Mini Rectifier vs. Mark V Twenty-Five

[Tytokman]

So basically I'm looking to buy either one of these two amps, now the problem is I live in the Middle East and there is nowhere to try these amps and will have to purchase it online. So my question is, could someone please give me the pros and cons of each? What each is capable and incapable of doing?

I mostly play heavy and thrash metal if that helps.

Thanks in advance!

 

[LesPaul70]

Happy new year to Middle East!

Both of them are very versatile mini amps and cover a lot of ground. The key difference is the amp character. The Mark is tighter and brighter, the Recto is fatter and looser, although with the mini amps, the difference may not be as marked as with their respective big brothers (for example, the Mini Recto gives more midrange crunch than a full Dual and does not have quite as deep lows).

This will make a big difference in the amp feel - for many players, one type (either a Mark or a Recto) works a lot better than the other. For thrash metal, a Mark amp would be the traditional choice. But a Recto wouldn't be too far off either, although you might need an OD pedal to tighten it up for tight riffing.

 

[Tytokman]

Thanks for the reply, LesPaul! Happy New Year to you too!

I see, so what would you say the recto would be ideal for?

 

[LesPaul70]

I see, so what would you say the recto would be ideal for?

For me personally, a Recto would be ideal for anything that requires gain, be it low gain or high gain. I can play metal on a Recto but also classic rock from AC/DC to ZZ Top. But I can see that definition is not very helpful... :lol:

Typically, when people think of the Recto sound, they think of 1990s alt-rock, grunge and nu-metal bands and that big, fat, bassy, scooped sound. But a Dual Rectifier is very capable of many other sounds as well. You don't have to crank your Bass and Gain and scoop the mids.

Perhaps the biggest limitation and difference compared to Mark style amps is that Rectifiers tend to sound too fat and loose, their lows can be all over the place. Not what you want when trying to play tight riffs and leads. Many players use overdrive pedals to tighten up the Recto gain structure.

The Mini is a bit more midrangey and crunchy than a full Dual, which makes it more naturally suited for classic rock applications as well than its big brothers.