Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier Trem-O-Verb

more stuff on this amp than most people really need,but it's all useful

it's funny how the recto's have gotten a sort of 'meathead' stigma-the TOV is actually a great and flexible amp. if you turn the gain down some and mess with the EQ you won't need to spend 500 bucks to have it 'modded'...i can see it not being everyone's dream amp,but there's a lot that can be done with this.

it's been fine for a while-these aren't prone to trouble.

i use this with a 2/12 cab and some pedals(a boost mostly)-what i like most about it is the good variety of sounds,and of course the distortions...it doesn't need to be turned up very loud to sound good-actually,i think it's better when not pushed TOO hard but that's my preference for a lot of tube amps. overall,a cool amp...

This is a great amp....I play in a southern rock/blues band that has even been know to play a little country. I started not to buy this amp because all I heard was 'nu-metal, nu-metal, etc.' Let me say that it was the best thing I've ever bought.....sound wise. It runs the gauntlet on tones. Yes - it handles nu-metal, but it has AWESOME blues, rock and country tones as well. I'm going to be tweaking this amp forever, as it's got so many different sounds in it. Don't really care for the tremelo efffect, but to each their own. I'll rate it a 9 in features, and every knows why - you just can't find another amp with as many controls. Some people may consider that a hassel, (if you just want to plug and play) and for that reason...it gets an 9.

Like I said, I do southern rock/blues/country --- I'm using a PRS CE-24 into a VOX wah, ZVex Super Hard-On, Line 6 MM4, Sabine Rack Tuner then into the amp and out to a Mesa 4x12 Oversized Recto cab. I own a kick-ass Voodoo Labs pre-amp, but feel I have no use for it with this amp. I'll say again...you just can't get better tones out of an amp...IMHO. The peanut gallery complains about the 'low-end.' Yes, it is a little heavy on low-end, but this also can be tweaked out. I plugged the head into a Marshall 1965 cab and the low-end was cut in half....amp still sounded GREAT, just different. Bottom line is this -- this amp takes a while to get what you want out of it. But it IS in there...You can buy 20 cheap amps that only have 1 or 2 sounds before you find YOUR sound (and spend A LOT OF $$$) or you can buy this Mesa and take a little time and find what you are looking for. Trust me -- it will take less time and cash than buying a boat-load of amps.

No problem yet...this thing looks like a tank. But it's just now getting a lot of road use. I will say this...for the price of this amp if I have a problem, I expect them to be on top of it like 'white on rice.'

I've been playing for 15 years, professionally for 5. I've owned A LOT of equipment and this is one of my favorite pieces of gear. If it were stolen I'd have a FIT, b/c it is not a cheap piece of equipment. But I would definitly replace it. Sounds a lot better than the 3-channel Mesa's that are out right now. I honestly gambled on Mesa based off of their reputation and it paid off. Of course, tone is subjective and I would tell ANYONE who's wanting to buy an amp to PLAY IT FIRST! I know that sounds like a no-brainer, but I know people who've shopped off ebay and spent thousands on Mesas and Soldanos only to not like what they bought.
Only one complaint -- give me a darn footswitch with more on it....all these channels and controls and I get a 1-button footswitch. Ridiculous.....
Overall though, it's the best in its price range.

it has all the features of the dual rectifier, plus a decent tremelo and a decent reverb, effects loop, 2 channels, 4 modes, etc... It really does have a lot of features. No footswitch for the tremelo or reverb, just for the channel switching.

I play both les pauls and strats through this amp, and both sound great. The cleans are ok and the distortion is about as heavy as you'll ever need. It is kind of a challenge to find "your sound", but it's there somewhere. Through trial and error, you'll find it. This is probobly the best amp mesa ever made, so I don't understand why it was discontinued?

The rectifier tubes are touching the top of the inside of the amp, and I'm scared to death that some day I'll take it out of it's road case, and they'll be broken. This is a MAJOR and obvious design flaw; in my opinion. So far, so good.

I've been playing for about 20 yrs; mostly in metal and hardcore bands, and I've played through all kinds of amps and this one is by far my favorite. It's very versatile, sounds amazing and is very well constructed(it's built like a tank). My amp of choice before this was a marshall jcm800 that I had to preamp the shit out of to get some real balls and character out of (a furman PQ3 in the effects loop along with a bbe sonic maximizer; to get rid of those mids and give it extra sizzle, made my marshall sound insane!), but all I have to do with this one is plug in and play. The furman in the effects loop of the tremoverb can give you an infinite amount of tonal options, but I'm opting for the straight ahead recto sound these days, but it's good to know that I can scoop the mids out when I want. I'll give it a 9, because the footswitch is so limiting, but for sounds alone; especially the distortion, I would give it a 10.

Made in 1997. I bought it used off a guy in Montana. Packs plenty of power. I play in a professional rock act, this amp fills all my needs. THe fx loop is cool, but robbs a bit of tone. I am going to be upgrading to a BRadshaw switching system so the fx loop won't be an issue.

Using PRS Custom 22 guitars with Dragon II humbuckers. We play alternative metal, this amp works great for our style. THis amp can do everything from jazz to blues to heavy metal!!! THe clean channel can become a bit gainy if you are cranking on the gain. But every show we play, other guitarist are always amazed at not only my overall tone, but especially how crystal my cleans are. I set the clean gain at about 3-4, master at 10, bass at 5-6, mid at 4-5, highs at 6-7, presence at about 4-5. I always put in a little reverb at 2-3. If you get a mesa boogie the most important thing is do not crank the highs. The mid and bass controls work in conjunction with where you have the highs dialed in at. I usually keep the highs around 6 on the clean and 7 on the dirty. And cranking the gain is not a good idea either, if you want tone. Set the gain at around 7 for live and 5-6 for the studio.

Great head, reliable. Beats the tar out of the new three channel triple rectifiers. BUY AN OLD DUAL 2 CHANNEL RECTIFIER, if you want tone. Not these new three channel peices of junk. I change the tubes every 5-6 months, but we play every night.

Mesa has great customer support!!

Been playing guitar for over 10 years. I love this amp and i plan on picking up a second one. I wish the fx loop wasent so tone robbing, but it honestly isnt that bad. I am just a tone freak.

100 watts, 2 channels, blah blah blah, we all know what the features are.

Ok, here is my chance to rant.... First off, let me say that this amp is pretty complete. What I mean is that if you own this amp and play everything from country to nu metal, you'll be just fine. Are there better sounding amps? No, just different sounding amps. This amp is first class, all the way. It really is worth all the $$ I paid for it. The clean on this amp is a bit of a bitch to get to know, but then you just have to use common sense. If you want a nice clean sound, use a guitar that will give you a nice clean sound to begin with, and you're on your way. A strat with single coils sounds REALLY nice in the green and blue channels. The red and the orange channels are stricly for distortion; Red(modern)and orange(classic). The red channel was made for the whole nu metal detuned guitar thing. This sound actually defined a new standard in heavy music; think about that? Is it good for anything else though? Not really, but thats why you have the orange channel, which is more for traditional heavy rock/metal. This channel is very versatile; everything from old Van Halen to metal. It's voiced in a way thats not as harsh as the red channel, but still heavy. It reminds me of a Soldano or a modified jcm 800, only with a better, fuller low end. So, now you have the green channel for clean sounds(it may be a bit of a challenge to get a nice clean sound with humbuckers, but if you roll off the volume on your guitar a little, you'll clean up very nicely), the blue channel which I guess is for blues? I'm not too hip on blues and I wouldn't know a good blues tone if it came up and bit me in the ass, but I will say that the blue channel is kinda like a warm overdrive, and like I said, this channel sounds especially nice with a strat. The red channel; as I said, is brutal distortion, heavy as you'll ever need. I can't imagine needing more distortion than this? Keep in mind that a lot of that "modern" heaviness that's so popular today, is achieved primarily through detuning. This channel created that sound(detuned guitar through recto red channel) and either you like it or you don't, but there's no denying this sounds place in rock history. The orange channel is of course the most useful; in my opinion, and I find that it's the most pleasing to the ears out of the 4 channels. So; like I said, this amp is very versatile and is capable of all styles. If you read the manual and learn all the features, it'll be much easier to get the sounds you want.

so far, no problems to report

never needed them

This is my favorite amp of all time. Like I said, there are other amps and they don't sound better, just different. You really can't go wrong with this amp. Just read the manual and figure it out. Most people who bitch about this amp probobly didn't read the manual and are a little lost. So read the manual, plug in and enjoy.

You get a lot of options with this head. Lot's of bells and whistles, but nothing is gratuitous, it's all very usable, but PLEASE read the manual.

I LOVE this Amp! I know all the NU Metal guys love the red channel, but I myself am a huge fan of the orange channel. It's called vintage high gain, and I'd have to liken it to a modified high gain marshall with more bottom and definition and with a "modern feel" to it. This channel sounds tight and articulate, aggressive, crunchy, saturated and full. There's lot's of room for a nice heavy rock/metal crunch. I'd like to see mesa put out an amp line based on this channel. The red channel is cool too; heavy as shit, but it's a bit harsh for what I require. Maybe changing tubes would do something? I don't know, but the orange channel suits my style pefectly. I play in a modern/alt./heavy rock band, and I need a nice aggressive, saturated crunch with lot's of definition, so the orange channel is a gift from the Gods. I use the channel cloning (really cool feature), to disengage the red/blue channel in favor of another orange/green channel. In other words both channels are now orange/green. I'll have to be honest about the green channel; it took a while to get a nice clean sound. For a while I was using the blue channel with a touch of gain for warmth, as my clean channel, but after a lot of tweaking, I got the green channel to co operate. This amp sounds great and is capable of a full spectrum of tones; to accomodate all styles. If you're not getting the sound you want, just be patient and play around with it, it's there somewhere and you'll find it. This amp is pretty complete, I can use this amp forever and always find the sound I need.

So far so good. The rectifier tubes are kind of touching the top inside of the casing(this doesn't seem right?)so I'm always careful when moving it around.

N/A

I won't give it a 10, because they don't include a footswitch for the tremelo, just one for the channel switching.

I have had this amp since September 1998 and it was made in August, 1998. I had to order it from the dealer because I wanted a different grille cloth and leather covering instead of Tolex. I have played this amp for 4 1/2 years, so this isn't an "I love my new amp" review. As for features, it has series and parallel effects loops, with a knob on the face to blend the amount of effects sound you want in the mix. For example, you can set up your stompboxes the way you normally do, and have anywhere from 0 to 100% of the sound mixed in with the sound you dial in on the face. The effects loop is foot-switchable, as are the reverb and tremolo. Mesa only supplies one footswitch, labeled AS "RECTIFIER," which is really channel-switching. It has 2 channels, each with 2 different voicings. The vintage or "orange" channel has a clean sound or, with the flip of a switch, "vintage" sound. This is Mesa's way of saying overdrive. The Modern or "red" channel has two voices as well, each having more gain than the previous ones. It is as if there are four channels, starting with a somewhat clean (at lower volume) to more and more gain, with the highest level being a metal head's orgasm sort of sound. There are a bunch of other features; a real tweaker's toy. You can mess with knobs until the cows come home, until you finally realize that this is not an intuitive set of controls. The presence affects the treble, the mid affects the presence, and so on. It is complicated enough to drive you nuts. I am actively looking for a simpler amp now. I really like the tremoverb, however complicated it may be. Mesa could have made a foot-control that takes care of channel-switching, tremolo, reverb, and effects loop on and off all in one box, but you have to buy three extra switches at $50 a pop to cover everything. Remember, Mesa gives you ONE foot switch with your amp! This is definitely not a bedroom amp. The red channel with volume at 8 o'clock (roughly a 2 on a Marshall)and the gain set at 10 o'clock will make your ears ring for 2 days. One feature I like is the output for a slave amp, with a knob to control the slave volume. I set this up with a Matchless Chieftan and run them both all the time. What else? A self biasing switch if you want to change out the 6L6's to EL34's (a good improvement, to my ears). Also a "bold" and "spongy" switch which cuts the output from 100 W to about 66 W. BFD. I don't use it. There is also an interesting "Channel Cloning" switch, where you set one channel, say the red, to a sound you like, and you can clone that sound to the orange channel, with the effect being the same sound, with a little less volume and gain. Set the orange channel to the sound you like, then use the foot switch to change to the red channnel as a boost switch. That's all I can think of for features. If there are any more, I don;t use them. I rated this an "8" because it is almost too versatile, and you cannot get a really loud clean sound like a Fender Twin cranked. It breaks up on the T-Verb.

I have been playing for 35 years. My main guitars are a '52 Tele, a '57 Strat, a '58 Les Paul Standard, a '91 Strat Ultra (Lace Sensors), a '95 G&L ASAT Classic, and a '74 Les Paul Standard. The vintage guitars don't leave the house; the newer ones are my stage guitars and truthfully, I can get the same sounds out of the Fender knock offs as I can from the vintage ones. I play in two bands, one country and one Classic rock, with some modern rock thrown in the mix. Everything from Stones and Zeppelin and Van Halen to Junior Brown, Asleep At The Wheel, and Travis Tritt. The best country chicken' pickin' sounds can be coaxed out of this amp on the clean channel, but I have to mic it on some stages. For the heavy stuff, I can get plenty of distortion and all the strings ring through if the volume is turned down on the guitar. Clean channel breaks up at loud volumes. The amp is somewhat noisy, and often has some disturbing microphonics. In some places I can get the local radio station loud and clear, with a bit of AC hum thrown in. When you play, however, the microphonics are not a problem. This amp covers the gamut of sounds, more so than any of the many amps I have owned. With the tube reverb and the brutal distortion on the red channel, you don't really need stompboxes. I only use a compression pedal and a Snarling Dogs Whine-O Wah, with an MXR Smart Gate (Great box!!!) to boot. Everything else comes from the fingers and the axes.

Thsi amp has never broken down to an unplayable point. I did have to change one pot that got noisy early on, but it didn't cost me anything for the repair. Mesa is very good at communicating with customers. If you call them, they will talk to you or else reliably call you back. If it did break down, I could always use my Matchless as my main rig instead of a slave.

See above. For Price Paid, I want to comment. I had to buy three extra foot switches for a total of $150. Also, a cover for my 4 X 12 slant cab was another $49 bucks. Price paid listed includes amp, cab, and that's it. I didn't include the extras.

9.5. If this amp was stolen, I would look for a very strong culprit because this amp is HEAVY. I would buy another if this were stolen, but it is no longer made and they just don't show up on the secondary market often. I am looking now for an amp that is loud and has only 2 controls -- volume and tone. 100 Watt 2-knob amp. Anybody out there know of one? I own a Twin Reverb, Matchless Chieftan, Fender "Bassbreaker", a Trainwreck, and a Mojave Coyote. I gig with my T-verb as my main amp.

Purchased mine in 1999. I think it's a '99?
Very versitile. Blues, rock, metal, punk, ska, and even country for you inbreeds! No, sorry about that I'm just kidding.
I have only one quam with this beautiful amp. Why, oh why, did they leave out a solo switch????
Because of this I rate it's features at a close to perfect-------9.

My main guitar is a 1991 Gibson Les Paul Classic Plus with '59 humbuckers. The tone from this combination is breathtaking! I play in a gothish/industrial band as well as an alt-rock band. I also enjoy being able to conjur-up classic rock tones (alla Stones), space-rock tones (alla EARL SLICK of HIS MAJESTY--DAVID BOWIE--), as well as grunge, punk and blues. This amp covers all this ground with lots-o-room to spare and lots of room to carve your own,unique sound within those "frameworks". Heavy, beefy distortion and clean sound that is deep and throaty--like the GREAT SATCHIMO. A very warm, breathy amp. So much so, I think mine might be alive. One suggestion I so have is to experiment a little with the tubes. I personally have found that using Svetlana 6l6GC's and ElectroHarmonix 12ax7's is what sounds best to my ears. I have friends, also using Boogie amps, who swear by EL34's instead of 6L6's. My advice, gather info on all the possible power and preamp tube combinations and TRY SOME! That's part of the process in finding out what you like and wish to convey in what ultimately, or should I say hopefully, becomes part or your own, uniquely identifiable sound.

I did have a problem with their floor switches breaking(channel,tremolo), as well as having a pot or two crap out. But with my overall satisfaction of the sound I can certainly forgive Mesa/Boogie for a litle mechanical struggle here and there.

They are very informative when/if you have to contact them. They can tell you the best place in your area to get your amp serviced. Even chat about modding options and tonal suggestions.

I am 25 and have been playing for almost 14 years and I think I'll be cherishing this amp for at least the next 14! Just wish the damn thing had a solo switch built in! Otherwise a superior amp in many, many ways.

Lot of featers there. But I use the one I love. Looped effects with a G-Mayor I can use all effects I want without losing the real Mesa sound. Other featers I don't need to use.

The sound was not my sound in the first place. I must lern the amp to use in it's finest way. With a Ibanez artist I now can make very different sounds. Using the real tubecompression in clean and solochannel. Yust that litlle bit I need and sometimes the warm tubesound with great details in the sound. Now I realy can hear my strings an humbuckers. The fact the Ibanez artist has a great sustain is realy spectecular. Even without any effects in between. Yust guitar and Mesa. Know I'm using it a year and it becomes mine.

It always is reliable. It does what it means.

I'm unhappy about that. Because I'm living in Holland I can't use the direct website of Mesa for bying products ore asking questions. It must be more a global support than it is at the moment. So it could be better I think.

What should I say. It becomes my one and only amp. A great reliable friend (a bit heavy weight)!

Listed below. This is my follow up review. I reviewed this amp almost two years ago.

I always use my epi-les paul with an emg81(bridge) and an emg60(neck) when playing live or at rehearsal. After having this amp for a few years I still love it. There are a variety of sounds in it. You just have to tweak it, if you don't like to tweak don't buy this amp. Mesa's are not intuitive. One piece of advice: USE EL-34's for power tubes in this amp. I think they sound superior to 6L6's in this amplifier. Also use premium power tubes and preamp tubes, it's worth the extra $$$.

Hell yeah you can depend on it. I always use it at a gig without a backup(bring backup fuses and tubes though). I've never had any problems with this amp besides old tubes. It's a sturdy beast. This thing weighs 98lbs and is a friggin back breaker(and face breaker if you stand too close to the stage). If this amp gets hit by anything, most likely the amp will be fine and whatever hits it will be damaged.

great service. Warranty could have been longer. I think? this has been changed with all their newer stuff.

If this were stolen I'd buy the head version, instead of the combo. I wouldn't want a different amp, unless I could keep this amp also. Before I played this I played vht ul, slo100, mark IV, marshall's, and various others before I bought it. I didn't play rivera's or H&K's until after. All of these amplifiers sound great, and I loved stuff about all of them, but for the money and the clean and distortion I wanted this amp just fit.