How loud do you record your Mesa Boogie Recto? (Heavy Distortion)

[johnjm22]

I recently bought a Mesa Boogie single rectifier. I sounds ****en awsome when you crank it, but a lower volumes it just sounds like muddy crap. Which kinda of sucks because I live in duplex and I can't turn it up too loud.

I was originaly under they impression that the mesa's didn't have to be turned up that loud to get a good heavy sound out of them. So far my recordings of the Mesa have been very dissapointing.

So is there something wrong with my amp?

Do you other Mesa owners have to crank your amps to get a good sound out of them?

How loud do you guys record your Mesa's at when doing heavy stuff?

[TML]

Get the speaker cab to have a little cone excursion......I've never had alot of luck with a rectum-fryer...by itself...ymmv

[johnjm22]

They escursion point is when the speaker starts to move, right? If so thats pretty loud.

[TML]

Get the paper moving a little......yes.......get a great pair of closed back headphones and crank the amp up.......take a 57 and move it around the cone till you hear what your looking for....get some other cd's you like and try to match the tone you need.....what do you listen to?

[Gregg Sartiano]

I've only ever recorded 'em pretty loud, so I don't know...they seem to sound better as you turn 'em up.

I assume you're working on distortion sounds with it -- or at least, that's what you're needing to turn up for.

The Demeter Silent Speaker looks like it would be pretty cool, especially for apartment dwellers.

[neve1073]

I have a boogie--though I'm not a huge fan of that "rectifier" sound myself.

It sounds like you need a room to record in at volume. Another possiblity is a 12" speaker cabinet that demeter used to make (don't know if they still make them) which encloses a 12" speaker and a mic connector inside an insulated cabinet thereby reducing the noise nuisance to your poor neighbors. I used one of those demeter cabs once years ago and it works, though is very limited. Obviously, it's a close mic sound.

Good lucke.

[neve1073]

BTW, the demeter cab will NOT be silent. I don't know how many db it reduces it by. You should check on that.

[biggator6]

I built something like the demeter years ago (probably before demeter had one commercially available) when I lived in an apartment.

My dimed '68 bassman into it is about as loud as someone watching TV in the next room... keeps it VERY quiet.

I built mine with pretty heavy 3/4" birch plywood... PM me if you want dimensions and some basic plans.

If you're at ALL handy, it's not hard to build.
"-)

[johnjm22]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

Originally posted by TML
what do you listen to?

So many different types of music I wouldn't know where to begin. But as far as artists that use heavy distortion; Incubus (Mike Ezigners Dual Rectofier sounds awsome on Make Yourself), Opeth, Killswitch Engage, Deftones, Korn (Not their new stuff), the list goes on....

neve1073
It sounds like you need a room to record in at volume.

So true. Not only does it piss off my neighbors when I turn up the amp, but is also causes my whole apartment to shake and rattle and the mics pic it up.

[drundall]

I carpenter friend of mine built a box of wood that fit around the cab and put it in his closet. He had a clip for a 57 and I think he put some foam on the inside. I think he also used a rectifier. Sounded pretty decent and he didn't bum out the neighbors.

[TML]

If your into the heavy thing..I would try to get my hands on a marshall 2000 dsl...and take your recto and mix the tones.....blend the marshall for mids and the boogie for top and bottom....also try taking a di and use a plugin..ampfarm...amplitube....see which tones when put together...make a tight fat tone.......but then again..what do I know...I just spent the last 4 years doin' emo and pop punk....

[TheSweetener]

I have a Randall Isocab which sounds great! It's a Vintage 30 12"

I bought it to use it in my second booth which is not damped enough for cranked amps, but now I mostly use it opened in my main recording room.

I think it's worth it's name! I mean of course you cannot play a full cranked Recto trough it and expect your children to sleep next door but I was surprised how silent it is.

And back to topic. I love Rectos. Vintage 30 cabs + SM57 or RE20 should work fine.
A good alternative is an ENGL Fireball which has only 50 watts.

[Musiclab]

A real guitar sound requires real volume. Even the rectifier power tool thing requires the power amp end and the speaker working. Lower wattage amps can get there quicker, but sometimes you lose on the sustain end of things.

[johnjm22]

Originally posted by TML
I just spent the last 4 years doin' emo and pop punk....

I feel sorry for you.

[Waylon]

IME, the key is to make the poweramp section of the Mesa get working, it is th eonly way that thing will warm up... maybe try a speaker isolation box of some kind, but it is a bit of a crap shoot, it is not gonna sound like a big room in there....

Good luck!

[Ahellam]

for heavy sounds i never have the amp up loud especially a recto because it loses its tightness.