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

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ZEN Amps

ZEN Amps

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Guys I have a mid-2000's 3-channel Triple Rec that sounds good. Not really my personal thing, but it does what it does.

A Rev G triple has been offered to me, wondering if I should bother. The recorded evidence says there's not much in it - the anecdotal says they're world's apart.

Your experience?
 
It's your amp, do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law.

I'd leave it stock, but I'd not even buy a Mesa, being a Marshall and Engl guy
 
Can’t speak for the three channels but if I could only have amp I would take my tripleG
 
I don’t care the three channel models from that era. There’s just something not working right in the top end. They always seemed too dark, no ring, just sizzle. The 2 channel G’s can be great or meh. You’ll want to play it first to see if it’s worth the bother.
Or try an EQ in the loop of the 3 Channel and you can radically change what it does with a some small bumps on the EQ.
 
I would absolutely take the Triple Rec Rev G. If anything the value on that will keep going up, not so much on the 3 Channel Rectos. People keep trying to make them and their revisions a thing, but it doesn’t seem to be taking.
 
I prefer the 2ch but it's not night and day difference like the internet will have you believe.

If you're tone chasing and that last 2-3% matters... then you'll hear a difference.

If you don't like the general recto sound, you probably won't feel at home with any of them
 
I just realized with the three channel you would have more variety though, especially if running boosts with the pushed clean and raw setting. I don’t care for the raw setting by itself but never tried pedals with it.
 
Ok food for thought - thanks.

I do like the Recto sound but being more of Marshall guy, it's not my go-to for most things. I might give it a go, I'd like to compare in person and see what all the fuss is about.

In other news we've had a bunch of tone junkies stop by the last few months to show off their toys and have blast at the wall. It usually turns into a fortnight amp exchange, fun stuff for trying out new things without committing the bucks!

A couple of cool standouts:

1. Golub modded JMP - the Green Day mod, pretty cool but not for everything.
2. Friedman Naked - never played on of these and interesting amp. A more gainy, thicker BE vibe but still with cut. Loves drop D
3. Wizard 800 - this thing was seriously fun, like a modern classic meets a JMP 2203
4. Friedman JEL100 - nothing unexpected, good plexi to modded 800 vibes. Nice amp though.
5. Boogie C++ done by Mike B. We don't have own one ourselves but do have a Studio Preamp that Mike did a C++ mod on - they sounded near identical through the same power amp. Always wondered - confirmed.
6. Demeter preamp - the colourful knob one. Some interesting tones, but couldn't stop playing Dead & Bloated.
7. Carvin X-series - shitty amp but I'm convinced this is what Izzy used on AFD. I recall Mike Clink said it years ago but after hearing one it all makes sense.
8. A real deal mid-60's JTM45 - holy shit. For that particular sound this thing was just awesome. Really hoping the owner will sell it to us. Unlikely.

Been too busy to do any videos on these, but we may have popped a few hoods.... just for interest's sake of course.
 
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Wouldn’t give up my 2-channel Rev.G for a 3-channel unless it was a Multi-Watt.
 
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
 
ZEN Amps said:
Ok food for thought - thanks.

I do like the Recto sound but being more of Marshall guy, it's not my go-to for most things. I might give it a go, I'd like to compare in person and see what all the fuss is about.

In other news we've had a bunch of tone junkies stop by the last few months to show off their toys and have blast at the wall. It usually turns into a fortnight amp exchange, fun stuff for trying out new things without committing the bucks!

A couple of cool standouts:

1. Golub modded JMP - the Green Day mod, pretty cool but not for everything.
2. Friedman Naked - never played on of these and interesting amp. A more gainy, thicker BE vibe but still with cut. Loves drop D
3. Wizard 800 - this thing was seriously fun, like a modern classic meets a JMP 2203
4. Friedman JEL100 - nothing unexpected, good plexi to modded 800 vibes. Nice amp though.
5. Boogie C++ done by Mike B. We don't have own one ourselves but do have a Studio Preamp that Mike did a C++ mod on - they sounded near identical through the same power amp. Always wondered - confirmed.
6. Demeter preamp - the colourful knob one. Some interesting tones, but couldn't stop playing Dead & Bloated.
7. Carvin X-series - shitty amp but I'm convinced this is what Izzy used on AFD. I recall Mike Clink said it years ago but after hearing one it all makes sense.
8. A real deal mid-60's JTM45 - holy shit. For that particular sound this thing was just awesome. Really hoping the owner will sell it to us. Unlikely.

Been too busy to do any videos on these, but we may have popped a few hoods.... just for interest's sake of course.
Click to expand...
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,
 
If your goal is to collect the absolute best sounding stuff you can get then I’d hold off.

If your goal is to provide the opportunity for someone else to play the Mesa to make the same deterministic choice of disliking a Mesa compared to your other investments, then the outcome is obvious what should be done to further diversify.
 
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.
 
Bad.Seed said:
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)
Click to expand...
True, there are revision letters on the PCB’s of the three channels just like the two channels. Nobody talks about them though.

I also would not be surprised if there were factory floor changes within revisions.
 
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