My single rec doesn't sound good at high volumes?

[ElectricTurkey4369]

It's said to get the best sound out of a tube amp, you have to crank it. With my amp it sounds terrible! All the bottom end and tightness is lost, and its very brittle and thin. I'm confused on how that is considered 'good'. Any suggestions on how to fix this?

 

[Spewnz]

settings please.

 

[ElectricTurkey4369]

settings please.

(Clock Settings)

Presence: 11
Mid: 9
Bass: 3
Gain: 2:30ish
Treble: 2:30ish
Output:2
Master: I use this to go from low volumes to high volumes

 

[Spewnz]

bass seems pretty freaken high to me.. you said it loses bottom end...could be a tube or even a bad speaker problem....

 

[ElectricTurkey4369]

bass seems pretty freaken high to me.. you said it loses bottom end...could be a tube or even a bad speaker problem....

I just changed my tubes and my cab is a brand new Mesa 2x12

 

[cellardweller]

bass seems pretty freaken high to me.. ....

+1.
Also, try increasing the mids and decreasing the presence.

 

[Roadifier]

you should usually keep the master high because thats the preamps volume. when up high it sounds better than having it low. i usually have my master at 12:00-1:30 and output at 9:00. when i have it like that it sounds good once the output is up higher. never loses bass or tightness and you should keep the bass down around one since the recto has a lot of bass.

 

[dtrax]

It's said to get the best sound out of a tube amp, you have to crank it. With my amp it sounds terrible! All the bottom end and tightness is lost, and its very brittle and thin. I'm confused on how that is considered 'good'. Any suggestions on how to fix this?

Assuming your amp, tubes, speakers, etc. are all in good working order, I too had the same problem with my old Rectoverb. Once I got the volume up to band levels, the bottom end completely fell apart and the high end was harsh and brittle. I even went so far as to put the amp in the shop, twice in fact, and while there were some minor issues, the same "problem" existed in that it sounded terrible cranked.

The solution? Hmm... you could do what I did, and buy a Triple Rectifier. My TR is absolutely amazing when cranked up. I believe the problem and solution lies in the power section. 50W vs 150W buys you headroom, which is key for tight high gain. The thing is, there are many Single Rec owners that play in metal bands and have no problem that you and I experience, so take my advice with a grain of salt. Never the less, if you have the chance to A/B your amp with a Triple or even a Dual Recto take the opportunity. IMHO, 50W rectos weren't designed to be the metal/high gain monsters like the Duals/Triples.

 

[Heritage Softail]

Simple solution is to mic the amp with the tone you want. :wink: I would set the gain to where you want, the get the master on 10 o'clock, and use the output to get it loud. The bass set low, and letting the bass player cover that turf works best for guitar amps in general. Not anemic on lows, just not trying to cover the bass and guitar riff. Up loud you may find you can dial back the gain 15% or so from what you had it set at for lower volumes. As previously stated, more power gives more clean power headroom to amplify the preamp distortion signal, before driving the power amp in distortion. Triple Rec is obviously more power. But you also have to BLAST it to get a bit of power amp distortion. Double edged sword there.

IF you can, bringing your Single Rec to a music store, and doing an A/B/C with duals and triples thru the same cabinet will answer all your questions.

I have been wanting a new 4x12 for a while. In a few months I will bring my two main heads to a very accomodating music store and test 5 or 6 cabs. Seems to be the only way for me to separate internet hype from 'fact' as my ears percieve it.

Good luck with your tone quest.

 

[ElectricTurkey4369]

Simple solution is to mic the amp with the tone you want. :wink: I would set the gain to where you want, the get the master on 10 o'clock, and use the output to get it loud. The bass set low, and letting the bass player cover that turf works best for guitar amps in general. Not anemic on lows, just not trying to cover the bass and guitar riff. Up loud you may find you can dial back the gain 15% or so from what you had it set at for lower volumes. As previously stated, more power gives more clean power headroom to amplify the preamp distortion signal, before driving the power amp in distortion. Triple Rec is obviously more power. But you also have to BLAST it to get a bit of power amp distortion. Double edged sword there.

IF you can, bringing your Single Rec to a music store, and doing an A/B/C with duals and triples thru the same cabinet will answer all your questions.

I have been wanting a new 4x12 for a while. In a few months I will bring my two main heads to a very accomodating music store and test 5 or 6 cabs. Seems to be the only way
for me to separate internet hype from 'fact' as my ears percieve it.

Good luck with your tone quest.

Thanks for that very helpful answer. Nooby question here: what is A/B/C?

 

[TREC]

It means trying all 3 out at the same time, one after another through the same cab

 

[halfdriven]

have you tried ear plugs or getting as far away as possible, it might just be too loud for your ears.

 

[cheameup]

if you havent seen this thread check it


viewtopic.php?f=24&t=45030&start=0



there's a great long post in it about the order of setting up your eq. i got allot from it


But bass at 3 is huge . My bass is a 11.30 and its massive. at 3 my bass player may as well go home

 

[fluff191]

But bass at 3 is huge . My bass is a 11.30 and its massive. at 3 my bass player may as well go home

+1

Mine is around 10:00...

 

[crisis]

Wow, mine sounds better the louder I go. That said I have never needed to (or get to unfortunately) crank it up too much. Last jam the other guitarist told me to turn it up coz he couldn’t hear me over everything else and it immediately sounded better. Even live I am conscious of killing punters and I tend to start low. But when it’s up loud it really sings.

My settings are-
Presence: 9 - 10
Mid: 9
Bass: 9 - 10
Gain: 11- 11.30
Treble: 12 – 1.00

I find turning the output up and using the master to vary the volume works better.
I run through a Marshall quad with G12s. I have a PRS with Dragon IIs and an old Washburn A20 with SD Custom Customs, so two pretty different voiced guitars but they both sound best when the amp is working.

Keep playing with the tone controls though because a little adjustment makes a huge difference. Read the manual and start at the factory settings I rekon.

I think they are a great amp and you should get a good result. Good luck,

 

[Blaklynx]

settings please.

(Clock Settings)

Presence: 11
Mid: 9
Bass: 3
Gain: 2:30ish
Treble: 2:30ish
Output:2
Master: I use this to go from low volumes to high volumes

Wow! I have a Rectoverb and my windows shake. Plenty of bass, especially considering it's one 12in speaker..... bloody scares me.

Here's generic amp settings that I set it to after my little bloke 'plays' around with my amp and turns all dials up or down.....

Vintage mode
Gain 12.30~1.30
Treble 11.00
Mids 11.00
Bass12.30
Presence 9.00
Pushed with an OD pedal (output level almost at max, tone at midpoint, drive very low to zero)

This is just a quick setup. I also have other drive and eq pedals to get my tone but as a so called dry setup as shown above, there should be plenty of bass and low end.

Valves used:
1st pre: Sylvania 5751
rest of pre's are JJ's

JJ 6L6 power valves set at EL34 mode (yeah I know....... bias and so on......)

Maybe your valves are shot? Did you buy amp new, second hand? If second hand, probably best to change your valves if you don't know when they were last changed. Like a car, keep your amp tuned for best performance.

 

[ElectricTurkey4369]

Would and EQ of some sort, like the mxr 10 band, help with this?

 

[Blaklynx]

Would and EQ of some sort, like the mxr 10 band, help with this?

I don't see a point in using an external EQ to boost the lower frequencies if the amp is not running to spec or at least properly. Make sure the amp is right first.

It's like trying to boost an engine to it's original power output by using a fuel additive, when in reality it just needs a good service and tune.

You may have a dud tube in there, even though you say you changed them. You didn't say what you changed, though. What type of tubes/brands?

 

[ElectricTurkey4369]

I'm using JJ's from eurotubes. The KT77's with the high gain pre amp tubes.