New here - just got a 2 Chan Dual Rect - Black Face. YEAH!!!

[sikaudio_com]

G'day.
New here. Just got a 2 Chan Rect, Black Face. Serial #R-003970
I have been a Marshall man for many years, but I have to say, I have been converted!
6L6 Loaded Mesa's for me now!
Sorry if I have fully missed this somewhere...but about the Serial & dating.
Now, I have been hitting this forum and many others trying to work out what the
"Pre 500" are all about. they are the #R-0001 - R-0506 ...Correct?
From what I understand here, the serial is in sequence, chronologically.
So, since mine is a R-00.... serial, but with 4 digits after the 00.
I would have assumed it should have been written be R-3970 ... if they are in sequence
going by the R-0506 - being the 506th made??
Am I on the wrong track here?
I am really trying to find out if I have one of the real early 90's head, or what?

Cheers.

 

[domct203]

Congrats on your 'new' Recto, and Welcome to The Board.

You are correct to assume that you have the 3970th Recto made. The leading zeros are irrelevant.

If you want to know the exact month and year your amp was built, pull the chassis and look inside. It will be written in marker somewhere inside the chassis along with the final inspector's initials.

Dom

 

[screamingdaisy]

What he said.

The earliest Recto's don't have any extra 00s on their SN, but at some point in time Mesa added them. So... R-1000 + 1 = R-001001.

(Not sure exactly when they made the change... just using the above number as an example).

 

[fluff191]

(Not sure exactly when they made the change... just using the above number as an example).

Well if Silverwulf ever finishes his Recto guide we could probably know the answer to that :wink:

 

[YellowJacket]

(Not sure exactly when they made the change... just using the above number as an example).

Well if Silverwulf ever finishes his Recto guide we could probably know the answer to that :wink:

You mean he isn't done yet? I thought we were peer pressuring him to get some work done! :evil:

 

[boogieman60]

Welcome to the forum. There are some really great guys here, who know their stuff. Have fun with your recto...great amp.

 

[sikaudio_com]

Cheers for that Lads, much appreciated.
Yep, this does look like a saweet Board to be appart off... for sure.
Checked out the Chassis for the date (as suggested)... looks like mine is sweet 16 yo, made May/1994.

When I got it, it was loaded with JJ EL34's. I thought it sounded a little harsh & bity to me, a bit like one of
my hot rodded JCM Marshalls I had, with EL34's. So after checking out the manual & a few other sites, I see
Mesa & most suggest sticking with the 6L6. So I got myself a set of Svetlana Winged C 6L6
to load the Beauty up with. Looking forward to hearing this baby sing now!

 

[YellowJacket]

What are you running for a cab?

I find speaker cabs colour tone greatly and can help you get much closer to what you want as well. So if the tubes don't work out, maybe consider that as well.