where should the gain knob on my Recto be for playing metal

[stephen sawall]

Use your guitar also when you check out a other one. The problem could very easy be something other than the amp.

 

[bermuda_]

well I did discover something new, when I was playing my amp, I discovered that If I crank the volume on the amp up, with the presence all the way down on the amp, the amp sounds very scooped and the gain sounds very grainy, but if I I set the presence on the amp to about 12 o'clock with the volume at the same level, the amp sounds less scooped, and the gain begins to open up on the amp.

Any suggestions guys,why this happens, also Is it normal to have the presence on a Recto turned up this high, even if you happen to play metal music.

Also guys, if look at the video, down below, I think you'll understand why I choose to buy this amp :mrgreen:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLb7sj8ErS0

 

[KH Guitar Freak]

Considering that the amp uses a cascading gain circuitry, perhaps one or more of your preamp valves aren't working too well???

 

[bermuda_]

Oh I see, but just one question which preamp tubes help function channel 3 on the amp?

 

[ibanezrocker720]

I did a little testing if anyone is interested. I normally use a Schecter Hollywood Classic with Duncan Custom Custom in the bridge and '59 in the neck and play through the Maxon OD808 into a 3 Channel Dual Rectifier which gives a great tone for Metal IMO. The sound I get is a Killswitch/Sevendust kind of tone with the Gain set around 1:00 which is more than enough for newer Metal in my opinion without sounding grainy and loose but I wanted to experiment with my friends ESP Mh-1000 which has active EMG 81/85's in it. He plugged into my amp with the Maxon and all my setting exactly the same as I use and his tone was tight and heavy sounding as mine usually is...BUT..we took the Maxon out of the chain and the sound was EXACTLY the same with the active pickups in his ESP without the pedal. I plugged my Schecter back in with out the Maxon and it didn't sound nearly as good as his did without the pedal. I'm sure this has probably been covered somewhere but I was suprised to find this out. Maybe this will help?

 

[rjf]

Bermuda,

One thing is, if it just doesn't seem to have the gain that it should, then I have an idea on what it could be.

On my old Dual 3 channel I all of a sudden lost a ton of gain on channel 2 and 3. Everything functioned properly on the amp, except for the lack of gain. Turned out to be a relay or resister, transister, dumaflotch (can't remember it's exact name).... What it did was control any pop or volume change when switching from 2 to 3 and back. That is what caused my lack in gain.

 

[bermuda_]

Well, unfortunately I don't know man what could be wrong with my amp, but I'll post a clip anyway. but having said that it just doesn't make sense why I have to set the presence knob on the amp as high as 12 o'clock, just to remove some of the mud from the amp?

 

[94Tremoverb]

Because with some combinations of other settings you will have to, especially if you're playing at low volumes.

*IGNORE WHERE YOU THINK THE KNOBS SHOULD BE SET AND JUST LISTEN TO THE SOUND*

The reason the knobs have the full ranges they do is because it's necessary to get all the sounds you might want in all the modes. The useful ranges are *DIFFERENT* depending on which mode you're in, and often depending on what volume you're playing at. The controls are interactive. Depending on the rest of them, sometimes they have a useful range between 0 and 11 o'clock, sometimes between 10 o'clock and 3 o'clock, sometimes between 2 o'clock and full up. (Or other combinations.)

Sorry for shouting but most of us have said the same thing in as many ways as we can think of and you're just not listening.

Either there is something wrong with your guitar or amp (which I'm actually not convinced of, since most of the things you're describing should normally occur) or you need to stop thinking of this as a solid state/modeling amp where everything is pre-programmed for you, and learn how to dial it in.

 

[mrd]

Dialing a Mesa up is almost an art in itself, don't expect instant gratification. Play your **** guitar and use your ears, who cares what the fuckin' knobs say. Also, read the manual. 10 times. Everything that has been said in here is in the manual. I re-read all my amp manuals every few months and I always end up picking up a new trick. It's a good idea to read them as you're playing so you can try their suggestions on the fly, rather than trying to remember 50 different things to try later.

 

[Sixstringpsycho]

I have played my DC5 for nearly 10 years. It's been my only amp for that time as well. I still read the manual from time to time because it helps to know what the nobs do, especially in relation to eachother. Treble adds gain, mesas are typically bass heavy and mud up fast. Who cares what your presence is set at. Just turn the knobs until you get the sound you want. People hear me play and compliment my tone all the time. Then when they see my bass knob is on 1 they can't believe how deep my bottom end is. Read your manual and learn your amp

 

[stephen sawall]

http://www.mesaboogie.com/manuals/user_manuals.htm

 

[bermuda_]

Right, so if I was to turn the volume up higher on the amp, I wouldn't have to turn the presence up as much, but if I was to play the amp at lower volumes, I would need to turn the presence up higher on the amp, also according to the Mesa Dual Recto manual, when it comes to the presence control, here's what they have to say about it Above 12:00 it starts adding cut and tightness in all channels. So I presume this would also help in removing some of the unwanted mud that's coming the amp too.

 

[Sixstringpsycho]

Right, so if I was to turn the volume up higher on the amp, I wouldn't have to turn the presence up as much, but if I was to play the amp at lower volumes, I would need to turn the presence up higher on the amp, also according to the Mesa Dual Recto manual, when it comes to the presence control, here's what they have to say about it Above 12:00 it starts adding cut and tightness in all channels. So I presume this would also help in removing some of the unwanted mud that's coming the amp too.

Bingo. The amp will be muddier at lower volume and presence settings. Also don't be afraid to up a little bit of mids into the settings as well.

 

[Heritage Softail]

I just gave in a bought a used Single REC 50. God this amp is awesome!!! I have a MKV, and it is also a great head, but a differently voiced amp. I can't imagine a properly working REC that does not have enough gain :?: . I understand p-ups and effects can add flavor, but the amp kicks a@@. Seriously. Really. My JP6, using the bridge pickup, it dishes an absolutely evil "For Whom The Bell Tolls" jam.

If your REC is not pumping serious metal, something is broken in the mix; player expectations, guitar, amp, or interconnections. If the amp is broke, you won't get as much selling it. May as well get it fixed/checked so you can play it and get the massive sound it can deliver, or sell it for somthing else.

 

[Silverwulf]

How much gain are you looking for? Pardon the poor quality clip, but this is a Recto with the Gain on 12 Noon, Mids at 12 Noon, and my Presence up around 1:00...

http://soundclick.com/share?songid=8468735

 

[bermuda_]

That a lovely amount of gain you have there man, if my amp sounded like that I would happy man, but just out of interest, where is your master and treble set to on the amp?

Also, this clip should give you an idea, of the much of gain I expect my Recto to have.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpfPpxjEhb8

 

[Silverwulf]

It's been a while, but going from memory...Volume around 10 o'clock (loop and output bypassed) and Treble around 11 o'clock.

 

[YellowJacket]

Also, this clip should give you an idea, of the much of gain I expect my Recto to have.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpfPpxjEhb8

This clip should give you an idea of how to coax that sort of a sound out of your recto.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=102mdX-UEzI

Playing technique IS important. I am a firm believer that you should be able to play several styles with one tone dialed in, even if none is really optimum.

 

[bermuda_]

Thanks for confirming your amp setting to me man.

And as for the techneque that Devin show's you his demonstration, I'm already aware of using this techneque to great a more heavy type, and by using the this method I have found it does help to a certain extent, I'e it gives alot more thump to my sound, But having said that its still doesn't help in the gain department side of things, but If you listen to the song at the start o the demo, or even the part where Devin first palm mutes the with a some gain to his attack. that's the type of gain I want from my Recto, is it possible to achieve this amount of gain from my amp?

Also check out this clip of this guys demonstating the sound of the Recto, I you look at at the part of the video where he is playing the channel 3 modern mode, you will notice that there's a nice amount of gain to the attack, and the amp doesn't sound like a blanket has been put over the amp, like mine does when I turn the amp up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=It_k4uDnetU

 

[Hendog]

I was just wondering when it comes to playing metal music, where should the gain knob on the amp be set to, also keep in I'm not using an overdrive pedal to boost the amp, the reason for this is I don't like boosting my amps with overdrive pedals, simply because I feel it takes away the natural tone of the amp.

Thanks guys.

You are wasting your time asking this. You will get bits and pieces of info on this forum, but I can tell by your posts that what you really need to do is sit down and read the manual front to back. For instance, you need to understand the way the bass, treble, and gain knobs work together to create the gain structure.