how do I get a decent lead sound out of my Recto
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94Tremoverb
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With respect, it's the same as the answer to all your other questions... use your ears!
Forget what the manual says. Forget what other people say. Forget your preconceptions about where knobs "should" be. Just listen carefully to what all the controls do in all the modes. Remember that the labeling on the modes is for guidance only, not a requirement for any particular music style. The controls have the full ranges they do because they are designed to give that much variation, and you can run them at zero, full or anywhere else.
No-one can tell you how to get the sound that's in your head. You have to learn to hear how the sound that's coming out of your amp is different from what you want, and adjust accordingly. All the knobs with the possible exception of the presence do fairly predictable things (the thread about what Mesa knobs really do is a joke, even though it does contain an element of truth, like all the best jokes). There are the same six knobs on all the channels, but their effect can be slightly different depending on what mode you're in.
Forget about using a pedal being "unnatural". You can use it to boost, or add gain, or to tighten up the tone or dynamics, or any/all of those things - just like your amp's preamp controls. True, it has transistors in - so what? So do your active pickups. Tubes are no more 'natural' than transistors - if you really want natural, play a classical guitar! In fact, playing classical or acoustic is a good thing because it helps you learn how to change your tone, attack and volume with your hands... you can do that as well when you're playing electric, and use the controls on the guitar too.
If you haven't learned to do all this yet, the subtleties of the differences between one amp and another are fairly irrelevant. A Rectifier is as good and as versatile as almost any other modern amp and if you can't get at least an approximation of the sound you want out of it, you're not likely to from a different amp either.
If the tone is really too weak no matter what you do with the amp or the pedal, maybe there is a genuine problem with your amp - or your guitar or pickups, since you already mentioned that the pickups were a long way from the strings. You need to check this out and if necessary fix it before you worry about where the amp is set, since it will change things.
Sorry if this sounds like a Grumpy Old Man lecture. But those of us who have been playing for years (or, er, decades...) all know that to a great extent the tone is in your head and hands, as much as in the gear. Obviously you need certain gear to get certain sounds, but there's always more than one way, and what works for one person might be very different from what works for another, *even when they're trying to get the same sound*. You need to find out for yourself, others can only give you a rough guide.
Forget what the manual says. Forget what other people say. Forget your preconceptions about where knobs "should" be. Just listen carefully to what all the controls do in all the modes. Remember that the labeling on the modes is for guidance only, not a requirement for any particular music style. The controls have the full ranges they do because they are designed to give that much variation, and you can run them at zero, full or anywhere else.
No-one can tell you how to get the sound that's in your head. You have to learn to hear how the sound that's coming out of your amp is different from what you want, and adjust accordingly. All the knobs with the possible exception of the presence do fairly predictable things (the thread about what Mesa knobs really do is a joke, even though it does contain an element of truth, like all the best jokes). There are the same six knobs on all the channels, but their effect can be slightly different depending on what mode you're in.
Forget about using a pedal being "unnatural". You can use it to boost, or add gain, or to tighten up the tone or dynamics, or any/all of those things - just like your amp's preamp controls. True, it has transistors in - so what? So do your active pickups. Tubes are no more 'natural' than transistors - if you really want natural, play a classical guitar! In fact, playing classical or acoustic is a good thing because it helps you learn how to change your tone, attack and volume with your hands... you can do that as well when you're playing electric, and use the controls on the guitar too.
If you haven't learned to do all this yet, the subtleties of the differences between one amp and another are fairly irrelevant. A Rectifier is as good and as versatile as almost any other modern amp and if you can't get at least an approximation of the sound you want out of it, you're not likely to from a different amp either.
If the tone is really too weak no matter what you do with the amp or the pedal, maybe there is a genuine problem with your amp - or your guitar or pickups, since you already mentioned that the pickups were a long way from the strings. You need to check this out and if necessary fix it before you worry about where the amp is set, since it will change things.
Sorry if this sounds like a Grumpy Old Man lecture. But those of us who have been playing for years (or, er, decades...) all know that to a great extent the tone is in your head and hands, as much as in the gear. Obviously you need certain gear to get certain sounds, but there's always more than one way, and what works for one person might be very different from what works for another, *even when they're trying to get the same sound*. You need to find out for yourself, others can only give you a rough guide.
I agree with '94. However, I dont mind throwing out my settings.
I have a 2-channel dual rectifier. I use one channel for all my rhythm and lead sounds. Without a boost I have tons of range, from djenty riffing to overdriven blues. All depends how I pick or if I roll back on the guitar volume. I really love this sound as I can use it for anything and it sustains forever.
Once I boost it, its just insane. If I stop playing the amp will just feedback, but if I the roll guitar volume back, at the right point, it becomes a gate so I can do all the stop go type of riffing. Perfect for the ballsout riffing and shredding.
Then I have my fxloop always on with a delay in there. It just widens out the sound but doesnt get in the way of the notes. Send - 12:00 and return/mix level - 3:00
I have a 2-channel dual rectifier. I use one channel for all my rhythm and lead sounds. Without a boost I have tons of range, from djenty riffing to overdriven blues. All depends how I pick or if I roll back on the guitar volume. I really love this sound as I can use it for anything and it sustains forever.
Once I boost it, its just insane. If I stop playing the amp will just feedback, but if I the roll guitar volume back, at the right point, it becomes a gate so I can do all the stop go type of riffing. Perfect for the ballsout riffing and shredding.
Then I have my fxloop always on with a delay in there. It just widens out the sound but doesnt get in the way of the notes. Send - 12:00 and return/mix level - 3:00
mikey383
Well-known member
Dude, seriously...it's time for a new amp. If you're having this many troubles getting a decent sound that you like, it's probably not the amp for you.
Or, you're doing something seriously wrong.
Using an EQ will work wonders. I have an old school Digitech GSP2101 rackmount effects processor that I use with the 4 cable method, and the flexibility it brings to the table is amazing. I run the main EQ flat for rhythms (it also boosts the signal), use the main 7 band graphic EQ plus a 10 band GEQ for my cleans, and adjust the 7 band EQ for leads.
Or, you're doing something seriously wrong.
Using an EQ will work wonders. I have an old school Digitech GSP2101 rackmount effects processor that I use with the 4 cable method, and the flexibility it brings to the table is amazing. I run the main EQ flat for rhythms (it also boosts the signal), use the main 7 band graphic EQ plus a 10 band GEQ for my cleans, and adjust the 7 band EQ for leads.
mikey383
Well-known member
droptrd said:
You can only do it with a processor that has an effects loop.
I run my guitar into the processor (1), then from the effects send I go to the amp (2). The amp's effects send goes into the processor's effects return (3), and the output from the processor goes back into the amp's effects return (4).
That way you can choose which effects go before the amp, and which ones go in the loop. With my processor, all my digital effects are in the loop, and the analog effects (EQ and distortions) are in front of the amp. With something like the Boss GT-8 or GTPro, *I think* you can choose which effect goes where, so you could put a delay in front of the amp if you wanted. Mine's old school, so it doesn't work like that. All the digital effects are post loop, and the only analog effects are distortion and an EQ.
I don't have any problems using all the digital effects in the loop. They sound fine. The only thing that's questionable is the delay, which has a slight processed sound to the repeats, but if I'm playing with a full band, it's not noticeable.
lailer75
Well-known member
this^ your probably better off with a diff amp, that is not a bad thing or an insult. you can tweek, and twist knobs, swap tubes, replace cables, try a diff cab, try outboard gear till the cows come home. that said if you cannot plug into the amp with all controls @ noon & be at least satisfied with what an amp gives you, it is not for you period. its not rocket science, its a g0d@mn amp! there are no secrets,cheat codes,or divine intervention that are going to change the sound of a rectifier. don`t order a steak and ask for a rub to make it taste like chicken!! i don`t want to sound like a dink, but sell your recto and try something else! there is soooo many great amps out there to try, find 1 that suits you because OBVIOUSLY the recto isn`t your ampmikey383 said:
94Tremoverb said:
This times a million. I got a brutal metal tone out of my old mans Lonestar Classic at band practice last night, yet bermuda_ complains about rectos not having enough gain for metal. It's much more the player than the amp.
mikey383 said:
This times ten million. Except without the word "probably". Honestly, you said in another post that you "do love the tone of rectos", but at this point, nobody believes you.
"Where should I set bass to remove flubbiness? Where should I set treble and presence to remove mud? Where should I set my gain knob? Recto doesn't have enough gain. How do I get a good lead sound? How do I get a good clean tone?"
It should have only taken you a twist of a single knob to figure out more than half of those questions. I can turn three knobs from completely counterclockwise to completely clockwise in less time than it takes me to type this sentence. I'm not trying to downplay the use of this forum, but ****, every single question you've asked you've gotten multiple answers to, but it's still never enough for you.
If you can't figure out the answer to ANY ONE of those questions (you obviously can't since you've asked all of them more than once) then you're playing the wrong amp, because obviously, to your ears, those questions don't have an acceptable answer.
Heritage Softail
Well-known member
Consider trading it for another amp? I love the recto for brutal chugging. It is impossible for me to go to guitar center and not chug out some Metallica on one. If you can't bang your head a little and love that, the recto you have really belongs in my house. I have a Marshall JCM 900 2x12 combo I will trade you.
Seriously, try recording your playing and practicing, do it for a month, compare the results. Listen with a metronome to see if you have a good sense of musical time as well. This can be very enlightening.
Seriously, try recording your playing and practicing, do it for a month, compare the results. Listen with a metronome to see if you have a good sense of musical time as well. This can be very enlightening.
Sixstringpsycho
Well-known member
b0nkersx said:
Sixstringpsycho
Well-known member
Wow for some reason I'm a post noob and couldn't quote correctly. I agree with the above. If you aren't hearing what you want at all then you need a different amp. I use a DC 5 honestly because to me, it sounds like what I have in my head, I saved 2k to buy an amp with and ended up buying my DC5 for 400 because it did what I wanted. I say go try some other models or even brands ans see if you can get the tone in your head out of a cabinet.
greg_moreira
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lots of mids. i turn the mid knob up 3/4 of the way roughly.....then an EQ in the loop for a slight bit more boost on the mids, and a little bit of a cut on the highest frequencies to get any sharpness out. makes the notes nice and punchy. Keep the gain under control so you retain some dynamic. around noon works well for me. too much and it starts to thin out.
I also use an od808 as a boost out front. its an exceptionally clean sounding pedal, and the only noticeable change is a cut in bass(which isnt a problem with this bass heavy monster that is the rectifier). Harmonics really start to jump off the fretboard with the od in front....even when using high gain pickups to begin with.
I also use an od808 as a boost out front. its an exceptionally clean sounding pedal, and the only noticeable change is a cut in bass(which isnt a problem with this bass heavy monster that is the rectifier). Harmonics really start to jump off the fretboard with the od in front....even when using high gain pickups to begin with.
greg_moreira
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check out http://www.myspace.com/redlightcrisis
This is my band, and although there arent any great lead clips in here(a couple little fills and lead-like parts in the song called like me)....there are a few good recordings with some variations on the guitar tones I use. Right now....were actually redoing those tracks as we work on recording the whole album...so my final tone that Im going to use consistantly is going to fall somewhere in between the edgy tones on some tracks, and the little more rock type tone on other tracks. We do all home studio work, and although our process is pretty well figured out now.....we always try a multitude of different approaches when recording demo tracks, and when it comes to doing the final product....we approach the final product with the same process that our "favorite" demo tracks were done with. So...that explains the variation on the overall "sound" between tracks.
I'll have some lead stuff eventually though.
This is my band, and although there arent any great lead clips in here(a couple little fills and lead-like parts in the song called like me)....there are a few good recordings with some variations on the guitar tones I use. Right now....were actually redoing those tracks as we work on recording the whole album...so my final tone that Im going to use consistantly is going to fall somewhere in between the edgy tones on some tracks, and the little more rock type tone on other tracks. We do all home studio work, and although our process is pretty well figured out now.....we always try a multitude of different approaches when recording demo tracks, and when it comes to doing the final product....we approach the final product with the same process that our "favorite" demo tracks were done with. So...that explains the variation on the overall "sound" between tracks.
I'll have some lead stuff eventually though.
Heritage Softail
Well-known member
I just bought a nice used recto head. It has a great lead sound in it. Can't understand for the life of me how you think it sounds bad, unless ours if broke.
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