Mesa Boogie Rectifier Recording Preamp Owners

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japetus

japetus

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I am really trying to put together a rig for my needs. I have a simple question, is anyone using one of these and getting the job done?
 
japetus said:
I am really trying to put together a rig for my needs. I have a simple question, is anyone using one of these and getting the job done?
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They're OK. What power amp are you planning on using?

The Soldano SP77 sounds better to me ears for many similar tones, but those usually sell for more these days.
 
Snave said:
They're OK. What power amp are you planning on using?

The Soldano SP77 sounds better to me ears for many similar tones, but those usually sell for more these days.
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I'm not sure yet. I am basically considering some paths of putting a small high gain rack together for a band I am going to join.
 
Rex Rocker said:
What is it about them that makes them infamous/unpopular?

I always wanted one, TBH.
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It was marketed as a direct recording solution (hence being called the Rectifier Recording Preamp), and claimed to get the sound of a mic'd half stack with their direct output tech. It fell seriously short in this calacity--Mesa's direct output tech never sounded good. Look up videos of the Cab Clone and you'll see they never got it right. I think they finally started including internal loads and IRs on some amps, which sounds much better.

As a Rectifier preamp, it's fine. It has the build quality of 2000s Rectifiers (i.e. ribbon cables and board mounted jacks galore) and unless you pair it with the 2:100 power amp, it's not going to properly get the popular modern mode sound.

Mesa_Boogie_Rectifier_Recording_Preamp_binnenkant.jpg


You can see how much nicer the build quality is on the Studio Preamp. Just one molex connector for the power transformer, and everything else is flying leads.

img_3188.jpg
 
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Snave said:
It was marketed as a direct recording solution (hence being called the Rectifier Recording Preamp), and claimed to get the sound of a mic'd half stack with their direct output tech. It fell seriously short in this calacity--Mesa's direct output tech never sounded good. Look up videos of the Cab Clone and you'll see they never got it right. I think they finally started including internal loads and IRs on some amps, which sounds much better.

As a Rectifier preamp, it's fine. It has the build quality of 2000s Rectifiers (i.e. ribbon cables and board mounted jacks galore) and unless you pair it with the 2:100 power amp, it's not going to properly get the popular modern mode sound.

Mesa_Boogie_Rectifier_Recording_Preamp_binnenkant.jpg


You can see how much nicer the build quality is on the Studio Preamp. Just one molex connector for the power transformer, and everything else is flying leads.

img_3188.jpg
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Funny because I was literally thinking "Maybe I should just get a Studio. Or just find a Recto head at a decent price". In reality, my interest stems in the fact that I can get one pretty cheap and if it could do the "recto" thing as my pre amp. Thanks for the knowledge.
 
japetus said:
Funny because I was literally thinking "Maybe I should just get a Studio. Or just find a Recto head at a decent price". In reality, my interest stems in the fact that I can get one pretty cheap and if it could do the "recto" thing as my pre amp. Thanks for the knowledge.
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That's probably for the best unless you have a compelling reason to go rack. The Studio preamp is cool and quite different. Michael Neilsen has a good video showcasing its tones.
 
My favorite fact is Angus Young actually used this on Razors Edge and tour and on the live album . Hers the rig . Honestly it’s mess boogie but is it the same version ?
IMG_7346.jpeg
 
Could always pick up a Synergy preamp with the Soldano SLO module, it's essentially the same circuit as a Recto pre according to Friedman and Soldano.
 
Rectifier Recording Preamp. I bought it and sold it almost immediately. I was not impressed by the sound. But I'm not friends with the Mesas. IMHO, Engl E530 or Peavey Rockmaster, much better.
 
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