New owner of a 2009 Dual Rectifier

[CHATTERBOX]

I'm not sure what caused the fuse to blow, but that happened to me as well when switching from bold to spongy. It only happened that one time (the first day I got my amp) but now everytime I am switching from bold to spongy or back I get a little scared it's gonna happen again.

My guess is that you don't do that on stage! LOL!
I've flpped it back and forth (probably half a dozen times in two hours) trying to blow the fuse. All is good!

 

[CHATTERBOX]

Don't switch between bold/spongy while the amp is on. Same goes for tube/solid state rectifier. From what I understand it causes power spikes.

I usually pick mine up at Radio Shack... although I think it's called the Source or something like that now. They usually have a couple racks of small electronics parts in the back corner.

I got curious and called Mesa. They said all the switches (with the exception of the Bias switch of course) are meant to be played with while the amp is in operating conditions.

The vacuum tube and silicone switching? Is this another tone option like the bold/spongy or is there different rectifier tubes required for the silicone application? What will this do to the tone? I wanted to switch it over to silicone to try it out when I was buying the amp and the owner said I wasn't supposed to do that. However, he also didn't know you could use the output level control as a overall master volume either...same dumbass that lost the footswitch cable which I had to order! :evil: That's another story, LOL!
Thanks for all you help, guys!

 

[screamingdaisy]

The vacuum tube and silicone switching? Is this another tone option like the bold/spongy or is there different rectifier tubes required for the silicone application? What will this do to the tone? I wanted to switch it over to silicone to try it out when I was buying the amp and the owner said I wasn't supposed to do that. However, he also didn't know you could use the output level control as a overall master volume either...same dumbass that lost the footswitch cable which I had to order! :evil: That's another story, LOL!
Thanks for all you help, guys!

It's Vacuum Tube rectifier vs Silicone Diode rectifier... it's the dual rectifiers the amp is named after.

Tube rectification gives a darker, saggier response due to the tubes not being able to provide full current immediately after you hit a note.

Diode gives a slightly brighter, more aggressive response since the amp is receiving full power.

A lot of dudes like using the tube rectifier with vintage high gain and the solid state rectifier with modern. Myself, tended to use the tube rectifier unless I was playing really loud.

 

[CHATTERBOX]

The vacuum tube and silicone switching? Is this another tone option like the bold/spongy or is there different rectifier tubes required for the silicone application? What will this do to the tone? I wanted to switch it over to silicone to try it out when I was buying the amp and the owner said I wasn't supposed to do that. However, he also didn't know you could use the output level control as a overall master volume either...same dumbass that lost the footswitch cable which I had to order! :evil: That's another story, LOL!
Thanks for all you help, guys!

It's Vacuum Tube rectifier vs Silicone Diode rectifier... it's the dual rectifiers the amp is named after.

Tube rectification gives a darker, saggier response due to the tubes not being able to provide full current immediately after you hit a note.

Diode gives a slightly brighter, more aggressive response since the amp is receiving full power.

A lot of dudes like using the tube rectifier with vintage high gain and the solid state rectifier with modern. Myself, tended to use the tube rectifier unless I was playing really loud.

So i can switch from one setting to the other with the same rectifier tubes that are in it (5U4GB). I don't have to get a specific type of rectifier tubes for the silicone diode setting. Sorry for the dumb questions. I just rather be safe than sorry.

 

[screamingdaisy]

So i can switch from one setting to the other with the same rectifier tubes that are in it (5U4GB). I don't have to get a specific type of rectifier tubes for the silicone diode setting. Sorry for the dumb questions. I just rather be safe than sorry.

No, you don't need to change the tube type when using the silicone diode rectifier. The diode rectifier is built in, and you'll be using it instead of the tube rectifier.

 

[CHATTERBOX]

So i can switch from one setting to the other with the same rectifier tubes that are in it (5U4GB). I don't have to get a specific type of rectifier tubes for the silicone diode setting. Sorry for the dumb questions. I just rather be safe than sorry.

No, you don't need to change the tube type when using the silicone diode rectifier. The diode rectifier is built in, and you'll be using it instead of the tube rectifier.

Educated for the today. Cheerz, ScreamingDaisy! Time to rock the diode.......

 

[screamingdaisy]

Cool.

Out of curiosity, are you in the military... or do you just happen to live in Trenton?

 

[CHATTERBOX]

Cool.

Out of curiosity, are you in the military... or do you just happen to live in Trenton?

LOL! No, I'm not military but my lead guitarist is a Master Corporal on the airbase. Our band "Chatterbox" played at the Officer's Mess on New Year's Eve for the second year in a row for all the decorated officers and their spouses. They're almost as crazy as cops are when they let their hair down!