What preamps for the recto sound?

JT_Marshmallow · Jul 19, 2008

I sold my Dual Rectifier to get my Studio Pre and power amp and I am very happy since I'm mainly a lead player. However I do miss coming home from work and chugging some riffs on the ol' recto to get my bowels moving and to generally loosen up.

Do any other Mesa preamps besides the Triaxis and Recto Recording Pre have a mode that is supposed to sound like a rectifier head? I've never tried the V-Twin Rack or the Forumla Pre. Do either of those have that sound?

CoG · Jul 20, 2008

The Formula Pre doesn't. The V-Twin Rack is neat but doesn't go as heavy and chunky as a Recto can, but is still pretty heavy. If you've ever heard of Isis, a lot of their guitar sounds from 'Celestial' through to 'Absence Of Truth' are a combination of V-Twin preamps and various OD pedals. V-Twins are getting pretty expensive, though, probably more than they're worth.

disassembled · Jul 20, 2008

Maybe the v twin pedal for a cheapie alternative?

Honestly, the only thing that I've heard come to close to a Recto, without being a recto, is the Axe FX.

Greg

Tubes Rock! · Jul 20, 2008

Revalver Mk II or Mk III.. check it out, best recto sounding alternative.. Enjoy your Studio Pre...

this is why I have such a hard time selling gear to get gear.

CoG · Jul 20, 2008

disassembled said:
Maybe the v twin pedal for a cheapie alternative?

Honestly, the only thing that I've heard come to close to a Recto, without being a recto, is the Axe FX.

Greg

Honeymoons are so sweet! :wink:

Actually I just picked up a Palmer PGA-04 from a guy who bought an AxeFX... he was selling his Koch Twintone now, which made me go "whoa." You guys may be on to something...

The V-Twin pedals aren't cheap either--they're going for just less than half the price of a used Rec Pre these days (the latter of which I think is a bargain, the former not so much.) If you can get the $750-800 together for a Rec Pre it's easy enough to flip if you don't like it.. and the cleans and crunch sounds are really good both DI and live, too.

dmt · Jul 20, 2008

how about a recto pre?

JT_Marshmallow · Jul 20, 2008

Thanks for the input, fellas. You've convinced me to shy away from the Formula and V-Twin. Looks like I'll be thinking about getting a Triaxis since its only a little more money than the Recto Pre. I know that the Recto sound in the Triaxis isn't as dead-on as the Recto Pre, but it'll be good enough for me. (What I need to be "dead-on" is my lead sound, and that I got with my Studio Pre.) Plus if I get a Triaxis I'll have all those other sounds at my disposal.