What's a Mesa Boogie rectifier?

[ruebarb]

I'm thinking of going with a Mesa Boogie head. Lots of my favorite bands use them. It's a more intense tube sound, and there's a lot of configuration/channels...I see one has 3 seperate switchable channels. (If it sounds as good as my POD tries to emulate, I'm sold)

Question...What's the difference between a dual rectifier and triple rectifier? (or single, for that matter) - it's not channels, because both of the new models have 3 channels.

Thanks.
RB

[Bozman]

The only difference in the model that I know of is the power. The single rectifer is 50 watts, double is 100, and triple is 150 watts. I don't know if their are additional features as you go up the line. You should probably check the mesa site.

http://www.mesaboogie.com/index.html

Mark

[Hard2Hear]

The difference is number of available rectifiers and gain stages. You have one with a solid state rectifier, one with a solid state and a tube rectifier, one with solid state and two tube rectifiers.

H2H

[Daddy-O]

You asked, "what's a Mesa Boogie rectifier?".

The same as any other, electrical speaking.....A rectifier is a device that makes AC voltage look like DC voltage to electronic semi conductors by absorbing the negative arch of an AC signwave. AC voltage produces an oscilating wave that sweeps from a negetive voltage to a possitve voltage in repeating cycles. DC voltage is flat no cycles, no waves, a consitant clean flat line.

Electronics, such as guitar amplifiers, opperate on DC voltage. The outlet you plug the amp into is AC voltage. So there has to be some way to turn the AC into DC. AC volage is the wrong voltage for electronic equipment and has to be corrected or rectified.

The reason for more than one rectifier is for various uses. One would be to have rectifier for each channel built into the amp. Another could be to make the AC signal cleaner or more flat by rectifieing the rectified signal and yet another would be to switch from a solid state recitifier to a tube rectifier with the flick of a switch.

Tube vs. solid state[transistors, capacitors, diodes and stuff] is an issue of tone. Old tweed amps from the forties and fifties usualy have tube rectifiers and to some poeple, these amps sound warmer than newer tube amps [like black faced fenders] that have solid state rectifiers. Both do the same job, just in different ways.

So having a tube and solid state rectifiers in the same amp is a marketing thing to offer amps with more tone choices/ selections.

[Bill E. Boy]

Originally Posted by ruebarb

I'm thinking of going with a Mesa Boogie head. Lots of my favorite bands use them. It's a more intense tube sound, and there's a lot of configuration/channels...I see one has 3 seperate switchable channels. (If it sounds as good as my POD tries to emulate, I'm sold)

Question...What's the difference between a dual rectifier and triple rectifier? (or single, for that matter) - it's not channels, because both of the new models have 3 channels.

Thanks.
RB

I dont know the Electronics talk, but let me tell you about the Spirit part. I used to have a pod pro. It sounded pretty damn good for a modeler, but my buddy bought a (Rectifier) Road King, and I traded that pod in the next day for a tube amp. 2 years later I finally have a Dual Rec Roadster and man o man it's the real thing. The Pod sounded evil and had a disagreeable demeanor, the Roadster wants to eat my 4 year old, and has tried.

[ggunn]

This is the way I understand it. If it is wrong, I am sure someone will correct me:

The rectifier circuit, along with the filter caps and power transformer, are what converts the 110 volt (or 220 volt in Europe) alternating current that comes from the wall outlet to a much higher voltage direct current that is the energy source for the tubes. As you play, the tubes, especially the power tubes, pull and modulate current through the rectifier and feed it to the output transformer which drives the speakers.

There is a limit to the amount of instantaneous current which a rectifier can supply to the power tubes, so when you demand a lot of volume from the amp, the voltage output of the rectifier can drop (sag) as it approaches its current supply limit. To, um, rectify this situation, some amplifiers have more than one rectifier circuit operating in parallel, so that the current demand under strain is shared amongst them and the voltage does not sag as much.

[travelin travis]

damn metal heads don't know a good sag when they hear one.

[gcapel]

most overrated guitar amp of all time

[dwarf]

An over hyped over priced peice of gear

....GO HANDMADE http://www.sherlockamps.com/products/headsproducts.htm

Ohh I'm getting moist just thinking about it.

Hang on i gota go shoot of a load real quick

[dwarf]

Originally Posted by gcapel

most overrated guitar amp of all time

Ha, you beat me to the punch

rep coming your way

[rory]

Originally Posted by gcapel

most overrated guitar amp of all time

Damn right man. Where in NC do you live? I'm in Greensboro, probably not too far from you.

Rory

[gcapel]

Originally Posted by rory

Damn right man. Where in NC do you live? I'm in Greensboro, probably not too far from you.

Rory

I live about an 1-1/2 hours away in a small town called "New London".

I have a friend that lives your way, more in the winston area though.

[mikemorgan]

If your want the Mesa Rectifier "sound", just buy a Road King, you are done!

[Outlaws]

Originally Posted by TravisinFlorida

damn metal heads don't know a good sag when they hear one.

No kidding.




But seriously....the multiple rectifiers are there for sag options. Not for any of the other reasons about channel changing.
The solid state rec is there for immediate in your face punch, the one tube rec is there for the good sag of a tube rec, and the dual tubes rec (which is in the TripleRec) is there for more of the punch of a solid state but with some of the tube sag. The old '59 Bassman had a two tube rectifier. The TripleRec offers all three options. The DualRec only offers a single tube rec and a solid state (so Dual refers to two options not two tubes), and the SingleRec is one of them...I forget which...but it is either SS or one tube.

But the 3 Mesa amps also have the power ratings increase along with the rec options so you have a 50 watt, 100 watt, and 150 watt model.



IMO all three are overrated and played out. But I always likes the silky smooth squishiness of Marshall over the ear piercing definition of a Mesa.