John Petrucci Amp...

[fox69]

What can l say???? l was having major problems with amps at the time, and was under alot of pressure from my band mates to get an amp, l tried it out and l just said "Yeah whatever, i just need an amp, NOW", and l got rolled BIGTIME!!!!!!!!

Scott.

I had a dual recto ages ago (~$2000 AUD 2nd hand), and it was set up with EL34 power tubes - great sound, a bit loose and coming apart but sounded heaps better than how lifeless 6L6's seem to sound in those amps.

I also just found this link: http://www.eurotubes.com/euro-n.htm which mentions some more options for selecting and setting the mesa tube amps up (including the recto).

Anyway, don't give up on it just yet as the sound you're after could still be in the amp somewhere - looks like you payed enough $'s to deserve getting a great tone.

[slukather]

I had a dual recto ages ago (~$2000 AUD 2nd hand), and it was set up with EL34 power tubes - great sound, a bit loose and coming apart but sounded heaps better than how lifeless 6L6's seem to sound in those amps.

I also just found this link: http://www.eurotubes.com/euro-n.htm which mentions some more options for selecting and setting the mesa tube amps up (including the recto).

Anyway, don't give up on it just yet as the sound you're after could still be in the amp somewhere - looks like you payed enough $'s to deserve getting a great tone.

Yeah they cost a fortune, l bought mine brand new ($4600), since you've menitioned Eurotubes, Bob there seems to be a really helpful guy, and l love how JJ's sound, from my last amp that is. But l agree with Bob when he says the bias is set too cold, cause thats what l've found too. But l don't think l could afford buying tubes hoping it's gonna sound better, l have JJ 6l6's in the power amp atm, and l'm kinds broke atm, l put all my money into this amp, and l loaned some from a mate, and l'm still paying him back. I'll more than likely sell the Dual Rec and get a JSX, l put them side by side, and the JSX was more fuller, didn't sound so stale/empty, as a matter of fact it blew the Mesa out of the water, l'll give peavey this, they make great amps, but sh!t guitars, l also tried a Rivera Knucklehead a couple of months before l bought the mesa, but l passed on it, as l thought l loved the mesa, but l did love the sound of the Rivera, l also passed up a chance to get a Bonehead, which l've heard is a mean amp.

But you wouldn't to happen know how much these go for second hand here in Aus? (It's the 3 channel dual rec. l've had it since October last year, it's still brand new) l've had some offers, but they are just laughable, stupid kids. hehe.

I'm glad you like yours, l just don't dig it what so ever, and thanks for the suggestions too.

Scott.

[robelinda2]

What can l say???? l was having major problems with amps at the time, and was under alot of pressure from my band mates to get an amp, l tried it out and l just said "Yeah whatever, i just need an amp, NOW", and l got rolled BIGTIME!!!!!!!!

Scott.

get it from Billy Hyde did you? if so, i'm not surprised they didnt sell you the best amp for you......

[slukather]

get it from Billy Hyde did you? if so, i'm not surprised they didnt sell you the best amp for you......

Yeah l got it from Billy Hydes in flemington, l'm sure they get paid to say Mesa Boogie are the best amps, but anyway, l learned the hard way.

Scott.

[robelinda2]

poor bugger, thats a whole lot of cash to waste on a bad sounding amp, i must say, i've never understood the Mesa amps, they all sound like trash to me. really nasal metal type osund, horrible clean sounds. i guess i'm a Fender amp guy, but i love my Marshall Bluesbreaker combo. classic rock sound is me i guess.

[slukather]

poor bugger, thats a whole lot of cash to waste on a bad sounding amp, i must say, i've never understood the Mesa amps, they all sound like trash to me. really nasal metal type osund, horrible clean sounds. i guess i'm a Fender amp guy, but i love my Marshall Bluesbreaker combo. classic rock sound is me i guess.

Exactly what they sound like, i'm more after a rock type, Toto/King's X Gretchen type sound, but there's not that much out there to try, Mesa (won't buy another one), Marshall (new one's suck ass), Randall (the mts series are great, l just had a bad experience with these amps,) and it happened before l bought the mesa, which is one of the reasons l rushed into buying it, Peavey (great amps, l guess people don't like them because they are not really a well know brand and don't cost a fortune, l love the JSX), Line 6 (too digital), Fender (never really tried them out, l must give them a go), ENGL (they are metal amps), the thing is alot of amps are for the metal players, well thats what l find, every now and then you find a jem, but l'm just after a nice, warm rock sound.

Scott.

[robelinda2]

couldnt agree more, most shops sell either new metal amps for teens, or expensive vintage amps for old folks. in my mind, peavey, Laney and some of the fenders are the go, i have a DeVille 60w 4x10 Fender that i think is way underrated, its a great amp. The Laney stuff is so cool too, just great pure sounding amps. i tried a THD amp the other day, its was pretty good too. The new marshalls are just crapola.....my 97 Bluesbreaker sounds fabulous. no gain channel, just plug in and beautiful clean/slightly dirty sounds too. i think any amp worth its own ass has to sound good clean, if you cant plug in and get a good clean sound straight away it aint worth it.....

[slukather]

couldnt agree more, most shops sell either new metal amps for teens, or expensive vintage amps for old folks. in my mind, peavey, Laney and some of the fenders are the go, i have a DeVille 60w 4x10 Fender that i think is way underrated, its a great amp. The Laney stuff is so cool too, just great pure sounding amps. i tried a THD amp the other day, its was pretty good too. The new marshalls are just crapola.....my 97 Bluesbreaker sounds fabulous. no gain channel, just plug in and beautiful clean/slightly dirty sounds too. i think any amp worth its own ass has to sound good clean, if you cant plug in and get a good clean sound straight away it aint worth it.....

The next time l'm out and about, l'll have to check out some Fender amps, but l'm leaning towards a Peavey atm, but l just have to sell this Mesa before l do anything else.

Thanks for the advice and help,

Cheers,

Scott.

[robelinda2]

yep the peavey's sound ace, the jsx is awesome, and the valve king too.

[Philip]

IMHO the only Mesa amps that are worth anything are Lonestar and Mark IV. The second one is a damn hard to tweak so you have to be patient or lucky. I don't dig Rectos at all

[AlanJR]

I've had the same Mark IV for the last 9 years. I've only had to replace the preamp tubes once on it and the power tubes three times. The last time I took my amp in to get tubes put in, the guy suggested that I try out Svetlanas for both the Preamp and the Power slots.

I've been completely content with my tone ever since. What's more is that I picked up a MMJP6 (it's now my main axe whereas before, I was using a '78 Les Paul Custom) and added that to the mix and I now have huge balls coming out of that thing.

Before the Svetlanas, I wasn't ever really thrilled with the sound that was coming out of my amp, now I think it's perfect.

[daveziemba]

Sure boogies are expensive but what amps arent. I just picked up a Bogner Uberschall and jeez that was costly , tommorow I am off to Rochester to pick a Custom Audio Electronics 3+se preamp . Any Bradshaw amp guys out there? I have had my dual recto for years and it's a great metal amp , ****ty clean sound. Bought and sold the Mesa road king cause it was a lemon, the Funny part is I use a Line 6 vetta some times and It's a fraction of the cost... For me there's no one amp , still looking for "that sound"

here's the rig

[Colin]

It's a shame that Trace Elliot don't make guitar amps anymore. I have a speed twin 100w head with a vintage celestion loaded quad box. It will run 6L6 or EL34 and will go 100w 75w 50w or 25w. I'm running it at 25w stereo. The effects loop will run series or parallel and it has two master volumes.

[mcvinyl]

+1 for the Trace Elliot.

Col's Speed Twin sounds great, it nails all tones beautifully. The variable voltage is great too. I've got my eye out for one.

I've got a Trace Elliot Velocette and it's great too. I took it over to Colin's a few weeks ago and we couldn't get a bad sound out of it. My Axis Sport sounds like it was just made to play through this amp.

Simon