Triple Rectifier comparison: Rev G vs 90s RI (CLIPS IN)

[stephen sawall]

Red modern 6L6 last few years

 

[TheGreatGreen]

Any one know if there is any ckt changes to the new 90's dual release today aside from the cosmetic change?

I have to imagine it’s completely cosmetic only. The inside baseball is that Mesa / Gibson are unhappy about the bottlenecking in the amp’s production pipeline caused by the chassis chroming process, which is being done by one specific motorcycle shop on a one-by-one basis.

 

[Racerxrated]

I have to imagine it’s completely cosmetic only. The inside baseball is that Mesa / Gibson are unhappy about the bottlenecking in the amp’s production pipeline caused by the chassis chroming process, which is being done by one specific motorcycle shop on a one-by-one basis.

I do know that the pot values on the Triple RI are G. Which has inspired me to try the C mod values to mine. Easy enough to go back if they are too much. I will find out over the weekend.

 

[TheGreatGreen]

I do know that the pot values on the Triple RI are G. Which has inspired me to try the C mod values to mine. Easy enough to go back if they are too much. I will find out over the weekend.

I don't have the schematics on the Dual RI vs Triple RI. I have both amps and they sound extremely similar at lower volumes. Obviously the Triple holds up better and has more authority at band volumes but it sounds to me like the preamps are extremely similar if not the exact same.

I was talking about the move from Chrome Chassis Dual Rec RI -> Black Chassis Dual Rec RI. I'd imagine those amps are literally identical top to bottom except for the chassis finish.

 

[Holy-diver]

After messing with them more they are actually kinda unique to each other while obviously both hitting the recto sounds. This is framed through owning multiple versions of rectifier (multiple dual and triple rev g, 3 channel triple og, dual multiwatt, 3 triple multiwatts, 2 roadsters, 2 road king 2, 2 rev f duals, 3 tremoverb, single rec v2, and 2 ground zero mods holy fuck this was more than I thought)
This is what I am perceiving in the room through the same cab (Mesa OS straight/slant late 2002 v30s)

Rev G: red modern definitely thicker sounding to the point of bloat at certain settings while also having a bit more “harsh” or I would call it biting top end. Mids sitting a little lower so it is possible to get lost a little in a mix with another guitar and band. Overall slightly gnarlier sounding. Orange modern is pretty close with maybe the mids slightly altered up in the register, surprisingly kinda sounds like the RI on red modern but a bit messier. Stock loop sucks azz tone killing bs as usual. I have previously modded other rev g I have had to the serial loop but it still suffers a bit from tone suck even modded, although it is better.

RI: red modern mids sit in a slightly better spot so this was accurate from what I have read from others, it hangs out in a perfect spot with the band with 2 7 string guitars, bass and drums. Overall the core tone is very similar but it is cleaner and less messy sounding. It can get similar insane low end but it doesn’t fart out as much and a boost keeps it fully punchy and a bit tighter. Highs are less shrill but still can be plenty biting. Orange modern is a similar shift relative to the amount it changes in the rev g in that the mids and structure shift a tiny bit towards more mid full sounds. This orange modern is definitely superior to the one in the rev g imo. Loop on the other hand seems perfect, I have no idea why they waited so long to make it good.

At first I wasn’t that impressed with the RI as the rev G triple is definitely one of my favorite amps of all time but I have to say that I changed my mind a bit. There is something to be said about the rev g being a bit more raw and gnarly but the RI just fits in the band jam room mix undeniably better. It’s much easier to get the sound where you want it without constantly fighting the high end. I’m sort of sold the only thing that is depressing is how much it cost lol

 

[Racerxrated]

After messing with them more they are actually kinda unique to each other while obviously both hitting the recto sounds. This is framed through owning multiple versions of rectifier (multiple dual and triple rev g, 3 channel triple og, dual multiwatt, 3 triple multiwatts, 2 roadsters, 2 road king 2, 2 rev f duals, 3 tremoverb, single rec v2, and 2 ground zero mods holy fuck this was more than I thought)
This is what I am perceiving in the room through the same cab (Mesa OS straight/slant late 2002 v30s)

Rev G: red modern definitely thicker sounding to the point of bloat at certain settings while also having a bit more “harsh” or I would call it biting top end. Mids sitting a little lower so it is possible to get lost a little in a mix with another guitar and band. Overall slightly gnarlier sounding. Orange modern is pretty close with maybe the mids slightly altered up in the register, surprisingly kinda sounds like the RI on red modern but a bit messier. Stock loop sucks azz tone killing bs as usual. I have previously modded other rev g I have had to the serial loop but it still suffers a bit from tone suck even modded, although it is better.

RI: red modern mids sit in a slightly better spot so this was accurate from what I have read from others, it hangs out in a perfect spot with the band with 2 7 string guitars, bass and drums. Overall the core tone is very similar but it is cleaner and less messy sounding. It can get similar insane low end but it doesn’t fart out as much and a boost keeps it fully punchy and a bit tighter. Highs are less shrill but still can be plenty biting. Orange modern is a similar shift relative to the amount it changes in the rev g in that the mids and structure shift a tiny bit towards more mid full sounds. This orange modern is definitely superior to the one in the rev g imo. Loop on the other hand seems perfect, I have no idea why they waited so long to make it good.

At first I wasn’t that impressed with the RI as the rev G triple is definitely one of my favorite amps of all time but I have to say that I changed my mind a bit. There is something to be said about the rev g being a bit more raw and gnarly but the RI just fits in the band jam room mix undeniably better. It’s much easier to get the sound where you want it without constantly fighting the high end. I’m sort of sold the only thing that is depressing is how much it cost lol

Nice review!

I think if you were to C mod the G, and mod the loop you'd be pretty close to the RI. Mesa/Gibson seems to have listened to the masses and improved upon the things that people wanted to change on the Gs and included those in the RI. Better Red ch, loop and mids/clarity.
Later today I'm going to swap in some C value pots (part of the C mods) in my Triple RI and see how that changes the amp. Both gain pots to 1 meg, and red presence to 200k.

 

[311boogieman]

After messing with them more they are actually kinda unique to each other while obviously both hitting the recto sounds. This is framed through owning multiple versions of rectifier (multiple dual and triple rev g, 3 channel triple og, dual multiwatt, 3 triple multiwatts, 2 roadsters, 2 road king 2, 2 rev f duals, 3 tremoverb, single rec v2, and 2 ground zero mods holy fuck this was more than I thought)
This is what I am perceiving in the room through the same cab (Mesa OS straight/slant late 2002 v30s)

Rev G: red modern definitely thicker sounding to the point of bloat at certain settings while also having a bit more “harsh” or I would call it biting top end. Mids sitting a little lower so it is possible to get lost a little in a mix with another guitar and band. Overall slightly gnarlier sounding. Orange modern is pretty close with maybe the mids slightly altered up in the register, surprisingly kinda sounds like the RI on red modern but a bit messier. Stock loop sucks azz tone killing bs as usual. I have previously modded other rev g I have had to the serial loop but it still suffers a bit from tone suck even modded, although it is better.

RI: red modern mids sit in a slightly better spot so this was accurate from what I have read from others, it hangs out in a perfect spot with the band with 2 7 string guitars, bass and drums. Overall the core tone is very similar but it is cleaner and less messy sounding. It can get similar insane low end but it doesn’t fart out as much and a boost keeps it fully punchy and a bit tighter. Highs are less shrill but still can be plenty biting. Orange modern is a similar shift relative to the amount it changes in the rev g in that the mids and structure shift a tiny bit towards more mid full sounds. This orange modern is definitely superior to the one in the rev g imo. Loop on the other hand seems perfect, I have no idea why they waited so long to make it good.

At first I wasn’t that impressed with the RI as the rev G triple is definitely one of my favorite amps of all time but I have to say that I changed my mind a bit. There is something to be said about the rev g being a bit more raw and gnarly but the RI just fits in the band jam room mix undeniably better. It’s much easier to get the sound where you want it without constantly fighting the high end. I’m sort of sold the only thing that is depressing is how much it cost lol

Clip comparison or it didn't happen!


j/k

That is a great review and every time I read a description I'm tempted to sell my Rev G/C for a Reissue. But I suspect it wouldn't be enough of a difference for someone like me to care about, but I'd love to hear your comparison after modding the old one to C - as @Racerxrated is saying.

 

[Holy-diver]

Clip comparison or it didn't happen!


j/k

That is a great review and every time I read a description I'm tempted to sell my Rev G/C for a Reissue. But I suspect it wouldn't be enough of a difference for someone like me to care about, but I'd love to hear your comparison after modding the old one to C - as @Racerxrated is saying.

Oh I’m gonna do clips still I’m just being lazy

I think the c mod stuff might be cool but I kinda like having the stock version because it actually is different and unique. Plus the loop mod does help but trust me it’s still noticeably worse than the RI

 

[FourT6and2]

Nice review!

I think if you were to C mod the G, and mod the loop you'd be pretty close to the RI. Mesa/Gibson seems to have listened to the masses and improved upon the things that people wanted to change on the Gs and included those in the RI. Better Red ch, loop and mids/clarity.
Later today I'm going to swap in some C value pots (part of the C mods) in my Triple RI and see how that changes the amp. Both gain pots to 1 meg, and red presence to 200k.

1M gain pots will make the amp muddy and dark and way over gained. Unless you also raise the bright caps to 4700pF to compensate. And then you have to run the gain control down below 12:00 to hear the effect. Did this to a Rev G and it makes a difference but honestly... I kinda preferred it stock.

 

[Racerxrated]

1M gain pots will make the amp muddy and dark and way over gained. Unless you also raise the bright caps to 4700pF to compensate. And then you have to run the gain control down below 12:00 to hear the effect. Did this to a Rev G and it makes a difference but honestly... I kinda preferred it stock I did this to a Rev F triple and there was no mud to be found. What it did do was make the red channel much less sterile sounding, brighter, tighter and just plain better to my ears. Closer to the more 'rich' sounding orange/modern. But still had the red thing going on, which was a tighter/brighter tone.

I did do this to a Rev F Triple long ago; it didn't seem muddy to my ears after the mods. But, that also included more of the C mods which included clipping some LDRs, bypassing some caps as well. That I won't be doing as this reissue circuit layout is pretty different from the older G that the C mod was based off of.
I'll report back later. I do have bright caps here though, to install if needed.

 

[FourT6and2]

I did do this to a Rev F Triple long ago; it didn't seem muddy to my ears after the mods. But, that also included more of the C mods which included clipping some LDRs, bypassing some caps as well. That I won't be doing as this reissue circuit layout is pretty different from the older G that the C mod was based off of.
I'll report back later. I do have bright caps here though, to install if needed.

The only mods on this one are bias pot and 1M pot + 4700pF bright cap. Not bad. But the gain control is down around 10:00.

 

[FourT6and2]

And here's an A/B mic'd clip of 250K vs 1M gain pot without changing the cap. It doesn't sound great IMO...

 

[SonVolt]

I sometimes forget other modes exist other than modern.

Vintage Orange w/Spongy is the real OG.

 

[Holy-diver]

Doggshittt incoming; I promised clips but I did not say I would spend any amount of time on my takes That being said, tracks are USA KM-7 > Griffin Bad Monkey > Amp > 2002 Mesa OS straight/slant > SM57 right, SM7b left. Solo tracks are just centered sm57 for reference.

Amp 1:
https://app.box.com/s/rqz9zqj69fbqiyg96n4hcy4uuqn3z2zn
https://app.box.com/s/4a97xjjqviuuw3r689zhdlonigiznq4j

Amp 2:
https://app.box.com/s/u0ze77zwnv717ueubgn4eh79792pqgri
https://app.box.com/s/bbr14umgu4wt2iss7dozdt53j7ov26ml

 

[FourT6and2]

Doggshittt incoming; I promised clips but I did not say I would spend any amount of time on my takes That being said, tracks are USA KM-7 > Griffin Bad Monkey > Amp > 2002 Mesa OS straight/slant > SM57 right, SM7b left. Solo tracks are just centered sm57 for reference.

Amp 1:
https://app.box.com/s/rqz9zqj69fbqiyg96n4hcy4uuqn3z2zn
https://app.box.com/s/4a97xjjqviuuw3r689zhdlonigiznq4j

Amp 2:
https://app.box.com/s/u0ze77zwnv717ueubgn4eh79792pqgri
https://app.box.com/s/bbr14umgu4wt2iss7dozdt53j7ov26ml

They sound identical to me

 

[mnemonic]

In the mix they sound the same to me, soloed 1 sounds like it has a bit more presence or upper mids? I like both.

 

[Racerxrated]

Ok, so far after changing the Triple's gain pots to C values (1 Meg) it is as expected, a gain monster (needs a noise gate) but not muddy at all. But, the bigger presence pot does add some harshness to the red. Gonna put that back to stock and play it for a bit.

 

[TheGreatGreen]

Ok, so far after changing the Triple's gain pots to C values (1 Meg) it is as expected, a gain monster (needs a noise gate) but not muddy at all. But, the bigger presence pot does add some harshness to the red. Gonna put that back to stock and play it for a bit.

Is the C mod just the 1M gain pot or is there more to it?

 

[Racerxrated]

Is the C mod just the 1M gain pot or is there more to it?

There's a lot more to it; but it was done to a G circuit long ago on the boogie forum so trying to do the same to the reissue amps will be difficult trying to match up the circuit in the same way. So I'm just trying the easy pot value changes for now.

 

[Holy-diver]

In the mix they sound the same to me, soloed 1 sounds like it has a bit more presence or upper mids? I like both.

Yeah, they are very similar under the sm57 with the same exact chain. They still seemed different while playing though. This was also fairly loud, pretty much band volume