Dual Rectifiers: Early Revisions on Record?

[Silverwulf]

I was curious what albums we could come up with that earlier Recto revisions would have been used on? By earlier revisions, I'm speaking in regards to any revision prior to Rev. G (Rev. C - Rev. F).

First one up I can think of is Alice in Chains "Dirt" album. The Recto was a prominent amp on the album, and it was in all likelihood a Revision C. Dirt was recorded in 1992 and all post-production work was complete by the start of June. With that in mind, guitar tracking was likely finished by March-April, meaning the Recto would have been acquired probably March 1992 or prior. Considering when Rectos were released, it's very likely Cantrell used one of the first 200 or so made on the album, hence a Revision C.

The other one that jumps out at me is Soundgarden's "Superunknown." The album featured mostly a Dual Rectifier, with Cornell (and I'm paraphrasing) saying he liked using two of them simulteneously, with one set for as cleaner sound and one set for a dirty sound. Both him and Thayil noted they like running it in tube rectifier mode for "extra warmth." There's been no indication they purchased any in 1992, so it leads one to believe they purchased them in 1993 prior to the tracking of the album. With guitar tracking taking place between July and August of 1993, and no indication of a Recto from 1992, it would point to a Revision F likely being used on Superunknown.

So, there's examples of a likely Revision C and Revision F on record. Any other albums you guys can think of?

 

[jtxdriggers]

My brother used his rev. C on his band's album. The Full Body Karate - "Celestis Cado"


... but that was released in '06

 

[Silverwulf]

My brother used his rev. C on his band's album. The Full Body Karate - "Celestis Cado"


... but that was released in '06

Well, I was thinking more major label releases, but still good to know none-the-less.... :wink:

 

[Elpelotero]

I've seen live videos of Adam of Tool using blackface small logos in 93-94. If he used them to record the record with Sober on it, that's another one. These 3 bands you listed were definitely the pioneers.

If you search youtube for Dokken 1995 gigs, you can also see his 500's.

 

[siggy14]

Well I would say candlebox, that first album was released July 1993, so Defintly an early recto, you listen to it as well and very bright, I am guessing a revision C. But they were the first band I ever heard of using recto's.

I was curious what albums we could come up with that earlier Recto revisions would have been used on? By earlier revisions, I'm speaking in regards to any revision prior to Rev. G (Rev. C - Rev. F).

First one up I can think of is Alice in Chains "Dirt" album. The Recto was a prominent amp on the album, and it was in all likelihood a Revision C. Dirt was recorded in 1992 and all post-production work was complete by the start of June. With that in mind, guitar tracking was likely finished by March-April, meaning the Recto would have been acquired probably March 1992 or prior. Considering when Rectos were released, it's very likely Cantrell used one of the first 200 or so made on the album, hence a Revision C.

The other one that jumps out at me is Soundgarden's "Superunknown." The album featured mostly a Dual Rectifier, with Cornell (and I'm paraphrasing) saying he liked using two of them simulteneously, with one set for as cleaner sound and one set for a dirty sound. Both him and Thayil noted they like running it in tube rectifier mode for "extra warmth." There's been no indication they purchased any in 1992, so it leads one to believe they purchased them in 1993 prior to the tracking of the album. With guitar tracking taking place between July and August of 1993, and no indication of a Recto from 1992, it would point to a Revision F likely being used on Superunknown.

So, there's examples of a likely Revision C and Revision F on record. Any other albums you guys can think of?

 

[siggy14]

Look at that early rectifier on stage.
http://www.cultureroom.net/Candlebox%20-%20Driveblind%20021.jpg

Well I would say candlebox, that first album was released July 1993, so Defintly an early recto, you listen to it as well and very bright, I am guessing a revision C. But they were the first band I ever heard of using recto's.

I was curious what albums we could come up with that earlier Recto revisions would have been used on? By earlier revisions, I'm speaking in regards to any revision prior to Rev. G (Rev. C - Rev. F).

First one up I can think of is Alice in Chains "Dirt" album. The Recto was a prominent amp on the album, and it was in all likelihood a Revision C. Dirt was recorded in 1992 and all post-production work was complete by the start of June. With that in mind, guitar tracking was likely finished by March-April, meaning the Recto would have been acquired probably March 1992 or prior. Considering when Rectos were released, it's very likely Cantrell used one of the first 200 or so made on the album, hence a Revision C.

The other one that jumps out at me is Soundgarden's "Superunknown." The album featured mostly a Dual Rectifier, with Cornell (and I'm paraphrasing) saying he liked using two of them simulteneously, with one set for as cleaner sound and one set for a dirty sound. Both him and Thayil noted they like running it in tube rectifier mode for "extra warmth." There's been no indication they purchased any in 1992, so it leads one to believe they purchased them in 1993 prior to the tracking of the album. With guitar tracking taking place between July and August of 1993, and no indication of a Recto from 1992, it would point to a Revision F likely being used on Superunknown.

So, there's examples of a likely Revision C and Revision F on record. Any other albums you guys can think of?

 

[Silverwulf]

I think Tool's Opiate and Undertow were all Marshall Superbass, so it's possible that he was just using Rev. G by the time Aenema came around.

Forgot that Candlebox used Rectos too. If they used them on the first album, I guess it could have been anything from Rev. C - Rev. F.

 

[jdurso]

i'm pretty sure some early rectos made an appearance on Metallica's Load. Now picking it out of the 100 other amps they used on that record might be a little tougher.

 

[jdurso]

Here we go... indeed Load, Reload and Garage Inc feature a TR. My guess is its the 2 Channel Black Face TR you see him use just about everywhere. OK not a Early revision DR on record but who knows, but pretty cool because to me his best tone era was those 3 albums. Again, strictly tone, but those 3 albums, especially Garage Inc have an incredible rhythm tone. Anyone ever played a Wizard amp?

"In 1995, Hetfield had altered his tone by introducing lower-midrange frequencies, via the Mesa/Boogie Triple Rectifier amplifier. He began to use the Mesa/Boogie TriAxis preamplifer and Mesa/Boogie Strategy 400 poweramp, as he would continue to use live and in the studio to the current day. He also played around with Marshall amplifiers and the "hi-fi sounding" Wizard Modern Classic amplifier. He used this setup for recording the 1996 album Load, the 1997 album ReLoad, and the 1998 cover-songs album Garage Inc.. Garage Inc. in particular is rather prominent in the use of the Wizard amp."

 

[Silverwulf]

No Recto's prior to Garage Inc, and only some rackmounts then. Those sites have some misinformation on them, like saying James used V30's on "Kill 'Em All" when V30's weren't even around back then.

"Load" was primarily a Triaxis, mixed in with the old IIC+ and a Jose modded Marshall. There's more Triaxis on there than anything though. They used a lot of various amps, but those 3 made up the bulk of the heavy tones with Triaxis doing most of the grunt work.

"Garage Inc" was the live racks with a Wizard tossed in, but you could nail virtually all those tones on the album with the Triaxis. No Recto head's though (just some rackmounts by default in Kirk's live rig that was used in the studio).

And I agree, those 3 albums have their best tone IMO.

 

[jdurso]

No Recto's prior to Garage Inc, and only some rackmounts then. Those sites have some misinformation on them, like saying James used V30's on "Kill 'Em All" when V30's weren't even around back then.

"Load" was primarily a Triaxis, mixed in with the old IIC+ and a Jose modded Marshall. There's more Triaxis on there than anything though. They used a lot of various amps, but those 3 made up the bulk of the heavy tones with Triaxis doing most of the grunt work.

"Garage Inc" was the live racks with a Wizard tossed in, but you could nail virtually all those tones on the album with the Triaxis. No Recto head's though (just some rackmounts by default in Kirk's live rig that was used in the studio).

And I agree, those 3 albums have their best tone IMO.

I'm pretty sure i saw James recording some rhythms with his black face recto on some load sessions clips. Its been a while though since i've seen them though. But your definitely right about the triaxis.... still a huge part of their rigs even today. I dont know why they ever went away from that tone... Garage Inc has some of the best guitar tones i've heard out of the metallica camp.

 

[Silverwulf]

I'm pretty sure i saw James recording some rhythms with his black face recto on some load sessions clips. Its been a while though since i've seen them though. But your definitely right about the triaxis.... still a huge part of their rigs even today. I dont know why they ever went away from that tone... Garage Inc has some of the best guitar tones i've heard out of the metallica camp.

You could be right, but I've never heard any tales of actual Rectos being on the albums. My bandmate and I are Metallica fan boys (yes, we have a problem... :lol: ), so we tend to keep up with all that jazz. I've probably got at least 10 guitar mags that broke down the gear on "Load," with interviews with the guys. One of the guys that worked with Randy Staub on a later project asked him about the gear used and he echoed the same thing - Triaxis, IIC+, and Jose modded Marshall for the main sounds.

One cool little fact though is that one of Kirk's hot rodded Marshall's is actually modded by Larry Grohman, not Jose. Larry, the guy who makes the amps Jon Schaffer from Iced Earth uses. Most people assume they were all Jose mods. Kirk bought it directly from Larry when they were in Germany on the Black Album tour.

 

[Areola]

I know its hard to tell... but does that look like one of the small logo amps?

That's my mate George. One of Australia's largest Stoner Rock bands. He worked in Canberra in the early 90s and when Soundgarden toured Australia they requested Rectifiers. Pro Audio in Canberra had to bring them in from USA specially for the Soundgarden tour and George played one in there one day. He said "when this amp gets back from the tour... its mine". He had no money, but just HAD to have it. This guy is the reason I fell in love with Boogies.

 

[Elpelotero]

It certainly looks like one, and from the way he describes, I don't see why not.

 

[Areola]

well....

www.myspace.com/fortrock

he uses a his Recto and about 3 different big muffs, because he said each one adds a different colour. Absolutely crazy dude... but yeah... killer tone.

 

[Areola]

Cornell saying he liked using two of them simulteneously

I wonder if I read this similar thing some time ago and had the idea stuck in the back of my head. I've always appreciated soundgarden, but I've gotten into them more and more in the past 12 months. At the same time, I've also started using two rectos simultaneously. I started with using a Recto and a bass head (to bring up the bottom end) until i noticed that the bass amp didnt really have that much extra bass because normally a bass guitar brings those low end frequencies. So I just started running both my rectos. Brilliant.

 

[jdurso]

You could be right, but I've never heard any tales of actual Rectos being on the albums. My bandmate and I are Metallica fan boys (yes, we have a problem... :lol: ), so we tend to keep up with all that jazz. I've probably got at least 10 guitar mags that broke down the gear on "Load," with interviews with the guys. One of the guys that worked with Randy Staub on a later project asked him about the gear used and he echoed the same thing - Triaxis, IIC+, and Jose modded Marshall for the main sounds.

One cool little fact though is that one of Kirk's hot rodded Marshall's is actually modded by Larry Grohman, not Jose. Larry, the guy who makes the amps Jon Schaffer from Iced Earth uses. Most people assume they were all Jose mods. Kirk bought it directly from Larry when they were in Germany on the Black Album tour.

I am also guilty of being a fanboy. I actually purchased my first mesa (2 channel TR) without ever playing a boogie just because at the time (probably 2000) because of James Hetfield. Stupid reasoning but is still one of the best amps i've purchased.

 

[53crew]

George Lynch on Sacred Groove and Dokken's "Shadowlife".

 

[Areola]

I didnt know where else to post this...

however I read through the Boogie Archives, and my Rev. F has a fixed power chord. This may have something to do with the fact that its a 240v version. Maybe fixed power chords were the norm for the 2channel amps shipped internationally??

 

[Silverwulf]

I didnt know where else to post this...

however I read through the Boogie Archives, and my Rev. F has a fixed power chord. This may have something to do with the fact that its a 240v version. Maybe fixed power chords were the norm for the 2channel amps shipped internationally??

Fixed power cords ran all the way through early Revision G's.