My Recto sounds awful. Doesn't seem to have enough crunch.

[Adambomb]

My 3CH Dual Recto sounds awful. Doesn't have enough crunch. Can't hardly get harmonics to squeal out of it. I have changed the pre-amp and power amp tubes. When I turn the Output just a hair past half way it starts to really sound like poo. It just seem that this amp sound have more balls. I have had my Recto for about a year, and it's always been like this. I have changed tubes, took all the suggestions off this board about EQ and other tone settings, and I think it sound still sound way better than it does. The amp is a 2001 and I am starting to think maybe the power transformer is shot or something.

Any suggestions would be great. Thanks.

 

[Elpelotero]

Can you record a simple clip or video to demonstrate the tone you're getting?

 

[Bobby_E]

There should be no reason you shouldn't be able to get any pinch harmonics, especially if you are turning the treble and gain at about 2 o'clock, so I would have no idea what the problem is.

 

[iFreedom]

I've never owned a recto but have played thru a few and my opinion (again this is just my opinion) is that these amps just don't sing. You can pinch harmonic but it's no creamy lead pinch. You can crank the gain up all the way, but I find it to be very frizzly and flat with not much athourity IMHO. One thing that I did notice though is that they do better when they are cranked and run thru a 4x12, then you get this thunder feeling-but thunder isn't cream IMO.

Of course, there could just be something wrong with yours. This may sound silly, but try standing in different spots too-find that sweet spot.

 

[Adambomb]

There should be no reason you shouldn't be able to get any pinch harmonics, especially if you are turning the treble and gain at about 2 o'clock, so I would have no idea what the problem is.

I can get pinch harmonics but they are very dull and lifeless. I also have the treble around 1 o'clock and the gain around 2 o'clock.

 

[jdurso]

I'd say it's either:

A) Something is wrong somewhere in the amp. No way to tell though unless you take it to a Mesa tech. It's hard to diagnose "awful" and "dull and lifeless" without actually hearing it... which is not your fault, just a downside of a forum.

B) Its just not the amp for you. Have you tried any Recto's outside yours? Again awful and lifeless could just be you looking for a certain type of tone that a certain amp doesnt have. With pinch harmonics a lot go into it outside the amp... more has to do with your guitar and pickups, than necassarily the amp.

Have you tried an OD in front? Not to add more gain but to get a hotter signal. That hotter signal will make any pinch harmonic pop and will add in some mids the Recto lacks. So i think its worth a shot if you havent tried it yet... may be whats missing for you if you like the character of the amp but want a more lively tone.

As far as the crunch goes, in my experience the Recto has a ton and it sounds like you have tried a lot of different settings. So if your lacking it and you have replaced all the tubes i leads me to believe the issue might be something else. BUT just replacing the tubes doesnt necassarily means it would improve the tone... the RIGHT tubes however will make a huge difference.

Lastly like i said in B, it just may be the amp is not for you. I would say if your not up for trying some new "tricks", i would try a whole slew of amps until you find one thats fits you.

 

[Bobby_E]

Yeah, you could just be looking for something a little "hotter" than a recto (which I have no problem with lately getting some hot gain out of). I'd suggest either a Splawn Nitro, Mesa Stilletto or maybe a Rivera KTre Knucklhead.

But, don't give up on the Mesa if you haven't had it long. It took me a good 2 months to dial in the tone on my Mesa, and now I can't look back.