Help with Dual Rectifier

[madmax]

Hey, Im new here to the forums and to Mesa Boogie amps in general. I bought a used (but almost new) recto 3 channel some weeks ago but im having problems with the sound. A friend of mine has a 2 channel one and it sounds very good. Mine sounds nothing like that. We even tried the excact same settings and on the same cabinet. It just sounds really bad compared to my friends. Iv heard some people say they think the 2 channel has a better sound, but I dont think the difference is suppost to be that big as it is. Could there be something wrong with the tubes? I just thought Id try here before delievering it to a store and have them try to figure out the problem.

Thanks

 

[mindseye]

Tubes mabey???

And remember tone starts in the fingers!

 

[madmax]

It may be the tubes yeah, but im talking about the amp sound in general. :roll:

 

[clutch71]

When you asy it sounds bad? What exactly is the problem? Less gain? Fizzy? Not as articulate? Not as loud? It's good that you tried to replicate settings and same can and cables, but give us a little more detail and someone may be able to help.

 

[madmax]

When you asy it sounds bad? What exactly is the problem? Less gain? Fizzy? Not as articulate? Not as loud? It's good that you tried to replicate settings and same can and cables, but give us a little more detail and someone may be able to help.

Well, Im not really good at describing sound. And my english is also a bit limited. But it doesnt really sound powerful.. or crunchy.. just alot dryer. But again im not really good at describing sound.

 

[MiSeRY]

the 2 channels blow the 3 channels away IMHO....

 

[Herbie the Rad Dorklift]

Are you sure you haven't got a MESIA?

 

[scottcrud]

Are you comparing his red lead channel to your channel two or channel 3?

 

[JW123]

If you have a friend with the same amp. Switch the tubes from one amp to the other and see if thats it. I would switch the first 3 12ax7s first and see what that does. Make sure you have a mitten on your hand when you switch tubes.

 

[Elpelotero]

The only way to test these amps properly is to use the SAME tubes, same guitar, same, cab, same cable, etc. And yes, the 2ch sound superior in my opinion.

 

[madmax]

The only way to test these amps properly is to use the SAME tubes, same guitar, same, cab, same cable, etc. And yes, the 2ch sound superior in my opinion.

Aww ok. Im afraid thats out of the question since he lives pretty far away, and secondly is very overprotective of his Mesa :/
I guess Ill have to take it to a shop and have someone take a look at it, unless someone else has a solution.. thanks anyway :wink:

 

[ToneAddictJon]

First thing I do when I get a used amp is change out the tubes, I've gotten some good deals on used amps just because the owners didnt' realize a simple tube swap can make a huge difference.

 

[jdurso]

First thing I do when I get a used amp is change out the tubes, I've gotten some good deals on used amps just because the owners didnt' realize a simple tube swap can make a huge difference.

agreed... do that before you take it to a tech because some tech's out there will tell you this is wrong or that is wrong when they **** well know its most likely old tubes unless there is a symptom that throws up a red flag (like the pics of the bugera that someone posted on HC).....

also even before you change tubes... find the manual for your amp and try out the settings in the back.... i had a 2 channel triple for years and then i went to a rectoverb.... dialing those two amps in was totally different.... same thing happened when i got my tremoverb and now with my roadster.... especially when comparing the 2 channels to the 3 channels... they're different amps and reading the manual is an absolute must.... i've found the settings in the back of the manual to be some of the best tones ive been able to dial in on my roadster

 

[madmax]

I actually convinced my mate to let me try out his tubes, so we'll do that asap. And Iv read through the manual too but havent tried out those settings. I suppost I can do that, but it wont change the fact that there is something wrong with my amp. (there has to be) .. I checked with another friend who is used to mesa's and he said that the difference wasnt suppost to be that big. He also told me that John Petrucci uses a 3 channel recto on Forsaken, and thats REALLY something else from what Iv got. :shock:

 

[clutch71]

I reread the thread and a thought occurred to me. Is your loop by passed? If not do so. With the loop active the send, return, and output all effect the amps tone by adjusting the output volume. I've never tinkered with the loop on a three channel but if your new to tube amps some guys miss (or just don't know) that with the loop active all these differnt knobs effect the output volume thus limiting volume driven gain.

 

[mikey383]

There is a large difference between the 2 and 3 channel heads. It's not a drastic difference, but it is definately noticable. You should be able to dial them in similar, but they still won't sound exactly the same.

I had a 3 channel, and although it sounded different than my current 2 channel, it still sounded good.

What kind of tubes does your friend run in his? That right there makes a difference. Mesa stock tubes IMO are not very good sounding compared to some of the other brands out there.

I also think Clutch may be onto something with the FX loop. The connector for the FX loop select pot came loose on my 3 channel, and it altered the entire tone of the amp.

 

[madmax]

My FX loop is bypassed, so Ill just wait and see what happens when we change tubes :roll:

 

[MesieBooga]

Hey, Im new here to the forums and to Mesa Boogie amps in general. I bought a used (but almost new) recto 3 channel some weeks ago but im having problems with the sound. A friend of mine has a 2 channel one and it sounds very good. Mine sounds nothing like that. We even tried the excact same settings and on the same cabinet. It just sounds really bad compared to my friends. Iv heard some people say they think the 2 channel has a better sound, but I dont think the difference is suppost to be that big as it is. Could there be something wrong with the tubes? I just thought Id try here before delievering it to a store and have them try to figure out the problem.

Thanks

I've found recto's to be inconsistant. Some are KILLER while others are just okay. Some suck....
I've got a KILLER 3 channel right now. better than most of my 2 channel versions I've owned. 8)