Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier 3 Channels Reborn Head

In 2010 Mesa boogie unveiled a new take on the Dual Rectifier, this amp features the ability to toggle each channel independently between 100 and 50 watts in a fashion similar to the Mark V. All the other features remain the same as the previous iteration. 3 channels, each with a variety of modes to toggle between. Effects loop present. No onboard reverb. Powered by four of mesa boogie's own 6l6 power tubes.

UTILIZATION

The new multiwatt feature allows for a different feel when playing the amp. Switching down to 50 watts allows decent breakup even on the pushed clean mode. All three channels appear to have been re-voiced for the better. The ability to switch between tube and diode rectification independently of each channel is a welcome upgrade and opens up even more tone shaping possibilities.

SOUNDS

Starting with the clean tone, the amp is markedly improved from prior iterations. No longer does the clean channel sound brittle, instead feeling full and reminiscent of other boogie amps. The pushed clean mode allows for a surprising amount of gain and allows for assigning 3 separate gain tones in the amp. The Orange channel's mid gain sounds now easily imply hotrodded marshall and sounds brilliant and clear without an EQ pedal, something that plagued the previous design. The Red channel is capable of everything it was and more. More liquid gain (similar to the MARK IV/V) and intelligibility in lead lines make for a night and day comparison with the first generation rectifier series.

OVERALL OPINION

Great amp. Easily a all in one solution for a gigging musician. With a more than passable clean and mid gain sound available, the amp competes with other mid-market channel switchers. Used prices are still fairly strong with most observed around the $1500 price point. I highly recommend this amp to anyone who had ill feelings about the Rectifier series.

i rented this head from a small shop in pittsburgh to use for recording my band's demo.i paid 50 bucks for a week! but it usually runs at around $1500.

Probably the best head Ive ever used. I had always watch bands like AFi use mesa's and i knew that they were really powerfull. I used this through the mesa cab and it was amazing. the clean chanel has a very deep but clear sound to it. it also has 2 other distortion channels. the second cahnnel is a more classic sound but can be formed to be a more modern rokc/punk sound thats great for lead. the 3rd is a way more deeper and mushier sound thats more for rythm, it has a very deep low end. each channel has different switches to cahnge the sound and volume witch i liked a lot. the clean had a push switch which gave it a bit of light distortion. the 2 distortions ha vintage and 2 other settings to add pretty much any sound. I used it through a marshal for recording and it sounded great but its amazingly loud and powerful through the mesa cab. it was made tough and can take pretty much anything. a great head sound.

even though it was the best and most powerfull head, the price is still pretty high. but other than that i have no dislikes about it.

its built tough. it has good coverage of the tubes and everything is very tight and put togerther good. id say it could take any kind of abuse.

ive used many marshals and especially the crate, but the mesa takes the cake. its so powerful and has the greatist and versitile sounds that ive ever heard out of any amp. defiantly if your into rock, or basicl any sound, its worth saving up for.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

We had one of these in my band and so I got to spend some good time with it. I go back and forth sometimes between Marshall grind and a Mesa grind. I love the way the amp responds and feels when pushing some air through one of their recto cabs. These amps are built like a tank and sound so sweet when cranking that gain up. One thing that always gets me is the headroom in the gain knob. I never really need to turn it up past 6 since they saturate so easily. The custom color combo on this amp is a little like an old JCM 800 which is cool and gives it a little more cool factor.

I have used El34's and 6L6 's in Dual Rectos, Mark lll, Mark V, and the Coli I used to own. Depending on the day I will give you a different answer but I probably lean towards the 6L6's in the Mesa amps. They have so much gain on tap that I feel like I need to get the power section a little more headroom and glassy sound to which El34 will probably give more distortion since they break up early. However, you will get more midrange than the 6L6's if that's your thing. Again it probably depends on what music I'm listening to will determine which tube I prefer. Such a great feature being able to switch power tubes in and out without even biasing the amp. Which is another great feature not having to shell out money for a bias rite or taking it to a amp tech to bias the amp.

UTILIZATION


I really don't understand the problem people have with not being able to dial these amps in correctly. So I have heard others say. I see how the Mark series amps can through you for a loop if you are used to Fenders or Marshalls. The rectos are very easy to dial in. They are very versatile with the option of Raw, Modern, and Vintage and Diode and Tube Tracking on the back. There are so many options to tailor your tone in the way you feel comfortable with. Then or course your have the option to cut the power down to 50 watts which is nice as well.

SOUNDS

Sounds9/10
I love the sound of a Recto. One is a staple tone in modern rock music. Nothing really sounds like a recto and a recto has that saturation that is immediately noticeable when compared to an JCM800. My personal favorite setting is the high gain channel on the modern mode. To me that is where this amp come alive and does what it was built to do. Don't get me wrong the clean are fantastic but this thing was made to get up and gallop like a American muscle car.

It is a very forgiving amp as well when switched to the spongy mode. It gives a very forgiving sag that makes you want to play fast. Switch it to the bold mode and the amp becomes tighter and more focused. Good for dropped tunings and more modern music that need the speed while remaining tight.

I used this with a Les Paul exclusively and a Recto 4x12 cab with V30's in it. The cab was slant cab and i ran some delays and such in the loop. matching this amp up with a recto cab is essential. I don't fell it can do what it was created to do with a Marshall 4x12. The speakers to me make a difference as well. For me you really need the V30's with this amp.

OVERALL OPINION

The recto is an amp any guitar player would own. So many records and professionals have used this amp for their main tone. Much like the Mark series and the Roadster and Road King this is a heavy modern rock amp. It can do some bluesy stuff too so it does not hold anything back. Given the chance to pick one up on the used market I definitely would pull the trigger. I think this is a great buy with the options and features that exist with it.

Bias Select Switch (6L6/EL34) • Fixed Bias for Consistent, Maintenance Free Performance
2 Channels
Each Channel features: Independent Gain, Treble, Mid, Bass, Presence, Master, Channel Assignable Dual Rectification with Recto Tracking™ (Diode or Tube Tracking – Patents 5,168,438 & 7,193,458)
FX Loop with Send Level Control
Output Level Control (over all channels when activated)
Footswitchable Solo Level Control (Patent 6,724,897 - over all channels when activated)
Bold/Spongy “Variac” Switch (Patent 5,091,700)
True “Hard” Bypass Switch that removes FX Loop, Output Level & Solo Level Controls from signal path
Tuner Output w/Footswitchable Mute
Slave Out w/Level Control
Slip Cover
Head (Width 25 1/2”)

UTILIZATION

The amp takes awhile for tweaking to get the right tone, but after that, watch out. It's somewhat deep, with the Bold/Spongy switch, Diode or Tube Tracking, so it takes a bit of playing the amp in many situations to really hone in on the sound that you want to get out of it. Effects loop is a great feature, always, and this one sounds good.

SOUNDS

This is a fantastic sounding amp. It gets bonecrushingly loud, with gobs of liquid sustain and razor-sharp jagged metal shard-rhythm tones. The clean is pretty nice if running a verb or delay in the effects loop. This gets uber tight, and very quiet - any stop-start or palm mute techniques are heavily accentuated with this amplifier. Nearly every great rock and metal band or guitarist has used this amp over the past 20 years, and with good reason - it rules.

OVERALL OPINION

I'm giving it a 9 overall. It would benefit from an onboard reverb, just to give a bit of depth. The price is a bit expensive, but for being a nice handmade American tube amplifier with a lot of features, it's priced just right. This amp will go from Who and Hendrix to Morbid Angel and Bloodbath, so it can nail nearly any type of distorted tone. Allan Holdsworth even said this is one of his favorite amps ever! That should give a good idea of how versatile the amplifier is. This amp rules, and I wish I had two.