Need help getting cleans out of Dual Rec (Rev G)

[adam79]

I just got my '94 2-ch Dual Rec (Rev G) in the mail yesterday. I now understand what people mean when they say these amps have horrible clean channels.. I can't even imagine what the previous revisions sound like.. however if it took Soundgarden a couple weeks to figure out these amps, then I'm not gonna give up on mine in a day.. There are so many switches in the back, I'm lost! Can anyone give me a little head start with some settings that will give me a good clean sound? The distortion is heavy, but a little lifeless. Any help with that channel would be appreciated as well.

Thanks,
-Adam

 

[Elpelotero]

The clean channel is greatly affected by the Gain. You need to find a balance between the gain and volume for the clean channel. Usually you think clean = no gain, but for this amp it's the opposite. Turn it up and use some volume until the threshold of when it breaks up.

For distortion, start with everything flat at 12 noon, then go from there.

 

[adam79]

The clean channel is greatly affected by the Gain. You need to find a balance between the gain and volume for the clean channel. Usually you think clean = no gain, but for this amp it's the opposite. Turn it up and use some volume until the threshold of when it breaks up.

For distortion, start with everything flat at 12 noon, then go from there.

What about the switches on the back? "Orange Channel Gain" and "Channel Cloning." I should probably download the owner's manual.

Thanks,
-Adam

 

[adam79]

Oh yeah, the other thing I wanted to post was the tubes in the amp. I just power section was re-tubed recently. To my surprise, the power tubes aren't Mesas, they're Sovtek 6L6WXTs. The pre-tubes are Mesas. Are these tubes a good fit for the Dual Recs? I've never read anything great about the Sovteks. Also, what is the tone difference between the 6L6s and EL34s? I'm assuming the EL34s add more compression, but I'm not sure if that's a good or bad thing with this amp.. Also, I don't know if i want to drop the $150-200 it will cost to buy 4 new EL34s and have them installed and biased.

Thanks,
-Adam

 

[droptrd]

As Elpelotero said, you need to use as much gain as you can tolerate. Otherwise the clean ch will be lifeless and very dry.

There is nothing wrong with the sovteks. I prefer other brands but not enough to pitch perfectly good tubes.

As far as running EL34's, Iv tried them in my rectos numerous times and honestly could hardly tell the difference. You dont have to get the amp biased for them. Just flip the bias switch over to "EL34". And make sure your tube supplier gives you tubes that are tested to run within mesa's bias range.

Oh yeah, the other thing I wanted to post was the tubes in the amp. I just power section was re-tubed recently. To my surprise, the power tubes aren't Mesas, they're Sovtek 6L6WXTs. The pre-tubes are Mesas. Are these tubes a good fit for the Dual Recs? I've never read anything great about the Sovteks. Also, what is the tone difference between the 6L6s and EL34s? I'm assuming the EL34s add more compression, but I'm not sure if that's a good or bad thing with this amp.. Also, I don't know if i want to drop the $150-200 it will cost to buy 4 new EL34s and have them installed and biased.

Thanks,
-Adam

 

[Elpelotero]

Read the manual first, and come back if you need more help.

 

[adam79]

I read the manual, and got a good understanding of the switches in back, and how to tinker with them. My biggest breakthrough for getting a really nice clean tone was to lower the volume on the guitar to around 5. I like the spongy channel a bit more than bold, but it's close. I can only get a proper clean sound is with the orange channel switch on clean rhythm. As for the distortion, I get a much better response from the clean channel. You can get a very heavy, buy organic tone. The dirty channel lacks that mojo, but I'm only two days into messing around with the amp. The one thing I haven't been able to accomplish is how to get the muddy lows I'm hearing on the low e, without having to sacrifice any bass, as the other strings work well with it. I went in with the intention of this amp only being suited for scooped mid type distortions, but I actually like the mids around 1-3 o'clock. More so to get a better clean sound. My Boss CE-5 Chorus/Ensemble pedal sounds great through it. The early, analog version of that pedal (the one with the hot pink back sticker) is the only one worth getting.. it's a subtle chorus that gets all it's sound from the analog warmth, which is completely lost with the newer digital models. I like this amp much more on day 2 than day 1. Still have alot to learn with so many settings.

 

[Jerrick]

Cleans from the Rev/G should be easily attainable, and clean.

Really, on these heads I found that with all settings at 12:00, it already sounds pretty good, and doesnt take much to get it exactly how you want.


My settings for clean are basically all at 12:00, and the mids are at 10:30 ish.

 

[adam79]

Cleans from the Rev/G should be easily attainable, and clean.

Really, on these heads I found that with all settings at 12:00, it already sounds pretty good, and doesnt take much to get it exactly how you want.


My settings for clean are basically all at 12:00, and the mids are at 10:30 ish.

Do you prefer Spongy or Bold? So far I like them both, definitely spongy for cleans.

 

[Jerrick]

Ive never actually played on spongy before. Ill have to try it once my amp is back from the shop. Ive just always had it on bold and liked how it sounded so never bothered to try something else.

 

[adam79]

Ive never actually played on spongy before. Ill have to try it once my amp is back from the shop. Ive just always had it on bold and liked how it sounded so never bothered to try something else.

According to the manual it acts like a Variac, lowering the plate voltage to around 400v, similar to the old Marshall JMPs. It's a bit more compressed.

 

[clutch71]

I read the manual, and got a good understanding of the switches in back...

Sounds like your getting closer. Orange on clean rhythmn is a good start. Keeping the gain lower and rolling the volume back on the guitar. The cleans w/ 6L6's may be better to your ears than EL-34's. A lot of guys prefer them for clean tones. Here's a clip of my old 98 Rev G 2 Channel on the clean channel with EL34's and a delay in the loop. I was just noodling comparing cleans with another amps. Ignore the my comments in the video, I'm not a fan of parallel loops.

http://www.youtube.com/user/dwq1971#p/a/u/2/B-3CBuTAxGo

Red to Modern or Vintage should have more than enough omph. The need volume to get to the sweet spot though. By nature rectos are a little looser and mid scooped. The muddiness of the low e could be that. Try an OD out front set as a clean boost. This tightens up a recto sllightly. So will EL's BTW. Two days isn't enough tweaking with this amp. Once you find it though, heaven.

 

[adam79]

Try an OD out front set as a clean boost. This tightens up a recto sllightly. So will EL's BTW. Two days isn't enough tweaking with this amp. Once you find it though, heaven.

You're right about the 2 days. At first all the switches were overwhelming, but after reading the manual, I'm starting to feel more in control. At first I hated the amp, now I love it. I think it's the one for me. As for pedals, I have a cool DOD clean boost that works great. This amp has the heaviest clean channel ever, no? I love using it for distortion. I still haven't been able to dail in a sparkling clean without lowering the guitar volume, but I'm sure I not far off.

-Adam

 

[Silverwulf]

I used EMG's live and have no problem getting "clean" clean sounds with a Rev G. I don't remember my exact settings, but I always run Diodes and Bold. I keep the mids lower, use a lot of high end on the dials. I'll check my settings this week when I'm at our practice spot and see what I use. It's not Fender, but it never will be. However, I actually like the cleans I get from the Rev G, even when I finger pick some parts. I'll check settings, maybe even make a quick video clip.

I use Sovtek 5881/6L6's in my Rectos. They're cheap ($54 for a matched quad), have a weak low end in them (in a good way IMO, which helps reduce the sub lows in the Recto), have a strong mid character, and roll off the high end some which I think works well with the upper mids of both the EMG's and V30's I use.

What kind of tones are you trying to get?

 

[adam79]

I use Sovtek 5881/6L6's in my Rectos. They're cheap ($54 for a matched quad), have a weak low end in them (in a good way IMO, which helps reduce the sub lows in the Recto), have a strong mid character, and roll off the high end some which I think works well with the upper mids of both the EMG's and V30's I use.

Mine came with newly installed Sovetek 6L6 WXTs. I playing it through a Marshall 1960a Cab w/ Celestion G12-65s.