We’re not going to talk about how long we’ve been playing out. Let’s just live in denial a little while longer
It’s a more full frequency sound, as opposed to the C which got a little “hollow” sounding at times.Yep, part of the anticipation....checking to see if the seller sent it with vintage tubes, that used to be a thing...now, they mostly know what they have.We’re not going to talk about how long we’ve been playing out. Let’s just live in denial a little while longer
And totally - first thing I do is open an amp, see what’s under the hood, swap tubes, crank them up, etc. Put them through their paces as soon as they arrive. I have fun doing that, crazy as it sounds.
I haven’t regularly boosted amps in a long time, unless it’s something like a 2203 that needs the gain.
This exactly. I’ve tried 4 Rev C’s total and AB’ed 3 Rev C’s with exactly the same tubes to be fair and they all did that thing. They’re just plain better than the later revisions. Those complaining that it’s too bright need to play amps that actually are bright next to it like ‘70’s Marshall’s. Does the Rev C still sound bright now? No, it’s thick, dark and chewy, any version I’ve played regardless of variation from amp to amp
I have a similar amount of amps and also have my keepers based on niches, but find the real niche of Recto’s to be that throaty growl on the orange ch. That’s what they do that I could never match with other amps besides the Lenz High Octane and IME all the Rev C’s I’ve played just have the most aggressive version of that distinctive growl. While they also really excel in huge bass, low mids and hitting like a sledgehammer, I found any recto in those departments when AB’ed still loses every time to my Rev 1 Uber (fattest low mid amp I’ve played) and ‘97 Blueface, so what they really do (for me at least) that other amps can’t match as the niche is the orange ch growl. Just my opinion of courseI haven’t regularly boosted amps in a long time, unless it’s something like a 2203 that needs the gain.
And I think you’re touching on exactly why I prefer F and G to earlier revisions. I’m fortunate to own more amps than I care to admit, and I was guilty when I was younger of dialing them all in for that “one sound” that I liked and wanted. It took me years to come to terms with the fact that I was buying a bunch of amps and trying to make them all sound the same, which defeated the point of having multiple amps
The Recto fills a specific sonic niche for me. I don’t want or need it to have more hair on the presence, have more attack because the lows or low mids are reduced, etc. I have other amps to do that, and those amps do it *better* anyway. The Recto for me should be huge, full frequency, bigger bass and low mids, etc. It should hit like a sledge hammer, not cut like a knife.
While I realize everyone may not have 40-50 head units laying around that run the spectrum of all tones imaginable, I’m guessing a majority of folks here have at least a small handful of amps that do different things. With that, an F or G seems like it would be an all-around better amp in general for most, but I also get it if people are chasing one specific sound.
We obviously have very different tastes in tones, because I’ve hated every ‘90s VH4 I played. With a passion
Nor has any Rev 1 Uber done for me what Rectos do. Yeah different tastes for sure. The Rev 1 Uber’s definitely don’t do what I love about Recto’s, but if we’re talking just low end, fat low mids, overall power and brutality it’s no contest when I AB them and I’d think I could say there’s possibly some objectivity to it as this Rev 1 measured 540 for plate voltage vs 490 for the C’s I had. Others I had measured lower, but in the 500’s still. The Blueface has a similar plate voltage, but I’m not a technical guy at all. All I know is they both made any recto I had sound small when AB’ed, but they don’t have the throaty growl or rawness I love about Recto’s nor its overall American flavor to its gain structureWe obviously have very different tastes in tones, because I’ve hated every ‘90s VH4 I played. With a passion
I use Channel 2 Modern Red, though, not Channel 1 Orange. Just comes down user preference. Take Tremonti for example. He’s got 3 old Rectos of mine at least (Rev D, F, G). Offered him George Lynch’s old Rev C when I had it, but F is where it is for him. He’s also a Channel 2 Modern Red user, though.
TC. Bass at 9 or 10 o'clock (pedal vertical) works great with most high gain amps.