Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier Triple Channel

2002 model, 100 watts, 3 channels, 5 modes + tube rectifier/silicon diodes switch, bold/spongy variac switch, fx loop, slave out, all tube design and comes with a slipcover, 5 button footswitch, and cords. This amp has three channels and each channel can sound cosiderably different depending on the mode. Channel 1 has clean and pushed. Channels 2 and 3 have raw, vintage, and modern. Channels 2 and 3 are essentially the same with the exception that channel 3's presence knob uses a different value to give it more highs, and if you either really like it or prefer channel 2's presence control you can have Mesa send you the one you prefer to swap out. Very Versatile amp that could cover just about any sonic territory. The only thing I wish it had was a rectifier/diodes switch and bold/spongy for every channel. I am in a christian rock band that goes from playing stuff like Pillar or 1000 Foot Krutch (heavy rock) to more of a blues rock sound to modern praise in the styles of Third Day or Newsboys praise.

First of all this amp is awesome, but it will always have that Mesa sound to it. This something some may critisize, but don't Fenders sound like Fenders and Marshalls like Marshalls. I am not trying to say that it only does that brutal distortion everyone knows them for but even in lower gain modes and even clean it has it's own unique sound. To really understand this amp you need to look at its modes:
Clean-From pristine chimy clean to the beginning of overdrive it you crank the gain with higher output pickups.
Pushed-Low to medium gain crunch. Great for rhythm and classic rock.
Raw-Blues City. Probably my favorite. It is a medium gain that can go from almost clean to really nice overdrive but sounds very raw sound the entire way.
Vintage-The original "orange" channel from earlier rectos in all its amazing medium to higher gain glory. A lot like a higher gain raw but with its own unique sound.
Modern-The Brutal heavy rock sound everyone knows.

I have mine set up with ch1-clean ch2-raw ch3-modern and run it through a Johnson Amplification 412 cab. As far as FX I use a Ibanez Tube Screamer (for instant feed back) Boss BF-3 Flanger and TU-12 tuner, and an Ernie Ball Volume Pedal (all preamp)
Ch1-is set with gain at like 6 to help compress it without getting an overdriven signal. Oh yeah the FX loop can be turned completely off, on and off with footswitch, or assigned to a specific channel. I say this because I really don't use many FX and will add a Compressor to ch1 eventually because I like a well compressed clean sound(I play rhythm).
ch2-is set up with gain around 7. I do this and it gives me a lot of versatility. I simply use my volume pedal and pickups to give a low overdrive (almost clean with neck pick up)bluesy sound to a nice warm rock-n-roll crunch(bridge pickup).
ch3-I reserve this for the high gain mayhem Mesa does so well.

As far as the tone controls go I think it depends on what guitar you use and exactly what you are looking for. I use a Gibson LP Studio w/Rio Grande Texas/BBQ humbuckers and a Godin LGX-SA with stock Seymour Duncan humbuckers(it has a 5-way switch with single coil positions, but I think I'm going to replace it with one that duplicates the PRS 5-way). I keeps my mids up (7) bass lower (4-5) to keep a tight low end sound and my highs and presence down to keep it from sounding too bright or brittle. Like I said it depends on guitar/pu's as to where you'll want it to be. I also seem to have an abundance of bass in my guitars (or maybe its the cab) so I run it in the silicone diodes mode which helps tighten the bass a lot. This doesn't make the amp solid state it makes the transfer of tone from the preamp to power amp more efficient. I also trun the variac to spongy to help keep some sag in the tone. Overall it can cover serious sonic territory and there are many more ways to set it up than what I covered. The only thing that holds it back it the inablity to have different silicone diodes/tube rectifiers and bold/spongy settings per channel, or maybe I'm asking too much? But either way it gets docked another point because they do change the sound considerably.

I've had it for over 6 months now and haven't done anything to it except play it a lot. The lead player has had a 2-channel dual he bought used almost 2 years ago and hasn'thad any problems, and I've heard great things. Plus so far mine still looks brand new and sounds it also.(I only get a very light hum in ch3)

Never dealt with them but again I never dealt with them.

Is it the Best amp out there? I haven't played them all yet to find out, and right now I can't keep from playing mine long enough to play anything else.

Features have been covered very well by other reviewers.

My set-up, 1960's les paul Black Beauty or Eipihone Les paul standard-> Morley Bad Horsie 2->Dual Rectifier->Crate blue voodoo cab with celestion vintage 30s. I would like to say IMHO that the clean channel on this amp is exceptional and comes very, very close to a fender. Channel2: is great for searing lead tones, but lacks that scooped crunch. Channel 3: Gain to spare, Absolutly the best rythem tone EVER!. Each channel really does something different. The head is incridibly versitle and I can't seem to get a bad sound out of it!

My first Boogie, but it is a TANK.

Boogie's customer service is excellent I got a live person and all my questions very answered. It was like they actually cared about my sound.

I've been playing for Five years. This amp is the tone for me. This is the Amp for Rock. If was stolen I would cry because $1500 is hard to come by. It totaly smokes a Marshall.

2002 model I believe. Triple channel Dual Rectifier. Features have been covered, and they are plentiful. I also own a Rectoverb which is a wonderful amp, but I bought this because I really needed to have 3 channels to cover my live gigs.

I use a Les Paul and play alot of pop rock originals. I bought it on a thursday evening, and gigged with it the next night. Because I was already familiar with the Rectoverb, I didn't have much trouble dialing up the tones I needed. I was very sceptical to just plop a new amp behind me at a gig without having tried it at a practice session first, but this baby came through for me with no problems. I expected to be tweaking my ass off the first night, but we did a 2 song sound check, and I went with what I dialed up. In a traditional 4 piece rock band, I had no problem leaving plenty of territory for the bass player, and experienced zero "mud". The only way I can describe the gain tones I was getting, is that it sounded like thunder rolling across the stage, with a high-end as crisp as a crackling, static lightning bolt. People who don't know anything about guitar tones were approaching me after this first show telling me, "how great the guitar sounded". These people's opinions impress me far more than what another guitar player or musician may have to say. My opinion is that channel 3 is exactly like my Rectoverb, but channel two is much different- it seems to have a bit brighter and punchier tone, perhaps a tad remeniscent of an old Marshall (e.g; early JCM 800), but don't get me wrong- this does not sound just like a Marshall. I did notice as the tubes warmed up throughout the gig that the clean channel did not seem as bright as when I first started, but I may have tweaked the gain too high, cutting down on the clean headroom and making it a little too warm. I checked my settings after the gig to see what the dials were like after having done a few tweaks early in the set. I noticed that every Bass control was set to 10:00, and the other tone controls were rather high in varying degrees according to each channel. The Clean channnel mids were at 9:00. No gain was set above 1:00. Generally, the sounds seemed fairly even frequency-wise over all 3 channels throughout the night. I remeber noricing that there was zero noise coming from this amp. After the first 10 minutes I never made another tweak, and just performed my ass off. Simply unbelievably great tone. I have yet to try it, but I'll bet it's every bit as versatile as my Rectoverb, which is able to cover any musical style including blues, jazz, country, rock, metal, thrash, etc.

Again, I was sceptical to use a brand-new amp without trying it at a practice first, but it came through perfectly. I've been using the Rectoverb for almost a year without a hitch. Real quality stuff here.

Sent a few emails in the past and got a few replies within a day or two. Very supportive in the email responses.

I got into Mesa amps a year ago when I wanted to replace my aged Marshall. I couldn't justify Marshall's lack of features and quality in the same price range by comparison, and didn't like the tones they're putting out these days. I absolutely detest that Marshall always skimps on features. For example, the TSL 100 has 3 channels, but no master volume level. Where the Dual Rectifiers are concerned, the features seem limitless. I can easily understand the complaints that some people have when they say these amps have a "muddy" low-end, but I would say that the low-end is just much "warmer" than what most people are used to. I didn't experience any mud, but it IS harder to get a Marshall-esque palm-muted chord chunk thing happening, but it's still there. In addition, if you think it gets too "fuzzy", that's a direct sign that you need to turn the gain down until it goes away. I've been playing for over 20 years, and I've mostly used various Marshalls. To younger people who complain about the tones on these Rectifier's I would say, there have been just as many complaints about Marshalls, perhaps even more if you consider some of the past reliability issues (we used to whine about Marshall's not having enough low-end!). If this amp walked, I would claim it on my home owners insurance, and get another identical one in 20 minutes. This amp is everything I'll ever need for the rest of my life. I rate it a "15".

triple channel mesa dual rec.

What do you want? Well, here it is!Unless you want a thin Crate-Marshall-line sux pud 2.0-solid state mouse turd tone. Go buy a spider and shut up.

Mesa rocks. Why are people saying the old two channel rec is better? Did they blow out there ears or something? I believe they are deaf..

Hey Randall Smith-Bogner gives me lifetime! One year? don't you trust Your stuff? Its well made, I trust it, But give me a little more for my $1500-

This amp rox..'69 sg jr w/p90s,'70 sg melody maker w/hot rails, many 80s charvels, whatever. It doesnt matter.It is the last amp I'll own.

every Mesa Freak knows what the new Dual Rectifier head has:3-channels, etc---et.al. go see the Mesa Boogie website if ya really, REALLY Need to KNOW!!! Other than that, it's a 2002 model. It came w/ the 'Standard' slant 4x12, which is based upon the taller , '60s Marshall TV Cabinets of yesteryear--taller, w/ better bottom end!!! It ALSO came w/ a custom-made road case for the head, plus the 'Big Foot' footswitch, plus a Monster Cable for the cabinet!!! Great Deal!!!

I use a Jackson USA Soloist loaded w/ EMGS, A kramer Pacer Custom I, and a Fender American Deluxe Strat Plus w/ lace Sensors. All three guitars retain their sonic characteristics,however, w/ the many configuration combinations you can custom-tailor your sound with (like Spogy/Bold, Vacuum tubes/Silicon Rectifiers, 'raw' 'pushed' 'vintage' 'modern', etc---)the possibilities are just plain STAGGERING!!!! My musical styles totally fit this amp (going from Nu-metal to Power Pop punk stuff to Classic Rock to Jazz/R&B fusion), so, needless to say, I'm stoke to have that many options to tweak with!!! My favorite channel is #2, in vintage mode---very good and usuable overdrive, indeed!!! The harmonics just pop out at you!!! Channel 3 is just plain fucking brutal, hands down--think Mudvayne, Slipknot, Godsmack,Disturbed, Korn--it put the Marshall TSL60 halfstack I used to have to SHAME--nice to have all that headroom to cut through drums and bass!! Hell, my brother the VHT Ultralead owner even said it kicked ass!!!

this is the LAST AMP I'll EVER, EVER OWN (unless I want even more options, then I go for the Road king!!!) I currently have also in my amp stash my reliable DC5 wide-body combo--I've had it for well over 6 years, putting it through many gigging/rehearsal/recording situations, and it has always consistently delivered!! I expect this amp will do the same thing for me over the years.

haven't dealt w/ it yet--I just got the damn thing this week!!!

I've been playing for over 25 years--I used to go through amps like water (Marshall, Randall, Peavey, Crate, Carvin) If my amp were stolen, I'd murderlize this bastard. But then again, it would free me up to get the Road king, Heaven forbid!!!! I thought about getting a Mark IV, A Nomad or one of the Single Rectifier heads, but when I came across this deal, I knew it was heaven-sent for me to HAVE!! I also thought about getting a used Bognar Exctasy or Soldano Decatone, but in the end, I'm steadfastly behind Mesa Products all the way, for good---I'm back home again (after the brief flirtation w/ my Marshall TSL60 half-stack) now, all I'll ever need from this point is a good Gibson Les Paul Custom to play through this thing!!!

This amp is a quality relic hand built with many many features. This amp is an all tube designe amp with 4 6L6GC Power amp tubes 2 5U4 Rectifier Tubes and 5 12AX7 Preamp tubes. The amp pushes 100 watts but i barely go above 50% on the master volume controll. The amp has 3 channels all with individual EQ's, Presence Controlls and Master Volume to set each channels own volume and channel voiceing select switches which allow you to customize the tone to on each channel to what suits your ears. The amp comes with a 5 button footswitch. There is a solo switch on the pedal as well when depressed it bost's the overall volume of the amp. The amp also has a built in effects loop which i barley use but if you plan on using effects like chours delay flanger etc run them through the loop becuase the sound quality will be 100% better than just running them straight into the input jack! On the back of the amp you'll find a switch which allows you to chose which tubes you want the amp to use. You can use the VACUME Tube Setting or the RECTIFIER high power Setting i prefer the Rectifier setting becuase it suits my taste in the tone it produces but the vacume tubes emit a more high end tone to them that has more treble and mids than the Rectifier tubes. There is also a Bold or Spongy switch on the back of the amp. This picks the overall voicing of the amp. I use my amp set to bold which increases the amount of voltage sent to the tubes in the amp and creats an up front and personall in your face tone when i push the amp in the distortion channels. The spongy switch cuts the amount of voltage going to the tubes so it creats more of a softer attack thats more quaint.

Curently i own a ESP LTD guitar with a single neck pickup and a dual humbucker on the bridge, i also own an Ibanez RG 7-string and i mainly use the bridge pick up on that as well. I use this amp at practice with my band and in the studio. I have been playing guitar for over 8 years and i vary my styles from classic rock to nu-metal, and hardcore, and emo. All around this amp is worth every penney i paid for it i am very impressed!


First off this head is built mainly for people who use alot of gain and are looking for that awsome peircing tone at high volume and gain settings. IF you play metal hard rock emo or even blues this is an amp worth buying! The tone is unbelivable though it takes time to dial it in becuase there is so much you can do to manipulate the sound of this amp seeing as how each channel has it own voicing switch with three settings (RAW, VINTAGE, MODERN) with the exception of the Clean channell which has 2 settings (CLEAN, PUSHED).

Lets start with Channel 1 the clean channel. This amp contrary to popular belife has an awsome tone when using the clean channel. It has a crisp sound to it so clean and clear that it is audible over my firneds MArshall TSL 2000 head when set to the clean chanell at the same volume. When you switch the voicing to PUSHED you get a raw vintage gain sound from the 60's and 70's that reminds me of Black Sabbath and Zeppelin.

(a word to the wise, before i get into channel's 2 and 3. DO NOT CRANK THE GAIN AND THE TREBEL ALL THE WAY UP ON THIS AMP AT VOLUMES HIGHER THAN 40% BECUASE TWO THINGS CAN HAPPEN. 1. YOU'LL GO DEF SOO QUICK YOU WONT REMEMBER THE LAST THING YOU HEARED AND 2.YOU CAN CAUSE MICROPHONIC TUBE FALIUR WHERE YOU WILL GET SQEALING FROM THE AMP WHILE PLAYING. THE TONE AT THOSE LEVELS IS SO EAR PIERCING YOU'LL GET A HEADACH AND HEAR RINGING IN YOUR EARS FOR HOURS. You'll find how i have my amp set to avoid those problems and still get that high gain pure tone without destroying your hearing and your preamp tubes below)

Channel 2 is just awsome, the tone you get out of this channell is similar to the original dual and triple rectifiers of the 90's. When using the Vintage setting on the voicing switch the mids get sucked out of the mix and the you hear more of a high end signal. This channel is perfect for single note soloing including hammer ons and pulloffs. I cant find a better amp to play the solo from erupption on by Van Halen than this one. The tone is so clear that if you get this amp and suck on the guitar dont expect the gain to cover up your mistakes. I usally play this channel with the Trebel set at about between 2-3 o'clock and the mid set to about 8 o'clock and the bass set to 12 o'clock. I keep the gain set at about 2:30 and the pressence set at about the same.

Channel 3 the most brutal of the 3 channels. This channel takes off where channel 2 leaves off it is much more present and tone full than channel 2. I opt to use channel 3 with my seven string becuase it has just enough mid in it to keep the tone of the lower strings from getting muddy. I keep the settings at about the same as channel 2. This channels tone is just more out there it sounds like you have your amp cranked all the way in an isolation room at a recording studio with padding on the walls.
There is sooooo much you can do with this amp it is incredible it just takes time to dial in your tone you have to be patient. it took me a day or so and a full practice to get my tone set right so it could fit in the mix with the drums and the other guitar players amp!

This amp just donst get muddy when pushed hard. I use it thorugh my Marshall JCM 900 4x12 cab. I also own a Peavey Ultra Plus 3 channel head and i have had that for 2 years prior to buying the MESA. Don't get me wrong Peavey is an awsome company and i loved my ultra but after time went on i couldnt get that awsome tone that only mesa could offer, also the amp just got dead sounding when pushed hard and it muddied up fast with my seven s

Realiablity is good from what i hear from other people but just keep an extra set of tubes with you just in case cause you never know what the hell can happen. 80% of the time problems with these heads are the result of a bad preamp tube or power amp tube!

When i got the head i noticed it made a crackleing noise with the guitar volume all the way down in channels 2 and 3 so i called Mesa Boogie in California to them the problem and they sent me a new set of Preamp Tubes for free! Tell me is that costumer support or what? What other amp company would do this for you? If you know of one email me!

I give this amp a 9 becuase nothing is perfect. But i am very pleased with this amp i spent a year searching for an amp that suited me best and this is the one. I tried everything from the new Peavey Triple XXX and the 5150II to the MArshall TSL 2000 and DSL 2000 and nothing sounded as tone full as the MEASA Dual Rec i now own. If my amp was stolen i would instantly have it replaced with another yet i would find the idot that stole and beat them into tomorow but i hope that never happens! IF your in a local band or a solo artists who likes to play just for fun get this amp the possiblities are endless with the tone shapping on this amp. It is well worth the price and you get a 1 year warranty on the amp and a 6 month warranty on the tubes. Trust me if you love high gain that is full of rich tone with plenty of bottom end get this amp.

three indie channels, 3 modes per channel, clean,od1,dist,100wt tube amp, channel switching available via midi footswitch. no reverb but indie eq per each channel. very versatile

clean tone is a bit quiet, overdrive is rich and warm, bb kind like blues tones to pretty bitey, dist channel is pure saturation. tone is so subjective that i find it almost useless to post about how the amp sounds. clean,od,dist......i could use lots of colorful adjs. but youd really have to plug it in to see. i can offer this one bit of advice..when you try it in the store TURN IT UP past 1. the amp sounds entirely different at semi high volumes then when you are demoing at barely anything at all. the amps sounds work great for me.

this is where i have a bit of a beef. took the amp out of package, plugged it in, blew fuse. took entire head back for exchange....got it home, blew another fuse. called mesa and apparently my rect. tubes had been damaged, so i switched the amp to silicon diodes and am using that until i recieve my new rect tubes.

mesa was VERY helpful with my tube problems. i called them, they didnt ask any questions and put my tubes in the mail priority. very easy to deal with...mesa has a great warentee with a year warnetee alone on the tubes!!!

ive been playing for about 8 years. i own an origional 65 fender deluxe reverb, a marshall jtm30 1x12, and a marshall valavestate100 head. im using a fender 50s classic strat modded with a dimarzio fast track 2 in the bridge, a gibson les paul dc jr., and a squire jagmaster. if this head were stolen i would definatly replace it with the same thing. i love the distortion channels. so much thicker than that of any solid state amp ive used. for rock/punk/edgy types of music you cant go wrong with this. i also liked the fact that mesas hold their value very well so if i ever do decide to sell it i should get a good return on it.

I don't own one of these amps, but the other guitarist in my band does. I've used it plenty of times, and have played other Dual Rectifiers as well. 3-channel amp, footswitch has cool solo boost, and has fx loop on/off.

Clean channel - not so good. Sounds more distorted than I would like at volumes loud enough to play with a band.
2nd channel - very good. This is my favorite channel - has very nice distortion tones.
3rd channel - insane ferocious rip your freakin' head off distortion. I would never use this channel. Channel 2 has enough distortion for almost any style.
I think the sounds are good, except for the clean, and the 3rd channel is ridiculous and unnecessary in my opinion.
Something to be aware of is that Mesa amps tend to be inconsistent from amp to amp - I've played some Dual Rectifiers that sound awful, and some that sound really good.

Very well-built amp.

Good amp - if you like insane distortion, you will be wanting this. If you like other sounds, you may look elsewhere. I like Marshall Triple Super Leads a lot better than Dual Rectifiers. I own a Rivera Knucklehead which is like a Marshall only better.
For the price this amp is, you'd better be sure this is what you want if you're going to buy one. VHT's and Soldanos and Riveras all can be found for similar prices (or less, if you go used) - I recommend trying out other amps than just Mesas and Marshalls (which is what many people think are the only choices for high gain amps).

This is a follow up to my earlier report.

This amp was made in 2000. I bought it new from the HOG in Rochester, NY.

Well, after tweaking this thing for a few months, I'm still shocked by the excellent tone.

I use the "Clean" channel and "Dirty" channel. The third channel or what I call "Silly Dirty" is not needed or used. The "Silly Dirty" tone is very similar to harder rock bands like "Disturbed", SOAD, Pappa Roach, et al."

The only feature I can't get to work to my liking is the "Effects Loop". This amp doesn't like some effects in the loop. These "looped" FX kill my tone no matter how much tweaking I do. So now, I'm back to stomp boxes and no longer use the loop.

I use this amp recording, rehersing, and live. It has more power than I'll ever need...it's great. 100 Watts all tube = Butter.

This is an important issue...

When I play my '78 Les Paul Custom alone, with out the band, it sounds fucking great. Same goes for recording sessions.

However! When we reherse the Les Paul get washed, the tone is gone, and it just sounds like noise. This is very strange.

Then, I switched to '89 Clapton Strat and HOLY SHIT! I found THE sound. It sings and cuts through as it should. It just sounds great. My drummer actually soiled himself. (pretty standard for drummers.)

Some players only use the matching Boogie 4x12 box. I use an old Marshall 1960A box that sounds great. I'm in the market for a new box and I'll probably get another Marshall.

Very Reliable

n/a

I've been playing for 18 years...mostly rock. Aside from my Dual Recto, I also use a VOX AC-15 and a VOX AC-30 (greenbacks).

Guitars - '78 Custom Les Paul , '89 Clapton Strat, '52 Tele Reissue,
'85 Piece of Shit Fender Performer (made for one year). I recently sold my 1959 Fender Strat cause I owed my pimp a lot of money.

If it were stolen I'd get another. It's got it all, but remember to use a 4x12 box of some sort to get hard.

Good luck and God Bless America

All good. Very versitile. Great gain.

Great for metal, punk, hard rock, ect...

Built like a tank. Literally. Most likely could witstand a bomb blast.

N/A

Great amp. Although, for $100 more, GET THE TRIPLE RECTIFIER! Even though this amp is great, the Triple Rectifier beats it in every aspect.