help with triple recto live...

turmoil · Oct 13, 2006

i love my mesa boogie triple recto to death and i like my tone (for the most part, obviously it could probably be better) but i'm having problems live.
the main problem is that i can't usually hear myself (i know what you're saying, turn up, blah blah blah) but it's not that. it just seems like between the drums, bass and other guitar player's amp my tone/signal just gets lost and it doesn't cut through well.

i'm just wondering if you guys have any particular settings to help try to have it cut through well. i used my 5150II the other day at practice and it seemed to cut through so much better. i don't know why.

right now i believe i have my 3rd channel set like this:
bass: 12:30
mid: 10:30
treble: 1:30
pres: 11:00
master: 11:00
gain: 1:30 - 2:00

i mostly play metal music and generally we don't play at clubs often with monitors so usually the PA just has the vocals and maybe the drums so i can't rely on monitors usually.

anyone? thanks

Nitrobattery · Oct 13, 2006

I had the same problem with both of my Rectos. They sounded great recorded, but just didn't cut it live. I found the low end to be muddy, and the highs to be cold and often shrill. My only advise is to either turn the mids up, or stick an overdrive in front of your amp as a boost. Turn the gain on the pedal almost all the way down, and turn the volume on the pedal all the way up. It'll help tighten your amp up and it might help you cut through more.

Personally though, I like the way a 5150 sounds a lot more than a Recto. Being a metalhead I'm sure you know that is (or has been) the amp of choice for In Flames, Soilwork, Arch Enemy, All That Remains, a lot of the Killswitch Engage albums, Machine Head etc etc. Honestly, I'd stick with the 5150, buy a nice overdrive for it, and rock out with your sock out.

turmoil · Oct 13, 2006

thanks for the advice man. i have an ibanez TS-9 and i've tried it before but i'll give it a shot again. maybe a maxon 808 or the ibanez reissue would work better than the TS-9?

i love the 5150 sound but there is just something about the rectifier that i love to death. i know the sound that i want is there...i just need to find it somehow.

screamingdaisy · Oct 13, 2006

I'm assuming the other amp has a strong upper midrange?

Try scooping the treble and bringing the mids way up, then use the presence to dial some top end sizzle back in. This'll put more emphasis on the lower midrange which is where your Recto is the strongest.

It might not sound as nice on it's own but try it in a mix before you make up your mind.

andershoeg · Oct 13, 2006

screamingdaisy said:
I'm assuming the other amp has a strong upper midrange?

Try scooping the treble and bringing the mids way up, then use the presence to dial some top end sizzle back in. This'll put more emphasis on the lower midrange which is where your Recto is the strongest.

It might not sound as nice on it's own but try it in a mix before you make up your mind.

+1
AND try turn down the gain a little. might clear up your overall tone up a bit.
B.r. andershoeg