On the fence about a Rectifier 'upgrade' - push me

  • Thread starter Thread starter ZEN Amps
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RaceU4her said:
oh look a plugin lol
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A wall of plug-ins? Unless backs can be broken and floors can buckle I'm not interested.

Bad.Seed said:
Not to complicate things further, but I've found that Rectifiers from ever era are just all over the place in sound and feel.
I've had a bunch of 3 channels that I've hated, and a few that I've liked. One I liked enough to do simple mods and keep, because it sounded so much tighter and less fizzy than most other 3 channels I've owned.

Same goes for the Rev G. I've had a few dual and triples that have just sounded tits, and others that are an absolute mess. According to people I've talked to, andI have no idea how true this is so take it with a big grain of salt, Mesa was still changing things behind the scenes on the Rev G, 3 channel, and even the multi watt (just sold one of those that I hated but I love the one I have now)

So if you're like me, finding the right Rectifiers are an exercise in patience and clever dealing. If you have one you don't like now, let it fly and try others until you get the one that works for you, because they all seem to have their little quirks
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Not complicating - that's quite helpful. Yeah I've noticed that with the 3 channels ones, a bit hit and miss. I've recorded a bunch of other people's 2-channel ones over the years but unless they're side-by-side it's really hard to be objective.


311splawndude said:
That's a great little write up there.
I can't answer your question.
People do seem to gravitate to the 2 channels
I only have a 2 channel Rectoverb (no 3 channel experience)
Will any modding be limited to resources in AUS?
When you say 'we' you mean you and the owners of your shop?
Is the amp in question here for personal use or for the shop.
Just curious how that works - on the last part. Thanks,
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Ha, the royal 'we'! Zen Amps is not a shop, it's my collection as a studio guy that has grown into an incipient amp company with some like-minded (i.e. tube obsessive) techs, players and producers. Without going completely broke we're trying to get our hands on, if not the 'best' example of each of a wide range of amps, then at least a solid representative of the group - for let's call it R&D purposes.

I mean I'm pretty happy with the 3-channel Recto but I don't think the itch to pursue something 5% 'better' needs to be explained on this forum!

Amps are much, much harder to find down under so it's certainly a labour of love. But I've tried every digital solution out there and they just leave me cold and unfulfilled - so tubes it is. Unbroken things that have defined rock n' roll for 60 years really don't need to be fixed.
 
mnemonic said:
True, there are revision letters on the PCB’s of the three channels just like the two channels. Nobody talks about them though.
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I'd like to know which PCP (Angel Dust) revision Dino939 is taking. He's clearly channeling something from beyond.
 
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Get the G and have it C modded. Sending it to Mesa will cost you a fortune, but some guys here know whats involved (cough Racerxrated cough). It’ll be tighter, more aggressive, with much more usable lows and highs.
 
I had a 3-channel (non-Multiwatt) and Rev-G triple at the same time. They sounded similar. I was constantly tweaking the 3-channel: it seemed like the sound I wanted was in there somewhere, I just couldn't figure out how to get it. But the Rev G nailed it within two minutes of turning it on and I never touched the knobs again.
 
ZEN Amps said:
A wall of plug-ins? Unless backs can be broken and floors can buckle I'm not interested.


Not complicating - that's quite helpful. Yeah I've noticed that with the 3 channels ones, a bit hit and miss. I've recorded a bunch of other people's 2-channel ones over the years but unless they're side-by-side it's really hard to be objective.



Ha, the royal 'we'! Zen Amps is not a shop, it's my collection as a studio guy that has grown into an incipient amp company with some like-minded (i.e. tube obsessive) techs, players and producers. Without going completely broke we're trying to get our hands on, if not the 'best' example of each of a wide range of amps, then at least a solid representative of the group - for let's call it R&D purposes.

I mean I'm pretty happy with the 3-channel Recto but I don't think the itch to pursue something 5% 'better' needs to be explained on this forum!

Amps are much, much harder to find down under so it's certainly a labour of love. But I've tried every digital solution out there and they just leave me cold and unfulfilled - so tubes it is. Unbroken things that have defined rock n' roll for 60 years really don't need to be fixed.
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Understood.

And...well said. :yes:

Sorry. I shouldn't have called you a 'shop' :LOL: I think I assumed you (guys) had a guitar shop with lots of amps and guitars and recording gear. So you own all these amps for personal use more or less. Gotcha. :thumbsup:
 
The G is more than a 3% better sounding amp than the 3 channel...when I've tried to like the 3 channel it was just kinda harsh in the mids/highs..the 2 Gs I had, just a boost got me to a great place tonally.
But, with 20$ in parts and 30 minutes time you can do the C mods and it will flatten trees.
 
cardinal said:
I had a 3-channel (non-Multiwatt) and Rev-G triple at the same time. They sounded similar. I was constantly tweaking the 3-channel: it seemed like the sound I wanted was in there somewhere, I just couldn't figure out how to get it. But the Rev G nailed it within two minutes of turning it on and I never touched the knobs again.
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Maybe you were just tying to make it more raw and lively sounding like the early 2 ch Recto’s and realized it just won’t happen with 3 ch Recto’s no matter what you do. Some may call that difference 2-3%, but to me it’s the difference between adequate/decent & very good
 
Dino 939 said:
The best Revision of a Mesa Rec?

VOLUME.

What’s hilarious, is the players that actually play
Duals & Trips, could GIVE A SHIT about what’s
inside and what it sounds like sitting in front of it.

PUNCH & MUSCLE.
Go get your asses in a REAL live mix with one and turn off the loop/master.
?


They run cold for this reason, to ignite…,
not to sit in front of the amp and a 4X12 and
groan about tightness.

Does it matter how you get punched in the fucking face?

Yep, no more talking shit about revision’s
or that you sent your amp to some guy
named Mike B.

Turn up or SHUT UP.
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I enjoy no post like I do a @Dino 939 original
 
Sometimes I wonder if my Rev G Triple isn't living up to its potential because of the cabs I am using. I keep wondering if having an Oversized Recto cab is the missing piece to getting the best, hugest, tone out of these.
 
Techdeth said:
Take either and give it to Hermanson while he’s still doing recto mods . Incredible work
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This 100%. I have one and it is a "for life" amp without question. If you like that unique character of the Recto bottom end (and want to retain it) but want it better in every audible (and feel) way possible, this is the path to take.

I cannot say I have liked any other modded Recto tone I have heard much because to me they all just sound like a stock one with a boost and they lose that Recto bottom end sound. Granted this is through recordings and we all know in a room can be quite different but I still doubt I would be too impressed otherwise.
 
Qweklain said:
This 100%. I have one and it is a "for life" amp without question. If you like that unique character of the Recto bottom end (and want to retain it) but want it better in every audible (and feel) way possible, this is the path to take.

I cannot say I have liked any other modded Recto tone I have heard much because to me they all just sound like a stock one with a boost and they lose that Recto bottom end sound. Granted this is through recordings and we all know in a room can be quite different but I still doubt I would be too impressed otherwise.
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Both my Hermansoms are amps I’ll keep for life . Incredible work . Art pieces lol
 
Shask said:
Sometimes I wonder if my Rev G Triple isn't living up to its potential because of the cabs I am using. I keep wondering if having an Oversized Recto cab is the missing piece to getting the best, hugest, tone out of these.
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Try the Rev C mods....super easy and cheap....
 
Shask said:
Sometimes I wonder if my Rev G Triple isn't living up to its potential because of the cabs I am using. I keep wondering if having an Oversized Recto cab is the missing piece to getting the best, hugest, tone out of these.
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The traditional cab is the way :) while I have both the OS and the traditional ( both straight), the trad just sits better with me most of the time. The OS does have a unique sound compared to the trad under a mic, and is essential to certain types of tones ( cannibal is one for instance), but most of the tones people associate with the OS cab are more often than not a traditional cab. And for whatever reason as well, I think I like the slant OS better than the straight under a mic, just sounds right to me. I’d go for a straight trad first before an OS.
 
VESmedic said:
The traditional cab is the way :) while I have both the OS and the traditional ( both straight), the trad just sits better with me most of the time. The OS does have a unique sound compared to the trad under a mic, and is essential to certain types of tones ( cannibal is one for instance), but most of the tones people associate with the OS cab are more often than not a traditional cab. And for whatever reason as well, I think I like the slant OS better than the straight under a mic, just sounds right to me. I’d go for a straight trad first before an OS.
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I really like the fat low end sounds associated with the OS cabs. Cannibal Corpse, Nervermore, etc....
 
ZEN Amps said:
Curious to hear what he can do but ultimately stock amps suit our project better. Shipping would be $1000+ as well, not lots of fun.

I'm sure they sound great in person but I'm yet to hear any good Hermansson clips - anyone got some?
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you dont want to send it to hermansson dude, i have a hermansson and its an extremely tight metal machine that sounds or feels nothing like my tripleG, just get the tripleG for that recto thing and then get a hermansson for his thing. they are both must haves. this is my hermansson carlsbro

https://app.box.com/embed/s/zgaebvzm5vfjic3lvmmohl5arzgv02us
 
Shask said:
I really like the fat low end sounds associated with the OS cabs. Cannibal Corpse, Nervermore, etc....
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Get the mesa OS slant and then eventually swap-in a pair of evm12l, redbacks, c90, k100,ect, and do the x-pattern with the mesa V30s.
Corpse uses a mix of standard rectifier OS 412s and custom evm12l-loaded mesa 412s.
 
ZEN Amps said:
Curious to hear what he can do but ultimately stock amps suit our project better. Shipping would be $1000+ as well, not lots of fun.

I'm sure they sound great in person but I'm yet to hear any good Hermansson clips - anyone got some?
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Agreed 100%. I’ve got a Hermansson 5 Gain Stage Marshall myself. I really enjoy it, but I’m guessing they don’t record well because the tone itself is really hollow and cold (not much warmth or richness to it), but they are super tight, fast and feel great and easy to play because of that. I’m not that good or experienced at recording, but I’ll try to see what I can do when I have time in mid May
 
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