Triple Recs with Pulled Tubes to recreate a Dual Rec?.....

[Rectified in 95]

Hi guys, I'm in the process of trying to locate a good used Rectifier head and I had a quick question. I'm either going for the dual or the triple rec as opposed to the single. My question is about having a triple and pulling a pair of power tubes....

If you had a triple and dual rec of same age next to each other, and pulled a pair of power tubes from the triple, could you notice a difference between them at that point? Or will that that essentially make them identical heads?

The reason why I ask is if I can pick up a triple at a decent price and have the ability to step it down to a dual that would be a nice option. Obviously if I bought a dual I wouldn't have that luxury. So if pulling 2 power tubes is safe and recreates a dual, then I think I'm going to try and find a triple.

In addition to the extra power tubes in the triple, is there a pre-amp tube(s) that would also need pulled so as to not hurt anything or create uneven wear of some sort? -I guess I'm almost equating it to pulling 2 plug wires on an 8 cylinder engine. Over time that would definitely create uneven wear. I just wonder if there's any similarities with pulling 2 power tubes in a triple rec.

Thanks guys! I appreciate it!

 

[Elpelotero]

you can not pull tubes on a triple rectifier. only on a dual rectifier. there's a technical issue with the ohms, if i remember from a discusion had on here several months ago.

honestly, i personally can not justify the need for 150watts. 100watts alone is unbearably loud. i once had my rectifier on at 1/8 volume thru a 4x12 inside my house and my 75 year old grandfather heard me going inside his car at the end of the block!

 

[Rectified in 95]

Uh oh... I hope some others chime in on this one to confirm or deny this about pulling tubes on a triple rec. I'm glad you mention that because I was fairly sure it was going to be safe but I figured I would post here to get some feedback.

On a side note, I'm going to need to know if your grandfather had the windows down in the car as he was a block away. Because that will play a factor into my decision as to which rectifier to buy. :wink:

I'm just kidding with you. Actually that's a neat little story. I'll reply with one too. A friend was a drummer in a band back in 1995 when I heard my first Dual Rectifier. The band converted a smaller sized dining room and living room area into a practice area which also doubled as a professional recording studio. Between my buddy the drummer, the bass player and 2 guitarists, everyone was within 8-10ft of each other's equipment. Each guitarist had a 4x12 with a Dual Rec sitting proudly on top. The bass player had a 4x10 on top of either a 15 or 18 cab. On top of that was the PA System. Which thankfully only vocals were going through it!

Needless to say it was quite an experience to walk inside and check out a practice. It was absolutely mandatory that you wore ear plugs and you weren't allow to open the front door of the house until they were in between songs so the sound wouldn't bother the neighbors (as much!) But you could still hear the siding buzzing from 5 houses down the street.

Thanks for the message! I appreciate it! Hopefully some others will have some additional info for me about this tube situation. Talk to you later!

 

[NoGlassNoClass]

-I guess I'm almost equating it to pulling 2 plug wires on an 8 cylinder engine. Over time that would definitely create uneven wear. I just wonder if there's any similarities with pulling 2 power tubes in a triple rec.

Over time sure...but it will run like **** immediately. Enjoy the horsepower of the mighty Triple. Leave the tubes in and just turn the channel masters down if you need lower volume. Aside from being a little louder than the Dual, the extra headroom of those 150 watts gives deeper, tighter bass response and a crisper clean channel.

And when you do get the opportunity to crank it up... :shock: 8)

 

[MesaENGR412]

Last weekend I had my triple 12 o'clocked with both channels 2 and 3 masters and the loop-active output in the straight vertical position. It was awesome.......my band recently rented a storage room to start practicing in, so I can crank it as loud as I want. There's nothing like having 150 watts moving your pants as you blast some 'tallica riffs sky high!!!

-AJH

 

[Wingee]

Actually, I've got a triple too and when I bought it wondered if I could pull tubes to make it a dual and I emailed mesa. One of their product specialists told me this:

You can pull the 2 OUTSIDE power tubes (# 1 & 6) & one Rectifier tube
(doesn't matter which one). This will bring the amp to 100watts.

He didn't mention anything about ohmage issues. Although I wondered if I was using the silicone diodes whether it would be a problem, but thought that if there was he would've told me! I haven't tried it yet, but was going to so anybody who knows any details I would like to know if there's any problems with the above setup!

 

[ytse_jam]

Actually, I've got a triple too and when I bought it wondered if I could pull tubes to make it a dual and I emailed mesa. One of their product specialists told me this:

You can pull the 2 OUTSIDE power tubes (# 1 & 6) & one Rectifier tube
(doesn't matter which one). This will bring the amp to 100watts.

He didn't mention anything about ohmage issues. Although I wondered if I was using the silicone diodes whether it would be a problem, but thought that if there was he would've told me! I haven't tried it yet, but was going to so anybody who knows any details I would like to know if there's any problems with the above setup!

I also thought you could do it only with the dual... What do the manuals (of both the dual and triple) say?

 

[Wingee]

They share the same manual. It only states in the manual that it could be done with a dual rec, which is why I asked Mesa direct. Looking at some other threads, it seems people have pulled two tubes with the triple without problems. Also, somebody mentioned they're using the silicone diodes with 4 tubes in a triple with no problems. And you can use either 4ohm or 8ohm out of the head into an 8ohm cab.

 

[MesallicA]

Ive heard you can pull tubes in a triple rec.

 

[domct203]

Yes you can pull 2 tubes (the outside pair), I tried this a few times for smaller bars and clubs. If you use Tube Rectifier then pull 1 rect. tube also. (got that info from MESA)

It does mess with the ohms at the OT, There really is no proper match, but the slight mis-match is fine for the Triple. This will however slightly affect the dynamics.

And to answer one of your original questions, the Triple at 100W will sound slightly different than the Dual. Not alot different, but the ohms mis-match at the OT in the Triple will have alot to do with it. My bass player actually perfered the sound of my Triple @ 100W (I think it's because @ 150W he felt I could almost bury his amp in the mix :lol: )

There is really not alot of difference in the volume of a Dual and Triple (about 3dB), and if you are going to use effects in the loop or play some clean, I recommend the Triple for the added headroom.

Dom

 

[Rectified in 95]

Thanks for the responses guys. If Mesa says you can pull the outer 2 tubes and one rectifier tube, then I guess it's a safe thing to do. I am going to pick up a triple if I can catch one for a good price. I'll still give mesa a quick call one more time to double check it's ok before I do it. With the amount of money I'm in the process of spending between my 4x12 and the triple rec, there's no way I'm going to make a mistake and damage anything. Thanks again! Always appreciated!

 

[mrdylan]

I have also heard of someone who did it but I am too afraid to try it myself. Too many mixed answers on it. He states he never had an issue and prefered the sound.

Pulling the 2 splits the ohms to 1/3rd instead of in half like on the Dual so far I have not heard enough "yeah I have done it for a long time" answers to make me venture into giving it a try.

I kinda like the headroom my Triple gives me though too I was hoping to try this at home for practice.

 

[jbird]

Thanks for the responses guys. If Mesa says you can pull the outer 2 tubes and one rectifier tube, then I guess it's a safe thing to do. I am going to pick up a triple if I can catch one for a good price. I'll still give mesa a quick call one more time to double check it's ok before I do it. With the amount of money I'm in the process of spending between my 4x12 and the triple rec, there's no way I'm going to make a mistake and damage anything. Thanks again! Always appreciated.
By pulling tubes from a Triple, you are not replicating a Dual! If your needs are that of a 100 watt amp, so be it! Because you think you have 150 watts available, does'nt make it a bargain if your not using them, it's exactly the opposite, and I'm not talking monetarily!

 

[Elpelotero]

Thanks for the responses guys. If Mesa says you can pull the outer 2 tubes and one rectifier tube, then I guess it's a safe thing to do. I am going to pick up a triple if I can catch one for a good price. I'll still give mesa a quick call one more time to double check it's ok before I do it. With the amount of money I'm in the process of spending between my 4x12 and the triple rec, there's no way I'm going to make a mistake and damage anything. Thanks again! Always appreciated.
By pulling tubes from a Triple, you are not replicating a Dual! If your needs are that of a 100 watt amp, so be it! Because you think you have 150 watts available, does'nt make it a bargain if your not using them, it's exactly the opposite, and I'm not talking monetarily!

+1 !!