Dual Rectifier Questions!

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Schulzy

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Hey guys im brand new to this forum.. This being my first thread, How are we all...

I have a couple of questions for you guys.. Sorry in advance for being a noob.... ok.. 2 days ago i bought a brand new 3 channel dual rectifier from a local dealer here in Western Australia.. and mind you i payed an arm and a leg for it.. due to the prices in australia...

Anyhow... i feel that a couple of things aren't quite right... before i go back to the dealer with it looking like a noob.. i just thought i would ask you guys for your opinions.

Here are my questions.

1. Is it normal for the head to make an electrical buzzing noise?
Even if its in standby and on the clean channel.. and yes it is the head making the noise.. not the cab ive checked.

2. Is it normal for one of the 6L6 tubes to be slightly brighter than the rest? I've noticed the 2nd 6L6 from the left to be brighter in comparison to the others.

3. Is it normal for the DR's to have quite a small amount of sustain at low volumes?
I mean i play a single note.. and it seems to just fizzle away quite quickly.. havent had the chance to experiment with it cranked yet though.

4. When operating the DR in (Hi Power) Silicon Diode mode... Should the two 5U4G rectifier tubes still be lit up or powered?

5. Should the speaker make a popping sound when switching between channels with the footswitch?

Thanks for all your patience in answering guys.

Brad.
 
1. Mine doesn't
2. Generally, no
3. Mine sustains is fine at low volumes
4. They should be lit regardless of where the diode switch is
5. This is normal
 
Schulzy":5e83a said:
Hey guys im brand new to this forum.. This being my first thread, How are we all...

I have a couple of questions for you guys.. Sorry in advance for being a noob.... ok.. 2 days ago i bought a brand new 3 channel dual rectifier from a local dealer here in Western Australia.. and mind you i payed an arm and a leg for it.. due to the prices in australia...

Anyhow... i feel that a couple of things aren't quite right... before i go back to the dealer with it looking like a noob.. i just thought i would ask you guys for your opinions.

Here are my questions.

1. Is it normal for the head to make an electrical buzzing noise?
Even if its in standby and on the clean channel.. and yes it is the head making the noise.. not the cab ive checked.

2. Is it normal for one of the 6L6 tubes to be slightly brighter than the rest? I've noticed the 2nd 6L6 from the left to be brighter in comparison to the others.

3. Is it normal for the DR's to have quite a small amount of sustain at low volumes?
I mean i play a single note.. and it seems to just fizzle away quite quickly.. havent had the chance to experiment with it cranked yet though.

4. When operating the DR in (Hi Power) Silicon Diode mode... Should the two 5U4G rectifier tubes still be lit up or powered?

5. Should the speaker make a popping sound when switching between channels with the footswitch?

Thanks for all your patience in answering guys.

Brad.
Click to expand...

1. No
2. Doesn't sound right, but might not be a problem
3. The rectos come alive at higher band volumes. There are some amps that have quite nice sustain at low volumes, the big rectifier isn't one of them, IMO. If you are going to try to use it lower volume, best to use the tube rectifier and spongy setting.
4. Those tubes should always be powered
5. Mine pops the first time I switch to the orange channel. After that it does not. I've had a lot of these amps and most have made a popping sound.
 
The rectifier tube are getting nothing if you're in ss rec mode. You can, in fact, pull the rectifier tubes out and run the amp is ss recto mode and be just fine. I got this info directly from Mesa.

As stated above, the DR sounds better the louder you get it. The "fizziness" will go away one you get some volume behind it.
 
SFW":4632a said:
The rectifier tube are getting nothing if you're in ss rec mode. You can, in fact, pull the rectifier tubes out and run the amp is ss recto mode and be just fine. I got this info directly from Mesa.

As stated above, the DR sounds better the louder you get it. The "fizziness" will go away one you get some volume behind it.
Click to expand...

yeah, but the filament heaters will still be on. they're still wired to the 6.3v tap on the PT.
 
shipping amps with the tubes installed seems to be hard on tubes, so you could have some beat up tubes?


last 2 new amps i've gotten, have had messed up tubes from the get go, and that's from getting shipped across the States.


no telling what your amp went through getting down there?



could the hum be caused by a band PI tube?



i'd be trying to figure out what if any tubes are bad, and trying to get something out of your dealer. the tubes have waranty, and the way you guys get fucked on Mesa down there i'd be for getting the dealer to make the be spot on.
 
Always getting directed to YouTube, I always sneal a look at the sidebar of similar subjects.

It is so fun to watch some of these kids with DR and TR in their bedrooms. Wanking away. Makes me feel amazing on the guitar! Good stuff.
 
the channel switching noise is something people bitch about from time to time on the Rectifiers, and i don't know what the answer is to fix it.



just know mine never pops when switching channels at the volume i play, turn that mofo up and see if it does it?


some people, including me, will cycle through the channels on the footswitch before taking the amp off standby. for instance, when i power on my amp the FX light will come on the footswitch and the channel 2 light on the amp. so first thing i do is step on the ch.2 to get the light sync'd up and then run through the channels and turn the loop off.



again, you've got every right to be happy with your amp, if your dealer won't help then give Mesa a call in California. Mesa really is a top notch company, and take customer service very seriously. should be be able to get a calling card if need be to cheapin up the call.
 
Make sure you are using a speaker cable between the head and cab. Make sure the ohm settings are matched on the head and cab. I would put new tubes in it(or at least power tubes). The popping between channels is common in mesa rectifiers...

Just general things I suggest to anyone with a new tube amp. It is easy to make a mistake with the ohms on an amp you are unfamiliar with.
 
ochants76":9aee5 said:
Make sure you are using a speaker cable between the head and cab. Make sure the ohm settings are matched on the head and cab. I would put new tubes in it(or at least power tubes). The popping between channels is common in mesa rectifiers...

Just general things I suggest to anyone with a new tube amp. It is easy to make a mistake with the ohms on an amp you are unfamiliar with.
Click to expand...

Im using a Marshall 1960A Lead cabinet.. im using a proper speaker cable that was supplied to me when i purchased the head... im running it from the the 16ohm out on the head.. into the 16ohm input on the cabinet.. the cab is switched to mono.

It also pops when switching the standby on and off.
 
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