Mesa rackmount pre-amps

[metalchurch79]

Other than the Triaxis, what do you guys think is a good Mesa preamp?

Do any of them come close to the Dual or Triple Rec heads in terms of Gain structure?

Here's a few that I know of, but I nothing about them at all:
*Formula
*Triaxis
*V-Twin
*Rectifier Recording Preamp
*Studio

The Triaxis have been going for $1000+ on ebay lately, but are they really worth it?

What's the deal with the Rectifier Recording Preamp? Can it be used for gigging? Or is it just like a direct line type of preamp?

Thanks alot guys!

[AK47]

The Triaxis can emulate all the Mesa amps tones ever made accuratley. I even owned a MarkIIC head and dont miss it at all with my Triaxis and Strategy 400 poweramp. I will get a rackmount Dual recto eventually just for the heck of it.

The smaller Mesa stuff is good but it will leave you wanting more. Just save your pennies and get the Triaxis never look back.

[metalchurch79]

I found a photo of the back of the Recto Recording Preamp, and apparently it can be used for recording or gigging. I wonder if this is closer to the Dual or the Triple Rectifier head?

What is the difference between the Dual and Triple? More preamp tubes?
Has anyone owned this Recto Recording preamp? If so, what do you think of it?

[AK47]

I found a photo of the back of the Recto Recording Preamp, and apparently it can be used for recording or gigging. I wonder if this is closer to the Dual or the Triple Rectifier head?

What is the difference between the Dual and Triple? More preamp tubes?
Has anyone owned this Recto Recording preamp? If so, what do you think of it?

I should clarify I am eventually going to buy a rackmount dual recto poweramp which is exactley like the head not the preamp, it is pretty rare and discontinued. If you have the triaxis you do not need the dual recto preamp.

Maybe a resident Mesa expert can jump in but on the heads a dual recto is 100watts and the triple is 150watts.

In otherwords to keep it simple this is how I run my setup:

Preamp:
TriAxis
Poweramp:
Strategy400 eventually will upgrade to the Dual recto poweramp.

This is all you will ever need for one player.

[metalchurch79]

Right now I'm using an Engl 620 preamp and a Marshall 9200 poweramp.
I've been wanting to check out one of these Mesa's, but I dont know anything about them, and I dont know anyone personally who has owned one.

I have been keeping my eyes on a Triaxis for a long time, but I always get cold feet on hitting the BIN on ebay, cause of my lack of experience with Mesa.

Have you heard of the Phat Mod for the Triaxis? Is yours all stock?
What tubes are you using?
Does it have uber amounts of gain?

edit: I have been looking at the Mesa 2:100 poweramp, what do you think of that? Is it comparable to the Recto Poweramp?
Thanks AK!

[AK47]

Right now I'm using an Engl 620 preamp and a Marshall 9200 poweramp.
I've been wanting to check out one of these Mesa's, but I dont know anything about them, and I dont know anyone personally who has owned one.

I have been keeping my eyes on a Triaxis for a long time, but I always get cold feet on hitting the BIN on ebay, cause of my lack of experience with Mesa.

Have you heard of the Phat Mod for the Triaxis? Is yours all stock?
What tubes are you using?
Does it have uber amounts of gain?

edit: I have been looking at the Mesa 2:100 poweramp, what do you think of that? Is it comparable to the Recto Poweramp?
Thanks AK!

Mine is all stock with no Phat mod. I heard alot of people dont like the Phat mod. Maybe a Mesa expert can chime in. Tubes are stock in my Triaxis. My Strategy has Groove Tubes not sure what kind. I can get any type of tone I want out of my setup and it has tons of overdrive.

Nothing wrong with the Mesa 2:100 poweramp in fact I had the older 2:90 I think it was. I just went with the Strategy 400 so now I can run as many cabs as I want and never need to worry about having to upgrade my poweramp later. Only reason I am considering upgrading to the dual rectifier rackmount head is just because its a newer setup from Mesa.

I think the Strategy sounds alot better as well but my drummer said he really did not notice too much of a difference in tone except it was alot louder. When you play with a drummer and a bass player you want alot of watts to be heard over them. I did not feel I was getting that with my 2:90 but many professional bands use the 2:90 on their tour rigs. I like to go overkill that way I dont have to buy more stuff later.

I hate having something that is one step or two below the model with all the options. Its nice to have the power right there if you need it but thats just me.

[themisfit138]

What is the difference between the Dual and Triple? More preamp tubes?

The heads, the Dual has 2 rectifier tubes and 4 poweramp tubes. The Triple has 3 rectifier tubes and 6 poweramp tubes. They both have the same amount of pre-amp tubes, which I can't recall the number right now.
I would get a Quad-Pre. It is a combo of the Mark IIc+ and the III.
The triaxis is good but it can't really get a recto tone, IMO.

A Mesa pre-amp through a Marshall EL-34 power amp has a wonderful tone.

[metalchurch79]

Thanks for the help guys, that kind of answers some of my questions.
I wish that I had one of each so that I could try them all
I forgot about the Quad, I know of one of those for sale.

[markD]

i had a quad when they were new. i found that they were better in theory than application. i was severely disappointed....

and a quad will not come anywhere CLOSE to a recto. the older mesa MK amps and the quad pre and more like fender circuits with an extra gain stage or two. VERY different type of sound than the modern mesa stuff....

[Inearthed]

The Quad and Studio preamps are more in line with the Mesa Mark series amplifiers.

I didn't think the Triaxis sounded anything like the Rectifier, just personal opinion, of course. Some very nice lead tones in there and some nice cleans too.. Struggled with the high gain rhythm sounds. Maybe someone can offer help / guidance.

Rectifier Recording Preamp is basically the preamp section of a rectifier. Team it with a 2:90 or 2:100 and you (basically) have a Dual Rectifier.

[markD]

I didn't think the Triaxis sounded anything like the Rectifier, just personal opinion, of course. Some very nice lead tones in there and some nice cleans too.. Struggled with the high gain rhythm sounds. Maybe someone can offer help / guidance.

hahahahaha - personally, i sruggle with ALL mesa products..i can never find a good clean, heavy rhtyhm and lead sound from one amp. i haven't tried a RK series - nor will i...with my lack of success with their other products, i am NOT dropping that kind of money to try one out in HOPES that it actually gets the job done.....

[AK47]

The Quad and Studio preamps are more in line with the Mesa Mark series amplifiers.

I didn't think the Triaxis sounded anything like the Rectifier, just personal opinion, of course. Some very nice lead tones in there and some nice cleans too.. Struggled with the high gain rhythm sounds. Maybe someone can offer help / guidance.

Rectifier Recording Preamp is basically the preamp section of a rectifier. Team it with a 2:90 or 2:100 and you (basically) have a Dual Rectifier.

I definatley was Not getting a rectifier tone with my 2:90 and the Triaxis. I do with a Triaxis and the Strategy. I still want to get the rackmount rectifier.

[metalchurch79]

AK, is the Strategy a 100w?
What kind of tubes are in those? 6L6's

[Bengal65]

I have a Triaxis and a Mesa 2:100. They are both a couple of years old. I don't know if mine has the Phat mod or not. They are completely stock with Mesa tubes. All I can tell you is the combination is awesome. The Triaxis, when programmed, (also includes the pre-programs) switches the 2:100 into rectifier mode when needed. Really neat and versatile unit. The 2:100 is killer, but could be expensive come to re-tubing time. (8) 6L6's in the output section. Like 2, 100w amps, which it is. Definitely worth taking a listen too.

[metalchurch79]

I would love to hear these rigs, but you guys live so damn far away from me!!
My Marshall 9200 also has 8 power tubes, but they are 5881's.