News From Steelhorse

steelhorse · 02-01-2009, 04:16 PM

Hey all. Just got back from a long drive to swap 1/2 stacks. I traded off my stock DSL100 and one of my backup 1960A cabs for a Dual Rectifier Solo (1996) dual channel with a Boogie 4 x 12. I moved the cabs because the other guy was kinda frail. He said it took his wife and a friend along with him to load the boogie cab into the truck. So I lift the 1960A off and ok I'm feeling no pain, it's all good. When I went to grab the boogie cab out of his truck all I thought was OMG this is one heavy muddah (or words to that effect) The wood they use in those things are like a tree's worth, and the magnets on the EV speakers are, well heavy!

Then I had to carry this *&@#% up the stairs to the house, then down the stairs into my studio. Yeah, nothing like getting your ass whipped by a speaker cab.

Anyway, after letting her thaw out (the head rode in the cab with me, the cab rode in the bed under a tonneau cover and wrapped in moving blankets) I got it all hooked up, warmed up, fired her up and man what a monster. It has Groove Tube 6L6's and the rectifier tubes whatver they are and 5 12AX7's. This is the stuff of Tremonti and Hetfield right here, and that cab seriosuly packs a wollop OMG.

Anyway so I set my TSL100 aside to set this thing up and when I went to fire up the VM. Nothing. Everything looks ok, even bypassed the effects board and plugged straight in, still nothing, so I'll be spending my post Super Bowl afternoon trouble shooting this and I'll let you all know what I found out, hopefully it's nothing serious, but if it is at least it's under warranty.

I'll post pics if anyone's interested later of the DR and cab. They're actually smaller than Marshall heads and cabs but the head seems heavier and the cab is like 50 pounds heavier at least!

It's got that great Boogie mojo where you can actually feel the amp through your fingers, it's hard to explain.

stock_hippie · 02-01-2009, 05:08 PM

wow...i heard those DR early birds are the coolest-best-coolest and i almost was gonna get one off ebay....good luck...is it the VM that busted???

steelhorse · 02-01-2009, 05:14 PM

Quick reply before SB:

The DR is an animal.

The VM is powering up but no sound.

steelhorse · 02-01-2009, 10:25 PM

Got the VM back up and running, pre amp tube.

stock_hippie · 02-01-2009, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steelhorse

Got the VM back up and running, pre amp tube.

cooLL!!

DragonSarc · 02-02-2009, 04:33 AM

why did the preamp pop? is it just a bad tube?

Eag · 02-02-2009, 10:41 AM

Hey steelhorse, that's good news about the VM.

I used to have a Single rec solo 50 head, and like you said, they're monstrosities. I sold mine awhile back to help finance a Rockerverb 50 head. I love the RV and will keep it forever but I want another recto head for the heavy rhythm stuff.

steelhorse · 02-02-2009, 01:17 PM

I actually think the rectifier, vintage and variac tone settings are quite interesting but I prefer the vacuum tube, modern and bold settings myself. Talk about girth.

I also don't think this is strictly a rhythm stack either, although mine was slightly modified, I get great lead tones from it.

I also spoke with Boogie about it today and they said that my serial number is low enough to make it a 93 or 94 tops.

Eag · 02-02-2009, 02:05 PM

Yea, those were good years for the rectos. What mods were done to the amp you mentioned? I could not get my recto to sing pretty for me under any circumstances.

steelhorse · 02-02-2009, 03:16 PM

The tech at Mesa changed one or two of the diodes for more gain and also tighter bass.

steelhorse · 02-02-2009, 09:18 PM

According to this site my amp was more than likely born in 94 which was corroborated by a few recto experts;

2-Channel Dual Rectifier 1202/270; 1201/137

I didn't realize it was based on the SLO-100.

I'm glad I have it with my arsenal of Marshall's

Rypsolisti · 02-03-2009, 10:17 AM

Hey that's a great amp! Congrats on it! A friend of mine has a Mesa Single Rectifier that he bought new few years ago. I've tried it couple of times but always with his setups so I never got my kind of sound out of it but it sure sounded nice and it sounds terrific when my friend plays it!

stock_hippie · 02-03-2009, 11:40 AM

Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier (Early 90's) - eBay (item 160313498636 end time Feb-03-09 02:28:38 PST)

Eag · 02-03-2009, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steelhorse

I didn't realize it was based on the SLO-100.

Yep, but side by side with a SLO it will eat the Soldano for breakfast and spit out the splinters. I have never heard an amp that can wallop anywhere NEAR like the rectos. Sing and scream, yes, I got amps that'll make a recto hang it's trannies in shame. But thunder and slab-cracking oomph.....it's always the recto by a mile.

steelhorse · 02-03-2009, 03:22 PM

I don't know bro, I have many amps myself and I don't think there are any that can get this thing to hang it's trannies in shame.

Besides it's got the trannies and components that I was after. It has all earlier vintage USA transformers and choke and everything else indicates at the least it's a transitional anomaly. Made in 94 these can be difficult to find and I can't believe I stumbled onto one on Craigslist!

The slab cracking oomph is there but bro I gotta tell you I can get it to sing and scream too, and OMG the sustain!

dayum

steelhorse · 02-03-2009, 03:25 PM

The one on ebay (or rather was) that hippie posted is the same era as mine. I can't tell what his components are but on the outside and the serial number it's the same year.

jcmjmp · 02-03-2009, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steelhorse

I didn't realize it was based on the SLO-100.

Not many people realize that. The SLO kills the Mesa DR, Peavey 6505/5150 and Fender EVH.

steelhorse · 02-03-2009, 06:14 PM

Hmmm. Odd. It's based on the SLO-100 then it adds to it, and that's the early concepts, it has since undergone several revisions and mine is the transition between the best of the old school just before it became a 3 channel.

I've had all of the amps in question except the Fender EVH and then some, no way imo does the SLO blow any of them away especially a vintage DR and the Fender EVH is a different beast altogether, in fact all of them are great amps in their own right.

Eag · 02-03-2009, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steelhorse

I don't know bro, I have many amps myself and I don't think there are any that can get this thing to hang it's trannies in shame.

Besides it's got the trannies and components that I was after. It has all earlier vintage USA transformers and choke and everything else indicates at the least it's a transitional anomaly. Made in 94 these can be difficult to find and I can't believe I stumbled onto one on Craigslist!

The slab cracking oomph is there but bro I gotta tell you I can get it to sing and scream too, and OMG the sustain!

dayum

Dude, I gotta try one with the mods yours has. You've got me extremely excited about the mods! Can you post a clip of the beast thrashing about? And tell me more about the mods if you can.

jcmjmp · 02-03-2009, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steelhorse

Hmmm. Odd. It's based on the SLO-100 then it adds to it, and that's the early concepts, it has since undergone several revisions and mine is the transition between the best of the old school just before it became a 3 channel.

The Mesa DR is mud compared to the SLO. It just doesn't have the clarity and crunch of an SLO - but that's just my opinion.
Not to say that a Mesa DR doesn't have its place and I'm sure you're real happy with it after only a couple of days. LOL! I'm pulling your strings a little

. Still, I do believe that in the high gain market, SLO is king.

And yes, I am aware of the diffs between the 2ch and 3ch DRs

steelhorse · 02-03-2009, 09:01 PM

The SLO has it's place but not for my type of music, probably good for whimpy jazz stuff LOL!

Yes we agree to disagree on this one bro. I've owned several Soldano's including the SLO and never regretted parting with any of them but have always-always regretted parting with my Boogies.

I've been on the DR non stop since it's arrival and after 30+ years of playing I don't need to spend weeks to realize it's got the mojo!

02-01-2009, 04:16 PM	#1 (permalink)
steelhorse Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 3,951	News From Steelhorse Hey all. Just got back from a long drive to swap 1/2 stacks. I traded off my stock DSL100 and one of my backup 1960A cabs for a Dual Rectifier Solo (1996) dual channel with a Boogie 4 x 12. I moved the cabs because the other guy was kinda frail. He said it took his wife and a friend along with him to load the boogie cab into the truck. So I lift the 1960A off and ok I'm feeling no pain, it's all good. When I went to grab the boogie cab out of his truck all I thought was OMG this is one heavy muddah (or words to that effect) The wood they use in those things are like a tree's worth, and the magnets on the EV speakers are, well heavy! Then I had to carry this &@#% up the stairs to the house, then down the stairs into my studio. Yeah, nothing like getting your ass whipped by a speaker cab. Anyway, after letting her thaw out (the head rode in the cab with me, the cab rode in the bed under a tonneau cover and wrapped in moving blankets) I got it all hooked up, warmed up, fired her up and man what a monster. It has Groove Tube 6L6's and the rectifier tubes whatver they are and 5 12AX7's. This is the stuff of Tremonti and Hetfield right here, and that cab seriosuly packs a wollop OMG. Anyway so I set my TSL100 aside to set this thing up and when I went to fire up the VM. Nothing. Everything looks ok, even bypassed the effects board and plugged straight in, still nothing, so I'll be spending my post Super Bowl afternoon trouble shooting this and I'll let you all know what I found out, hopefully it's nothing serious, but if it is at least it's under warranty. I'll post pics if anyone's interested later of the DR and cab. They're actually smaller than Marshall heads and cabs but the head seems heavier and the cab is like 50 pounds heavier at least! It's got that great Boogie mojo where you can actually feel the amp through your fingers, it's hard to explain. __________________ www.ricojronline.com 760-956-6619* Garmopat Pedal Mods "I wouldn't mind hearing your head smash through a glass door. That would be cool..." luekmeyer

02-01-2009, 05:08 PM	#2 (permalink)
stock_hippie Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 626	Re: News From Steelhorse wow...i heard those DR early birds are the coolest-best-coolest and i almost was gonna get one off ebay....good luck...is it the VM that busted???

02-01-2009, 10:25 PM	#4 (permalink)
steelhorse Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 3,951	Re: News From Steelhorse Got the VM back up and running, pre amp tube. __________________ www.ricojronline.com 760-956-6619 Garmopat Pedal Mods "I wouldn't mind hearing your head smash through a glass door. That would be cool..." luekmeyer

02-02-2009, 04:33 AM	#6 (permalink)
DragonSarc Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: San Leandro, CA Posts: 499	Re: News From Steelhorse why did the preamp pop? is it just a bad tube? __________________ JVM410H w/ 1960 Vintage A & 1960 Lead B Valvestate 2000 AVT 100 W/ JJ tesla Hi-Gain Preamp Gibson LP studio faded mahagony w/ Burstbuckers Pro V MIJ ESP Edwards Les Paul w/ Duncan JB and 59's Fender American Strat w/ Noiseless Vintage pups LTD EC-500 Jackson Stealth Pro MIJ

02-02-2009, 10:41 AM	#7 (permalink)
Eag Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 343	Re: News From Steelhorse Hey steelhorse, that's good news about the VM. I used to have a Single rec solo 50 head, and like you said, they're monstrosities. I sold mine awhile back to help finance a Rockerverb 50 head. I love the RV and will keep it forever but I want another recto head for the heavy rhythm stuff.

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02-02-2009, 01:17 PM	#8 (permalink)
steelhorse Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 3,951	Re: News From Steelhorse I actually think the rectifier, vintage and variac tone settings are quite interesting but I prefer the vacuum tube, modern and bold settings myself. Talk about girth. I also don't think this is strictly a rhythm stack either, although mine was slightly modified, I get great lead tones from it. I also spoke with Boogie about it today and they said that my serial number is low enough to make it a 93 or 94 tops. __________________ www.ricojronline.com 760-956-6619 Garmopat Pedal Mods "I wouldn't mind hearing your head smash through a glass door. That would be cool..." luekmeyer

02-02-2009, 02:05 PM	#9 (permalink)
Eag Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 343	Re: News From Steelhorse Yea, those were good years for the rectos. What mods were done to the amp you mentioned? I could not get my recto to sing pretty for me under any circumstances.

02-02-2009, 03:16 PM	#10 (permalink)
steelhorse Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 3,951	Re: News From Steelhorse The tech at Mesa changed one or two of the diodes for more gain and also tighter bass. __________________ www.ricojronline.com 760-956-6619 Garmopat Pedal Mods "I wouldn't mind hearing your head smash through a glass door. That would be cool..." luekmeyer

02-02-2009, 09:18 PM	#11 (permalink)
steelhorse Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 3,951	Re: News From Steelhorse According to this site my amp was more than likely born in 94 which was corroborated by a few recto experts; 2-Channel Dual Rectifier 1202/270; 1201/137 I didn't realize it was based on the SLO-100. I'm glad I have it with my arsenal of Marshall's __________________ www.ricojronline.com 760-956-6619 Garmopat Pedal Mods "I wouldn't mind hearing your head smash through a glass door. That would be cool..." luekmeyer

02-03-2009, 10:17 AM	#12 (permalink)
Rypsolisti Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Finland Posts: 142	Re: News From Steelhorse Hey that's a great amp! Congrats on it! A friend of mine has a Mesa Single Rectifier that he bought new few years ago. I've tried it couple of times but always with his setups so I never got my kind of sound out of it but it sure sounded nice and it sounds terrific when my friend plays it!

02-03-2009, 11:40 AM	#13 (permalink)
stock_hippie Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 626	Re: News From Steelhorse Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier (Early 90's) - eBay (item 160313498636 end time Feb-03-09 02:28:38 PST)

02-03-2009, 03:22 PM	#15 (permalink)
steelhorse Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 3,951	Re: News From Steelhorse I don't know bro, I have many amps myself and I don't think there are any that can get this thing to hang it's trannies in shame. Besides it's got the trannies and components that I was after. It has all earlier vintage USA transformers and choke and everything else indicates at the least it's a transitional anomaly. Made in 94 these can be difficult to find and I can't believe I stumbled onto one on Craigslist! The slab cracking oomph is there but bro I gotta tell you I can get it to sing and scream too, and OMG the sustain! dayum __________________ www.ricojronline.com 760-956-6619 Garmopat Pedal Mods "I wouldn't mind hearing your head smash through a glass door. That would be cool..." luekmeyer

02-03-2009, 03:25 PM	#16 (permalink)
steelhorse Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 3,951	Re: News From Steelhorse The one on ebay (or rather was) that hippie posted is the same era as mine. I can't tell what his components are but on the outside and the serial number it's the same year. __________________ www.ricojronline.com 760-956-6619 Garmopat Pedal Mods "I wouldn't mind hearing your head smash through a glass door. That would be cool..." luekmeyer

02-03-2009, 06:14 PM	#18 (permalink)
steelhorse Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 3,951	Re: News From Steelhorse Hmmm. Odd. It's based on the SLO-100 then it adds to it, and that's the early concepts, it has since undergone several revisions and mine is the transition between the best of the old school just before it became a 3 channel. I've had all of the amps in question except the Fender EVH and then some, no way imo does the SLO blow any of them away especially a vintage DR and the Fender EVH is a different beast altogether, in fact all of them are great amps in their own right. __________________ www.ricojronline.com 760-956-6619 Garmopat Pedal Mods "I wouldn't mind hearing your head smash through a glass door. That would be cool..." luekmeyer

02-03-2009, 09:01 PM	#21 (permalink)
steelhorse Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 3,951	Re: News From Steelhorse The SLO has it's place but not for my type of music, probably good for whimpy jazz stuff LOL! Yes we agree to disagree on this one bro. I've owned several Soldano's including the SLO and never regretted parting with any of them but have always-always regretted parting with my Boogies. I've been on the DR non stop since it's arrival and after 30+ years of playing I don't need to spend weeks to realize it's got the mojo! __________________ www.ricojronline.com 760-956-6619 Garmopat Pedal Mods "I wouldn't mind hearing your head smash through a glass door. That would be cool..." luekmeyer

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