Mesa Dual Rectifier Index
To aid in providing a resource to users and abusers of the Dual Rectifier, this Index will separate blog posts and linked content into categories. A person could just click on the Mesa Boogie category listed on the posts, but this is more organized and provides an overview. It also allows linked content to be shared from other sources, as it is useful to have a hub for information. My focus is on the original, Pre-Reborn 3 Channel version of the Rectifier, but much of the information can be used across all models.
Content may be submitted for inclusion on this index. If an author/owner of any linked content wishes to have their link removed, please contact me.
11/26/2015: Although I talk about and describe modifications, I really don’t feel it’s necessary to perform most of them and get a great sound out of the amplifier. I do think it’s necessary to mod the FX Loop to serial and the cathode caps are a worthwhile change.
I’m not planning to test more mods and I’m discontinuing discussions about them on the blog. My original intent was to provide information for people who really feel the need to tinker, but I’ve discovered I really do not wish to perform them myself.
Using adequate volume, FX Send level, and EQ settings are more than enough to get a wide variety of sounds from the amp (and this amp requires stage volumes to sound its best). If a person has questions about those topics, see “Use”.
Thanks.
Use
- Setting EQ, Channel 2
- Setting EQ, Channel 3, Modern
- Improve The Tone With FX Loop Engaged
- Buying Ruby Branded Tubes For A Recto
- Mitigate the Differences Between Sets Of Power Tubes
- Matching Vintage Channel 2 to Modern Channel 3
- Presence Control Circuits
- Setting The Power And Rectifier
- Blank Templates For Amp Settings
- 1990s Tone Settings
- Emulate A Marshall
- Play Classic Rock
- Play Classic Rock 2
- AC/DC and A Vintage Clean
- Jimmy Page Settings
- Preamp, Power Amp, Slave and Master
- Editorial: Dual Rectifier Revisions and Versions
Examples
- MP3: Classic Rock Mic Test
- Video: Can A Dual Rectifier Sound Like A Plexi by Johan Segeborn
- Splitting Loop Signal To Stereo
- DI With TC Electronics Nova System
Circuit/Theory
- A Few Changes To Recto Articles (Correction Needed)
- Design Concepts: Input and Clean Channel
- Design Concepts: Channels 2 and 3 Part 1 (updated 03/12/18)
- Design Concepts: Channels 2 and 3 Part 2 (updated 05/23/18)
- Design Concepts: Channels 2 and 3 Part 3 (Will be republished at a later time)
- Presence and Voicing Circuit
- Presence Control Circuits
- Dual Rectifier Presence Pot Frequency Plots (Isolated Circuit)
- Contrasts of Filter Response For Dual Rec Vintage
- 3 Channel Dual Rectifier Schematic
Mods
- Disclaimer, Information, and Biases
- Mod For Parallel To Serial FX Loop
- Loop Mod Photos
- Cathode Capacitor Mods
- Cold Clipping Mod
- Addendum To Modification Articles
- Pre-500 Mod Link to The Boogie Board
- Presence Link to The Boogie Board
- Adjustable Power Tube Bias Link to The Boogie Board
warpedmusician 
Hello. I want to build 3-channel dual rectifier. I found the schematic for it (the same is on this site: https://warpedmusician.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/boogie_dualrectifier_3ch_solo_head.pdf.
But I have a problem. Only part one of switching matrix exist in the pdf. Where I can find second part? Maybe you have it?
Sorry for my bad english.
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The individual switches are shown at the appropriate places in the amplifier stages. Look for the bjts and jfets. There’s also the voicing circuit on its own page. Good luck.
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Yes, thanks a lot.
Also I need to find out where the circuit is with LM3914. On the scheme only two diodes have connect to this chip. But no other pins of chip, no circuit with LM3914, no power for chip, no anything. This confuses me.
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I replied with a partially bad answer. Edited out the stupid part. The answer is on the data sheet.
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Hey Dude, do you reckon the bias mod can be done on a multiwatt the same way as a mid 2000s 3ch dual rec? cheers
Andres
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Someone would have to look at it with the schematic and see if it matches. It’s probably not that different, if it’s different at all.
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here’s the situation, I had a mid 2000s 3ch dual rec, I did the bias mod following your instructions or link (thank you for that). Now, I got a multi watt and did a side by side comparison, the old recto totally floored the multiwatt, it sounded louder and sharper clearer, the comparison was on ch2 modern same settings for both.
Sadly, to cover the money I used to buy the multiwatt I put up the old recto for sale and it sold in a blink of an eye. so it is going.
I opened the multiwatt and it is somehow the same as the old recto, the resistors are in the same place, and same color coded as well, I planing on doing the mod rather soon, not that the amp sounds bad, but is not as killer as the old one.
Cheers,
Andres
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I did the mod just following the same instructions and it did the trick, sounds amazing!!!!
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Right!?
When I did it, it improved the clarity. I noticed a weird phasing sound when the loop was on. After the mod it was gone.
Also, modern effects work better with a series loop.
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