Rect Pre and 20/20

[AndyK7XL]

Hey yall-

Figured it was about time I posted something. I was finally able to get my first Mesa amp. I picked up a Recto Pre and a chrome 20/20 w/ an Avatar 2x12. I have a question: How rare are the chrome faced 20/20's? Also if anybody has some tricks/tips on how to dial this stuff in send it my way.

 

[Nocki]

The 20/20 chrome was one of the fisrt 20/20's to go with the v-twin rack version i guess.

the sound a little different then the black older versions. I tested one and regret not buying it on the spot. nice amps! good luck with it!

 

[AndyK7XL]

Nocki- Thanks for they info. Didn't know they sounded different than the black ones. Was looking for one and found a chrome one on ebay. Figured it would look good in the rack. :lol:

 

[PUBH]

Are you new to Mesa?

If so... prepare for a world of patience in finding your tone!

For about the first 2 months I had my Recto Pre, I was changing my settings about every day. Eventually though, you just start finding these points where the settings are working for you. You'll find them too, but with time. Someone with more experience with a Mesa could probably better help you in getting near a desired sound that I (IE, I'm looking for a sound similar to blah uses on the blah-blah album, etc). So just let people know what you're going for and they can guide you near it. But I'm still tweaking my settings about every other week (seems perfect now, but in a week it justs seems a little off, lol).

Also some just FYI... the MODERN mode isn't going to sound like the actual Dual Rectifier on modern if you're running it into a 20/20. It's basically "missing" the circuitry that makes that mode unique in the power section; to get the complete sound you would need a 2:100 power amp, because it features the circuitry to make it match the real-deal Dual Rectifier. But, this is only in note of the live-outs in the recto pre. If you run the Recto Pre on the recording-outs for recording though, the modern mode will sound pretty much like the real-deal.

I'm running mine mainly for recording and practice (since I can play it through my surround sound system). I'd have it through a cabinet and poweramp for practice and crap, but unfortunately the 2:100 isn't cheap.

Maybe for some reference... my settings on the recto pre (doing recording-out) is:

• Settings for 2nd channel on Recto Pre:
  
  Mode: MODERN
  
  Gain: ~3:00 (I'm running low-output pickups though, ~200ma; you'll want to pull the gain more towards 12:00 if you're running higher gain pickups)
  
  Treble: ~1:00
  
  Mids: ~10:00
  
  Bass: ~12:30 (meaning between 12:00 and 1:00)
  
  Presence: 0 (turned all the way down; I don't have experience in live-outs, but for recording, it just seems to me that turning up the presence is like turning up a "fuzz" control, or at least it isn't bringing me towards a sound I'm looking for)
  
  Master Volume: ~10:30
  
  Preamp Voicing: WARM RECORD
  
  Recording Output (volume): ~2:00
  
  If you're running just recording, the manual suggests turning the LIVE OUTPUT and SOLO to zero.

The Recto Pre also outputs at professional line level (+4dBu)... meaning you will not be able to record nice samples with the recto unless your sound card/mixing board/etc can handle professional line level as an input. I had a problem with this when I first got mine. Thing sounded like crap and I was puzzled. After some searching I learned that my sound card was normal 'consumer level' (-10dBv), and the recto was +4dBu. After getting a new sound card (Echo Mia Midi) and setting it to +4dBu input, it sounded GREAT.

However, I recently just added a compressor to my rack (which now consists of a total of the Recto Pre and Alesis 3630, lol; it's slowly growing). I really like the sound I am getting with the compressor working after the recto pre.

Really lost track of your question/comment so I'll end it here, lol... if you got any questions about the Recto Pre, just ask. I'll answer them as best I can.

 

[PUBH]

I just remember I took a picture of it all earlier today to show a friend what the compressor looked like, and it has my current settings fairly viewable.

Not sure how much of help it'll be, but it can't hurt. I added green-dots in an image editor over the dots on the dials because they were a little too difficult to see before.

 

[AndyK7XL]

Thanks for help. Yes, this is my first Mesa. I am loving it. The sound I am looking for is sort of a cross between current-KoRn and ToT-Petrucci. I am now getting close to the sound I want.

I plan on getting a 2:100 in a little while. I realize I won't get the exact Dual Rec sound through the line out but that is okay. I will probably be getting one in the summer.

Slowly building my rack too. :twisted:

 

[PUBH]

Yeah, I've been loving mine ever since I got! I can't stand playing any other amp now, I've been spoiled lol

I love Korn, and have been trying for their sound for awhile. With my current settings and compressor I feel I'm pretty much there (IE, optimal for playing newer stuff and older stuff by simply switching between neck and bridge pickup). Someone on here posted a nice Petrucci tone awhile back, search around for it, it was pretty spot-on.

And good luck getting near Korn's new sound (obviously you can get close though). Though Munky still uses the Triple Rec/Road King for live shows, he went a little unique in recording the new album. As he states in an interview with this magazine, he split his signal to 4 different amps (Mesa Boogie Triple Rectifer, Diezel VH4, some Bogner, and a Matchless head [?]) and recorded all of them, then mixed them around and such for the album (states he didn't use distortion pedals for anything).

And good luck with building your rack too! It's takes too much time and money lol :lol: