Rectoverb farty/flabby/muddy at high volumes

bubble_bobble · Nov 6, 2008

So I bought a used series 1 Rectoverb and the amp sounds good at lower volumes using any settings. When cranked past 9 or so on the master it just starts sounding really bad. The notes are indistinguishable especially when using the channel 2 distortions. Playing any chord using 2 or more strings produces a really flabby noise and the quality is just very bad.

Could the problem lie in the tubes? The speakers? I'm about to bring it over to Guitar Center to have it looked at but I'm hesitant to do that because they'll overcharge on everything.

Does this describe any problem anyone is aware of?

sixtonoize · Nov 6, 2008

How old are the tubes?

What kind of speakers are you using?

nitrous2400 · Nov 6, 2008

This might be stupid to mention but incase you haven't already tried doing so, try to play the amp dry, no effects at all just plug your guitar straight into the amp. (you dont know how many ppl magically forget theyre running a fuzz or pitch shifter, when they leave it on :lol: ) Check that your guitar has a new battery in it if it has active pickups. check that your cables are all in properly and that your runnin the right cables in all the right spots. check if theres a difference in tone between tube rectifier mode and silicone diode.

I'm hopin your serious about it being indistinguishable mud and that you checked every thing previosly mentioned, in that case there might be a major issue with your amp. microphonic tubes might be part of the cause, but id suggest bringing your amp into a serious technician. That means not bringing it to guitar center. Id suggest callin mesa boogie and gettin a real repair facilitys number and having a knowledgeable tech look at your amp instead of a n00b at GC.

If your exagerating then id have to say drop out all your bass, boost your mids, get a better cab and stay away from greenbacks :lol:

boogiemon · Nov 6, 2008

"sounds" like a bad speaker.

bubble_bobble said:
So I bought a used series 1 Rectoverb and the amp sounds good at lower volumes using any settings. When cranked past 9 or so on the master it just starts sounding really bad. The notes are indistinguishable especially when using the channel 2 distortions. Playing any chord using 2 or more strings produces a really flabby noise and the quality is just very bad.

Could the problem lie in the tubes? The speakers? I'm about to bring it over to Guitar Center to have it looked at but I'm hesitant to do that because they'll overcharge on everything.

Does this describe any problem anyone is aware of?

clutch71 · Nov 6, 2008

Are you talking clock face "9" or from 0-10 "9"? If it's the latter then yeah it's going to be muddy and sound like crap. When I had one I never took the volume or the master past 12 (clock face) and that was cat killing loud.

If your talking clock face 9 you should be just fine unless your bass and gain is cranked. Rectos live at noon on the dials IMO and I always set the volume and master evenly when cranked usually at 11 o'clock. Lower volumes I'd drive the volume and control the over all output with the master.

Check your settings first. Next review the manual and switch out your v-1 tube. If that doesn't do it, try your power tubes. I always retube a new used amp. If all that fails then it's the speaker. Remember you can never have too many tubes laying around.

BTW..,Your ROV doesn't have Tube rectifiers like the Dual. It's just silicone diode.

bubble_bobble · Nov 7, 2008

First, I appreciate the suggestions and all the reminders of the things needed to be taken into account. The tubes and speaker are stock, and fine according to the seller, for whatever his word is worth. The speaker is a black shadow, I have no active pickups, use no effects, just Stratocaster->RoV.

I think part of the problem is the tubes need to be warmed up. I left the amp on standby and in a warmer room for 12 hours, and it does seem to sound better. The clean channel sounds good with no defects even when cranked that I can hear. The distortion channel sounds killer with everything at noon. With the gain raised, the sound quality does begin to degrade, but that seems to be normal.

Bottom line is it doesn't sound like mud at high volumes as before, even with the gain and bass cranked. It appears that it was the cold room that didn't let the tubes warm up the way they should, even after playing on the amp for an hour or two.