Author Topic: Mesa Dual Rec tone help (Read 17605 times)

AdamB · « **Reply #15 on:** August 08, 2006, 11:39:43 AM »

Quote from: ibanez4life SZ

The settings I gave you are very odd for a Mesa, but they are easily one of the best I've found!

I'd still try the JJ's! Get them, and put the amp in Tube recto mode! They wil be the perfect compromise between SS and tube rectification IMO! And at only $28, you really have nothing to lose!

Fair do, i guess it's worth getting them eh?!

I'll order some next week when i've got some more cash

HTH AMPS · « **Reply #16 on:** August 09, 2006, 08:36:29 PM »

There is certainly no harm in trying some GZ34s in there though I still don't think they'll be what you're after (looser bass, glassier highs).

JJ 6L6s are a solid valve, they'll do very nicely indeed (make sure to get the amp biased).

Quote

from what the guy at watford valves was saying is that mesa just buy aload of cheap valves in, either russian or chinese and then computertest them, put mesa on them, and charge far too much.

ahem... Pot, Kettle, Black. Watford Valves don't physically manufacture any valves. Last time I checked they were just rebranding JJ valves under their 'Harma' name. The brass of some people :roll:

:twisted:

HJM · « **Reply #17 on:** August 09, 2006, 09:14:50 PM »

:lol: :lol:

You could put them in the freezer.......

AdamB · « **Reply #18 on:** August 09, 2006, 10:23:50 PM »

you can't bias dual recs can you?

mesa make them run quite cold anyway, so they'll be fine

like with my 5150 II, with the bias set at 'hottest' it's still quite cold, -55 volts, wish i could mod it, or at least find somewhere cheap and near to do it

http://mesaboogie.com/US/Smith/biasadjust.html

HTH AMPS · « **Reply #19 on:** August 09, 2006, 10:34:42 PM »

If you know your way round an amp it's easy to modify the bias supply to alter the bias voltage 'range'.

In 'fixed' bias amps such as Boogies you can install a variable resistor in order to dial in the bias for a specific set of valves.

Alternatively, you can pay well over the odds for Mesa-branded valves that are typically Chinese-made and pop them in the amp, voila!!! (instant compromised tone)

:twisted:

AdamB · « **Reply #20 on:** August 09, 2006, 11:22:13 PM »

but it shouldn't need re biasing like you said when i put the JJ's in?!?!

ibanez4life SZ · « **Reply #21 on:** August 10, 2006, 01:08:39 AM »

Rectifier tubes don't need biasing.

If you decide to go with power tubes from JJ, tell him what amp they are for, and he will give you a tube (hotter or colder) which will allow it to run at the proper bias!

OD-Black_Fire · « **Reply #22 on:** August 10, 2006, 05:12:14 AM »

Mesa Boogie kicks so much ass because they explain EVERYTHING on that website. That is one of the major reasons why my next tube amp will be from Mesa Boogie

AdamB · « **Reply #23 on:** August 10, 2006, 06:12:01 PM »

No, the JJ power valves!

How do you bias an amp with no bias control!? Surely it won't need biasing when i put them in, if they draw any more current, surely that will be a good thing becuase then they might run abit hotter

HTH AMPS · « **Reply #24 on:** August 10, 2006, 06:16:55 PM »

Quote from: OD-Black_Fire

Mesa Boogie kicks so much ass because they explain EVERYTHING on that website. That is one of the major reasons why my next tube amp will be from Mesa Boogie

I've worked on Mesa/Boogie amps, the build quality aint as good as they would have you believe :roll:

Saying that, I've yet to play a Boogie that didn't sound good - they're just overpriced for what they are.

They are also the kings of 'spin' - what they say about biasing isn't strictly true. You don't need to rebias your Boogie IF you get the coorect graded valves from Boogie which are invariably Chinese-made pap. Oh, and this also assumes that the matching of the valves does not drift out of spec (which most valves do).

Boogie basically tell you half of the story (the good half).

:twisted:

AdamB · « **Reply #25 on:** August 10, 2006, 10:48:30 PM »

Will i be ok putting them JJ power tubes in then without having it biased?

ibanez4life SZ · « **Reply #26 on:** August 11, 2006, 12:11:57 AM »

Yes, if you tell Bob that it is for a Recto....he will give you ones with the proper bias for it!

fps_dean · « **Reply #27 on:** August 11, 2006, 12:44:57 AM »

Quote from: adammato

Quote from: ibanez4life SZ
Swap out the rectifier tubes for JJ GZ-34s! It did wonders for my Dual Recto! Tightness, definition, and better but in a band mix! Amazing tubes!

Are these better than the mesa rectifier tubes then?

JJs are better than Sovteks no doubt... Mesa tubes are rebranded Sovteks, often their 12AX7s are the 12AX& WA or 12AX7WB and not even the 12AX7LPS which is much better than the other two but still a Sovtek....

I'd recommend the 6L6 that Groove Tubes makes for a 6L6, SED "Winged C"s for any other power amp tube when available, and Electro Harmonix when you cannot get a SED and for preamp tubes... the JJs were really never all that good and the latest offerings are pretty bad...

AdamB · « **Reply #28 on:** August 11, 2006, 04:55:50 PM »

Rang them up, said just pop them in and they will be fine, and they are, haven't really cranked it yet, but will do soon

Has anyone done the pulling 2 power valves out thing?

I only need my master at 9 oclock at practice and would like to crank the amp more, just wondering if it still sounded descent?

screamingdaisy · « **Reply #29 on:** August 11, 2006, 11:21:27 PM »

Quote from: ibanez4life SZ

Swap out the rectifier tubes for JJ GZ-34s! It did wonders for my Dual Recto! Tightness, definition, and better but in a band mix! Amazing tubes!

Eh....waste of money. If you want less sag just stick to diode rectification.

Quote from: HEAVIER THAN HELL

Alternatively, you can pay well over the odds for Mesa-branded valves that are typically Chinese-made and pop them in the amp, voila!!! (instant compromised tone)

Most larger venders can select the correct tubes using the same technique that Mesa does.

(Slagging Watford Valve for not telling the whole story then not telling the whole story yourself? The brass of some people. :roll: )

Anyway.....as for the cheap Chinese made cr@p that Heavier than Hell keeps spouting....

The Rectifier comes stock with Russian made EHX preamp tubes. They're good all around preamp tubes that are a little brighter than some and give an aggressive sound in high gain amps.

The power amp comes furnished with Russian made Sovteks. Not a bad tube, but not an excellent tube. Alot of amp companies ship using these amps because they're strong enough to survive life in a shipping container. I usually recommend people upgrade to Svetlana, SED, or JJ power tubes, depending on your taste.

I think I read somewhere that Mesa recently switched to China as their new 12AX7 supplier. It should be noted that 9th generation Chinese tubes are considered very good.

As to the thread starter......Rectifiers really don't sound good at low volumes. You don't get a real feeling for their true sound until you have them up over 10:00 (or preferable higher) on the master volume. Below that the tone will tend to be thin and buzzy.

Otherwise....that Rebel Yell pickup may not be the best choice. It has a strong bottom end and is kinda scooped.....not the best charicteristics to mix with the Recto as it usually results in an undefined "farty" sound when palm muting. I've found the Recto to work best with pickups that have alot of midrange and top end with very little bottom to them.