RACKtifier doesn't have enough gain!

[phantomlord2oo]

Hi. I just bought a Dual RACKtifier. I had to get it repaired since some of the knobs were damaged during shipping. Then I changed all the tubes with stock Mesa tubes.

I just can't get enough gain with it, even with it cranked! Is that normal? I listen to John Petrucci and Metallica when they used the same amp and I can't get anywhere near the same crunch even with the gain maxed out. I've tweaked it for hours, different modes, different power settings and I can't figure it out! I even hooked up my THD Hot Plate and cranked it up to 10 and I couldn't get the sound I needed.

I've got my guitars loaded with EMGs and I use all Monster Cables and I just can't figure it out! I used to own a 3 channel Triple Recto and it sounded awsome, almost Pantera-ish. I could get the same tone out of a Dual Recto too.

Is there supposed to be THAT much gain difference between the 3 channel and 2 channel models?

+Mike+

 

[DAMAGED]

dude! check the 9V battery in your guitar :wink:

 

[ChrisRocksUSA]

dude! check the 9V battery in your guitar :wink:

haha

 

[ibanez4life SZ!]

It's still a rectifier. It should have the gain you want.

Are all your cables working properly?

Maybe the battery is getting low?

 

[jbird]

To think there might be some difference in gain between a two or three channel Rectifier is unwarranted! Your gear is not performing correct, or you need to access a manual for your Dual Racktifier!

 

[phantomlord2oo]

The batteries are fine. I tried it with a couple of guitars, most with EMGs and they got the same result. I've read the manual through several times. My gear is fine.

The only think I can think of is when I retubed the amp I used different rectifier tubes than what my Triple Recto had. The Triple Recto had the short recto tubes and I got the larger rectifier tubes for the RACKtifier. Would that warrent a loss of gain?

+Mike+

 

[ibanez4life SZ!]

No.....from what I hear, the larger rectifier tighten up the recto for the better.

Have you tried boosting it with an OD? How hard are you pushing the amp?

 

[4nkam]

sounds like something else is wrong with it. The caps might need changing.

MJ

 

[Dale B.]

sounds like something else is wrong with it. The caps might need changing.

MJ

Either that or the pots that were replaced were of the wrong value.

 

[Russ]

Try swapping those crap Mesa preamp tubes around. They might sound better in different positions. I tested a handful that were new and got sketchy results. Some barely tested new, others one side was good the other was marginal. For being carefully selected I don't think their selection QA is as good as GT. The GT tubes I have bought have tested better, stronger and more consistent.