Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier Solo Head Triple Channel

Only played it in the store. No real world experience yet.

Refering to my experience with my MkIII.

Okay, here's my situation. I am presently deciding which of two amps to purchase, a Marshall TSL 100, or a Boogie Dual Recto. It has always been my experience to match cabs with heads. I currently own a Marshall DSL 401 which I love. I also have a Rivera 55-12. I have a Fender Big Apple Strat, American Deluxe Tele QMT HH, a Jackson Fusion Pro with EMG 81/85 combo. I have owned a 5150 and a Marshall Jubilee 2550, both of which I sold to guitarists in the band I left several years ago. I have owned a Boogie MkIII not symul-sinc, Randall rg-80, Seymour Duncan Convertible 60, and my first real amp was a MKII 50 watt Marshall with a 100 watt angled, and a 75 watt straight Marshall vintage cabs back in the old days when there was no vintage just new. I have played in many fairly popular bands around the east coast going back to 1974. Why am I writing this? Well first of all if you don't own the damn thing keep your idiotic opinions to yourself. We all can go to a guitar center, try it out, and make up our mind whether it sucks or not! The guy who sat in direct line of a Recto and judged the amp by some apparently lame guitarists inability should also refrain from wasting space on this board. It just sounds like a bunch of kids saying my dad can whoop your dad! Grow Up! I know first hand that every guitar and amp I listed above has good tone built in, and can sound extremely good if you learn how to produce tone with your fingers and your picking technique. Learn how to play first before you start trashing good equipment. If the amps break down then say so, if the tone isn't as good as something else you have owned, and have experience with say that. But leave this petty name calling and trashing out so someone like myself can read the meaningful reviews after trying an amp out and make an educated decision. At this point I am leaning toward the Dual Recto. In the store it sounds incredible. But I am interested in the day in and day out functions of using the tube or solid state rectifiers, and how the sponge control sounds. I found the effects loop comments helpful. For everyone who has written an insightful review thank you!

If you are reading this you know the features. I'll spare you the details.

I can't believe how many people are bashing this amp. You should not buy this amp if you don't want high gain distortion. The clean is very usable on channel 1, the vintage gain is great on ch 2, and ch 3 modern is what this amp was made for. I have owned 2 - Tremoverbs, and now 2- dual rectifier solos, and a bogner uberschall. I will say that the bogner definitely sounds a little more balanced but it should be for $1300 more than the mesa. You CANNOT EXPECT TO GET A GOOD SOUND BY CRANKING THE GAIN. Learn to use this amp. I play an esp viper and a prs custom 24 thru the mesa and then to a 2X12 Bogner closed back cab with vintage 30's. It will blow you away. I had the mesa 4X12 cab and got rid of it when I heard the bogner. Better sound (just as mean if not meaner) and a lot less space.

This amp takes time to dial in the sweet spot. More experienced players will find it a lot easier. READ THE MANUAL. It talks about the controls and suggested settings. This is not a marshall. You can't turn the bass up to 8 and the treble up to 9 with the gain at 10. Every little bit makes a huge difference.

Very reliable as is all Mesa gear.

Had a question answered in about 30 min.

I would definitely replace this amp if anything ever happened to it. Lame ass people have been bashing this thing trying to play classic rock and john mayer crap. it's meant to be heavy if you don't like heavy don't buy it and stop whining because you played it in a store for a few minutes. Also, you need a quality cab for this head as stated in other reviews. Don't even bother with an open back cab. Overall this is truly a high quality gain yielding beast. It was never supposed to do anything else. Buy one now!

2003, 3 channels, Channel 1: Clean/Pushed, Channel 2: Vintage, Raw, Modern, Channel 3: Identical to 2, but has a different sound to it. 100watts all tube power. Use this amp all the time, enough power for anyone.

I use a schecter C-1 Elite in this amp, it is a GREAT metal amp. I mainly play Metallica, SOAD, Shadows Fall, Foo Fighters, and a bunch of stuff....(I'm not limited in my types of music). This amp handles the sounds of those bands wonderfully. The clean channel isn't bad, but the distortion channel is much better. If you looking for a good sounding distortion, get the Boogie. Don't go with pedals, I believe true distortion comes from tubes.

This thing will not break! It is built exeptionally well.....keep a couple spare tubes on hand though.

Haven't had to contact them, but heard they're a great company

I've been playing for 8 years now. I deffinitely would recomend this amp to the average head banger, but not to the general country star. So, don't be fooled by some of the reviews on this page, it might sound like shit once you first get it, but give it some time to break it in, and fool around with different settings and such.......Also, when i went to look at mine, at guitar center, some asshole whent and switched the setting from the regular tubes to solid state, and also had the ohm rating plugged into 16 with an 8 ohm cab....this just tells you to check out stuff, and set it up the way you want to.

enough features for 95% of situations

well got mine about six months ago played marshall all my life up to this point, offered s/hand at a good price so thought id try it as my old marshalls getting a bit tired, first week wanted to get rid of it but when i took time and trouble to get into it what an amp, you have to understand that this amp is so organic it wont hide sloppy playing like a marshall it perfectly reproduces what you play and feel, dig in, it growls, play light, it cleans up, its so responsive, you will never get a proper feel for it by trying it in a music store for 20 minutes "you play this amp" its an extension of the guitar strings and can cover most playing styles with careful use of the tone controls this is not an amp for you if you want one sound no matter how you attack the guitar but if you want to here every nuiance of your playing shine through, invest, you will grow to love it, use EL34's in mine which add's that UK sound my preferance only

no complaints as yet built like a brick shithouse

im in the UK so cant comment on this not had to use them yet

took a while to get used to it but now love it

Read the reviews below for features. There are lot's of them though. Too bad they don't do much.

I'm using several guitars. Primarily and Ernie Ball Axis, and a Gibson Les Paul Custom. I gig regularly in Central California in a cover band. Clubs, fairs, parties.......you know the routine. This amp is worthless for just about everything we do. The clean channel sounds like ass, and the distortion is dull and lifeless.

OK. I give up on this piece of shit. The amp has the lamest sound I've ever heard. Maybe I just got a bad one. I wasn't expecting much out of the clean channel. But geeez....the distortion channels are both lame. I could get a better distortion out of a $29 DOD pedal than I can out of this thing.

Built like a tank. No problems.....hehehehe......not that I use it much anymore. When I was TRYING to use it I didn't experience any failures.

These guys are the best. Spent hours on the phone with them discussing saettings, tubes selection, and other factors to get this piece of shit to sound right. If the amp was half as good as their customer support I'd be one happy camper.

Been playing about 20 years. Pretty much had it all at one time or another. Wanted to give Mesa a try cause I've heard so many great things about them. Don't waste your money. Thank GOD I didn't sell my other amps. I'm dumping this piece of shit on eBay as soon as I can.
I currently own a Marshall TSL 100, and a Tech 21 Trademark 300. The Trademark 300 just blows this thing out of the water.....as does the Marshall.
I checked a few Dual rectos out at Guitar Center just to see if they had the same crappy tone. They all pretty much sounded just like mine. Mesa marketing hype..........sad.

POTENTIAL BUYERS BEWARE!!! TRY BEFORE YOU BUY, OR YOU MAY REGRET YOUR PURCHASE.

Like the guy said in a review down below, if these are what the Pro's are using, they're getting them hot-rodded somewhere.

As for the rest of you guys who bought and love these things. You have been assimilated into the Mesa marketing machine. Do not resist. Resistance is futile.

This is a brand new Mesa Boogie dual rectifier triple channel head. It's got one channel with the option of clean or pushed. Channel 2 has three options, raw, vintage, and modern. Channel 3 is identical to channel 2, yet has its own personality. It's also got a footswitch, parallel effects loop, manual channel changing, a bias switch if you want to use either 6L6 tubes, or EL34's for the power section. It's got 2 5U4 rectifier tubes. It also has the option to use silicon diodes or the rectifiers and another switch for a "bold" or "spongy" sound. Each channel has it's own EQ, presence, gain, and master volume pots. It also has a solo level for an increase in overall volume for a solo, and an output that controls the overall volume output for the 3 channels. I have this head through a marshall 1960A 4X12 cabinet. I use a Gibson Explorer '76 reissue, and a Standard Strat made in mexio(Mexican strat). I play everything from a John Mayer, warm clean sound, to Randy Rhodes Ozzy Osbourne era (I try to play it, I sound like crap!), to modern stuff (yes Nu metal, I know it gets old and repetitious and polished). Don't worry I still rock with old school Metallica, think 4 horsemen.

My pickups are all stock (don't like messing w/pickups, think it degrades the guitar, just buy a new one). play everything from a John Mayer, warm clean sound, to Randy Rhodes Ozzy Osbourne era (I try to play it, I sound like crap!), to modern stuff (yes Nu metal, I know it gets old and repetitious and polished). Don't worry I still rock with old school Metallica, think 4 horsemen. With my strat, when the gain is set up high it can get noisy, but not any annoying sounds. The footswitch has a minor click sound that isn't audible if you turn the amp on and play. This thing is SUPER LOUD!! I try to have the volume on the lowest level for a manageable sound and it is loud and clear then. The amp itself gives very warm clean tones and great overdrive. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the clean channel. Some people might knock the clean, but if you want a really old school clean, then go drop $7,000 on some 30W old tube amp that will likely blow soon. The clean is warm, with my neck pickup on the strat it almost sounds like an acoustic guitar (the good way). I tried this amp vs. a Marshall TSL100, DSL100, and JCM800. Marshalls are notorious for Crappy clean (In my opinion and others I hear), but have that mids and highs distortion. If you really want that then buy a marshall that is only good for one thing. Or buy this dual recti and get a super versatile amp that can go from super warm to overkill distortion( think death metal). The bold vs. spongy switch is really cool. The spongy is for that classic "brown" sound, especially selected with the tubes. The spongy is for the high headroom. The distortion can go from just over the clean area to ultima area. The three different selections on channels 2 and 3 are great, very versatile. I bought a trademark 120 before this, because it had an awesome clean. Go try that one out if you want a great clean for only $750 (be prepared for some funny quirks, like a continuous buzzing when all pots are down to minimum), but the clean on the Mesa is much better. TWO WORDS OF ADVICE: TRUST RANDALL!!!!!

This think is heavy though. Well all heads are (tube ones anyway). This thing looks road ready with real solid wood casing and metal face) no problems of any kind, but I've only had it for a month. This thing looks super easy to repair if it needs to be. My old amp was always needing to be brought to the repair shop. I brought it to the best repair place in the state (the place where the big celebrities bring their stuff, the ones that fill up the mega venues) They repair anything from Crate amps, to Vintage Fender Bassman amps and beyond. The guy there said both times, that Tech 21 trademark 120 was the hardest amp to repair because it was a beast to open.

Hmm.. no experience with this part, but seems like it would be really good with all of the information with the amp.

This is a great amp definetly a ten. There is nothing else that compares. It has its own unique sound, the ideal sound. Buy it if you're even considering an amp head. Expensive, but is the best and worth its weight 1000 times over.

I love this amp but recently it's been sounding worse and worse. I play a Jackson dkmg with the 81 85 emg's and I know its not the guitar or my effects cause i've tested all that so it has to be the amp. When its cranked up on ch.2 and ch.3 I get this real annoying buz/hum sound and increased feedback which isnt completely abnormal but im losing a certain amount of sustain and tone because of it. Its embarrassing especially when playing live cause im constantly on my volume pedal during pauses. So now im thinking maybe its a blown speaker, I got the mesa 4x12 with the diamond plating on the side but its practically new so a blown speaker doesnt seem likely but I'll be checking into it. Other than that I guess it could be a tube problem but they all look good, none of them appear to be blown. This is frustrating, I know this is a review page but if anyone reading this has had a similar experience with this amp let me know how to overcome this problem.

I spent about five hours playing one of these. I do not own one, so im not going to rate anything. I just wanted too say that this thing had by far the worst sound I've ever heard. The only word I know that can describe it is "brittle". It feels like it going to snap in between your fingers. No matter how many eq settings i tried I just couldn't get a good sound. The bass is muddy and the high end is so mattelic you can taste it in your mouth. I played this thing with a 1960A and an SG standard too.

Amp is a year old. It have too many features to list..but quickly..3 channels, very versatile effects loop.. the whole damn thing is soo versatile.

I just bought this off ebay with hesitation because ive heard bad reviews, nto to mention ive played one in guitar center and it didnt sound so hot. but i gave it the benifit of the doubt. When i got in the mail i was blown away at how beautiful this thing sounds. I play a Ibanez RG 270 with a emg 81 in the bridge. And the cab is a old ass fender cabinet (yes it is possible to get a good sound out of a rectifier without using a rectifier or marshall cab) im not sure what speakers are in the cabinet,but everything thats played through it is golden...anyway.. i did my research on this beast and looked at suggestions and user settings from other users before i even have the amp. i knew how the whole thing operated by the time it go here. my advice to anyone in the market for one of this is to research it. If you are looking for a liquid smooth sustain with a killer punch, this amp is it. dont believe those who tell you that this amp only produces mud, because alls ive been able to get out of this amp is killer tones. 2 days of tweaking and my sound is GOLDEN. im gonna get new JJ tubes for it which will enhance the sound even more. The sounds on this amp are very versatile, and the knobs are sensative..a little bit of tweaking can completely change everything. the clean channel is surprisingly good. ive got no problem with it. sounds great when i switch to the neck pickup. The second channel is a great rock distortion. not too much gain, but enough to be punchy. its actually really fun to play on. the third channel is brutile. its got a massive sound and punch. i keep the presence at about 10:00 the master volume at 12:00. the gain at 1:30-2:00, the bass at 3:00, the mids at 11:00 and the treble at 12:00. i use the silicon diode tubes (hi power) effects loop on (which drains some power, but if you adjust the send level, you can make up for this loss. its all explained in the manual) and i have it switched to bold. WALA! the voice of god coming through the speakers

Well ive only had it for 4 days but it seems to be solid. I never really have a back up amp and you shouldnt need one in the first place unless you plan on throwing your equipment around. if you pay $1200 for something, you damn well better take care of it . i have an older mesa boogie preamp that has been dropped a few times and has seen rough times, and it still works like a charm NEVER a problem with it.

never dealt with them.

yes, believe the hype, this amp is good if you looking to play rock or metal. your tone is here. with other amps, if i were to crank it and walk further away from the cabinet..the sound would get weak or sound like crap. no matter where i stand this thing shimmers. Any others who have problems with this amp either dont know what they are doing or they are playing music that isnt suited for this amp.

I own a mesa boogie studio preamp, and a peavey 5150 II. the mesa boogie preamp can almost compete, but the sound looses definition at high volumes, and the peavey 5150II cant get the volume or the tone that the dual can. I really wish i would have wised up sooner and just bought one of these. i woulda saved myself alot of trouble rather than dealing with shitty processors, pedals and solid state heads. this is the end of the line for me. im finally happy with my sound

I just wanna post some comments that i think other Rectifier users may find helpful as i have had this amp for over a year now

my setup is as follows.
PRS Custom 24 ----> Mesa Dual Rec ----> Mesa 4x12
Boss GE7 equalizer ----> Boss DD3 Delay in fx loop

first of all, make no mistake this amp is great.
i know people will slate it but this is probably due to them playing it in a store for about 20 mins.
it takes time to get used to this amp, how it feels etc.
on the first play through it, to me it seemed like the notes were jumping out of the cabinet even before i played them, and it did not feel very smooth to play through.
after a while you will become accustomed to this and the amp will gradually start to compliment your playing.

the sounds that can be coaxed from this amp are very varied.
even though it is tempting, dont scoop the mids clean out when playing on the modern mode this will make the amp sound thin and the middle frequencies are where your guitar tone comes from,
scooping the mids will make this amp sound very chainsaw-ish

imo add more middle than usual and use treble and presence sparingly
because the latter two are very powerful controls on the rectifier..

here are the settings that i currently use
CLEAN

bass 10
mid 0.5
treble 6
presence 5
gain 6
volume 4
mode clean

channel two
bass 8
mid 6.5
treble 4
presence 3
gain 10
volume 4.5
mode vintage

channel three
bass 10
mids 6.5
treble 4
presence 3
gain 10
volume 4.5
mode modern

i do use the GE7 to spice up the clean sound a bit when i need to cut through a bit more..

the rectifier select is set to silicon diodes and i have the power set to bold to achieve maximum grit.

these settings are for the tones i currently use and they do get adjusted every now and then to cater for the acoustics of the room etc.

i can pretty much get any sound i can think of out of this amp and it sounds punishing miked up through a huge p.a.