Recto Preamp...worth it?

[SonicProvocateur]

So, I'm out and about today and find a used Recto pre for $750.

I'm usually not a recto guy, but I used to own a dual and figured it might do well to experiment with a wet/dry/wet or A/B with my Mark...

Is this a decent price to hop on?

I'll be slaving it to my Mosvalve MV-962 so it will be sounding slightly dry and beefy as hell. I predict very crisp metal tone.

I've never used a Recto pre before, how to the SOUND?

 

[screamingdaisy]

For a couple dollars more you could buy a used Recto head...

I had a Recto Pre into a 2:100 power amp for awhile. It sounded like a really good Recto, although pretty limited in terms of features compared to the head version.

Also, be advised that you won't be able to do the 'Modern High Gain' thing with a vintage power amp (ie, slaving into a Mark III)... so you're basically stuck with a preamp who's clean channel isn't as good as the clean on your Mark III (IMO) and a high gain channel that is more or less limited to raw and vintage modes.

 

[SonicProvocateur]

Good points...for that cash too I could probably find a Triaxis too...but of course I'd also be switching to MIDI...which I am not so fond of...

Thanks screamingdaisy, good points...I think I'll let this one slide for now. Maybe i'll pass it over to my bandmate.

 

[mightywarlock]

I had one.

Sold it pretty quickly.
sounded ok with 2:100
liked it better with 2:90
didn't like it compared to my head.
didn't like the recorded tones. beefy.

Cleans recorded amazing!!

 

[again with this]

I second what the others said. I am running Recto pre into 2:100 and I have played side by side with several Dual and Triple Recto heads and the Pre+2:100 combo sounds really good like an older two channel head.

As a recording tool, cleans are where this piece shines. I have not managed to get good results direct for high gain tones.

Two big features I wish it did. 1) able to use solo boost in Modern mode and 2) Channel cloning, like the heads.

$750 is a decent price, IMO.