Mesa Rect. Question

[WhatisJJ]

So it's tax time and I'm expecting a pretty nice return. I've convinced my wife to let me splurge and get some new gear. I'm buying another guitar and a new head. I'm getting the Carvin CT624 for the guitar, but the big issue I'm having is deciding on the head.

I'm dead set on Mesa. I'm currently using a 6505+ and I'd like to get that Mesa sound for recordings and to use in tandem with my 6505+ for live situations. I had a Single Rect for awhile until it started having major problems and I ended up selling it to a repair guy. I really liked the sound of it, but I did notice a difference between that and the Duals/Triples.

Anyways, I've done my research on Guitar Center's used website and I've found a few Singles in the $750 range and a couple Trips in the $850 range. My absolute max that my wife is letting me spend on a new head is $900 and I cannot find a solid dual for less than $1000-$1100.

My question is this: should I go for the Trip or Single? If I do go for the trip, can I pull some of the tubes and consistently run it as a 100 watt head (to lower some of the headroom as well as trying to save money on tube replacement)? I know there isn't too much of a difference in volume and whatnot between the Trip and Dual, but I typically only run my amps at around 11:00 for live/recording situations for 100+ watt heads, so I don't know if that'd be enough to give any bit of tube saturation.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[Animus]

First, grow some balls and make a stand against your wife. This is gearslutz after all.

Second, I'd say if you'd want that protypical Rectifier sound at least a Dual Rec is what you want. A lot of people prefer the Duals to the Tris. But a Triple should work fine in your budget. I have a Road King and just scored a used Lone Star Classic. Love me some Mesa.

[Suspects]

A couple of other options to consider - If you don't need blistering volume, have you checked out the "Mini Recto"? It's 25-watts, but more flexible than the full size heads, but still able to do the high gain thing. It's more in your price range as well...

The other option is a used Roadster, which is a four channel head. I'm not sure it's any cheaper than the Recto on the used market, but IMHO it's a better amp. I did a side-by-side comparison of my 2000 Dual Recto with the Red (Modern) and the Orange (Vintage) channels of a Roadster. It was no contest, the Roadster was tighter with less fizz on the top end. The Roadster came home with me, the Dual Recto went on consignment...

Dave/Suspect Studios


.: Suspect Studios :.

[BLUElightCory]

I'd definitely go for the Dual or Triple, as I've NEVER heard a Single Rectifier that I liked, and I've had 3 or 4 of them come through the studio. Duals and Triples almost always get the job for big rock tones.

[WhatisJJ]

I don't know if the mini rect will suit exactly what I'm trying to do. In most cases it would, but there are occasions where I do crank it way up. I had a 30 watt head for awhile and I had a really difficult time punching through against the rest of the band. I've normally never had the issue, but everybody plays really loud, just my 6505 really cuts through the mix well. I don't necessarily want to go back to a Single, but my options are limited at this point. I've never owned anything higher up so I don't have too much experience with Rectos. I will definitely have to look into the Roadster heads and see if they'll fit within my budget.

If I do go with the Trip is it safe to just run 4 power tubes and leave the other 2 open for the 100 watt setup? I may end up just running all 6 if worse comes to worse, I just wanted to see what my options were.

[Animus]

I believe you can pull all tubes but the inner two for 50 watt operation......BUT this will I think double your output impedence and you will need to make sure you compensate for that in the cab.

[BLUElightCory]

Originally Posted by WhatisJJ

If I do go with the Trip is it safe to just run 4 power tubes and leave the other 2 open for the 100 watt setup?

There's not really any need to do that. The Triple Rectifier is not that much louder than the Dual; what you're really gaining is additional headroom and the extra bit of high-gain clarity/punch that comes with it. I prefer the Triple for super heavy chugga-chugga stuff because I can feel the pick attack and the low-end "thump" just a little more (though a Dual won't have any problem sounding heavy either).

[realmike15]

Originally Posted by WhatisJJ

So it's tax time and I'm expecting a pretty nice return. I've convinced my wife to let me splurge and get some new gear. I'm buying another guitar and a new head. I'm getting the Carvin CT624 for the guitar, but the big issue I'm having is deciding on the head.

I'm dead set on Mesa. I'm currently using a 6505+ and I'd like to get that Mesa sound for recordings and to use in tandem with my 6505+ for live situations. I had a Single Rect for awhile until it started having major problems and I ended up selling it to a repair guy. I really liked the sound of it, but I did notice a difference between that and the Duals/Triples.

Anyways, I've done my research on Guitar Center's used website and I've found a few Singles in the $750 range and a couple Trips in the $850 range. My absolute max that my wife is letting me spend on a new head is $900 and I cannot find a solid dual for less than $1000-$1100.

My question is this: should I go for the Trip or Single? If I do go for the trip, can I pull some of the tubes and consistently run it as a 100 watt head (to lower some of the headroom as well as trying to save money on tube replacement)? I know there isn't too much of a difference in volume and whatnot between the Trip and Dual, but I typically only run my amps at around 11:00 for live/recording situations for 100+ watt heads, so I don't know if that'd be enough to give any bit of tube saturation.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

I'd much rather get some natural distortion by pushing the Single Rect, than having to turn down the Dual/Triple. I've got the Dual Rect right now and find it to be too much amp for most places. I won't assume to know what kind of audience you're playing in front of... but for most people (including me) even the Dual Rect is overkill. As far as tonal differences I haven't heard a side-by-side comparison of the DR vs SR, so I can't comment.

Skip the TR though, it's totally unnecessary.

[BLUElightCory]

Originally Posted by realmike15

I'd much rather get some natural distortion by pushing the Single Rect, than having to turn down the Dual/Triple. I've got the Dual Rect right now and find it to be too much amp for most places. I won't assume to know what kind of audience you're playing in front of... but for most people (including me) even the Dual Rect is overkill. As far as tonal differences I haven't heard a side-by-side comparison of the DR vs SR, so I can't comment.

Skip the TR though, it's totally unnecessary.

Keep in mind the modern Dual and Triple Rectos have a reduced power switch that knocks each of them down to 50 watts, so he'd have the option of more or less headroom depending on what he wants to do.

[realmike15]

Originally Posted by BLUElightCory

Keep in mind the modern Dual and Triple Rectos have a reduced power switch that knocks each of them down to 50 watts, so he'd have the option of more or less headroom depending on what he wants to do.

I forgot they added that feature, that wasn't available when I bought my Trem-O-Verb in the late 90's. Good to know!

[muziekschuur]

Why not the little guy? The 25 watt rectifier?

[heyman]

I own a dual from 1992. Still love it. Do yourself a favor and listen to the clips on the new Recto Mini 25 watt. Watch all the videos on Mesa's site. I was pretty impressed. You can all the way from sparkling clean to dirty rock, to blues to Modern rock to Extreme.