Single / Dual / Triple Rectifier

[boingoman]

As to the original qusetion, the biggest difference between the single, duel and tri is the number of channels.

Actually that is not the case.

In a sense, since they all sound kinda the same, you are sort of right. And actually come closer to anwering the original question than I did. The only exception is the single, with only a diode rectifier. It is not as varied, tonally.

The sonic differences they do have come from different power levels and gain stage designs, and rectifier options.

But the original idea behind the single/dual/triple is the number of rectifiers/rectifier tubes, not number of channels.


Sorry if I didn't make that clear in my other post, the technical vs. sonic aspects.

The single uses one diode rectifier. It currently has two channels. This is the odd man out, as it does not offer the tube rectifier option. Pure diode rectifier rawk!

The dual uses two rectifier tubes, one for each pair of output tubes. It currently has three channels.

The triple uses three rectifier tubes, one for each set of output tubes. It also has three channels.

The concept is that the multiple rectifier tubes keep some of the warmth and compression of tube rectifiers, while not letting the amp sag at high power levels.

Since the dual and triple also offer the diode option, they could be called the triple and the quad.

The spongy/bold switch is essentially a built-in variac, which starves the amp for voltage in spongy mode, browning up the sound ala EVH. It has a different sound, as Marshalls and Mesas sound different, but the idea is the same.

Dogfood, you posted about a reverb/tremolo model. That was the Trem-O-Verb, the best sounding Rectifier amp they made, IMO.

 

[boingoman]

Well, we had the techs and about 50 years of guitar experience and NONE of us could make the amps sound worth a crap tuned to E440. It's not me bro, it's the crappy amps Mesa makes.

It takes me about 15 seconds to get a good tone from a Marshall. Why does it take 2 hours for Mesa?! Uh, I think the answer is obvious.

Maybe it was the fact that E isn't 440. That would be A. Maybe you should have had 51 years of experience instead.

 

[guhlenn]

Silversurfer is probably 15 and having a blast here. Just ignore him. Anyone that does not at least respect the fact that all brands above say 1000,-sound good in their own right is a freakin idiot. Sure YOU may like the marshall better and someone else the mesa. I have both and both are good (it's not like the mesa can do the marshall thing).

But i have to say that silversurfer is the most ignorant and arrogant person I read all fucking year. That you thought the "classic" switch was a marshall switch shows just how ignorant you are. Stick to marshall, since mesa require some sort of ear for good tone... it can do many things. Marshall is a set and forget amp. And that the rest of the guitarists in your band didn't get a good sound either is pretty logical, since idiots tend to group.

To the orignal poster; the difference is in the tube rectificaton the single only got diode , dual has two recto tubes, triple three. dual and triple can be switched to diode. Ofcourse they do differ but not in a big way.

 

[SilverSurfer]

Silversurfer is probably 15 and having a blast here.

On the contrary, I'm 36 and have been playing live for 20 years. I've seen them all. I have a friend who owns a Music store and he sells a lot of gear. He's been playing for 25+ years. We've seen and tried about every Amp on the market and we both ended up with Blue Tolex Marshall 30th Anniversary heads....and for good reason. They sound the best. Period.

Just ignore him. Anyone that does not at least respect the fact that all brands above say 1000,-sound good in their own right is a freakin idiot. Sure YOU may like the marshall better and someone else the mesa. I have both and both are good (it's not like the mesa can do the marshall thing).

Sorry if you disagree, but real players want their notes to be heard, so they use Marshall amps. Rectifiers are great if you tune down low and don't play solos. In fact, in that respect they are BETTER than Marshalls. So I agree with you in one aspect. If you tune down, use a Rectifier. If you play solos and you need your notes to be heard, play a Marshall.

If you have to insult my opinion to boost yours, well, you don't have much of an opinion to begin with. Focus on the amps, not me. I've got nothing to do with how they sound.

But i have to say that silversurfer is the most ignorant and arrogant person I read all fucking year. That you thought the "classic" switch was a marshall switch shows just how ignorant you are. Stick to marshall, since mesa require some sort of ear for good tone... it can do many things. Marshall is a set and forget amp. And that the rest of the guitarists in your band didn't get a good sound either is pretty logical, since idiots tend to group.

Boy, if anyone acts like a 15 year old bro, it's definitely you. There's a CLASSIC switch on the Triple. We HAD to use the triple because that's all the silly promoter provided when he had rider that told him the Marshall's were MANDATORY EQUIPMENT for our band. Two wasted hours later and we're stuck playing on the worst sounding amps we've ever played on. That's not a guess, that's not arrogance. That's the plain FACTS. Maybe you can't deal with it because you wasted your money on a Rectifier, but that's YOUR problem to deal with. Mind you, there were at least 3 amp "experts" there trying to get the triple to get somewhat "close" the sound we needed (Vintage) and simply put, the Mesa couldn't cut it.

Marshall is not just a flick the switch and forget amp. Have you seen the 30th Anniversary or even used it? Talk about ignorance, I HAVE used the Triple and I own a 30th. I KNOW that neither amp is fire and forget but the Mesa is just a pain and if you need different tones, you won't have 2 hours between songs to fart around and find the right settings.

I told you the Mesa Mark IV is a great Amp. Not all Mesa's suck, just the Rectifier series. So don't go thinking I am a Mesa hater. I just hate the Rectifiers.

Click here to read about the Triple. Look for the following text:

3 Fully Independent Channels with 8 modes (Channel 1=Clean or Pushed, Channel 2= Raw, Vintage High Gain or Modern High Gain, Channel 3=Raw, Vintage High Gain or Modern High Gain

This is the switch I was talking about. Vintage they mean a British/Marshall sounding amp (at least, that's what the guy that own the amp store that delivered them said - and he's supposed to be an Amp expert). Well, we tried EVERY setting on the Mesas and they sounded like pure CRAP for anything but tuned down guitars. The Triple is nowhere near the same league as Vintage Marshall tone. It can't even come close.

The Mark IV can. I LIKE the good tone of the Mark IV and would buy it if I could find one.

Look, you might not like my opinion - and I don't appreciate your childish insults - but the fact is very simple. If you're a player, you use Marshall. If you're a "chugger", you use Mesa.

 

[SilverSurfer]

Maybe it was the fact that E isn't 440. That would be A. Maybe you should have had 51 years of experience instead.

That means "No Drop D" tuning

 

[ecktronic]

Rock on the LINE 6 and PEAVEY amps!! ha, only yokin.
I quite like the sound off the BOOGIES.

 

[Farview]

Well, I had myself, my other guitarist (25 years experience) and the company that brought the heads helping us try and get a somewhat decent tone out of the triple rectifier and NONE of us succeeded. Come on, it can't be all of us. We had two of those things and they BOTH BLEW CHUNKS! It was embarrassing to play with them and we had to do it in front of 3000+ people.



Mesa body, Marshall guts



Why, that's called MARKETING He'll never admit it, he'll lose his endorsment. Nobody would buy the amps if they knew they weren't the same.

You didn't understand me. He would have no chance to not admit something. I've worked with him. There are no Marshall guts in his Triaxis. I don't know how the hell you would even begin to try that.
In a previous life I used to mod amps, mostly marshall, to get more gain as the super leads and JCM 800's were sorely lacking in that department (by early 80's standards) If you want to talk about people moding there amps, everyone back in the day HAD TO modify their Marshall because no two of them sounded alike due to the cheap electronics they were built with. And the lack of gain was a problem for the up and coming Yngwie's at the time.
Jose's mods aren't a big secret among those of us who worked with the stuff, he was just the go-top guy in southern california in the early 80's when the music scene exploded there.

In conclusion, I am older than you, I have been doing this longer, and I've worked for some of these companies and guitarists in question. I know exactly what was going on, which apparently, you do not. I was standing there when things happened and decisions were made in the late 70's, throughout the 80's and 90's. I still know these people and some of them still ask my advise on getting their sound.

 

[HangDawg]

On the contrary, I'm 36 and have been playing live for 20 years. I've seen them all. I have a friend who owns a Music store and he sells a lot of gear. He's been playing for 25+ years. We've seen and tried about every Amp on the market and we both ended up with Blue Tolex Marshall 30th Anniversary heads....and for good reason. They sound the best. Period.



Sorry if you disagree, but real players want their notes to be heard, so they use Marshall amps. Rectifiers are great if you tune down low and don't play solos. In fact, in that respect they are BETTER than Marshalls. So I agree with you in one aspect. If you tune down, use a Rectifier. If you play solos and you need your notes to be heard, play a Marshall.

If you have to insult my opinion to boost yours, well, you don't have much of an opinion to begin with. Focus on the amps, not me. I've got nothing to do with how they sound.



Boy, if anyone acts like a 15 year old bro, it's definitely you. There's a CLASSIC switch on the Triple. We HAD to use the triple because that's all the silly promoter provided when he had rider that told him the Marshall's were MANDATORY EQUIPMENT for our band. Two wasted hours later and we're stuck playing on the worst sounding amps we've ever played on. That's not a guess, that's not arrogance. That's the plain FACTS. Maybe you can't deal with it because you wasted your money on a Rectifier, but that's YOUR problem to deal with. Mind you, there were at least 3 amp "experts" there trying to get the triple to get somewhat "close" the sound we needed (Vintage) and simply put, the Mesa couldn't cut it.

Marshall is not just a flick the switch and forget amp. Have you seen the 30th Anniversary or even used it? Talk about ignorance, I HAVE used the Triple and I own a 30th. I KNOW that neither amp is fire and forget but the Mesa is just a pain and if you need different tones, you won't have 2 hours between songs to fart around and find the right settings.

I told you the Mesa Mark IV is a great Amp. Not all Mesa's suck, just the Rectifier series. So don't go thinking I am a Mesa hater. I just hate the Rectifiers.

Click here to read about the Triple. Look for the following text:



This is the switch I was talking about. Vintage they mean a British/Marshall sounding amp (at least, that's what the guy that own the amp store that delivered them said - and he's supposed to be an Amp expert). Well, we tried EVERY setting on the Mesas and they sounded like pure CRAP for anything but tuned down guitars. The Triple is nowhere near the same league as Vintage Marshall tone. It can't even come close.

The Mark IV can. I LIKE the good tone of the Mark IV and would buy it if I could find one.

Look, you might not like my opinion - and I don't appreciate your childish insults - but the fact is very simple. If you're a player, you use Marshall. If you're a "chugger", you use Mesa.

All this from a guy that doesn't know a POD can't power a speaker cabinet

It's no wonder you could get that Boogie working.

 

[SilverSurfer]

It's no wonder you could get that Boogie working.

LOL. I've had the Pod for what, 3 days? I bought it for direct recording. I haven't trucked my Cabinent upstairs and I'm not going to unless I can draw on the experience of others.

Sorry if you like to learn the hard way. I prefer to ask questions first.

 

[SilverSurfer]

In conclusion, I am older than you, I have been doing this longer, and I've worked for some of these companies and guitarists in question. I know exactly what was going on, which apparently, you do not. I was standing there when things happened and decisions were made in the late 70's, throughout the 80's and 90's. I still know these people and some of them still ask my advise on getting their sound.

So you're telling me that when Petrucci records in the studio, he just brings along his completely "stock" Mesa Boogie, right?

 

[HangDawg]

LOL. I've had the Pod for what, 3 days. I haven't trucked my Cabinent upstairs and I'm not going to unless I can draw on the experience of others.

Sorry if you like to learn the hard way. I prefer to ask questions first.

Point being is that you talk up all this experience and yet, you don't even know that the POD can not power a speaker. You can't expect someone to take you seriously.


My god man.

And where the hell did you come up with,

"real players want their notes to be heard, so they use Marshall amps. Rectifiers are great if you tune down low and don't play solos."


That is the most retarded thing I've ever heard. Is that what the salesman told you at guitarcenter?

 

[boingoman]

Sorry if you like to learn the hard way. I prefer to ask questions first.

You mean like "Hey, can you guys actually get us Marshalls for our gig, or, since we really need them as a critical part of our setup, should we maybe bring our own?"
That's a pretty good question.

 

[SilverSurfer]

Point being is that you talk up all this experience and yet, you don't even know that the POD can not power a speaker. You can't expect someone to take you seriously.

If you do a search you'll see a few people HAVE powered a speaker with a Pod. The reason I asked is I want to see who is doing it and with what results. It's called "research", ever tried asking questions to make an informed decision? That's what I do, you should try it sometime.

And where the hell did you come up with,

"real players want their notes to be heard, so they use Marshall amps. Rectifiers are great if you tune down low and don't play solos."

Comes from both the expeirence of hearing and using the amps live enough to know what sounds good and what doesn't.

That is the most retarded thing I've ever heard. Is that what the salesman told you at guitarcenter?

Uhh, no bro. That's from listening to good bands play good amps, bad bands play bad amps and everything in-between. It's called EXPERIENCE and something you ought to try getting...

 

[HangDawg]

Whelp that's a new one on me. I wasn't aware that you could power a single celestion, let alone 4 of em with a line level signal. Hmmmmm I think I'd like some clarification on that.

 

[SilverSurfer]

You mean like "Hey, can you guys actually get us Marshalls for our gig, or, since we really need them as a critical part of our setup, should we maybe bring our own?"
That's a pretty good question.

We did and always do. It's in the rider as part of our contract. But we get there and he says "I'm sorry but this is all we have right now..." The disappointment was there, but what can you do? We flew from LA to Chicago to do the gig and there was no other place within 100 miles to rent Marshalls from.

I dunno, what would YOU do? Play the gig or cancel it?

Since that gig, we've bought flight cases and bring our own heads. Sure, we get dinged every once in a while for being over 50lbs but it's worth it to not have to use those incredibly horrible sounding rectifiers.

 

[SilverSurfer]

Whelp that's a new one on me. I wasn't aware that you could power a single celestion, let alone 4 of em with a line level signal. Hmmmmm I think I'd like some clarification on that.

I might wire my cab to run just one of the 30 watt vintage speakers and see how that sounds. I think the dynamics of a real speaker will help the pod recording.

 

[HangDawg]

I might wire my cab to run just one of the 30 watt vintage speakers and see how that sounds. I think the dynamics of a real speaker will help the pod recording.

It's not going to work.

 

[SilverSurfer]

It's not going to work.

If not, I'll see about getting a small power amp. Not that big of a deal.

 

[HangDawg]

If not, I'll see about getting a small power amp. Not that big of a deal.

Now that would be a better option than going direct.

 

[SilverSurfer]

Now that would be a better option than going direct.

Thanks. Any suggestions?