Mesa cleans are similar to ...?

[scott_335]

I have a Single Rectifier (Rectoverb). I think its a great amp. When people talk about pedals though they seem to refer to Fender, Marshall and Vox when talking about what pedal works with what amp. Like "rat pedals work best with marshalls".

 

So what is the single recs clean closest to? A marshall/bassman clean? A fender clean? Is it like nothing else, even if you work on the EQ?

 

thanks

[theweight]

Most Mesa cleans i've heard remind me of JCM900 and 2000 series cleans. Really lifeless. I believe those were all recto heads though. I've heard a Mark IV with amazing cleans, but the guy was using an SG with p-90s and an eq pedal. Not the typical setup for that amp.

[gatordoc]

My Mk IV reminds me of my old Fenders which isn't too surprising seeing that the original MB circuit was based on the old tweed Bassman. Definitely a Fenderish clean to my ears but darker, thicker with more mids. Not sure what the recto is based on though.

[freeRadical]

I know the earliest Boogies were modified Fenders, but I haven't heard a Masa that honestly compares to a good Fender clean tone. I own a 50 calibre+ and a .22 calibre. I have played through a Mark IV. Although, it was brand new and speakers were not broken in. But my experience they aren't quite there. I played through a new Mesa F50 and the cleans were a little "stiff" (Sterile). I did play through a beat up Mark III, that had a wonderful clean. Never really check out a recto for clean.

I played through new HR Deluxe and Bassman R.I. and AC30's and IMO they don't compete.

I don't know they are kind of their own. I don't have much experience with Marshals.

This is all very subjective of course and I don't mean to discount other peoples' opinions but this is just mine. If you're looking for opinions..., there you go.

Take your axe down and try out a few yourself if you get the chance.

Best regards,

[tubebury/KT88]

In my opinion the Recto clean channels sound like {censored}. Lifeless... Flat... Uninspiring.... One dimensional... Did I mention they sound like {censored}??

Now the Recto gain channels, that's a different story, but I think Mark series amps have much better and usable gain.... unless, that is, you like to scoop the {censored} out of your mids and don't wanna be heard in the mix.....

[NITEFLY182]

So much hate here. I think the recto cleans are usable if you need a basic clean sound. Play them with middle pickup positions and they get nice and fast with a kind of smooth hi-fi quality.

[tubebury/KT88]

Originally posted by NITEFLY182 So much hate here. I think the recto cleans are usable if you need a basic clean sound. Play them with middle pickup positions and they get nice and fast with a kind of smooth hi-fi quality.

Hey NITEFLY, definitely no hate here, I had a single recto combo (Rectoverb) for a few years, so I speak with authority as far as that amp goes.... Decent (almost) cleans, sorta hi fi, but tubby and ploppy a bit. Good with a Metal Zone, though, I'll say that!

All of the Dual and Triples I have played have "ho-hum" clean channels. Wanna challange me on that?

[NITEFLY182]

Originally posted by tubebury/KT88 Hey NITEFLY, definitely no hate here, I had a single recto combo (Rectoverb) for a few years, so I speak with authority as far as that amp goes.... Decent (almost) cleans, sorta hi fi, but tubby and ploppy a bit. Good with a Metal Zone, though, I'll say that! All of the Dual and Triples I have played have "ho-hum" clean channels. Wanna challange me on that?

I like the cleans on my rectifier. The number one issue for me is headroom and all these "great clean amps" have 0 headroom so they are 100% useless when Im on stage.

[tubebury/KT88]

Originally posted by NITEFLY182 I like the cleans on my rectifier. The number one issue for me is headroom and all these "great clean amps" have 0 headroom so they are 100% useless when Im on stage.

+1

I will give you that in requiring an abundant "Clean Headroom" factor! I am the same and can't stand a broken-up "clean" channel.... Unless I want it. I think what I don't like a lot about the Recto amp's clean is that it's a bit lacking in having a characteristic of it's own... does that make sense? I am not messing with you. That's really what I think. I had a CAE 3+SE and it was the same. Also the Demeters I have had have had the same problem..... a "nice" clean channel, but NO character! F - that!

The best clean channel amp I have right now is the TOL 100 channel one... {censored}... that is an awesome clean channel!

[NITEFLY182]

Originally posted by tubebury/KT88 +1 I will give you that in requiring an abundant "Clean Headroom" factor! I am the same and can't stand a broken-up "clean" channel.... Unless I want it. I think what I don't like a lot about the Recto amp's clean is that it's a bit lacking in having a characteristic of it's own... does that make sense? I am not messing with you. That's really what I think. I had a CAE 3+SE and it was the same. Also the Demeters I have had have had the same problem..... a "nice" clean channel, but NO character! F - that! The best clean channel amp I have right now is the TOL 100 channel one... {censored}... that is an awesome clean channel!

Best clean I ever heard was a carvin X-100b. I need to get one but I want it to be really clean. Damn that was a fine amp.

[MonkeyKnifeFighter]

I play through a Mesa Trem-O-Verb 2x12 and the cleans are great. I play clean about 40% of the time and I love the tone.

If my Boogie were side by side in a studio setting with an awesome Fender or Roland JC-120, I'd be the first to say that it's tone is not as beautiful as those others. In a rowdy bar or even in my home studio however, it sounds fantastic.

~MkF!
"You've got a minx on your six!"

[tubebury/KT88]

Originally posted by MonkeyKnifeFighter I play through a Mesa Trem-O-Verb 2x12 and the cleans are great. I play clean about 40% of the time and I love the tone. If my Boogie were side by side in a studio setting with an awesome Fender or Roland JC-120, I'd be the first to say that it's tone is not as beautiful as those others. In a rowdy bar or even in my home studio however, it sounds fantastic. ~MkF! "You've got a minx on your six!"

Good point: "In a rowby bar" says it all for us gig-whores!!! That'll do just fine for almost all of us!

[Elliott Damage]

I have a Mark I. The cleans are squarely in the Fender camp.

[scott_335]

Hmmm, interesting.

Responses:

sounds like marshall,

sucks,

sounds like a fender.

Thanks!

[freeRadical]

The number one issue for me is headroom and all these "great clean amps" have 0 headroom so they are 100% useless when Im on stage.

 

 

Um... Kind of a blanket statement that is certainly not true of a Twin or a Bassman R.I. with a SS rectifyer (or a JC 120).

 

No hate here. The Mesa cleans are certainly usable, as are Marshall cleans, especially of bands that cover a lot of ground like cover bands wich require two channel amps. People that can't compromise run two amps in a stereo rig. Lugging two amps around isn't practical or affordable for everyone.

 

It's a matter of priority and taste. If clean is your main priority, Mesa and Marshall aren't the first brands that come to mind. If we are talking crunch or gain, the situation might be reversed.

[tubebury/KT88]

Originally posted by freeRadical Um... Kind of a blanket statement that is certainly not true of a Twin or a Bassman R.I. with a SS rectifyer (or a JC 120). No hate here. The Mesa cleans are certainly usable, as are Marshall cleans, especially of bands that cover a lot of ground like cover bands wich require two channel amps. People that can't compromise run two amps in a stereo rig. Lugging two amps around isn't practical or affordable for everyone. It's a matter of priority and taste. If clean is your main priority, Mesa and Marshall aren't the first brands that come to mind. If we are talking crunch or gain, the situation might be reversed.

+1, AND WELL SAID....

[Elliott Damage]

the mark I has clean headroom up to gut shaking levels.

Mesa makes ALOT of amps that sound different.

some have lots of headroom, some don't.

[NITEFLY182]

Originally posted by Elliott Damage the mark I has clean headroom up to gut shaking levels. Mesa makes ALOT of amps that sound different. some have lots of headroom, some don't.

 

 

I have been thinking about a mark I but have never had a chance to hear one. Im concerned that they have a bright cap on the tone stack which is what has been giving me problems with gain pedals and my dual rec.

[Elliott Damage]

Originally posted by NITEFLY182 I have been thinking about a mark I but have never had a chance to hear one. Im concerned that they have a bright cap on the tone stack which is what has been giving me problems with gain pedals and my dual rec.

 

 

I've never had any problems with gain pedals, the sound very good. The bass is massive, it can sound muddy until it's turned up to gig levels.

 

If you want to try it I probably could drive to your place sometime after the holidays.

[NITEFLY182]

Originally posted by Elliott Damage I've never had any problems with gain pedals, the sound very good. The bass is massive, it can sound muddy until it's turned up to gig levels. If you want to try it I probably could drive to your place sometime after the holidays.

 

 

I could dig it, maybe a small MoCo/HoCo/PGCo FX gettogether is in order if there are other dudes nearby. I have a big basement with not a lot of gear currently. Im just looking for a loud clean amp that isnt a Twin. I want a head and I want headroom and a big chimy clean. Something that I can use my menatone pedals with to really experiment with ODs. Is your MKI a reissue?

[Elliott Damage]

Originally posted by NITEFLY182 I could dig it, maybe a small MoCo/HoCo/PGCo FX gettogether is in order if there are other dudes nearby. I have a big basement with not a lot of gear currently. Im just looking for a loud clean amp that isnt a Twin. I want a head and I want headroom and a big chimy clean. Something that I can use my menatone pedals with to really experiment with ODs. Is your MKI a reissue?

 

 

it is a reissue. sounds good to me though.

 

the transformers are huge. it's a quality peice.

 

if a MD get togehter happens, i'll be there.

[L6Sguy]

Originally posted by NITEFLY182 ....I want a head and I want headroom and a big chimy clean. Something that I can use my menatone pedals with to really experiment with ODs....

another vote for checking out an x100-b.


the 6L6 versions (earlier) are clean until 8, at which point you will have decimated your bandmates. not exactly twin reverb cleans, but a speck darker. lots of eq keeps things from sounding too dark/marshally-clean. accutronics reverb. dirt channel like a driven bassman, that keeps getting driven harder. el34 versions offer more gain on the dirt channel (in a jcm800 flavor), but virtually the same clean channel as the older versions (each update was mostly about gain increases).

[metallica_00]

The Recto clean is pretty generic. It's a round tube clean, and it is very clean - no dirt at all, lots of headroom. Does its job, it just lacks some punch and sparkle that a good Fender or Vox might have.

Even Mesa's "cleaner" amps don't sound as nice as the benchmarks, IMO. After playing an AC30, Twin, and DRRI today the Lonestar did not compare.

[NITEFLY182]

Originally posted by L6Sguy another vote for checking out an x100-b. the 6L6 versions (earlier) are clean until 8, at which point you will have decimated your bandmates. not exactly twin reverb cleans, but a speck darker. lots of eq keeps things from sounding too dark/marshally-clean. accutronics reverb. dirt channel like a driven bassman, that keeps getting driven harder. el34 versions offer more gain on the dirt channel (in a jcm800 flavor), but virtually the same clean channel as the older versions (each update was mostly about gain increases).

I have been looking for one as clean as that.

[lostandfoundpdx]

amen on the cravin x100b.... my buddy has a combo version i have been trying to talk him out of for years, my god the cleans are amazing in that amp. simply stunning. the gain is sorta funky, but that's carvin for ya...


my rectoverb had decent cleans, but i ran it on the pushed setting for some breakup, so i guess that tells you what i thought of the clean clean.... pretty sterile.