Hermansson modified amp owners (current and former)

[Exo-metal]

It was prior to the standardized versions of the mods, I’ve had it for 10yrs at this point. Bit more “hard rock” oriented, I actually tend to find it has a more useable range than the 5GS. The heavy channel is more like a four gain stage and the clean channel is a three. With boost available for either. The three gain stage has a bit rounder plexi character

Top end sounds shrill/harsh when cranked to my ears.

 

[Bram576]

Thank you all for chiming in.

I'm still hesitating if I should go through the mod route or not. I bought my '99 Rev. G from the original owner and I'd like to keep it as it is. Then again, Hermansson's mod is quite the sound I'm looking from a Recto - for example the @Mept2 clip sounds fantastic. For me the best Recto sound is definitely the boosted sound like the one on Meshuggah's Destroy Erase Improve album. I'm not too into the loose traditional Rectifier sound and I'm spending 99% of my playing time on the orange vintage channel anyways.

Need to still think about it...

Honestly if you’re going for the old meshuggah boosted recto tone I’d just get a dirty tree for a boost and call it good. The tc electronic preamp boost is expensive used and the dirty tree is identical.



I’m pretty sure Dan bergstrand used the Marshall 1960a cabs with T75s with most of their stuff too which is a big part of that sound.

 

[braintheory]

Honestly if you’re going for the old meshuggah boosted recto tone I’d just get a dirty tree for a boost and call it good. The tc electronic preamp boost is expensive used and the dirty tree is identical.



I’m pretty sure Dan bergstrand used the Marshall 1960a cabs with T75s with most of their stuff too which is a big part of that sound.

I had both and they did not sound identical to me. Yes they had the same flavor, but the dirty tree had an inherent filtered, cardboardy quality to the sound that some guys by now know I hate about most recent pedals, so I couldn’t enjoy it. The real TC didn’t have that problem. More organic sounding, but there are other pedals I prefer to it for what it does well. I for sure agree it’s very overpriced for what it is, but I haven’t liked the popular clones I’ve had as much. It’s probably just overpriced from the famous guys that used it

 

[Bram576]

I had both and they did not sound identical to me. Yes they had the same flavor, but the dirty tree had an inherent filtered, cardboardy quality to the sound that some guys by now know I hate about most recent pedals, so I couldn’t enjoy it. The real TC didn’t have that problem. More organic sounding, but there are other pedals I prefer to it for what it does well. I for sure agree it’s very overpriced for what it is, but I haven’t liked the popular clones I’ve had as much. It’s probably just overpriced from the famous guys that used it

I disagree, but it’s all good. In a blind test I wouldn’t be able to tell.

 

[braintheory]

I disagree, but it’s all good. In a blind test I wouldn’t be able to tell.

We all hear things differently I guess. In a clip I probably wouldn’t be able to tell, but in person having had both that filtered quality is a dead give away to me similar-ish to when I AB’ed the UU I used to have to the Rev 1. Some guys don’t seem to mind that kind of sound, but I really hate it and wish these builders listened for it more

 

[desertdweller]

Honestly if you’re going for the old meshuggah boosted recto tone I’d just get a dirty tree for a boost and call it good. The tc electronic preamp boost is expensive used and the dirty tree is identical.



I’m pretty sure Dan bergstrand used the Marshall 1960a cabs with T75s with most of their stuff too which is a big part of that sound.

Even the DemonFX 66 nails it too. Considering the Fortin 33, Dirty Tree, etc, are all copies of an out-of-production TC pedal, I see no harm in getting any of the clones.

The Fractal units have the “Integra” drive circuit on them now too, so hooking up a VP4 or FM3 in front of your amp gives you the pedal as well. It’s an awesome sound in front of a rectifier.

 

[Kolumbo]

I had both and they did not sound identical to me. Yes they had the same flavor, but the dirty tree had an inherent filtered, cardboardy quality to the sound that some guys by now know I hate about most recent pedals, so I couldn’t enjoy it. The real TC didn’t have that problem. More organic sounding, but there are other pedals I prefer to it for what it does well. I for sure agree it’s very overpriced for what it is, but I haven’t liked the popular clones I’ve had as much. It’s probably just overpriced from the famous guys that used it

How do you feel TC/TC-clone boosted Rectifier compares to a Hermansson modified one?

 

[Bram576]

How do you feel TC/TC-clone boosted Rectifier compares to a Hermansson modified one?

Both are tight, hermansson is tighter. Different eq spectrum. Hermansson has the characteristic of hollow mids, some like it, some don’t. The highs are definitely different. I think the hermansson recto gets fizzy, a boosted one is sharp but not fizzy.

Hermanssons in general appeal because of the feel of them under the fingers to me, feel great to play. If I was playing by myself I may choose the hermansson recto because of the feel, if I was micing up one recto vs the other, doing any recording, or to play with a band I’d choose a tc circuit boosted recto any day. There’s a reason it’s a top choice amongst well regarded metal engineers, it can’t even be argued. It sounds good.

 

[braintheory]

How do you feel TC/TC-clone boosted Rectifier compares to a Hermansson modified one?

I would say much of the same as Brahms about it. Different flavors. The Hermansson will be tighter, sharper attack, faster responding with its very distinctive flavor of hollow mids and very aggressive sharp electric sounding highs and they have an equally unique feel that is one of my favorites (feels really slick to play)

A TC boosted recto will maintain much more of the core recto sound with the added clank and attack of the TC, but it won’t get clanky or percussive in the same way as a Hermansson. I kept both a Hermansson recto and stock 2 ch recto as they’re just both different but awesome tones I don’t want to be without

 

[braintheory]

Both are tight, hermansson is tighter. Different eq spectrum. Hermansson has the characteristic of hollow mids, some like it, some don’t. The highs are definitely different. I think the hermansson recto gets fizzy, a boosted one is sharp but not fizzy.

Hermanssons in general appeal because of the feel of them under the fingers to me, feel great to play. If I was playing by myself I may choose the hermansson recto because of the feel, if I was micing up one recto vs the other, doing any recording, or to play with a band I’d choose a tc circuit boosted recto any day. There’s a reason it’s a top choice amongst well regarded metal engineers, it can’t even be argued. It sounds good.

I agree with this about the single recto mods I had, but not really IME with the Rev G Dual and Rev F Triple I’ve had. I’m guessing the lower headroom and 6L6’s could be part of it. I prefer EL34’s in general with Recto’s, but with the Hermansson ones I preferred them by a lot more in working well with their voicing. Couldn’t use 34’s in the single I had. The triple f especially I don’t get fizz (or at least not much). I could of course if I really turned up the treble and presence a lot, but the same was the case with the Marshall 5GS I had, it was smoother though than these recto mods (didn’t prefer that)

I agree 100% on their feel. Very slick. I don’t play the Herm that often. I’m also much more of a stock recto plus boost guy (Klon for me), but there are times when the Herm is just the right tool and nothing else at all does what it does IME

 

[Simon Dorn]

Hermanssons to me are the most fun amps to play- it feels like other amps have a delay comparatively. They have excellent cleans and leads as well, and clips don’t do them justice

When they do not record well, what's the point? I found the clip. Forget it.

 

[Simon Dorn]

I have a Hermansson modded Mesa Multiwatt in my small collection that I got used from a friend. And still toy with the idea of maybe getting another one built out for myself.

Actually recorded this amp's Orange channel with some quick chugs today (while messing around with a new dynamount).

Very nice!