Triple Rectifier or Preamp/2:100

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Influenza

Influenza

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I own a Rectifier Recording Preamp and the 2:100 power amp. A great stereo setup that was designed to work together, according to Mesa Boogie (I don't need the rectifier tubes). However, the combo doesn't get much use here. And from time to time I wonder whether if I should get a Triple Rectifier instead.
Has anyone first hand experience comparing a great Triple Rectifier with my setup? I am totally unsure ...
The focus in this setup would be down-tune hardcore and thrash.
What's the best choice?
 
I gave up rack stuff in '97. But I'm talking about huge rack syndrome. It's just been heads,cabs and a gate since then.

In your case,you have a simple pre and power amp setup designed by a company to work together. You could add other preamps and have different tones available. If you ditch your rig now for a recto head,your stuck with just that. If that works for you,then cool.

If it was my choice to make,I would buy the head and compare before dumping the rack stuff. But chances are I would just keep the rack stuff. I see more future possibilities with it. But that's because I have a bunch of heads now,so my judgment is suspect.
 
dosent seem like that rectifier preamp ever took off, dont really see too many guys using them
 
I have this going on, Boogie Quad & Rectifier preamps. The Rectifier sounds like a Rectifier, plus the lonestar cleans, the Quad has C+ & Mark III tones along with a killer clean on the C+ side and grainy ZZ Top style clean on the Mark III clean channel.

I have heads and combos that I also use, but this set up is my favorite desert island amp/rig without question.

Ultimate Boogie by John Bazzano, on Flickr
 
Markedman said:
I have this going on, Boogie Quad & Rectifier preamps. The Rectifier sounds like a Rectifier, plus the lonestar cleans, the Quad has C+ & Mark III tones along with a killer clean on the C+ side and grainy ZZ Top style clean on the Mark III clean channel.

I have heads and combos that I also use, but this set up is my favorite desert island amp/rig without question.

by John Bazzano, on Flickr
Click to expand...

Thanks for this. And good news. Actually, getting the Preamp and the matching power amp had the reason to be more flexible back then. I went through many power amps (incl. the Strategy 400 and 500), but there is still unsureness. I guess I will need to borrow a Reborn head and check it A/B. Background: I consider getting a mod done, but the modder won't touch the Rectifier preamp.
 
I went the long way to do a direct comparison: Dual Rectifier Reborn vs Rectifier Recording Preamp into the DR return. In addition I had a Syn-2 with a Dreadplate module by Salvation Mods and a Diabolo by Sacred Groove. The boost being used was an Airis Savage Boost.´The comparison is only about the Modern mode with silcon diodes. Speakers being used were Vintage 30s, the pickup was an EMG81 (a Fluence Modern in this setup sounded too harsh to me).
General observation: I think I might not be a Rectifier guy. The amp tends to be muddy quick and is always pretty harsh in the higher frequencies while the midrange is scooped even with the mid control being pushed. While a boost really cleans up the low registers, I find it hard to geht the harshness under control. Out of all four "models", the Reborn was the most balanced sounding amp typically.
By turning the EQ and Gain controls you can get each model pretty close. The MTS module were more flexible in this scenario since they offer tight switches and boosts. When used with the Savage Boost, all models offered real tight metal sounds (still harsh and scopped). I would still say, the Reborn is the most balanced. Interesting: Both MTS modules had a higher noisefloor than the Boogies. The Salvation Dread Plate has a build in Noise Gate which works ok but not great since there is not Threshold adjustment.
Tough to make a descision: The Reborn is the easiest complete solution, offers three channels and works fine with a boost. The Rectifier Preamp comes close, offers two channels (with three voicings each) and offers the Recording Output (plus possible stereo operation). The modules are great if you already have a main amp and want to add the Rectifier sound to your setup. Both preamps may be combined with different power amps which may be a big benefit. I remember plugging the Rectifier Preamp into a Diezel Hagen and was really floored.
Tough call!
 
Is there a reason why you are spending time and effort on finding the right Recto-ish rig when you´re not really happy with the sound of Rectos to begin with? You say you don´t use your current rig a lot, that you´re looking for mods, that they´re muddy and harsh... I´m not trying to be nasty, but like you alluded to yourself you should probably skip all these four options you had there (and any other Recto as well). Especially with the million other high gain choices that have come out since 1992, there really isn´t a reason to compromise.
 
Dave L said:
Is there a reason why you are spending time and effort on finding the right Recto-ish rig when you´re not really happy with the sound of Rectos to begin with? You say you don´t use your current rig a lot, that you´re looking for mods, that they´re muddy and harsh... I´m not trying to be nasty, but like you alluded to yourself you should probably skip all these four options you had there (and any other Recto as well). Especially with the million other high gain choices that have come out since 1992, there really isn´t a reason to compromise.
Click to expand...

Actually, there is a little history behind it. I enjoyed the Rectifier sound for a good while. And so I pulled out the unit I had to give it a deeper look after a few years. Taste changes and experience grows ... Plus, since I never bound with the combo I had, I thought: Let's find out if it the Reborn series is significantly better. It is not.
However: There are mods on the heads that do sound a lot better.
 
And I hope it gives some insight for a few Rectifier lovers. It doesn't seem there are a lot of people that have tested the Preamp against the Reborn series.
 
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Triples are tighter than duals. Also, the "harsh" or "fizz" IMO sits very well in a band mix and not so well in the bedroom.

I might maybe possibly be selling my MW Triple. It's so close to my F Triple, and I don't really need both. Here they are un-boosted.

 
I would agree that the MW Triple sounds as good. There might be a tiny little difference in the room and in feel which I don't hear. Not woning a head, I would go for the MW since the clean is superior, you have as serial loop and three channels. I wouldn't call both percussive though.
 
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