Solo 50 Rectifier. Version 2 or not?

[WhenIWake]

Is there an obvious way to tell if you have a version 2 head or not? I am new to Mesa Boogie...

Thanks

 

[soothsayer]

If there is the raw mode on channel one its version 2. The 2nd version also has the switch for EL-34 tubes and the footswitch jack will be on the back of the head.

 

[WhenIWake]

Ok thank you. Looks like I purchased v1. Is there a tone difference? When did production stop on v1?

 

[GuitarGuy503]

Having owned a Series 1 Solo 50 Head and a Series 1 Rect-O-Verb Head I will say that the cleans were flatout awful (harsh, ice picky, and in your face). Having said that, I recently played a Series 2 Rectoverb Combo and was thoroughly impressed with the improvement of the clean channel as the harshness was gone and the tone was much smoother (much more useable overall). I couldn't tell you if there is any difference in regards to the lead channels but can tell you in confidence that there is definately a night and day difference in the clean channels when comparing the Series 1s and Series 2s.

 

[GuitarGuy503]

I'm quite certain that the Series 1s were discontinued in 2000.

 

[WhenIWake]

Thanks for that info, good stuff

 

[VanWreckto]

...and the Raw mode is actually on channel 2 of the Series II model, not channel 1.
Series II also has no channel switching lag and more gain on tap on channel 2 compared to Series I.

 

[WhenIWake]

I forgot to mention I purchased the Solo 50. I'm not sure if this is the same one they still produce or not.....I don't think they still make the Solo right?

 

[domct203]

Generaly speaking, the Single Recto comes in two flavors, the Solo & the Rect-O-Verb. The Dual Recto has the most variety, with the Solo, Roadster, Road King & (discontinued) Trem-O-Verb. The Triple Recto comes as a Solo only.

Some time in 2010 Mesa dropped the "Solo" from the name.

Dom