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* EDIT: Up-to-date information is available in Yek's Guide to the Fractal Audio Amplifier Models *
MESA is a very famous amp manufacturer, founded by Randall Smith in ‘71 in California. Smith started off with the “snakeskin” Mark amp which made Santana famous. More.
In the 90s MESA released its Rectifier ("Recto") line of amps. This amp's crushing tones define an era of rock music, especially Nu metal. Limp Bizkit, Linkin Park, Incubus, Korn, Metallica all played Rectifiers at one time. Now they are not as popular as back then, but bands like Foo Fighters still use them.
Cliff:
“Dual” refers to the possibility to choose between 2 forms of electrical rectification (conversion of power from AC to DC): silicon diodes or vacuum tubes.
(The abundance of features on MESA amps can make them a little difficult to dial in for those who suffer from Option Anxiety, Parameter Paralysis or Agony of Choice.)
There’s also a “Triple Rectifier”, which is identical to the Dual, just louder (150 watts). The origin of the name of this model is unclear. It may indicate the number of channels on this amp, but while the original Dual Rectifier had 2 channels, later Dual Rectos also feature 3 channels. Confusing...
The Recto2 model is based on a 3-channel Recto, with 6L6 tubes (100 watts). It’s not clear if the original amp is an early 3-channel Recto or the current Multi-Watt Dual Rectifier.
Cliff:
Many guitar players seem to prefer the older 2-channel model to the newer 3-channel one.
We have 3 models of the 2-channel Recto.
MESA added a new channel 1 to the 3-channel Recto, designed for rhythm tones, from clean to rock. This channel has not been modeled. MESA also added a low-gain “Raw” mode to the Orange and Red channels in the 3-channel Recto, so these channels now have three modes: Vintage, Modern and Raw. The Raw mode has not been modeled. Basically channels 2 and 3 are identical, but the controls on them work differently.
We have 4 models of the 3-channel Recto.
Both amps have these gain and tone controls: Gain (model: Input Drive), Treble, Mid, Bass, Presence, Master. Some of the controls operate differently per channel, in particular Presence, which also applies to the models.
It’s worth the effort to read the tips in the manuals about these controls. There are also suggested settings in there, and entertaining explanations of diodes, triodes and pentodes (which indicate the number of elements within a vacuum tube: 2, 3 or 5), wiring speaker cabinets etc.
Cliff:
Some players deal with the bass overload in the Modern modes by adding a Drive pedal before the amp, such as a TS. This has a similar effect as engaging the Cut switch or increasing Low Cut on the Adv page.
Other amp switches: Rectifier Select, Channel Style Select/Channel Cloning, Bias Select, Power: Spongy or Bold.
The Rectifier cabinets have MESA V30 speakers, which have a tone of their own. Search the stock cabs for 4x12 Recto cabs.
Clips of the 3-ch. Multi-Watt Dual Recto:
MESA is a very famous amp manufacturer, founded by Randall Smith in ‘71 in California. Smith started off with the “snakeskin” Mark amp which made Santana famous. More.
In the 90s MESA released its Rectifier ("Recto") line of amps. This amp's crushing tones define an era of rock music, especially Nu metal. Limp Bizkit, Linkin Park, Incubus, Korn, Metallica all played Rectifiers at one time. Now they are not as popular as back then, but bands like Foo Fighters still use them.
Cliff:
"Real Rectos are bassy/fizzy beasts but that tone works great for certain genres."
“Dual” refers to the possibility to choose between 2 forms of electrical rectification (conversion of power from AC to DC): silicon diodes or vacuum tubes.
(The abundance of features on MESA amps can make them a little difficult to dial in for those who suffer from Option Anxiety, Parameter Paralysis or Agony of Choice.)
“SILICON DIODE: (Hi Power) calls up the silicone diode rectifiers offering more punch, a tighter attack with added brightness and substantially more headroom. This would be the preferred position for loud clean playing or tight rhythmic playing with a high front end Volume setting (high gain.)
VACUUM TUBE: (Normal) position takes a power section walk down memory lane, paying tribute to those vintage gems of yesteryear. In those early days of amplification, the only rectifiers available were tubes. Unbeknownst to their creators, these sweet sounding amplifiers would someday become relics as the demand for higher volumes and more power per package led to the abandonment of the tube rectifier in favor of the five cent silicone diode's greater efficiency. With this decision went much of the sweetness and soul, and by the mid 70's, many amps were bold, loud, and efficient, and unfortunately...sometimes lacking some of that earlier soul.
The Vacuum Tube position gives you a sweetness of sound and a liquid feel that simply cannot be duplicated in any other way. This position shines for single note lead work in either channel and delivers a warm, breathing clean sound in the Rhythm channel that was previously unavailable in all but the best vintage amps. If you are like most of the players we know, you'll probably end up leaving your RECTIFIER Solo Head, DUAL or TRIPLE set to the Vacuum Tube position all the time.”
The Vacuum Tube position gives you a sweetness of sound and a liquid feel that simply cannot be duplicated in any other way. This position shines for single note lead work in either channel and delivers a warm, breathing clean sound in the Rhythm channel that was previously unavailable in all but the best vintage amps. If you are like most of the players we know, you'll probably end up leaving your RECTIFIER Solo Head, DUAL or TRIPLE set to the Vacuum Tube position all the time.”
There’s also a “Triple Rectifier”, which is identical to the Dual, just louder (150 watts). The origin of the name of this model is unclear. It may indicate the number of channels on this amp, but while the original Dual Rectifier had 2 channels, later Dual Rectos also feature 3 channels. Confusing...
- RECTO1 models: based on MESA “2-channel” Dual Rectifier
- RECTO2 models: based on MESA “3-channel” Dual Rectifier
The Recto2 model is based on a 3-channel Recto, with 6L6 tubes (100 watts). It’s not clear if the original amp is an early 3-channel Recto or the current Multi-Watt Dual Rectifier.
Cliff:
“The Recto1 models are based on our Rev. F (IIRC, whatever the desirable ones are). The Recto2 models are based on the latest version."
Many guitar players seem to prefer the older 2-channel model to the newer 3-channel one.
We have 3 models of the 2-channel Recto.
- RECTO1 ORANGE NORMAL: based on the Orange Vintage channel, set to Variable high gain.
- RECTO1 ORANGE MODERN: based on the Orange channel, with Channel Cloning / Channel Style Select set to Modern.
- RECTO1 RED MODERN: based on the Red channel, in its regular Modern mode.
MESA added a new channel 1 to the 3-channel Recto, designed for rhythm tones, from clean to rock. This channel has not been modeled. MESA also added a low-gain “Raw” mode to the Orange and Red channels in the 3-channel Recto, so these channels now have three modes: Vintage, Modern and Raw. The Raw mode has not been modeled. Basically channels 2 and 3 are identical, but the controls on them work differently.
We have 4 models of the 3-channel Recto.
- RECTO2 ORANGE VINTAGE: based on Channel 2 Orange, mode: Vintage
- RECTO2 ORANGE MODERN: based on Channel 2 Orange, mode: Modern.
- RECTO2 RED MODERN: based on Channel 3 Red, mode: Modern.
- RECTO2 RED VINTAGE: based Channel 3 Red, mode: Vintage.
Both amps have these gain and tone controls: Gain (model: Input Drive), Treble, Mid, Bass, Presence, Master. Some of the controls operate differently per channel, in particular Presence, which also applies to the models.
It’s worth the effort to read the tips in the manuals about these controls. There are also suggested settings in there, and entertaining explanations of diodes, triodes and pentodes (which indicate the number of elements within a vacuum tube: 2, 3 or 5), wiring speaker cabinets etc.
Cliff:
“"If you are using the Modern modes be very careful with the MV. If you turn it up too high it will flub out really quick. If in doubt reduce the MV. Compensate with the Level control."
"The Modern mode in Rectos has no negative feedback so there's a huge bass boost from the speaker impedance. Fortunately you can reduce this by reducing the LF Resonance on the Spkr tab which is something you can't do with the real amp without trying different speakers or cabinet."
"If you are using the Modern mode then it's all about the Spkr page. Since that mode has no negative feedback the speaker resonance has a tremendous effect on the sound. Adjust LF Res, Freq and Q to get desired response."
"Depth works by varying the negative feedback at low frequencies. There is no NFB in the Modern Red mode so the Depth knob won't do anything. NFB is set to 0.01 just to fool the GUI into displaying Presence instead of HiCut below the left knob."
"When you put a Recto into Modern Red mode it opens a relay which removes the NFB."
"All passive tone controls interact and all the Axe-Fx tone stacks replicate this behavior. The unique thing about a Dual Recto tone stack is that the Presence control is part of the tone stack. So the Recto tone controls also interact with the presence control."
"Another thing with the Modern modes is that the power amp distorts early (again since there is no negative feedback and, therefore, the power amp has a lot more gain). At 9:00 on the Master the power amp is distorting (it's probably a linear taper pot for the ol' "Wow, this amp is loud bro!"). The taper of the Axe-Fx Master Volume is not the same and you have to turn it up higher to get the same amount of virtual power amp distortion. Another thing is that if you put ANYTHING in the loop of a Recto it changes the tone significantly. Even just a short cable. All the models were made with the loop off. And another thing is that Rectos changed a lot. I have three of them and they all sound completely different. One of them has a different value Gain pot than the others. One of them has a different value bright cap than the one with the same Gain pot. Since the gain pot and bright cap interact this makes a HUGE difference. Experiment with the Bright Cap value.”
Some players deal with the bass overload in the Modern modes by adding a Drive pedal before the amp, such as a TS. This has a similar effect as engaging the Cut switch or increasing Low Cut on the Adv page.
Other amp switches: Rectifier Select, Channel Style Select/Channel Cloning, Bias Select, Power: Spongy or Bold.
Alternatives to the Recto tones: try the SLO model. Also, the FAS Modern III is similar to a Recto but with tighter bass and a cathode-biased power amp.
The Rectifier cabinets have MESA V30 speakers, which have a tone of their own. Search the stock cabs for 4x12 Recto cabs.
Clips of the 3-ch. Multi-Watt Dual Recto:
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