Triple Rec Saturation...

[Seth_Guitarist]

Having a hard time getting my 2 channel triple rec to really saturate like I want it to. I'm starting to wonder if I should have got a dual instead... I feel like it's lacking the smooth, compressed, growel that everyone else's has. I've been in front of Mark Tremonti's rig and that's what I feel a triple rec should sound like. I run 2 boogie 4x12 recto standard cabs. Help please... Any advice appreciated. Thanks!

 

[nitrous2400]

i run a bbe maximizer and dbx 231 eq in my loop...
that and the tubescreamer really help to get the gain up while still keeping it warm

if that doesnt help you its either you settings or your tubes :lol:

 

[jesus_likes_tool]

I had the same problem with my 2 channel Dual Rectifier.

I solved it by getting a Maxon OD808 overdrive pedal and using it as a boost. This pedal in particular is very transparent so it does not color your sound - it just essentially boosts the signal. If you want the true character of your amp to still be there, transparency is a good thing. I got mine used for $75 and now the amp sounds like I wanted it to all along.

Don't feel bad about having to stick an overdrive pedal in front of the amp. Technically, all the pedal is doing is boosting your guitar's signal so it hits the amp harder. This is the tried and true way to get any tube amp to sound more warm and saturated. I always thought "shouldn't this fucking thing sound good without any pedals"? Well, even the greatest amps ever made such as the original Marshall plexi's and jcm800's required an overdrive/boost pedal to saturate them.

 

[CJG]

I'd say the OD808 colors the sound quiet a bit. Even with gain at 0 and tone way below noon it enhances mid-range in a great way. Works very well especially on Rectifiers! 8)
CJ Grimmark

 

[Seth_Guitarist]

Yea I'm one that wants the amp to sound like that without using an external device, but if it can't be done... Oh well. I don't understand it, it's been bugging me for awhile, it doesn't sound bad, just not quite saturating. I'm going for a Tremonti/Petrucci tone..

 

[Elpelotero]

have you tried his settings from the youtube video?

 

[jdurso]

have you tried an eq pedal either in front of the amp (as a clean boost) or in the loop as a post eq? I've found much success doing that with my roadster

 

[Seth_Guitarist]

Yea my settings are pretty close to his. Master-10 o'clock Presence-9 or 10 o'clock Bass-2 o'clock Mid-10 o'clock Treble-1 or 2 o'clock Gain-2 or 3 o'clock.

 

[mikey383]

How about pulling tubes? I don't know if it can be done on a triple, but on a dual, that will get you into power amp saturation easier, since there are less tubes to go through. It will play hell with your clean headroom though.

 

[clutch71]

Yea my settings are pretty close to his. Master-10 o'clock Presence-9 or 10 o'clock Bass-2 o'clock Mid-10 o'clock Treble-1 or 2 o'clock Gain-2 or 3 o'clock.

Is your loop on? If so turn it off. 10 on the master seems a little suspect to me. "Bedroom" level on my dual was 9. 10 was "louder" but I didn't hit true saturation until around 12 and my gain was at 1.

Can't pull tubes in a Triple.

 

[NoGlassNoClass]

...eq pedal either in front of the amp...

+1 I'm using an MXR 10-band as a boost and it works wonders! (3-ch Triple, same cabs)

 

[Seth_Guitarist]

Yea I do run the loop because I run a delay through it, and they sound like crap through the front of the amp on dirty stuff. And I talked to the Boogie factory and the Hollywood store, they told me it would be fine to pull 2 tubes, they said it's not a perfect mismatch but it would be ok.

 

[Rocky]

If you want a pedal to push a rec (or any amp) without coloring the signal get an Xotic RC Booster.

 

[Seth_Guitarist]

I'm curious to know if anyone has had something like this happen... After your amp is on for awhile has it ever felt or sounded like it lost some guts or a little gain??

 

[domct203]

I'm curious to know if anyone has had something like this happen... After your amp is on for awhile has it ever felt or sounded like it lost some guts or a little gain??

This could be a power issue. Are you using any kind of Power Conditioner?
Try a different outlet that is on a different circuit.

Also, what's in V1? That's the input stage driver and quirks in that tube will only be amplified by the next 4 gain stages.

The Triple is a loud amp, real loud in it's sweet spot IMO.

FWIW- This is not to discourage you, but I thought I should share. I owned a Triple for 5 years. Once the honeymoon was over I constantly fought with that amp to find a good clean or lead tone. Speakers, Tubes, Pedals, Cables, P'ups etc. wasted playing time and cash. Don't get me wrong, the amp's rhythm tones were to die for, and I could get a usable lead tone, but I just never could nail that lead tone I heard in my head. I tried a few other amps, some giving me a great lead tone, but I just could not do without that Recto chug and growl.

The Roadster however is delivering my tones effortlessly, and did so right out of the box. It's almost a year now and I'm still surprised at some of the great tones I find in the amp, especially clean and lead tones. Go figure....... The Roadster is still a Recto :!: , but the experience with the Triple (and others) educated me with tube amps and the differences between brands.

Moral of the story? Give the amp some time. Fiddle with the EQ, gain and masters. Get to know it. Educate yourself on how the different controls effect each other. Do not dump alot of cash into it, chocolate frosting will not make a fishstick taste like a birthday cake. Definatly try a TS-9 out front for a boost, and use good cables. If you deceide that the Triple's not for you, do it with a rational decision.

Good luck

Dom

 

[domct203]

Sorry, double post.....

Dom

 

[Chris McKinley]

Seth_Guitarist,

A lot of the smooth, compressed growl that you're talking about is likely on the recorded, not live, sound of the Triple Recto. Recording mics such as the Shure SM-57 (the most commonly used recording mic in the world for guitar) tend to squash down some of the sometimes shrill fizz of the Recto's live sound. Another factor is that almost all recorded guitar is going to have moderate to serious amounts of additional compression added either in recording or in the mix. This alone can provide a huge difference between a live Recto's sound and a recorded one.

Additionally, you haven't yet mentioned how you have your TR's power section set up. If you're running Bold instead of Spongy, there is an enormous reduction in the amount of natural tube compression you will experience due to the Bold's increased headroom. If you are running Silicon Diodes instead of tube rectification, well, you can pretty much kiss the smooth compression goodbye.

Also, I noticed that you mentioned both Mark Tremonti and John Petrucci as examples of tones you'd like to have. Both guys' tones are great, but they are really quite different from one another. Which tone are you actually after?

 

[clutch71]

I agree with DOM. I think all to often we fall in love with an amp and sink money into it trying to make it into something it's not. Trying an amp n a store never prepares you for the long run.

chocolate frosting will not make a fishstick taste like a birthday cake

That's the best quote I've heard in a long time!

 

[Seth_Guitarist]

Yea i actually do run Bold, and Diodes. As far as the tone I'm after, I would like to have Tremontis rhythms, Petruccis leads. I know that's hard to accomplish with one amp. The thing that really bugs me is that I've stood in front of Tremontis rig about 5 or 6 times and we've had talks about it and his triple rec sounds ENORMOUS! Thats what I keep hearing in my head..

 

[Seth_Guitarist]

Oh yeah and to answer a question that was asked I do plug it into a power conditioner.