Dual Recto Mods -- Any suggestions, tips, advice?

[dubs0587]

I'm looking to do some mods on my 2001 Dual Rectifier 3-channel head, but I want to do it myself...

1. The gain is so fuzzy after 2:00, so I want to clean that up so that I can use 100% of the gain and retain clarity even when maxed.

2. The mids don't sweep enough. I want to have that sweeped mid sound with my mid knob at 0, have solid mids at 12:00, then a robust mid mange from 3:00 and maxed.

3. The bass is so woofy past 10:00...I want to feel the air pushing from my speakers when i play loud, but it's hard to accomplish when it's so ugly sounding. Also, high gain + lots of bass: terrible tone(in my opinion)...but I want to change that.

It's so hard to get a good lead tone out of it...I've switch between the solid state and tube rectifiers, both with undesirable results. I've retubed it with every kind of tube you can think of(mullard, tung-sol, EH, JJ, Groove Tubes, ect...) but I can't get that singing lead tone.

Does anyone have any advice for me? Modifications that a person with a little electronics experience can handle? Or am I doomed to send it to some "professional" who claims that his mod is the best of above the rest?

 

[Monsta-Tone]

Or am I doomed to send it to some "professional" who claims that his mod is the best of above the rest?

If not for all the hype out there, this would have been mildly offensive! :lol:




I would try an EQ pedal or a Boost pedal 1st. If you do a search, lots of guys here, like you, had the same problem.
They solved it with a $100 pedal and are now loving their tones.

As for mods that are easy for the inexperienced, there are deadly voltages present in your amp, even after it's turned off.
Another thing to consider is the fact that it will cost you twice as much if you mod it yourself and then the amp does not work properly. Then, you are paying to have it fixed and modded. If you've tried the pedal and still want it modded, at least you know that you didn't miss something so easy before spending the money.

 

[dubs0587]

No offense was meant! And you're exactly right, I don't want to ruin my amp...but my drummer is an electronics wiz, so I was hoping there was a secret someone could let me in on...I don't want to drastically change the tone. It sounds awesome, but there are some minor tweaks I'd like to make or have done.

I've gone the boost pedal route. I've tried the Maxon OD808, Ibanez TS808(original and re-issue), any and all BOSS od pedals(although the DS-1 doesn't sound bad as a clean boost), MXR pedals, blah blah you get what I'm saying...I've even gone the EQ way. I've tried the BOSS EQ, MXR EQ, and even 15-31 band eq's, but alas, I am unsatisfied(or maybe I just don't know how to eq it properly).

It's too bad that I sold all of my pedals...now I'm really curious as to why I couldn't make it sound good before. I'll do some more homework. Thanks Monsta-tone!

 

[coppa]

the series loop mod is easy to do. look it up. that will allow you to use the eq in the loop with much better results

it sounds like you need to spend more time twisting knobs on your amp. stop looking at where the knobs are set and use your ears instead.

play louder. at louder volumes (around 11:00 or higher on the output) the tone smoothes out and the tone stack becomes less responsive.

 

[Monsta-Tone]

Also, most of the Mesa amps I've owned had some really good tones in the manual's suggested settings.
This is a good place to start.


The series loop mod will definitely help your EQ pedal, and delays sound much better!

 

[wildrat666]

all people don t like the reco sound so......i use my roadster and my 2 channel recto with a maxon od 808 and absolutely love the sound of it. keep the bass low on the 3 channel recto and the gain at about 1 oclock.
maybe it is just a eq question but try to play it loud......

 

[ixoye777]

The two main things I would recommend to get the tone you want are:

1. An EQ in the effects loop
2. A good attenuator (Dr Z Airbrake, THD Hotplate, etc.)

 

[mikey383]

stop looking at where the knobs are set and use your ears instead.

This is sound advice.

If you are someone who sets the knobs with your eyes, a Recto is going to piss you off every time you look at the EQ. I used to be the same way. I was so used to having all the knobs maxed out and that didn't sound good at all with a Recto. Once I got used to having them set different, it doesn't bother me at all now.

 

[lerxst88]

...but my drummer is an electronics wiz...

Sounds like someone else ive heard of! :wink:

RCS was a drummer

 

[Elpelotero]

Does anyone have any advice for me?

Yes, sell it and get a 2 channel rectifier. That is, only if you still want to stay with a rectifier tone. Otherwise I'd say get a Mark4 or 5.