Stupid Question: Inspiration for Vintage Mode?

[dlpasco]

I own two dual rectifiers and I feel idiotic asking this question, but can anyone tell me what the vintage sound is supposed to be, is influenced by, harkens back to, etc?

It sounds AWESOME, I just was wondering what it was based on.

-Daniel

 

[tele twister]

I think of that mode as something you can't really put your finger on.

It's more of a place in time, like a Fourth Dimension...

 

[ryjan]

Totally. It's part of string theory if I remember correctly.

 

[Blaklynx]

When I first bought my Rectoverb, I thought Vintage was based on some Marshall-type tone. How wrong was I. Vintage doesn't sound anything like vintage should. It's a great marketing word for the Recto amps.

Clean-Pushed sounds more vintage than Vintage does, especially when pushed with a good OD. Clean-Pushed is probably one of the most under-rated channels on Recto amps! Try different flavours of pedals in this mode and you'd probably use the other channels less and less.

 

[kyldh]

I loooove Vintage mode. I figured I'd use "Modern" 98% of the time, but I've found myself mostly using vintage mode the bulk of the time now. I feel like it's perfect for AC/DC type riffs... but I would agree that it's still not spot-on with anything actually vintage that I've heard. It still sounds too modern for me to love calling it vintage. It seems to me like "Low-gain modern" might be a more suitable name? I don't know really, but I still love it.

 

[ryjan]

I use Vintage mode for the later Metallica tones.
I use Modern mode for Metallica's older sound.
Go figure.

 

[Shemham]

I think the 'Vintage' simply refers to employing negative feedback in the power section as most of the amps did before Rectifier era. I don't think it refers to any particular amplifier other than that.

The preamp circuit derivates from Soldano SLO lead circuit, more apparent with the early 2ch revisions, and you could say that the vintage mode was Mesa's take on it.

 

[Chadd]

I loooove Vintage mode. I figured I'd use "Modern" 98% of the time, but I've found myself mostly using vintage mode the bulk of the time now. I feel like it's perfect for AC/DC type riffs... but I would agree that it's still not spot-on with anything actually vintage that I've heard. It still sounds too modern for me to love calling it vintage. It seems to me like "Low-gain modern" might be a more suitable name? I don't know really, but I still love it.

I actually prefer the "raw" mode for a lot of the low-moderate gain stuff. It just goes to show how versatile these amps really are.

 

[kyldh]

I actually prefer the "raw" mode for a lot of the low-moderate gain stuff. It just goes to show how versatile these amps really are.

Agreed! It's great to have so many high-quality choices in one amp.

 

[tele twister]

Okay, let me rephrase myself.
I think "Vintage" is referring to Mesa's sound from years gone by.
Why would they ever want their amp to sound like some other brand ?
It's a MESA, man !!!
I remember the word "inspiration" in my old digital modeling amp guide.

 

[knotts]

The preamp circuit derivates from Soldano SLO lead circuit, more apparent with the early 2ch revisions, and you could say that the vintage mode was Mesa's take on it.

I would agree with this. My lead guitar player has a Hot Rod 50 and my Roadster on CH3 vintage mode can sound pretty close on some leads that we do together. Our bass player says he can't tell which one of us is playing each part. I'm not sure if it's based on the circuit but it can definitely get similar tones.

 

[deeman]

I actually prefer the "raw" mode for a lot of the low-moderate gain stuff. It just goes to show how versatile these amps really are.

I also use the raw mode mostly for my rhythm guitar playing and vintage for my leads.

 

[kyldh]

Raw is awesome for blues guitar! Any time I get in the mood to play "dirty blues" I go straight to Raw.

 

[tele twister]

Well... Isn't that strange Mr. Shemham and Mr. knotts.
It seems Mr. Saldano derived his SLO circuits by modifying…what…MESA Mark IIs.
Hmmm.

 

[Shemham]

Well... Isn't that strange Mr. Shemham and Mr. knotts.
It seems Mr. Saldano derived his SLO circuits by modifying…what…MESA Mark IIs.
Hmmm.

If I'm not mistaken, it's actually closer to heavily modified Marshall JCM 800 as SLO was designed to nail the cranked Plexi tone, but without the head exploding volume.

But sure, most of the guitar amp designs have borrowed from some earlier products and ideas.

 

[tele twister]

dlpasco,
I think it would be safe to say "Vintage" mode is meant to take each of us back, in a different, personal way, to a memory of our life, along with the thoughts, feelings, ideas, and even the amps that we had, or heard, at that time in our past. HAIL MESA

 

[dlpasco]

dlpasco,
I think it would be safe to say "Vintage" mode is meant to take each of us back, in a different, personal way, to a memory of our life, along with the thoughts, feelings, ideas, and even the amps that we had, or heard, at that time in our past. HAIL MESA

HAIL MESA

 

[Hollis]

HAIL MESA

 

[bandit2013]

Hmmm, perhaps the Vintage voice is different in the Roadster... It does not take me back in time or anywhere in between. Maybe the RA100 does to some extent. But that is different. The vintage tone of the Roadster CH3 or CH4 and depending on what rectifier is used it seems similar in tone character as the Mark V (Mark I or Crunch) but not quite. I can hear the tone to some extent. So vintage what? Vintage Mesa or Vintage in general? For classic rock the RA100 fits well for the early 60's or prior, Roadster fills in quite well after that, all depends on what it is you are trying to achieve.

Raw and Vintage are really nice sounding voice selections. I do not think there is one feature on the Roadster I dislike (I can name a few on the Mark V but still, I can live with it.)

sorry for a stupid answer, but your question is not....

 

[KiwiJoe]

Even thought I've got a Mini Rec, I'll weigh in because supposedly the preamps are the same as the larger Rectos.

The major difference I hear when switching from Vintage to Modern (without doing anything else, obviously), besides the volume jump when switching to Modern, is that Vintage sounds more compressed, where Modern sounds a bit more "open" if that makes sense. This is especially true at jam/gig volume where I have the master @ 1-2 o'clock and the gain around 9-10 o'clock.

To me, Vintage is reminiscent of older Mark I/Mark II tones; think Santana. Vintage, at least on a Mini Rec, can get you into that territory.