Which Dual Recto for me?

[Skrapmetal]

I just can't help it. I really like the lead channel on my 6505+, but I've always wanted a Dual Rectifier... all the way back to when I was in high school in the 90's and drooling over those expensive amps that sounded so amazing but I thought I could never afford.

I've pretty much decided I wont be happy with myself until I get one. But which one should I be looking for?

Should I shop around for an older two channel model? Or should I just grabd a three channel? How about the new multi watt?

I play metal mostly (from Puppets/Justice-style Metallica to new modern stuff).

Help me spend some more money, please.

 

[JakeAC5253]

Anyone would give you a different answer to this, but it sounds like you are on a tone chase rather than buying a multi-channel amp for the convenience/coolness of having multiple independent channels. If this is the case then go for one of the older two channel models, and if you can, grab a Triple Rec. I bought a Dual Rec, one of the new 3 chan multi-watt models, and I really enjoyed it at first, but I came to think that they dumbed it down a bit. It is definitely softer and more round sounding than some other Rectos that I have heard, which can be good, but to me that's not why I buy a Recto? So I got rid of it. Definitely audition one or more different versions if you can.

Forgot to mention why I said Triple over the Dual. The Dual is fantastic, but its preamp is so hot that you hit power amp mushiness just a tad too early than it should IMO. The Triples are godforsakingly loud and less likely to get woofy or smeared at gig levels (if you play gigs that is)

 

[Skrapmetal]

I am on a tone chase for sure, but with a splash of versatility.

I want; 1) the best gainy metal tone I can find and 2) as good of a clean tone as I can get without sacrificing #1

I'm not currently gigging, this will be for jam room/studio play for now. But I'd definitely like to be able to carry it over to gigging should the opportunity come around again.

 

[fluff191]

If cleans are important, absolutely a Roadster. If not, an older 2 Channel Recto.

Check my sig for examples of the later.

 

[chumbucket]

Some magazine or review site did a review of the new multi-watt and compared it to at least one older recto that I believe was a 2 channel. They were kind of saying that the multi-watt had all of the sounds of the 2 channel but that the 2 channel couldn't do all of the sounds of the multi-watt.
Hey Fluff191, The cleans sounded pretty good in the Multi-Watt video on the Mesa site but I wondered why you thought the Roadsters cleans were better?

 

[russellconner]

this probably isnt very helpful, but i'll chime in anyway...

my advice would be to try out these amps:

1. two channel dual or triple rectifier (earlier revisions if you want the original sound)

2. bogner uberschall rev. 2 - i will explain in a second

3. multi-watt dual or triple rectifier

1. i have a '94 dual rec two channel, and in all likelihood will never part with it.
- a whole encyclopedia of distorted tones, from mild breakup to massively thick grind
- usable clean (especially with effects), but not a great clean channel...with my emgs, it always sounds pushed and on the edge of breaking up.

2. ive had my uber since '04, and can honestly say i dont have a favorite between it and my dual rec. the uber has the best modern high gain sounds ive ever heard (for my style and preferences). its able to have the gain backed down to less over-the-top settings. i can get decent blues-rock, AC/DC type sounds out of it if i want. the reason i mention it here, is that it has a beautiful clean channel (especially for a high-gainer) and crushing distortion sounds. to me, its basically a refined version of the dual rec's distortion sounds (and a more flexible eq) coupled with a great-sounding clean channel.

3. as for the multi-watt, i auditioned a multi-watt dual two years ago and it has been haunting the back of my mind ever since. i want to audition a triple rec multi-watt, and may someday pick one up just because of its all-in-one-box design advantages. besides, the multi-watt dual i played through sounded just as deep and mean as my two channel dual.

anyway, i thought you might want to hear from someone who's had a two channel dual rec for about 18 years...and what ive heard over the years with different amps while comparing them to it.

good luck, though. i dont think you will be disappointed with any of the rectifiers, as each of them has their dedicated followers.

-russell

 

[RJF]

Get an old 2 channel. The newer 3 ch with the polished face/ black chassis are about as boring of amps there are, because there are a million of them.

Then, do the euro tubes kit with a pair of KT88's and a pair of KT66's. Add a boost in front and you now have a recto with the tightest bottom end you've ever heard, coming from a Mesa.

I love my 2 channel chrome chassis/polished plate.

 

[fluff191]

Hey Fluff191, The cleans sounded pretty good in the Multi-Watt video on the Mesa site but I wondered why you thought the Roadsters cleans were better?

The new Rectos cleans are good indeed. But the Roadsters clean channel is based on the Lonestar clean channel.

 

[Audioholic]

I have always liked some other peoples recordings of Recto's. I have never liked me through them, at least the limited times I have tried. I abolutely loved plugging into the 6505+ the other day, it was instant boner. with that said, I hope you find happiness. I have always wanted to like Mesa, but never in the end gelled with them, except for their royal atlantic

 

[fluff191]

Dude the Royal Atlantic is AWESOME!

 

[Audioholic]

Dude the Royal Atlantic is AWESOME!

Yes it really is. I had a f-50
And hated that thing. Played through a triple rec a few times and the new mini and just think Mesa is not my thing even though I really wanted to like them However the royal Atlantic not only sounded awesome it felt great to play through. Def check it out.

 

[nevusofota]

I just can't help it. I really like the lead channel on my 6505+, but I've always wanted a Dual Rectifier... all the way back to when I was in high school in the 90's and drooling over those expensive amps that sounded so amazing but I thought I could never afford.

I've pretty much decided I wont be happy with myself until I get one. But which one should I be looking for?

Should I shop around for an older two channel model? Or should I just grabd a three channel? How about the new multi watt?

I play metal mostly (from Puppets/Justice-style Metallica to new modern stuff).

Help me spend some more money, please.

Mailman's FJA modded Dual Rec. The best I've heard in a while.

 

[Erock]

Anyone would give you a different answer to this, but it sounds like you are on a tone chase rather than buying a multi-channel amp for the convenience/coolness of having multiple independent channels. If this is the case then go for one of the older two channel models, and if you can, grab a Triple Rec. I bought a Dual Rec, one of the new 3 chan multi-watt models, and I really enjoyed it at first, but I came to think that they dumbed it down a bit. It is definitely softer and more round sounding than some other Rectos that I have heard, which can be good, but to me that's not why I buy a Recto? So I got rid of it. Definitely audition one or more different versions if you can.

Forgot to mention why I said Triple over the Dual. The Dual is fantastic, but its preamp is so hot that you hit power amp mushiness just a tad too early than it should IMO. The Triples are godforsakingly loud and less likely to get woofy or smeared at gig levels (if you play gigs that is)

gotta +1 this, although I do really like the new multi-watts. I have a Reborn Triple right now, and it's my favorite Recto of the versions I've owned(rev F, rev G, 3ch, reborn). The new features like the multi-watt and ch assignable diode/tube rectifier are all really useful and usable in shaping your sound, and the new clean channel is the best I've heard in a recto other than the RK/Roadster.

 

[Pablo1234]

Road King 2 its a dual Recto with 4 preamp channels and has the Roadster and newer cleans on channels 1 and 2. it also rivals the triple in headroom and has 4 6l6 and 2 el34's that are programmable per channel. I like the 2 6l6 and 2 el34s running on my high gain channels and depending on if I want the pushed clean tone I'll use 4 6l6's or just the 2 el34's depending on my mood, for pristine cleans I like all tubes engaged in Fat mode. Its hands down the most kicking amp I have ever played through and you add some phase shift compression and EQing and the sky is the limit for tone. I just picked up a line 6 DL4 and I send the slave output to my DL4 then to my Fender Ultimate chorus amp and I have more sounds at my disposal than I could cover in a day. I just started a Journal to keep track of them all lol. Also I really like my pristine clean sounds with a 4 x 10" cab, The dual cabinet selector per channel makes running 2 cabs for 2 different tones a must for me.
The only thing I put in my 2 effects loops are a parametric EQ and a MXR 10 band EQ for different voicings but if you don't plan on working the tubes for power tube distortion effects work well in hear if their quality.

 

[James Lugo]

The old 2 channel Duals are my fav. I actually like the Ractos the best. Very fierce sounding without the fizz. I too have struggled with Rectos in the past when recording, I'd hear other guys get great results but I was always very hit or miss as an engineer/producer. I did much research, asked a thousand questions and did a ton of experimenting and I have finally unlocked the mystery for me (just my opinion).

Here's what I've found that worked for me:

1. Run it at 8 ohms through a Recto cab. Those amps are really designed to run 8 ohms imo, tighter and punchier and they seemed to really shine at 8 ohms. Rectos have there own brand of sag and it's not Marshall 16 ohm sag, it's recto 8 ohm sag. I've also noticed there's a very distinct voicing to recto cabs that you can hear to one degree or another on every amp that goes through them, a very pronounced foot print and I believe it's that voicing that is what makes the rec really shine. I can't explain it in any technical manner but I can hear it as clear as a bell.

2. I run an OCD in front of it (some guys use a tube screamer, the TS seems to sound a little smoother, scooped and deeper, the OCD sounds a little fiercer, more aggressive and jagged). I set the OCD with the volume and tone pretty much at 12 o'clock and the gain at a hair over 9 o'clock. The pedal in front drives the amp in the way that I love. Without the pedal I have never gotten my rhythms to feel right. I know some guys run eqs through the loop for a similar effect.

3. Crank it up! I use to be very gun shy with the master on recs, they always seemed to have this sweet spot that was with the master around 10 o'clock or so, any louder and they lost dimension but with the OCD in front you can really open it up.

4. I've been using a vintage 421/57 combo phased to perfection through 2 neves about a half inch off to the side of the speaker dust cap.

5. Double your rhythms TIGHT, TIGHT, TIGHT!!!!

 

[Skrapmetal]

Thanks so much for all of the in depth opinions, guys. Really giving me a lot to chew on.

1. Run it at 8 ohms through a Recto cab. Those amps are really designed to run 8 ohms imo, tighter and punchier and they seemed to really shine at 8 ohms. Rectos have there own brand of sag and it's not Marshall 16 ohm sag, it's recto 8 ohm sag.

That part definitely wont be a problem. I've got an older recto cab with the straight cab/slant baffle design.

 

[UltraGary]

Check out those older TremoVerbs you see around! Cost effective, easy to dial in and SO many great sounds. (& get a mop to clean up all the lust it creates)

 

[crwnedblasphemy]

I have had my Single Rec now for about 6 months, and it was a love/hate relationship for sure at first. Things I have done to make it better:

1) TAD 6L6 small bottles...everything way more balanced. I played with my old Tesla EL34s for awile, and they sounded good but EL34s in the recto give it some fizzy high mids.

2) Play around with different preamp tubes in different slots. This was huge for me. Made it sing/sustain a lot more

3) BB preamp compresses it just enough to give balance as well.

4) i modded the loop to serial.

These are all subjective, but i have this thing singing with vai tones, heavy tones, and excellent cleans.

 

[glassjaw7]

Older two-channel if you want no-hassle, great dirty tones and don't need amazing cleans. If you're up for mods, I highly suggest a Friedman mod on a 3-channel. Mine was easily on par with, if not better sounding than the 2-channels I've played and more versatile. Heard great things about FJA tweaked rectos too.

Other than that, the RK (with some good tubes) will give you just about any recto tone you want and great cleans too. The Roadster is a solid choice as well, and the series effects loop blows away the normal recto loops.

 

[mightywarlock]

Unless you are willing to wait for one of the fabled Pre-500's, my vote goes to the Roadster.

Ive owned a Pre-500 for a few years now and it will never leave.

Ive also owned about 8 other Recto's over the years. All different Types.
(Triple, 90's Dual's, 3 channels, Tremoverb, Recording Pre, and Roadster)

That said, a lot of Recto's have a buzzy sound in the distortion.
My older does not.
I dont hear it much in the Roadster either.

And i just picked up another roadster Combo last week. I really like the Tweed and Brit modes, and find the vintage mode great for the first time in a Recto. Other rectos it always seemed muddy to me.

Whichever Recto you get...
First thing you do, switch the 6L6's out for JJ EL34L's.
Then get an EQ pedal and run it through the effects loop (i use MXR).
Also either a Tung Sol in v1,(which people seem to like), or i use an ELectroHarmonix 12ax7.


Get to crank it or it will sound round and bubbly.