Dual Rectifier "Bad" Sound... HELP PLEASE!!!

[Vicsnake]

Hello people, I live in Mexico and I've had my Dual Recto since June 2008 and quiet honestly I haven't been happy with it.

I am looking for a tight rhythm guitar sound (like John Petrucci in the song "Constant Motion" or in Metallica's "Death Magnetic" album) and also for a fluid, "liquid" lead sound but I've been unable to do neither.

The rhythms are very good when I hit open chords or power chords but when I try to do some intricate riffing or note-for-note riffs the sound is very bad: there's no definition. The leads aren't loud enough and I get a feeling like "playing a note, hitting an invisible wall and keep playing another note".

My equipment is:

-Dual Recto Head 3 channels
-Marshall 1960BX (greenbacks, 16 ohm jack, 100 watts)
-Epiphone Explorer Gothic 2004 (stock pick-ups)
-No effects (though I'd like to add some chorus and delay)

My settings for channel 3 in modern mode are:
-Presence 8.5 o'clock
-Master 10 o'clock
-Gain 1 o'clock
-Bass 10 o'clock
-Mids 10 o'clock
-Treble 1 o'clock
-Output 9 o'clock (can't use it very loud)
-Both loop knobs in the back at 12 o'clock
-Bold & silicon diodes

I've tried everything and I can't find any decent sound for some thrash, intricate riffing and soloing.

I don't know if the problem relies on my guitar pick-ups or the marshall cabinet but being honest, I get a better solo sound from my Crate GX-15R which costs like 5% of the dual recto.

I really hope you can point some mistake that I am making or something because I am really angry with all the money spent for such a bad sound.


PD - I love the Metallica and Dream Theater tone (for precise playing) and I know they used Mark IIC+ in their early careers and have been using Road Kings lately. Should I try changing my recto for the new Mark V?

PD2 - I will get a Music Man JP6 in the next few months.

 

[Vicsnake]

This is me playing the "Repentance" solo from John Petrucci.
I got that sound with my Crate GX15R and the Boss GT6 and believe it or not I'm unable to get close to that sound in the Mesa.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-LjhO9Ox2s

Thanks

 

[Bouncepogo]

Digital devices such as the boss and a solid state amp can get artificial levels of distortion, so much so that when compared to a tube amp, the tube amp seems lower gain especially if you aren't playing it loud.

My suggestion is an overdrive pedal (a bad monkey by digitech can be had for cheap) run the pedal with low gain but high output into your amp, this will help push your pre amps and get a tighter sustaining sound. Plus, turn it up as much as possible, the rectos can cover any ground if used correctly.

 

[Heritage Softail]

Some people would say the REC is not the right amp choice for Petrucci lead tones. I believe he uses Mark series amps to get that tone. May want to check that out yourself on his web site. I have his instructional DVD and he uses Marks. You describe exactly the tone need that led me to get a used REC to add to my MKV. Two different voices that blend well and one covers riffage, the other soloing. If you do get a Mark series amp to add to your Rectifier rig, it will be an awesome wall of sound if you run it in stereo. That is what I do. If another amp is not an option, a Tube Screamer or some other beast in a box you can hit for leads would be my second choice. In the DVD, Petrucci talks about delays a good bit in his sound. In this months Guitar Center interview, he talks about a stereo delay being an essential effect. For the $ involved I would probably go with a GT-10, unless you are in a strong cash position. 8)

 

[Jerrick]

Tone wise, its always fun to just turn everything to 12:00, gain around 1:00-2:00, volume where you want and just adjust by ear. I hear lots of people always scooping out the mids and running low presence, but for me my presence is at 12:00 and mids are around 1:30.

Getting a boost and noise gate upfront really can push the amp to extreme gain and sustain while being tight for riffs and creamy for solos. Delay in the loop can really help for leads and thickening your rhythm stuff.

You could try a Mark series amp. JPs tradition tone is 90% Mark. They are known for being tighter and having a better solo tone.

Also, these amps are pretty responsive. What comes in comes out. So if your playing and pick attack is sub par, the DR will really let you know it.

 

[davidfloyd]

I'm very familiar with the Greenback-loaded Marshall cabinet and these aren't a great match. Very bright/edgy sound. I think if you're going with a Marshall cab, a B-cab loaded with the standard G12T-75s is a much better tone as far as heavy progressive rock and metal sounds.

But it sounds like you have an issue more with the "feel" of the amp rather than the tone you are hearing. So, like others have said, running any sort of overdrive pedal as a boost (or a standalone clean boost device) will enable you to keep the SAME tone from the Recto but give you more of it in terms of sustain - which will help.

Another approach that I use is when I want my Recto to mimic the Mark series type of feel, is I will use a compressor pedal and that gets me close. 90% of the time, I really prefer what the Rectifier is doing, but a compressor and/or boost device really add versatility to these amps.

 

[YellowJacket]

I love the Marshall Greenback cab but a metal cab it is not. (the one guy here who used these for metal has two and runs a fullstack) The Marshall cab with the Vintage 30s or G12T 75s might be much more to your liking. If you can afford it, Mesa cabs are great too.

Also, an Epiphone with STOCK pickups? You can probably get a lot more out of the amp with an upgrade in pickups,
but since you mention you are buying a new guitar, try that first. Mesa mentions turning up the mids more to compensate for weak pickups. You should try that for now. It will add gain.

The best remedy for "playing a note, hitting an invisible wall and keep playing another note" is to keep playing your scales on the clean channel. Tube amps don't disguise technique problems. Do you dial in a separate tone on Channel 2 for leads?