Tightening up Single-Recto-Verb tone

[Blind Ambassador]

Some Mesa noob questions here. So last night I finally got to use my 50 watt Recto-verb combo at band practice. My drummer hits pretty dang hard so our practice sessions get really loud (earplugs!).

What I noticed from this amp is that at higher volumes with the gain slightly past 12 o'clock (channel 2, vintage mode), the tone starts to get really spongy and loose (sorry but thats the best way i could think to describe it).

The power section is loaded with Mesa 6L6's, I havent had a chance to to see what the preamp tubes its loaded with but they are prob Mesa's as well. Is there a tube type that anyone could recommend to tighten up the tone?

Also, this is an open back cab amp. Having only used closed backs, could the open back be contributing to the loose sound as well? Wondering if anyone has ever had any success in closing the back of the enclosure given the tight space in which to work with.

Thanks!

 

[volatileNoise]

Some Mesa noob questions here. So last night I finally got to use my 50 watt Recto-verb combo at band practice. My drummer hits pretty dang hard so our practice sessions get really loud (earplugs!).

What I noticed from this amp is that at higher volumes with the gain slightly past 12 o'clock (channel 2, vintage mode), the tone starts to get really spongy and loose (sorry but thats the best way i could think to describe it).

what are all your settings dialed in at?

 

[Blaklynx]

OK..... best thing I can suggest to you is to use the search function. There's a couple of very recent topics about this very thing. There's also a whole lot more topics on this. Don't reside yourself to only a 'Rectoverb' search..... Rectos in general.

I know I don't directly answer your question but believe me, you are far better off searching and researching this site. You will learn a lot more about your amp and rectos in general; how to tighten them up, how to get far better tones, how to use your amp, what to expect from your amp, how versatile it can be, etc,....... all from reading and learning.

I don't want to sound like a school teacher, however, the knowledge you will gain will make you appreciate your amp more, with it's capabilities and it's limitations.

Having said all that, here is some insight. Good post to read from pg 1: http://forum.grailtone.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=19660&start=45

Also, don't cover the amps back. It needs venting. It'll heat up = no good = $$ for possible repair.

 

[volatileNoise]

^ good advice but could quite simply have the settings all "up to no good" for loud playing.

I often wonder if these amps would be more pleasing for many players simply by swapping over to EL34 power tubes...

 

[Botch]

This thread might be a good place to start...

http://forum.grailtone.com/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=49186

I'm sure there'll be lots more detailed threads kicking about but this should get you started.

 

[ElectricTurkey4369]

I have a Single Recto head and struggled to get a tighter sound. Two things that made my amp tighter:
1. EL34's, what a difference! Alot more crunchier too.
2. MXR 10 band EQ. Ok this has to be the most important thing in my entire rig. Without it, my tone sucks! With The EQ I lower some of the bass frequencies which really takes away the boominess, and i SLIGHTLY cut down on some mids to take away the honk and snarl. This pedal is so sensitive, the slightest adjustment can change your sound, its ridiculous!

 

[volatileNoise]

Again not bad advice, but what are your settings at?

EQ pedal should be a last alternative, everything that you mentioned you are using it for can be found with the right combination of preamp EQ settings to suit your guitar, but may not be found with some guitars.

The big issue with a Mesa is people think too much mids, too much bass, but really the issue is finding the right combination by blending all the EQ pots, as they all affect each other. The combinations are endless if you can look at it as a whole, not just as one dial has only one effect on your tone, each dial effects virtually your entire preamp soundscope, and the secret is learning how they can balance out areas where you are not digging the sound, by actually really fine tuning the whole channel with very subtle tweaking.

I actually have put paint marks on my chassis of my settings after a year gigging/recording and finally settling on my sound, cause the slightest change in a bumped setting can quickly lose that tone.