My Own Little Amp Fest Comparison(Recto/MarkV/5150/JCM800KK)

So I decided i couldn't make it to the Ampfest today in Anaheim, due to time constraints on me going to see Iron Maiden in just a few hours, and I just got in my Zoom H4n, last night, so I decided to hook up some mics and make some sample recordings to
A) test out the Zoom H4n
B) test out the tone differences in 4 of my amps
C) test 2 of my mics together
D) See how my new Ibanez SZ2020FM records. Loaded with stock pickup which is a Duncan Distortion, as it turned out).

So, here's what I did.
Left - SM57
Right - E906
Mic Placements, 57-lower left speaker, 1" left of center. E906, upper right, 1" left of center.
cab, Mesa 4x12 Traditional Recto, V30's.

Amps: (look below at my Signature, same amps, except for the Recto, that one is different).
Mesa Mark V, Ch.3 Extreme Mode, Full Power, 90w, EL34L's, Tung-sol in V1.
Mesa Dual Rectifier, Ch.3 Modern Mode, original stock 6L6 tubes (btw, this is for sale).
Marshall JCM800KK, Beast On, KT88's. Stock tubes. I dialed in too much gain.
Peavey 5150. 6L6. All eq settings around 4. vol. around 5. (this is for sale too).

Song, one of my bands originals...called Race Into The Universe, recorded with my Pre-500 Recto, as seen here on Youtube:



I've uploaded 4 mp3's to my website for you guys to download and check out.






So what did I learn from this experiment?

Recto records easily, and is fun to play. hides sloppiness somewhat.
Mark V records easily, but because it is so tight, it becomes sticky, and makes imperfect sloppy playing stand out much more. I made more mistakes with the Mark. But it sounds good!
Marshall, for some reason I thought I needed more gain than I usually play with, and just nudged it slight higher (i normally use very very little gain on this specific marshall, so it stays really heavy and punch), but listening back it was too gainy. And I only had the pre on maybe 2 oclock, and the beast on 10 oclock? I normally run around 1 and 9, and cut the treble back.
5150. well. It's for sale. records easily. very easily. but, I just have never been able to figure out how to dial this amp in. too bright to me i guess.

As for the Zoom? It did its job, although there was a definite volume balance issue with the SM57 (L) and the E906(R). 906 much clearer and louder. But with the simple recording method I used (turned it on, hit record) other than raising or lowering both volumes at the same time, I wasn't sure how to set each volume individually in order to raise the vol. on the left channel.
oh well. good learning experience for me anyways.

Perhaps I will do more with other amps soon, and other settings...as I am in a rush today.

Cool man, good job! I dug the Mesa Mark and Marshall best for me.

is sumthin wrong..the clips wont work on my cpu

Did'nt you just get the recto a couple days ago? Jeez man, turning it quick.

I like the Mark V and Marshall clips best. Pretty close in my headphones though.

Gsxrbusa":2uw7cm0l said:

Did'nt you just get the recto a couple days ago? Jeez man, turning it quick.

I like the Mark V and Marshall clips best. Pretty close in my headphones though.

Click to expand...

I have a Pre-500.

I bought the 3ch. recto to do a trade with someone on the forums, as they specifically asked for a 3ch. dual recto, and they are a dime a dozen out here in L.A., but I told them I needed a few days to decide if i really wanted their amp, wanted to go to a store today to check one out, and they were too impatient, then they got one locally, so now I have an extra amp I have no need for. Deal just fell through. So, I'm just having fun with it, as i blew a tube in my mark V with my STR-450s, and they are now $150 a set of 2, so I scavenged the EL34L's from my Pre-500 recto for the Mark until i get new tubes, so MY regular recto has no tubes in it right now. I have no plans on keeping the 3ch.
I'll either sell it here, or elsewhere. not too worried about it.

However, I do plan, perhaps tomorrow, on taking the tubes out of the Mark, and placing them back in the Pre-500, doing an A/B/C test between the 3 ch. recto with 6L6's, and the pre-500 with 6L6's, and then EL34L's.

But that's for another day.

Nice demo!

I liked both Mesa's and the Marshall best, all could be usable. I really have Mark V gas.

I love comparison clips. Great job ! I preferred the Marshall by far, had the most natural sounding mids compared to the others IMO.

mightywarlock":2iekre5p said:

Gsxrbusa":2iekre5p said:

Did'nt you just get the recto a couple days ago? Jeez man, turning it quick.

I like the Mark V and Marshall clips best. Pretty close in my headphones though.

Click to expand...

I have a Pre-500.

I bought the 3ch. recto to do a trade with someone on the forums, as they specifically asked for a 3ch. dual recto, and they are a dime a dozen out here in L.A., but I told them I needed a few days to decide if i really wanted their amp, wanted to go to a store today to check one out, and they were too impatient, then they got one locally, so now I have an extra amp I have no need for. Deal just fell through. So, I'm just having fun with it, as i blew a tube in my mark V with my STR-450s, and they are now $150 a set of 2, so I scavenged the EL34L's from my Pre-500 recto for the Mark until i get new tubes, so MY regular recto has no tubes in it right now. I have no plans on keeping the 3ch.
I'll either sell it here, or elsewhere. not too worried about it.

However, I do plan, perhaps tomorrow, on taking the tubes out of the Mark, and placing them back in the Pre-500, doing an A/B/C test between the 3 ch. recto with 6L6's, and the pre-500 with 6L6's, and then EL34L's.

But that's for another day.

Click to expand...

Ok, cool. That makes sense.... What is a Pre-500? 2 ch recto or and that's a lot of damn money for 2 tubes.

Audioholic":1ytwm1fv said:

Nice demo!

I liked both Mesa's and the Marshall best, all could be usable. I really have Mark V gas.

Click to expand...

and u should

Gsxrbusa":33v6325g said:

mightywarlock":33v6325g said:

Gsxrbusa":33v6325g said:

Did'nt you just get the recto a couple days ago? Jeez man, turning it quick.

I like the Mark V and Marshall clips best. Pretty close in my headphones though.

Click to expand...

I have a Pre-500.

I bought the 3ch. recto to do a trade with someone on the forums, as they specifically asked for a 3ch. dual recto, and they are a dime a dozen out here in L.A., but I told them I needed a few days to decide if i really wanted their amp, wanted to go to a store today to check one out, and they were too impatient, then they got one locally, so now I have an extra amp I have no need for. Deal just fell through. So, I'm just having fun with it, as i blew a tube in my mark V with my STR-450s, and they are now $150 a set of 2, so I scavenged the EL34L's from my Pre-500 recto for the Mark until i get new tubes, so MY regular recto has no tubes in it right now. I have no plans on keeping the 3ch.
I'll either sell it here, or elsewhere. not too worried about it.

However, I do plan, perhaps tomorrow, on taking the tubes out of the Mark, and placing them back in the Pre-500, doing an A/B/C test between the 3 ch. recto with 6L6's, and the pre-500 with 6L6's, and then EL34L's.

But that's for another day.

Click to expand...

Ok, cool. That makes sense.... What is a Pre-500? 2 ch recto or and that's a lot of damn money for 2 tubes.

Click to expand...

Pre-500, is a term used to describe the 1st 500 Recto's.
they had something different, transformers, circuitry, whatever.
thing is, they sound different.
better. much more aggressive is how I put it usually.
i have #112.

mightywarlock":296b968o said:

Gsxrbusa":296b968o said:

mightywarlock":296b968o said:

Gsxrbusa":296b968o said:

Did'nt you just get the recto a couple days ago? Jeez man, turning it quick.

I like the Mark V and Marshall clips best. Pretty close in my headphones though.

Click to expand...

I have a Pre-500.

I bought the 3ch. recto to do a trade with someone on the forums, as they specifically asked for a 3ch. dual recto, and they are a dime a dozen out here in L.A., but I told them I needed a few days to decide if i really wanted their amp, wanted to go to a store today to check one out, and they were too impatient, then they got one locally, so now I have an extra amp I have no need for. Deal just fell through. So, I'm just having fun with it, as i blew a tube in my mark V with my STR-450s, and they are now $150 a set of 2, so I scavenged the EL34L's from my Pre-500 recto for the Mark until i get new tubes, so MY regular recto has no tubes in it right now. I have no plans on keeping the 3ch.
I'll either sell it here, or elsewhere. not too worried about it.

However, I do plan, perhaps tomorrow, on taking the tubes out of the Mark, and placing them back in the Pre-500, doing an A/B/C test between the 3 ch. recto with 6L6's, and the pre-500 with 6L6's, and then EL34L's.

But that's for another day.

Click to expand...

Ok, cool. That makes sense.... What is a Pre-500? 2 ch recto or and that's a lot of damn money for 2 tubes.

Click to expand...

Pre-500, is a term used to describe the 1st 500 Recto's.
they had something different, transformers, circuitry, whatever.
thing is, they sound different.
better. much more aggressive is how I put it usually.
i have #112.

Click to expand...

Cool, thanks for the clarification. Are they worth more in general? Have always wanted a 2 ch triple.

The Mark V sounded great,now I really want one.