SOLD MESA BOOGIE MINI RECTIFIER HEAD

PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS:

OVERVIEW

Like its original two channel forefathers, this Recto keeps things straight ahead and easy to navigate. This generation features two footswitchable Channels that each contain two Modes and while it looks basic and drives easy, a world of stylistic versatility lives within these two simple rows of controls.

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CHANNEL 1

The top channel, Channel 1 (Green), focuses on rhythm sounds, both clean and overdriven. The CLEAN Mode delivers sparkling, big headroom rhythm sounds that breathe with rich, warm air on the bottom end. When driven to clip and combined with the 10 watt Power setting, this Mode misbehaves with real attitude and shines for urgent, yet soulful, Blues solo sounds and furry Rock rhythm. PUSHED aptly describes what to do with the second Mode in Channel one and here you’ll find the next region of gain. With a more stripped EQ and just enough added drive, PUSHED invites aggressive Rock rhythm and Crunch styles to the party and even taunts your mid-gain solo work, especially in the 10 Watt Power setting.

CHANNEL 2

Channel 2 (Red) features the iconic Recto high gain sounds – the iconic liquid wall of VINTAGE and the aggressive fury of MODERN. VINTAGE excels at thick, high gain chording and single note soloing with an elastic feel and a broad harmonic spread. It has a looser, more organic sound and the overdrive drapes itself around the notes creating a huge, three-dimensional image. VINTAGE solo work is further enhanced by the 10 Watt Power position. Here, the attack envelope changes and becomes rounder and more voice-like, while upper harmonics recede slightly to create single note sounds of true beauty. VINTAGE and 10 Watt compliment each other in ways that will open new doors for the Recto that were previously open only to more well behaved or “cultured” amps. It may also open wide the eyes of current big-power Recto owners who experience for the first time – what this power range/wiring style does for a sound they had typecast. This is a new and exciting face of Recto and it will surely expand its stylistic footprint.

MODERN is the opposite in every way. This aggressive Mode comes right at you – maybe even for you – with stunning attack and a hi-mid bump that keeps things percussive and tracking with hyper-accuracy. It’s hard to believe that this amount of gain can be infused and yet still deliver – especially in bass frequencies – with this much speed and definition. But this is pure Recto and MODERN contributes an equal part to achieving its status as the other most recorded sound in Rock. Needless to say, MODERN is all about all things Heavy and Metal. And while this sound is best demonstrated using the 25 Watt Power setting, be sure not to typecast MODERN too quickly. Using the 10 Watt Power setting to sweeten the mids and soften the attack here, shows another side to MODERN as well that’s more forgiving and vocal, creating a great alternate solo voice with a little more punch and dynamic content.

MULTI-WATT™ POWER SWITCHES

We keep saying it, but it’s hard to overstate the value, effectiveness and stylistic “power” of the Multi-Watt™ Channel Assignable Power switches. These dedicated wattage range choices unveil different power characteristics and colors – so they are really also power “voicing” switches as well. In this Recto, the choice of EL84 power tubes with their amazing clip characteristics, prompted us to explore the different wiring schemes possible. This experimentation led to the 10 Watt Power Mode being wired for Triode operation. This “more vintage” wiring scheme sweetens and rounds out the sound, turning what might otherwise be a lower volume version of the same voice, into a more “soulful” Recto experience. Use the 25 Watt setting for its bold attack, tight tracking low end, increased definition and all out headroom. This setting works great with all the sounds and certainly showcases the mightiness in the Mini Rec, shocking unsuspecting players and bystanders alike with power and sonic size. But any time you need to tame this little beast and put a vintage patina of warmth and silkiness around things… kick down to 10 Watts and enjoy a whole new and different world of Recto expression.

Jumping around to the Rear Panel, you are met with a lesson in elegant simplicity. Nothing here but the AC Power Socket, the Loop and the Speaker Outputs. While this stands in stark contrast to many other MESA models, including the Mini’s big power Recto brothers, it was a decision based on stylistic, genre-appropriate traditions and not a cost cutting road to a price point. In fact, many fans have requested simpler feature sets from us over the years and the “lunchbox-sized” format is the perfect arena for this conceptual departure.

EFFECTS LOOP

The Effects Loop on the Mini is wired in Series with the dry signal and is Hard Bypassable for those purists who prefer to add processing later in the studio environment. Ironically, our tests have revealed that nearly all players opt for the Loop engaged permanantely, citing enhanced richness, a three dimensional quality and an “openness” to the sound. We are pleased by the added juice these tube stages impart on the signal as it’s no easy feat to add a Loop that enhances – rather than robs Tone.

Experience Tone and Power that far exceed your expectations and completely defies the confines of its physical size. Try a Mini Rectifier Twenty-Five and see just how big 12 pounds can sound.