My new rack rig; Studio pre w/ Recto 2:100

[edgecrusher]

So last week I was offered a sweet deal and traded my Orange PPC212 cab for a Recto 2:100 power amp. A few days later I listed my Mesa DC-5 head that I never use on Craigslist, and I get a reply from someone offering me a Mesa Studio Preamp and 4 space rack :hbang:

So, of course I said hell yes! It's pretty crazy how I randomly ended up with this rackmount Mesa rig; the metal gods must be looking out for me!

Behold my crappy pics!

I also picked up this Crate 112 cab (which is loaded with a Celestion G12K-100!) for $100 off my friend. It sounds really good by itself, but it doesn't seem to blend too well with the EVM's in the Mesa cab; they just sound so different they need seperate settings.

The Studio Preamp sounds really good too; it's based off the IIC+ so it has a bit smoother with a slightly less cutting tone than my Mark III, but sounds basically the same. The Recto power amp gives it that thick, loose recto tone and feel down to a T; then I boost it with the TS808 and it's chug heaven! :metal:

I'll be leaving the Mesa cab and rack setup at the band's practice spot and keep the Mark III and Crate cab at home to practice/jam with, so no more digital modeling for me! (sorry Vox Valvetronix, your now oboslete)

 

[Bro KV]

It's funny how you can come across a good trade and save all kinds of time and money.

I traded my ENGL PB for a Mark IV. Best thing I have done. Congrats.

 

[jaquetapus]

Very nice man! That's a sweet deal!

Kinda off topic, but how do you like that D-Sonic in that 7 string? [I've got the same guitar and don't like the stock pickups]

-dave

 

[edgecrusher]

I love the D-Sonic, it sounds perfect in the 7 string. It's got a nice balanced tone; it's beefy, yet very tight and crunchy, and has a great rhythm and solo tone. I've tried the Duncan JB-7, Bareknuckle Nailbomb, Dimarzio Blaze, and D-Activator in this guitar, and the DS-7 is my favorite.

Check out The Dark Eternal Night by Dream Theater to hear the DS7 in a basswood JP7 into Mark IV (if you haven't already)

 

[tonefreak25]

May be crappy pictures, but I'll bet it is a sweet tone!!!!! Congrats man, that is a nice looking rig.

 

[kmanick]

wow nice Score
I've actually been thinking about running my mark IV pre-amp into a 2:100 set on vintage to get a blended mark/recto tone
how are you liking that preamp?

 

[ryjan]

wow nice Score
I've actually been thinking about running my mark IV pre-amp into a 2:100 set on vintage to get a blended mark/recto tone
how are you liking that preamp?

Goddamnit! I never thought of doing that. Do you have any clips posted anywhere?

 

[edgecrusher]

The Studio Preamp is really nice, though my Mark III's preamp has just a bit more of an aggressive, cutting tone. The Studio Pre is supposed to be based on the IIC+, but then again, my red stripe Mark III is supposed to have the same preamp as the IIC+ also. The Studio has a slightly rounder, smoother tone. It's also a bit noisier than the Mark III; I can't turn the lead drive past 5 without alot of feedback, whereas on the III, I keep it at 7 and it's dead quiet. Otherwise, same basic Mark series tone.

The Recto 2:100 poweramp kicks all kinds of *** though! Slaving the Mark III into the Recto on modern mode adds a ton of low end thump, as well as adding just a hint of Recto sizzle. It really is the best of both worlds; Mark series tight crunch, with modern metal Recto balls. It's a very nice :mrgreen: It also makes my Tonelab LE sounds frickin awesome. I could gig with just the Tonelab and Recto poweramp and wouldn't want anything else.

It's really the modern switch on the Recto poweramp that makes the difference though, with it off, it sounds basically the same as the Mark's power section, maybe just a bit more headroom. There isn't really a vintage mode, just regular or modern.

 

[joe web]

very nice setup!
as you said, now you have best of both worlds. just had the same feeling as i tried my studio pre running into my dual recto and roadster powersection. and of course, the "modern" mode brings it to the next level.
it´s a very cool combination.