Cleaning up a single rectifier
Moderators: Guitarzan, Grandor, ned, Platypus
Cleaning up a single rectifier
Running a 50 watt single rec into a Mesa 4x12 oversized cab. Using a schecter C1 Custom as my main.
Straight to the point.
I'm just not getting the cleans I thought I would have with this thing.
I tried dialing back the gain while pushing the volumes, doing the opposite, cutting the mids, boosting the mids, turning down my guitar, etc but the cleans don't want to stay clean.
I see many ska guitarists using Mesas and getting a nice clean tone, so what is going on with my amp?
Straight to the point.
I'm just not getting the cleans I thought I would have with this thing.
I tried dialing back the gain while pushing the volumes, doing the opposite, cutting the mids, boosting the mids, turning down my guitar, etc but the cleans don't want to stay clean.
I see many ska guitarists using Mesas and getting a nice clean tone, so what is going on with my amp?
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- Mark III
- Posts: 200
- Joined: Tue Aug 04, 2009 5:28 am
- Location: Germany
Re: Cleaning up a single rectifier
Well, is the channel not clean at all or is it just breaking up too early?
If it stays clean to a certain amount, what are your settings then? Make sure pushed mode is not active ... maybe the switch is broken?
If it stays clean to a certain amount, what are your settings then? Make sure pushed mode is not active ... maybe the switch is broken?
Re: Cleaning up a single rectifier
Keep the gain below noon, scoop out the mids, treble and presence around 1-2oclock, bass around 10oclock. Those settings, in general, will be pretty "Fendery"; clean and bright enough for ska.
Gain as it approaches noon (and beyond) not only starts to clip and compress, but starts rolling off high end.
Treble and Mid controls act as gain controls for their respective frequency ranges, so pushing them too far will causing clipping even at moderate gain settings. Use the bass control sparingly - too much low end will eat up headroom and cause clipping as well.
Could just be that amp isn't for you?
Gain as it approaches noon (and beyond) not only starts to clip and compress, but starts rolling off high end.
Treble and Mid controls act as gain controls for their respective frequency ranges, so pushing them too far will causing clipping even at moderate gain settings. Use the bass control sparingly - too much low end will eat up headroom and cause clipping as well.
Could just be that amp isn't for you?
Guitars:
Ibanez '98 RG7620 (EMG 81-7H, 60-7H)
Amps:
Triple Recto 3CH (modded), Studio Preamp (MK2C+ mods), 2x12 Recto Vertical cab
Past:
Mark V head, Rectoverb series 2 combo, F-30 combo, V-Twin rack pre
Ibanez '98 RG7620 (EMG 81-7H, 60-7H)
Amps:
Triple Recto 3CH (modded), Studio Preamp (MK2C+ mods), 2x12 Recto Vertical cab
Past:
Mark V head, Rectoverb series 2 combo, F-30 combo, V-Twin rack pre
Re: Cleaning up a single rectifier
This is what its at right now.dtrax wrote:Keep the gain below noon, scoop out the mids, treble and presence around 1-2oclock, bass around 10oclock. Those settings, in general, will be pretty "Fendery"; clean and bright enough for ska.
The amp seems to be breaking up too early, but its not power amplifier gain. Its like the preamp is instantly overloaded, even though my guitar's pickups are not active. Rolling the volume down doesn't do much good. Just makes my tone weak and tinny.UnderJollyRoger wrote:Well, is the channel not clean at all or is it just breaking up too early?
If it stays clean to a certain amount, what are your settings then? Make sure pushed mode is not active ... maybe the switch is broken?
I want to sound like streetlight manifesto's clean, and the guitarist in that band uses a dual rec with an orange 4x12. This can't be much different. My practice volumes are usually quite low.
Re: Cleaning up a single rectifier
Ch1 has a good amount of headroom. Something sounds wrong.
Did you rule out bad tubes? Ch1 uses V1 and V2 for gain stages.
Are the overdrive channels working properly?
Did you rule out bad tubes? Ch1 uses V1 and V2 for gain stages.
Are the overdrive channels working properly?
Guitars:
Ibanez '98 RG7620 (EMG 81-7H, 60-7H)
Amps:
Triple Recto 3CH (modded), Studio Preamp (MK2C+ mods), 2x12 Recto Vertical cab
Past:
Mark V head, Rectoverb series 2 combo, F-30 combo, V-Twin rack pre
Ibanez '98 RG7620 (EMG 81-7H, 60-7H)
Amps:
Triple Recto 3CH (modded), Studio Preamp (MK2C+ mods), 2x12 Recto Vertical cab
Past:
Mark V head, Rectoverb series 2 combo, F-30 combo, V-Twin rack pre
Re: Cleaning up a single rectifier
Try Tung Sol in V1
Mesa Boogie 2001 3 Channel Dual Rectifier
Ampeg 4x12 Cab
Gibson 2006 Les Paul Studio
https://soundcloud.com/authoritydrive
Ampeg 4x12 Cab
Gibson 2006 Les Paul Studio
https://soundcloud.com/authoritydrive
Re: Cleaning up a single rectifier
Another thing to watch out for is the channel master. Run it too high and it will clip the proceeding gain stages (FX loop, PI) even with low Gain settings. That's actually my issue in a live setting, because I tend to run my high gain channel master at noon on Modern mode (which is incredibly loud compared to other modes that use NFB). I all but have to max CH1's master to balanced clean/drive volumes, so my "clean" sound has plenty of breakup.
Also, the FX send level (back of the amp) should be kept at noon, give or take, for proper gain staging. If that's too high it will clip as well.
If all your settings are A-Ok, it's probably (hopefully) a preamp tube issue.
Also, the FX send level (back of the amp) should be kept at noon, give or take, for proper gain staging. If that's too high it will clip as well.
If all your settings are A-Ok, it's probably (hopefully) a preamp tube issue.
Guitars:
Ibanez '98 RG7620 (EMG 81-7H, 60-7H)
Amps:
Triple Recto 3CH (modded), Studio Preamp (MK2C+ mods), 2x12 Recto Vertical cab
Past:
Mark V head, Rectoverb series 2 combo, F-30 combo, V-Twin rack pre
Ibanez '98 RG7620 (EMG 81-7H, 60-7H)
Amps:
Triple Recto 3CH (modded), Studio Preamp (MK2C+ mods), 2x12 Recto Vertical cab
Past:
Mark V head, Rectoverb series 2 combo, F-30 combo, V-Twin rack pre
Re: Cleaning up a single rectifier
I tried swapping tubes, but no luck. Some of the tubes actually made it sound worse.
I don't understand what is happening. It always sounds overloaded even when I turn down my volume on my guitar down to almost nothing.
Its just a gritty yucky clean.
I don't understand what is happening. It always sounds overloaded even when I turn down my volume on my guitar down to almost nothing.
Its just a gritty yucky clean.
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- Mark III
- Posts: 200
- Joined: Tue Aug 04, 2009 5:28 am
- Location: Germany
Re: Cleaning up a single rectifier
Did you double check your guitar? Cable? Maybe there is something wrong?
Apart from that, sounds a little like a job for the shop ...
Apart from that, sounds a little like a job for the shop ...
Re: Cleaning up a single rectifier
What kind of pickups are you using? I find hotter pickups make it hard to get a really pristine clean on my single.
- tele twister
- Mark II
- Posts: 67
- Joined: Sun Oct 06, 2013 10:41 pm
- Location: Illinois, USA
Re: Cleaning up a single rectifier
I would have to agree with that.silentbob wrote:What kind of pickups are you using? I find hotter pickups make it hard to get a really pristine clean on my single.
Hum buckers would only get close to "clean" for me.
If I needed clean, clean*, I had to use single coils.
*What some folks refer to as clean (like that MXR dude, with the pointy beard),
others may find slightly gritty, like a five o'clock shadow.
To me, clean means No $hit clean.
'02 ROV 50 II Combo