Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier Solo Head Triple Channel

This amp was made in 2005
I play thrash metal, hard, fast heavy and brutally distorted, but I also play blues for fun. For the metal the amp is unparalleled, tyhe best money can buy, for blues it's a different story, I can still get that deep tube tone for blues, but not quite like the amazing tone of say eric clapton. but then again, it's a metal amp NOT a blues amp, with a few effects it can get a really amazing blues sound. It obviously has 3 channels, 2 different modes for the first, and 3 different modes for the second 2. an effects loop, a preamp out, a rectifier selector switch and a few other need doodads.
I use to play in a band and did a buncha show with the amp and it excelled, the amount of power this amp has is unbelievable.
The one feature I wish it had come with is a headphone jack, but I can't complain because you could never get the amazing tone you get out of a 4x12, through headphones. I give it a nine for the lack of headphones.

For an amp that isn't supposed to be a 'jack of all trades' the dual rectifier does a wide variety of sounds. the clean channel isn't anything to call home about but it's still a great sounding versitile channel that doesn't get distorted at high volumes.
The distortion is amazing, at high volumes the tone just melts out of the tubes and pools at your feet. I can not begin to describe how amazing this thing sounds. I use the 2nd channel on the modern mode. the 3rd channel is too bright for me. but be warned, it is not an amp that will have your dream tone programmed into it out of the box, you need to sit down with it and really get the feel of the amp, read the manual. Too really understand the EQ I had to sit down, read the manual and find out where each EQ fits in the circuitry, for example, the treble knob is at the front of the circuitry, therefore the treble knob will have more of an effect on your tone overall than say your presence knob.
Through the amp I play a Dean ML-X with an EMG-81 in the bridge and 60 in the neck, my guitar is best suited for metal, as is the amp.
The amp is quite noisy, but nothing a Noise gate doesn't fix easily. I give it a 10 because it is Not a one trick pony by anymeans, it is a versitile amp that sounds mind blowing for the music I play

I've had the amp for a year now, played a bunch of gigs with it, bashed it around, dropped it etc etc, and it has only ever had one problem. the problem it had was my drummer set up the amp before I arrived, and he plugged the speaker cab through the slave out, there was no load and therefor blew the fuse and a tube, that could be under the neglect catagory.
The lesson kids, let drummers stick with there acoustic drums.
Despite the one problem I'm still giving this amp a 10, because the failure wasn't because of the workmanship, it was because of improper use.

As stated above I blew the tube, I took it to an authorized mesa repair shop (Ho's Electronics in Vancouver, BC) and he fixed it under warrenty. In vancouver Ho has been refered to as 'Dr Ho' because he performs amazing surgeries on guitar amps, and he's a really nice guy to boot.

I've been playing 8 years now and I love this amp
before it I owned a Line 6 spider 112 combo, and although satisfied with the spider, I needed to upgrade to a more proffessional amplifier.
If this amp was lost or stolen I would easily buy a new one, although I am curious about the Mesa Mark IV, but I don't think anything can come close to touching this, except maybe the triple rectifer but thats just obserd.
This is not a practice amp that sounds great at low volumes. It needs be cranked, it's like a lambourghini, the full potential isn't met until it's taken out on the road and opened up.
again, it's not a one trick pony, but it's also not a 'jack of all trades but a master of none'. it's a well rounded versitile amp that sounds INCREDIBLE for metal.

First off, this amp is extremely versatile. It has all the features you could ever need, 3 channels, 8 modes and the best effects loop I've seen... Sure, some people might even say it's "too much!" Those are the people that shouldn't buy one! :) Anyways, like said this amp is very versaltile... It can cover just about any style of music but it excells in the area of hard rock!

I mainly use 2 PRS Singlecut's with #7 pickups, and a PRS custom 24 with HFS pickups live. I play modern hard rock and the combination between my guitars and this amp are perfect for my style. As far as my effects are concerned I use a TC Electronics Chorus/Flanger, a Boss Phaser, Boss Delay, Boss Reverb and a BBE Sonic Maximizer (rack mount) through the effects loop. I also use a Morley Power Wah and a Boss Acoustic Simulator wich run straight in after my guitar (I like to have options) I run the amp through (2) Mesa/Boogie 4x12 Recto Cabs... I also have this baby stocked with EL34 power tubes rather than the 6L6's. Mainly it tightens the low end and gives the amp more of a touch sensative feel. It's really a matter of opinion on what kind of tubes you use and it also has alot to with your playing style. I suggest you try the amp with both kinds of power tubes before you settle. Anyways here's my take on the sound:

CHANNEL 1

I leave this channel set on clean mode... I get a good clean sound out of this amp. It's not the best I've ever heard but it sounds good! So as long as you don't have your gain set too high like an idiot, it wont distort. Not even at high volumes!!

CHANNEL 2

I leave this channel set on vintage mode... I keep the presence only about a quarter of the way up and I do not "scoop" the mid, I keep it about half way up. It produces a dark creamy sound covered with sustain. I mainly use it for slower-phrased soloing, as well as for slow-less aggressive rhythms... All in all this channel kicks ass!!

CHANNEL 3

I leave this channel set on modern mode... This is the channel I depend on the most! I keep my gain alittle over half way up, my presence about half way up and it produces a crunch that is too sweet to describe... I use it as my main rhythm and with one step of the solo boost it also becomes my main lead channel as well (quick scale runs & sweep picking sound superb!!)

Just remember how important the PRESENCE nob is when you first go to tweak it... If you don't know how to properly set your presence your going to sound like shit! Also, don't use a shitty cab or a shitty guitar with this amp because it'll show through!! I give this amp a 9 on sound quality mainly because there are alot of high gain amps with better clean channels...

Never had a problem...

Mesa/Boogie is a very good company that takes pride in there amps... They will help you anyway they can!

I'm 22, I've been playing for 10 years. I'm a full time musician and the band I play for is currently touring on a national level. So as you can imagine I've owned and played many amps. I use a Dual Rectifier because it sounds good, it's built tough, and most of all it's versatile. I own a total of 2 Dual Rectifiers... I would be lieing if I said that this was the best high gain amp I've ever played through... There are indeed a few that I think sound better but they all cost over $4,000 and aren't very road worthy or versatile... So I think if the amp suites your playing and/or genre then it's the best amp you can find for the quality and price. Go for it!! If either were stolen I'd get a new one :)

First off, this amp is extremely versatile. It has all the features you could ever need, 3 channels, 8 modes and the best effects loop I've seen... Sure, some people might even say it's "too much!" Those are the people that shouldn't buy one! :) Anyways, like said this amp is very versaltile... It can cover just about any style of music but it excells in the area of hard rock!

I have mainly use 2 PRS Singlecut's with #7 pickups, and a PRS custom 24 with HFS pickups live. I play modern hard rock and the combination between my guitars and this amp are perfect for my style. As far as my effects are concerned I use a TC Electronics Chorus/Flanger, a Boss Phaser, Boss Delay, Boss Reverb and a BBE Sonic Maximizer (rack mount) through the effects loop. I also use a Morley Power Wah and a Boss Acoustic Simulator wich run straight in after my guitar (I like to have options) I run the amp through (2) Mesa/Boogie 4x12 Recto Cabs... I also have this baby stocked with EL34 power tubes rather than the 6L6's. Mainly it tightens the low end and gives the amp more of a touch sensative feel. It's really a matter of opinion on what kind of tubes you use and it also has alot to with your playing style. I suggest you try the amp with both kinds of power tubes before you settle. Anyways here's my take on the sound:

CHANNEL 1

I leave this channel set on clean mode... I get a good clean sound of this amp. It's not the best I've ever heard but it sounds good! So as long as you don't have your gain set too high like an idiot, it wont distort. Not even at high volumes!!

CHANNEL 2

I leave this channel set on vintage mode... I keep the presence only about a quarter of the way up and I do not "scoop" the mid, I keep it about half way up. It produces a dark creamy sound covered with sustain. I mainly use it for slower-phrased soloing, as well as for slow-less aggressive rhythms... All in all this channel kicks ass!!

CHANNEL 3

I leave this channel set on modern mode... This is the channel I depend on the most! I keep my gain alittle over half way up, my presence about half way up and it produces a crunch that is too sweet to describe... I use it as my main rhythm and with one step of the solo boost it also becomes my main lead channel as well (quick scale runs & sweep picking sound superb!!)

Just remember how important the PRESENCE nob is when you first go to tweak it... If you don't know how to properly set your presence your going to sound like shit! Also, don't use a shitty cab or a shitty guitar with this amp because it'll show through!! I give this amp a 9 on sound quality mainly because there are alot of high gain amps with better clean channels...

Never had a problem...

Mesa/Boogie is a very good company that takes pride in there amps... They will help you anyway they can!

I'm 22, I've been playing for 10 years. I'm a full time musician and the band I play for is currently touring on a national level. So as you can imagine I've owned and played many amps. I use a Dual Rectifier because it sounds good, it's built tough, and most of all it's versatile. I own a total of 2 Dual Rectifiers... I would be lieing if I said that this was the best high gain amp I've ever played through... There are indeed a few that I think sound better but they all cost over $4,000 and aren't very road worthy or versatile... So I think if the amp suites your playing and/or genre then it's the best amp you can find for the quality and price. Go for it!! If either were stolen I'd get a new one :)

There is more on this amp than you will know what to do with. You can research Mesa for all the features. I have never felt that I needed more control or options than this amp provides. Amazing versitility. It's all there, and then some. TONS of tonal options. Full controls for whatever rig you can dream up.

Big bonus:
This head I like better than the Triple Rec because you can cut the power from 100watt to 50watt by removing two tubes for more tone options when the tubes are pushed harder. Plenty, believe me, PLENTY of power here.

No reverb or other effects, so it gets a 9. 9.5 if I could.

Amazing....simply amazing. Short of sparkly cleans, this amp will do it ALL. So many controls for tone that you seriously have 10 amps in one, and the cool thing is you've got 3 channels so you can footswitch between three different tones, volume boost, and your FX loop. A few tones I've dialed up with great delight are Vox, Marshall, Orange type stuff.

With enough nob tweaking, your sound is in there no matter what you want. And it will sound very, very good. Warm or thin, course or smooth, tight and punchy or breathy and natural, whatever. It's all there. Obviously you'll want to get a guitar/pickups that will give you the other half of the picture.

On top of all that, what this amp does that no other will do is a very tight and course roar with alot of bite. HUGE is the best description. Large and mean.

4 years, no trouble. Get's played about 4 hrs/week. Alot of gigs and transporting. Take care of it and you'll be alright. All tubes are inherently prone to go out though.

no need.

I've been on guitar for about 10 yrs. I play a Gibson SG with seymor duncan humbuckers and a Squier Stratocaster (all single coil) and get some really good rock tones. It has never let me down when I've reached for all kinds of tones and rig setups. In the end, it'll do the sound of any other amp, but no other amp can sound like this one.

Questo amplificatore ?? il piu versatile tra tutti quelli che io abbia mai visto, forse la Diezel Herbert pu?? competere, ma a quel punto il prezzo diventa veramente inacessibile. Tre canali completamente separati per eq, gain, master e presence. Per quasi ogni canale sono disponibili tre modi (anche se si differenziano solo per quantit?? di gain). Fx loop tra i pi?? sofisticati che abbia mai visto, anche se a causa del genere (thrash metal) che suono, non sfrutto. L'opzione solo ?? molto utile specialmente per le vie di mezzo tra il lead e la distorsione. Inoltre il controllo finale dell'output permette di mantenere ben proporzionati i livelli dei tre canali tra di loro. Insomma...una Mesa.

Sono passato da un solid state Marshall a una Mesa. Il cambiamento si ?? sentito e nei suonandola le prime volte sembrava un suono povero di gain, ma questi incovenienti capitano quando si passa dall'ascolto di armoniche dispari (emesse dai solid state) alle armoniche pari (emesse dagli ampli valvolari). Ed ?? un bene. Credetemi il suono valvolare sembra inizialmente piatto, ma non ?? cos??: ovviamente dipende dal tipo di cassa che si ha disposizione. Personalmente consiglio il Celestion V30. Fantastici. La mia testata e la mia cassa (Mesa Recto Cab 4x12) creano un volume enorme di eq, con un gain diverso dal solito ronzio dei solid state (a livello di gain battuto solo forse dalla mitica Peavey 5150). Questo ?? il vero suono, almeno per me, ognuno ha il suo...

Adesso che l'ho scoperta non potrei farne a meno. Quando mi capita di suonare con qualche altro ampli rimpiango amaramente di aver lasciato a casa il mio amplificatore. Per quanto riguarda la resistenza e l'affidabilit?? di questo amplificatore penso che potrei portarmela anche in guerra, ovviamente ora la tratto come un oggetto di cristallo delicatissimo, comunque questi ampli, Mesa in generale, sono magnifici...solidi come carrarmati.

Inizialmente ho avuto problemi per l'attesa della cassa che la mogar mi ha consegnato, tramite il rivenditore, circa tre mesi dopo la testata. Dopo un periodo liscio come l'olio, si ?? rotta una valvola finale e mi sono fatto una dozzina di volte la strada per il rivenditore dove ho comprato il tutto. Adesso sto esaminando il mio suono, forse un p?? cambiato o forse no...chi lo sa, in questi casi anche la mente fa brutti scherzi, sopratttutto quando ci sono in ballo parecchi soldi.

La pi?? versatile testata mai provata. Il suono pi?? pieno mai sentito. Possibilit?? sonore infinite. Silenziosa anche con il gain a livello massimo.

Mesa Dual Rectifier Solo Head Triple Channel

Per me, il massimo.

The features on this amp are amazing. There are so many features that it may be overwhelming for a novice, but given time and patience anybody can learn how to use this amp to their advantage. I really like the effects loop and different distortion settings. The only reason I am not giving it a 10 was I wish there was a wattage selector like on the Roadster and Road King.

I am playing a PRS Custom 24 with HFS Pickups and a '69 Les Paul Custom with EMGs. I have the 2x12 cab with vintage 30's in it, and Monster Rock cables through out. This amp can run the gauntlet between crystal clear and holy crap I have a monster in the room.

Seriously there is no sound you can not get. If you are a player that turns the treble up to 10 mid to 0 and bass to 10 then play a guitar with EMGs and think this is going to sound great, you're wrong. The secret to getting good tone with this amp is to read the manual play with the suggested settings, then adjust to your needs. I also can not stress this enough...FIND A CAB THAT FITS WITH THE HEAD AND YOUR DESIRED TONE. If you have spent this much on an amp head, go the rest of the distance.

I play just about every style, and this amp can do it all. Take the time to learn it and again READ THE MANUAL. If you bought it used and don't have one, download it from www.mesaboogie.com

Works great, no problems.

I spoke to Chris from Boogie before I got this amp. He took the time to help me narrow down which amps to demo prior to making my selection.

I have been playing for 26 years and hands down this is one of the best non boutique amps out there. If it were stolen I would buy it again. The only thing that it lacks is the wattage switch, everything else is there, you just have to find it.

2005 model, waited a year to review this. This thing has more than enough features, for me anyway. 3 channels, each with different modes, 4 different power combinations that completely change the tonality of the channels. Parallel effects loop, took some time for me to get use to but now I appreciate it's affectiveness. I use this for everything from small 20-30 crowds up to 1000+ crowds and any gig that this isn't powerful enough for, they better have a house PA and decent soundman.

OK, heres the opinion part, the first few weeks I had this amp I spent countless hours with the EQs and Power options and modes, and I'd be lying if I said it wasn't frustrating at times, but it paid off. Once you learn how the EQ works,(a bit different than any other amp I've owned) especially the difference of each guitar plugged into it, it's an amazing tool. The cleans are beautiful, the gain control is perfect for adjusting between high output and low output pup's (of course low output pups sound better for clean sounds). Where the gain control is affects the rest of the controls as well. If you run the gain high lower all the eq's. The distortion is everything from creamy smooth to ear shattering crazy. This is the first amp I've owned that I didn't have a multitude of pedals running through to get my tones. There is buzz on the highest gain settings, but not nearly as bad as most tube amps I've owned, I don't even use a gate on this if that tells you how little hum there is.
I play in a few bands everything from progressive metal to classical and pop to jazz, and this amp fits every personality that comes out of my fingers.

The only problem I've ever had with this amp is the footswitch, the one it came with didn't work for all the functions, but I bought it from GC so they gave me a working one the next day, no hassles. If you treat this right it'll treat you right. Replace the tubes consistently, carry spare fuses and the such. I've never needed a backup, but always have my practice amp with me just incase, I can always run it through the pa.

Haven't dealt with them, but have heard great things. This came with a 5 year transferable warranty, but I think it might outlive me.

I've been playing professionally for about 10 years and I've found that no matter what you play through there are some good sounds to be found. Before you go and blow your wad for an expensive amp make sure it has a sound that will suite YOUR playing, I've had guitarists plug into my amp and hate it, and I've plugged into other expensive amps and hated them, and I've also loved the tones I've gotten out of cheap, beat up, and used heads, so just make sure your buying a tone and not a name. I can't complain about these being to expensive, because it's worth every penny to me, if you think it's over priced DON'T buy it. For how long I plan on having this it sure makes up for buying amp after amp after amp and selling them for half what I paid.

Made in 2006. This amp is very versatile and has features up the wazoo. Mostly, they are popular for modern metal but you could use is for just about anything. That's one of the problems. There are so many features it takes weeks to find the exact sound you want.

One thing it doesn't have is reverb. At this price and with all the features you think they could put some reverb in.

Very loud. Makes a good sounding rhythm guitar amp for rock and metal. This head did not provide a useful tone for leads without a bunch of effects going through the loop. I bought this head to replace a Peavey XXX but I like the Peavey XXX tone better for the 80s style metal/thrash that I play. And you can get a decent lead tone out of the XXX without effects.

Only had it three weeks and then returned it. Seemed pretty solid.

Called Mesa three times. Always got someone on the first try and the guy was very friendly and helpful.

Been playing 22 years and own several guitars and a Peavey Triple XXX. This amp was overkill for my situation. If I were a full time professional musician with a tech to make your settings, patch the effects loop, etc. I would probably have kept this head. But playing out once a week with a band it was not worth the investment. There are other amps on the market where the sound difference is subtle but costs $1000 less. You can't play a Mesa head at home because the volume where it starts to sound good is way too loud for a bedroom or basement. I admit when I bought it I thought it would be cool to show off a Mesa Dual Rectifier but I would rather get another nice guitar and keep my Triple XXX.

This amp features 3 channels. The three channels all have different modes as well totaling out to 8 modes. Channel one has clean and pushed. Channels two and three both have raw, vintage, and modern modes as well. It also comes with a 5 way foot switch. The rear panel features a bold a spongy mode, as well as a selection between vacuum tubes and hi power tubes. You can swap out the stock 6l6 and put in el34 tubes without getting the amp re-biased. The features are endless on this thing.

I use a Fender Fat Strat with stock pickups. This amp is unbelievable. At first when I bought this I didn't really get to crank it up at my music store. When I got home I didn't crank it up that loud either, so I didn't think the amp was exactly worth the money then, until I cranked this beast. I have it hooked up to a mesa 2x12 cab, and i was blown away. This thing sounds amazing. You can tell that this is what the big bands use. It gives you that chugg chugg chugg tone and goes from a warm overdrive, to a super heavy, blow your face off distortion. This really is the balls.

It seems pretty sturdy, I wouldn't want to drop this thing though, it is expensiivee. The tubes are probly going to have to be changed once in a while, but, no bid deal.

I've never have dealed with the company yet, but comes with a 5 year warranty and a 6 month warranty on the tubes.

I have playing guitar for about 5 years now, so im pretty good. If this thing were stolen, I would think about getting a marshall tsl after i beat the crap out of the ass crack that stole it, but I'd probly just try and save up for another. I did get ripped off on ebay trying to buy this used, so after I losst that money, I started saving up again and just bought it new. I love everything about this amp. Sure it's pretty damn expensive, but it is worth it. Rock on

Three channel: clean, vintage gain and modern (chunky) gain. Separate eq for each channel, can use 6L6 or EL34 power tubes, fixed biased, two rectifier tubes, bold/spongy switch, tube/diode switch, fx loop level control, 5 button footswitch and no reverb.

Versatile? Hell yeah!

Has everything I need and more. Don't care at all the Recto has no reverb because I never use it on other amps either.

I play a Gibson SG Standard (naturalburst) and a Gibson Flying V (ebony). The SG use to be my favorite guitar, but the Flying V has grown on me and definitely gets more play time.

I play some Punk and some Metal, but mostly play hard rock, think AC/DC, Velvet Revolver, Queens of the Stone Age, Foo Fighters, Soundgarden, etc. The Recto is a kick ass machine and I couldn't be happier with it. I like the fact that I can get vintage style distortion and then kick it into serious metal chunk. Even though I mostly play hard rock, I also like playing that "chugga chugga" metal and need an amp that can do both.

I traded in a Marshall DSL100 for this bad boy. I liked the DSL for the hard rock stuff, but it was lacking in that super saturated Metal chunk. I had to run an EQ in the loop and an overdrive in the front to come close to a decent metal tone and even then I still wasn't satisfied. I tried different pre-amp and power tubes, but still no luck. I tried everything, but at the end of the day all I had were a bunch of pedals, cords and dead batteries all over the floor and still no chunky tone. Too much hassle in my book and too many pedals to stomp while I'm playing. So I traded in the DSL and got the Recto. Now I'm only running the EQ in the loop and I don't have to fuss with any pedals, except the footswitch to change channels.

My only complaint is the clean channel, but honestly it's not even a complaint because I know high gain amps don't have the best clean tones. The cleans on the Recto are ok, it's not the best, but it's useable. High gain amps like the Recto will never sound like Fender or Vox clean because Recto's are made for distortion. Just like Fender and Vox will never have that killer distortion because they're made for cleans. I mostly play music with distortion so if I had to choose between a good clean or good distortion, I'll take distortion everytime.

Built like a tank. Fortunately, I've never dropped it and try to be careful with it, but you know how that goes. It is built solid. I've only had it a short while, but I'm fairly confident it will take a beating and still rip out that sweet tone.

Never dealt with customer service and I hope I never have too. I've heard Mesa's customer service is second to none, but I still hope I never have to find out.

I've been playing since 1984, mostly just plucking the strings when I was bored, but I've been playing seriously now for about 6 years. If it were stolen or lost, I might buy it again, but I might buy something different instead. There is always something better out there and I like trying different equipment. The recto is definitely kick ass, but there are a ton of other amps out there that I would like to have. I wish I had a lot of money because I would probably buy them all. Anyway, I give the Dual Rectifier two thumbs up........kick ass tone machine and definitely worth the price.