one and try to get it closer to the earlier revision specs.
SHUT UP

Whats not to like ?
Rectifier prices are higher and likely to keep going.
Global supply chains all messed up.
Gibson buying Mesa.
Friedman warehouse fire to name a few.
Be a good time to sit on your amps & see what develops.

 

[Bad.Seed]

Whats not to like ?
Rectifier prices are higher and likely to keep going.
Global supply chains all messed up.
Gibson buying Mesa.
Friedman warehouse fire to name a few.
Be a good time to sit on your amps & see what develops.

Sitting on like 60 amps may not be the best idea. LOL

I bought this one to flip, and have a reborn dual, but you have a point with this, the SLO, and the Friedman stuff...

 

[Racerxrated]

I have considered doing these mods to my Rev G, but then I always come back to the fact that the Rev G tone is pretty much the Recto tone we all know and love. Why change it? I can get closer to the Rev C tone with a boost.

The changes I made mostly affect the red channel; became more focused and the clarity got better. The Orange got a touch brighter but can still be the ‘wall of sound’ thing that Rectos are known for. You do lose a bit of the clean though. Plus, these are super easy and reversible (I jumped 4 resistors and bypassed 1 LDR).