hey guys this is my first post here at guitargeek. I've been visiting the forums for a couple weeks checking out some opinions on marshall and mesa heads.

I ended up getting a dual rectifier today and I have to say that I'm having a hell of a time dialing some good tones on channels 2 and 3.

I've been playing thru a fender hot rod deluxe with a 1960A cab with distortion pedals for a while and thought the dual rect would be wise step up. I've heard that the dual rects were hard to dial in just the right tone.

If this helps my style is a mix between heavier 80s and the raw sounds of the early 90s. The guitar i use is a McCarty standard.

Can anyone relate to my situation?

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PRS McCarty (10-52)....Gibson LP Std (10-52)....Taylor 614CE (12-53)

Fender HRD (JJs & V30)

Effects In Front:
535Q --> TU-2 --> TS9 --> CS-2

Effects In Loop:
Vint. Phase 90 --> Vint. Phase 45 --> CE-2 --> DD-3 --> AD-9

http://guitargeek.com/chat/showthrea...&threadid=2209

That should be a good place to start.

Welcome to the boards.

thanks for the reply, but i've already read that thread. I guess I'm just wondering if its just a known fact that mesas are a real pain to tweak or if i'm just a re-re. thanks

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PRS McCarty (10-52)....Gibson LP Std (10-52)....Taylor 614CE (12-53)

Fender HRD (JJs & V30)

Effects In Front:
535Q --> TU-2 --> TS9 --> CS-2

Effects In Loop:
Vint. Phase 90 --> Vint. Phase 45 --> CE-2 --> DD-3 --> AD-9

Well, since this is your first day having it, the best thing I can think of would be to just sit down with it for a couple of hours tomorrow and spend the whole time tweaking it, find how the knobs react to one another. I think you'll find that you'll get more used to it, and tweaking wont be such a daunting task anymore.

It took me a while to get used to my amp when I got it, and its not even as complicated as a recto.

Start with all the knobs at 12 noon.


Thats always a good thing... then dial a little bit each side to taste.

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Proud user of Godin, Gretsch, Lace Sensor and Hughes and Kettner.

Check out the geek rig diagram!

You can't dust for vomit.

i've never messed with one...but i've heard people say that the settings in the manual are a good starting place.


if you don't have a manual i'm sure it's online somewehre. maybe mesas website. i don't hvae time to search right now or i would.

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This is our concern dude

It's really easy to get a bad tone from a Mesa, since they are so hard to eq right. You can't just set the eq ad go like on some other amps.

A good place to start is with the voicing. Do you prefer the vintage, raw, or modern setting? I'd say if you are looking for late 80s stuff, the vintage setting will suit you fine. For the 90's stuff, you may find that the modern setting apeals to you. Then try the rectifier settings, and the bold/spongy switch.
Set the bass at about 2 oclock. Set the mids around 10:30-11 oclock, and the treble about 1. Crank the channel master volume up to around 10-11 oclock. Adjust to taste. If the tone is still muddy, lower the bass a little until it's not muddy anymore.

Remember that little adjustments on the eq will make a big change in tone.

Switch to EL-34's.

I've had lots of problems dialing in my mesa. One thing that helped me alot is to turn the gain down. Eq the sound you want and slowly turn the gain up until it sounds right. You can get alot of different gain combinations with the master volume and the output. The gain tends to make the sound a little harsher and flubby. But rember i has taken me close to 2 years to get my mesa to sound just right. I have one solid state rectifer in there mixed with the 2 tube rectifers and i run it in sterio with an orange. The point of the long ass post is that mesa's take alot of tweaking experimentation and love. Another thing to rember is that these amps are meant to be CRANKED!!! That can Make a Huge difference in the tone. if you cant crank it try taking out the 2 outside power tubes or buy an attuniator... But again lots of time and love... good luck

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Mesa Boogie Triple rec
Orange AD140HTC
Signal Flex ABY
Cry Baby 535Q
Tu-2
Fender strat custom shop
Fender Srv (older model when they sounded GREAT)


I play through 2 Bogner custom 2x12's with V30's One for the Orange
and one for the Triple Rec.
well there she is...... i know i know.....

Turn the master output up above 13:30 if possible. Below that, it sounds like ass. I generally run mine at or above 15:00.

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R. Mutt

Guitar -> Wah -> Amp -> Cab

Hahaha... you angry angry bastard.

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Proud user of Godin, Gretsch, Lace Sensor and Hughes and Kettner.

Check out the geek rig diagram!

You can't dust for vomit.

i did play it you chode, besides it always sounds good when your in the store. Its when you take the thing home and screw with it for hours that you realize the pros and cons. Don't be a hater, its not my fault you don't like your sound.

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PRS McCarty (10-52)....Gibson LP Std (10-52)....Taylor 614CE (12-53)

Fender HRD (JJs & V30)

Effects In Front:
535Q --> TU-2 --> TS9 --> CS-2

Effects In Loop:
Vint. Phase 90 --> Vint. Phase 45 --> CE-2 --> DD-3 --> AD-9

Out of the three posts I've seen of yours today, all of them were dumb.

Troll.

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R. Mutt

Guitar -> Wah -> Amp -> Cab

That punk ass troll must have deleted his post, cuz I don't see it anymore....hehe

leeperprs,

The major downside in owning a Rec is that it takes a lonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnng time to dial up the tone that makes you want to cry with joy.

Once you find the sweet spots, make sure you jot down notes.

That way you can always find your way back...........

I actually keep my favorite amp settings on a laminated 8X12 sheet. (Yes, I'm that anal.)

I'd tell you what they are................ But I'll have to kill you afterwards............

Enjoy the new head.

And be very patient.................

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Your friendly neighborhood guitar grandpa.............


1992 Fender Twin Reverb (Reissue 85W), 1997 Mesa Dual Rectifier Solo Head (100W), 2002 Marshall 1960A 4X12 Cab, Morley A/B switch, THD Hot Plate, Vintage Pro-Co Rat distortion (Used on Fender Twin), Holy Grail Reverb (Used on the Mesa), MXR 90 Phase, Ibanez Chorus, IbanezTube Screamer TS-9, Budda Bud Wah, Boss Chromatic Tuner, Boss Digital Delay, Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2 Plus , Tortex picks, Blue Steel Strings 9's and 11's, Guitars: 1999 Gibson Les Paul Standard (Cherryburst), Early 90's Gibson SG Standard (Black), Late 80's Ibanez E/X Black & White Pickguard (humbucker, single coil, humbucker. whammy), 2000 Ibanez Electric Acoustic, 80's Hunk of crap Fender Acoustic, Brand Spanking New Martin HD-28 Acoustic.