Overall Rating: Ive been playing for a tad over 8 years now. Ive lusted after this amp for as long as I can remember. Ive tried many other amps and techniques to get THAT sound. So start saving up, this amp is worth every cent. The new marshall Mod...
Overall Rating: Ive been playing for a tad over 8 years now.
Ive lusted after this amp for as long as I can remember.
Ive tried many other amps and techniques to get THAT sound.
So start saving up, this amp is worth every cent.
The new marshall Mode4 does not even come close, despite what their adds claim. The blue voodoo is a time bomb just waiting to blow up.
The soldano is just stupid exepnsive and lacks features, also even harder to find than a MESA retailer. The Peavy 5150 is a somewhat viable alternative especially if you dont have a mesa retailer near you (or are buying used) but just isnt quite as good. Buy the recto, you wont be sorry.
And despite what your friends say, you dont need the dual or triple recto, I dont care how metal or hardcore you wanna sound, this one does the trick.
Features: 2002 2nd generation model.
To the best of my knowledge its the same as the older versions, save it has an extra setting on the 2nd channel (called raw).
And he channel switching is somewhat delayed.
To me that is the most annoying feature of this amp. Its the only thing I can say I really dont like about it. And Im not sure why it was made to behave like that, and have yet to get a straight answer on it. Im about to just contact mesa directly and ask.
I use this amp primarily for metal-core. Its paired with a 2003 Marshall 1960a cab. The 1960a is the perfect match up for it. Using this head with cheaper cabs is just a waste of the amps abillity, and
the Mesa cabs are overpriced for what you get out of them.
Dont let the 50w rating fool you.
This lil sucker CRANKS.
It holds its own against full drum sets and other powerful and higher rated tube amps.
Sound Quality: I usually use a late 90s Ibanez S470qxfm.
Sometimes a Japanese RG 7string, or a Samick w/ duncan pickups.
This thing just SCREAMS with the Ibanez's w/ heavy distortion.
The clean sounds hold up just fine as well.
It should be noted that the amp settings are INCREDIBLY crucial
to getting your desired sounds, because unlike cheaper amps, when you adjust the knobs on the recto the sound actually CHANGES a lot.
This actualy makes the amp very versatile. However Ive seen a lot of kids with recto heads who just turn the gain to 11 (yes I said 11) and let the EQ to guessing, and it just becomes an ungodly wall of distorted sound.
So getting those heavy distortion sounds that mesa is famous for is not as easy as just turning up the gain all the way, but its not to say the amp is unforgiving otherwise.
Though I rarely use it, when I run the amp with my samick, which is more set up for 60's "surf" music, this thing just SINGS. Loads of classic sounds and tones to be had. Sure, its no vintage fender, but Id like to see your fender get anywhere near as LOUD or HEAVY as a recto.
Reliability/Durability: I treat my amp like a holy relic. Especially when it comes to warming up the tubes. Ive had the amp for over a year and half, and have never replaced the tubes, nor do they show any sign of needing replacement. Considering that I run the amp very hard, I have nothing to complain about.
The other guitarist in my band has the same model and year, but has replaced the tubes a few times, but due to the fact that she doesent take good care of the amp.
Like most high end tube amps, if you look after this puppy you wont have any problems at all.
Customer Support: never personaly dealt with Mesa cuz I never had to.
But based on what my guitarist has dealt with they
seem to be very on point with their customer service.
We live near the Mesa HQ in the bay area, and they actually
invited my guitarist to go to their shop when she had some concerns
about her amp.
Price: $1198.00 USD
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