Single / Dual / Triple Rectifier

[SilverSurfer]

Mine sounded like ass out of the box too. But, that's because one of the power tubes was loose from the base.

I didn't have time to pull it apart. I just figured all Mesa Triples sounded like that. Especially when the other brand new triple sounded the same We didn't think that both could possibly have tube issues but then again, they were never checked so I can't say for sure.

I dunno if the cabs matter. They were your standard 1960 JCM cab with 75 watt celestions.

 

[Farview]

Off the shelf Marshalls?

In the studio he used a bunch of different amps (mostly Marshalls of different vintages) Live he uses Marshalls but he has a rack full of stuff that the guitar goes through first. I'm not sure if they are modified, I doubt it because he doesn't get most of his distortion from the amp anyway.

 

[SilverSurfer]

In the studio he used a bunch of different amps (mostly Marshalls of different vintages) Live he uses Marshalls but he has a rack full of stuff that the guitar goes through first. I'm not sure if they are modified, I doubt it because he doesn't get most of his distortion from the amp anyway.

Hmm, I wonder if they use Marshall Preamps and would a Marshall Pre-Amp be better to record direct with?

 

[Farview]

The marshall preamps aren't very good for recording, there is no cabinet emulation. The main reason people use those is to run several cabs from several power amps, or in combination with other preamps as part of a Bradshaw system type rig. I'm not a big fan of them even when used with the Marshall power amp. There is no interaction between the pre and power sections with this configuration and the sound suffers.

 

[SilverSurfer]

Then why are guys touting the Mesa preamp? Same concept, right?

 

[guhlenn]

never liked the preamp poweramp thing too much. And marshall CAN do the chugga chugga thing. I know.

It's like been said earlier; some ball-breakin action is just too good too pass up ! Ofoucrse you may think the rectifier soudns like ass. GOd knows the way some kids use em they do!

 

[SilverSurfer]

never liked the preamp poweramp thing too much. And marshall CAN do the chugga chugga thing. I know.

It's like been said earlier; some ball-breakin action is just too good too pass up ! Ofoucrse you may think the rectifier soudns like ass. GOd knows the way some kids use em they do!

I know, I know. I was honest in the fact that I had not enough time to really tweak the amp. We spent 2 hours with the Triples and couldn't get a "brown" sound out of them no matter what we tried. The "classic" switch (or whatever it's called) helped a bit.

I've always heard the Marshall's don't "chugga" well because of the cab set up. The mesa cabs, IMHO, do that low end chugga better.

However, I have heard a Mark IV and if I could find one, I'd buy it now. The two I heard were rack mounts and sounded as Brown as my 30th. But I like the fact they were rack mounts. The only downside was it was EXTREMELY HEAVY and not suited for gigs we'd have to fly to.

 

[Farview]

Then why are guys touting the Mesa preamp? Same concept, right?

There are a bunch of mesa preamps, the recording one works well for recording and pretty good with a power amp. The triaxis doesn't work at all for direct recording but it is a midi controlable preamp that 'rewires' itself to get different sounds and works well with a Bradshaw type setup. (this is what Petrucci uses).

I don't know why the boogies tend to work better as a preamp / power amp type setup. I think it is because Mesa designs all their stuff seperately. They don't just take the same circuit and cut it up into 2 different rack units.

I am however very fond of their (tube) power amps. If you take that pod of yours and run it into a mesa 90/90 and into a cab, you will hurt people.

 

[-=¤willhaven¤=-]

I've always heard the Marshall's don't "chugga" well because of the cab set up. The mesa cabs, IMHO, do that low end chugga better.

very much so... and yeah, the cab is heavy as shit too. especially when it has the 1/4" chrome side armor bolted to the sides



someone mentioned bradshaws. you guys ever seen the Rocktron All Access pedal board? in conjunction with their Patch Mate, you can have a fully midi controlled stomp box switcher.

the guy from the deftones uses them and i have been contemplating getting one for years. about a year ago i tested my tone plugging directly into the head instead of through a bunch of pedals and the difference in sound was IMMENSE. old stomp effect boxes (electro harmonix in particular) are usually never a "true bypass" system. you often get some retrograde signal from the box that soaks up your tone and makes your rig sound flat. i figure, with a bradshaw-like setup, you would only have the effects you need in the loop at any time, AND you could turn them all on or off with one button instead of having to dapdance all over your friggin pedal board.

it would also take you from having a gurney-sized pedal board to something relatively small since all your effect boxes would be with your amp instead of on the floor. shorter cables + only the necessary effects in the loop at one time = better tone

or at least i would imagine

anyone have experience with these before?

 

[guhlenn]

I use custom made cabs. 2 2x12"(not a typ-o) Stuffed with hifi speaker insulation. The jcm800 cabs seem to do good to to my ears, and the ENGL V30 cabs are great too. I would like to try out orange... someday my friend...

Currently, i just moved and i hate being a materialistic sob... I had to drag too many shit around. That spoils all the fun of having lots a speakers and amps.

 

[SilverSurfer]

I use custom made cabs. 2 2x12"(not a typ-o) Stuffed with hifi speaker insulation. The jcm800 cabs seem to do good to to my ears, and the ENGL V30 cabs are great too. I would like to try out orange... someday my friend...

Currently, i just moved and i hate being a materialistic sob... I had to drag too many shit around. That spoils all the fun of having lots a speakers and amps.

I run a JCM900 cab but the 75 watt celestions have been replaced by vintage 30s which sound a LOT better and help really bring the tone out on the 6100.

 

[Whoopysnorp]

A bit off topic, but why exactly is it that people hate on the JCM900s so much? I've never actually played one, but the guitarist from Call Me Lightning uses one, and I think his tone is fantastic (he uses a Telecaster). I've never actually used a JCM800 either; I have a newer TSL601. So compared to that, what exactly is the deal with the JCM900?

 

[SilverSurfer]

A bit off topic, but why exactly is it that people hate on the JCM900s so much? I've never actually played one, but the guitarist from Call Me Lightning uses one, and I think his tone is fantastic (he uses a Telecaster). I've never actually used a JCM800 either; I have a newer TSL601. So compared to that, what exactly is the deal with the JCM900?

If you play with a lot of distortion, the JCM900's tone just blows for that. Even the clean on mine was terrible. It was, IMHO, the worst amp I've seen come from Marshall. I tried different tubes, had my amp biased, etc and could never get a good tone out of it. I talked to many 900 owners who experienced the same thing. I haven't checked Harmony-Central but I am willing to be the 900 didn't score good marks there either.

I have owned a JCM800, JCM900, DSL100, TSL100 and now finally settled on the 30th Anniversary. I would like a Plexi though in my future, a Mesa Mark IV (if I can find one) and another Blue Tolex 30th as a back up. I'd like to have a highly modified JCM800 too (with a Jose type of Mod).

 

[Farview]

The jcm 900's had a diode clipping circuit built into it (in an attempt to add distortion) The amps were much scratchier and screechier than the jcm 800's.
The trick to getting a usable sound out of one is turning the presence all the way down.

 

[guhlenn]

I too think the jcm900 series was a mistake, although i heard some positive results when replacing tubes and speakers. The 900 cabs are plain awful IMHO.

I like that the DSL has the more ballsy 800 like tone AND a monstous highgain. I don't like the lower gain switch on the high gain channel, too 80's rock for me. To me it is a two trick pony that really excells in the two... LOL

The 800 had diode clipping too btu that never bothered me. The 900 where thin sounding and just didn't do anything to me. I really love the way the DSL low gain channel records. High gain is, to me, a difficult sound too capture.

 

[Farview]

The really late 800's had the diode clipping. Marshall has a habit of changing the amps before they change the names.

 

[guhlenn]

LOL. What I really dont understand is why there aren't more people using low wattage tube amps. My 100 watt was a youth thing... (the sales rep talked me into it by selling the 10 for the same amount as the 50... to me, at that point, tat seemed like getting more for less...)

Glenn

 

[Farview]

The hundred watters have more headroom and don't squish as much. If you like a lot of back end squish, use the low wattage amp.

 

[tubedude]

Yeah, for live band situations, anything less than 100 watts just squishes way too much for me. I like lots of wide open headroom, where it sounds the same at 1 as it does at 7, only louder.
The JCM900 is just another example of Marshalls crappy QC. I had one that sounded ok, I've heard some that sounded kind of bad, and on rare occasion, one sounded fantastic. Its weird how they cant seem to get them all the same. Something weird with that. The DSL are decent sounding amps though. And none of the Marshalls are any better than my Mesa, though some are worse. That brown sound one dude speaks of that other amps cant get arent exactly what everyone wants I'm sure. What I want, I have, and the only further thing I desire tonewise, is that Bogner midrange grunt thing that is just incredible. Really incredible.

 

[guhlenn]

I like the 100 watts at 8 though. That just rips. But ofcourse i know the advantage of headroom, it's just that i personally haven't heard a marshall that sounds as good at 1 as it does at 7. The DSL has a minimum of 3, although higher is definately better IMHO.