New recto user (2ch)

rwalby9 · Mar 1, 2009

Just bought my first recto, and its a Revision G 2 channel dual rec.

I play almost completely death metal/metalcore, and I know these things can be a real pain in the ass to dial in. I don't play leads, so it just needs to sound huge and cutting. I don't particularly care for boosted mids, and I don't mind lots of treble. If possible, settings so I can have a nice clean along with a nice rhythm high gain tone would be perfect.

I was wondering if some of you more experienced guys can give me some settings (boosted and unboosted, I have an OD) as a reference point so I don't have to spend the first 12 hours with the amp trying to dial it in.

Thanks!

Benraldo · Mar 2, 2009

Just put everything at noon, then tweak here and there to taste. Also, it's worth downloading the manual and reading through the tone control section a few times through. I like a TS style boost in front of mine, gain zeroed and level maxed. What cab are you running?

rwalby9 · Mar 3, 2009

I got the Recto Standard cabinet to go along with it.

I stole some settings from a friend and got it sounding pretty good. Not sure where to go from here though.

Benraldo · Mar 3, 2009

well what tones/ bands do you like? where do you want to go if you've got it sounding good to you?

rwalby9 · Mar 4, 2009

I really like the tone on the newest Gojira album. I loved the leads on the latest The Absence album as well. I guess something trebly but not overbearing? I like some high end sizzle and lower mids. I'm probably going to get an 808 style boost very soon.

The amp is gonna be used for rehearsals and eventually 100-250 people gigs. Possibly for recording a small EP down the line as well.

Shadetree_01 · Mar 4, 2009

I have a 1998 2ch and I can give you a couple hints and advise. If you are trying to do the clean thing you want to keep the power section in the Bold/Solid state rectifier settings. The tube rectifier will only add mids to the clean tone and cut some of the desperately lacking highs. Keep the gain as low as it can go to cancel any distortion. I run my volume almost at 12 oclock with a GE-7, HolyGrail+ and a CE-1 in the loop and that gives me a relatively lush clean sound. Also, be carefull with the bass knob. If you turn it completely off you are going to add mudd because the mids will be more pronounced. The EQ is very touchy and interactive. I like to keep the treble high like 2 or 3 oclock and the bass at 10 or 11 and the mids at about 830-10 depending on the guitar. Presence to taste but remember if the presence is cranked you might get some distortion with hot pickups. By the way, I personally feel that the recto sounds the best with medium gain/articulate pickups. There is so much gain on tap that a distortion pick up just muddies everything up.

For Metal rhythm try keeping the gain back as far as possible while still getting the cut you need. The "infamous" "Fizz" or "Sizzle" can wreck havoc on a tight rhythm tone. I like to keep mine well behind 2oclock but just try to taylor it to the room and the band. Less is definitely more when playing live and with a second guitarist. Too much gain(drugs) can turn your pummeling right fist into jello in the mix.

My "Metal" rhythm settings are as follows:
V-10 P-2:3 B-12:30 M-10:30 T-2:30 G-1:30
Orange channel cloned with the presence knob higher to compensate for the clean channels low presence.(Yeah they add in the first channels presence knob when in Orange mode.) Try these settings in both red and Orange modes. Modern just adds a massive amount of bass so you can choose which you like the best. Orange is sorta my "Down" "Isis" "High on Fire" "Every Time I Die" thing. Modern is Mettalica and Lamb of God Territory.

My "Metal" Lead Settings:
V-11 P-2 B-10 M-4 T-3 G-4
Red (Modern) channel with variac engaged(spongy) This seems to allow the bass to resonate without too much "Woof" This is a great setting for a Lespaul Neck pickup with the tone backed off alot and the gain and Mids dimed too. Very Smashing Pumpkins sounding. You might want a noise gate for this one.

Hope this helps. Just remember that rectos kind of have a sound all their own and fussing too much with the eq can have negative effects. Cutting any freq completely has a drastic effect on tone but not always in a good way. The amp will always have enough bass unless you use a strange speaker config or open back cab or something.

Have fun tweaking your new amp!!! They really are beasts in the form of electronics.