MESA BOOGIE DUAL RECTIFIER build

[austinb]

Anyone ever build a MESA-BOOGIE DUAL RECTIFIER SOLO 3 channel? My son wants one. Would have to do a PC board layout or maybe use a wire wrap board and a eyelet board. Looking for ideas and comments. Anyone have one that would be willing to give me measurements?

[doctord02]

Ever build a guitar amp before? I've built about six different amps now and there's no way in hell you could convince me to try building that amp.

I'd suggest either saving up on a used one, or looking at the Bugera 333XL which can be had for $600 new.

[selloutrr]

Dont ever bother unless you can wave solder and have plenty of time to trouble shoot your mistakes.. Not so say it can't be done it's just parts but to be realistic you wil probably spend more cloning one then you would buying a used one. Try craigslist they go for $1200 all day.

If you were to build it yourself you could count on a parts cost...

Transformer set ~$250+
Chassis ~$50-75
Cabinet ~$200
Tubes (14) ~$300+ ($450+ for the tone you want)
Caps and Resistors ~$200+
PCB Fabricatrion ~$100-200 for a one off
Foot switch ~$150
Cosmetics ~$100
LABOR 60hrs as a newbie maybe 25 as a seasoned pro.

I don't mean to discourage you I just wanted to show you what you are getting into before you invest your time and money only to get frustrated and give up. If you do and give up and sell it parts and projects that are started but never finished are very seldom worth anything cause it's considered a rebuild because it's hard to trace were a the builder left off and know it's correct.

If i was in your possition I would buy a used one. and be ready to have it retubed and serviced just so i know the condition. then if it was going to travel much.. gigs band practice etc.... i'd invest in a 3/8" ATA case $250.00 they make them with a storage compartment that can hold footswitches and cables, very handy and adds value! The rectifier is one of the few amps you can buy that has been made in the last few years that once it's purchased used that value will hold stable as long as the condition is kept up. ... so if he gives up on guitar he can get his investment back.


Best of luck

[austinb]

I've built 14 amps from scratch already. Mostly black face fenders and marshalls. I'm an electronics engineer and have axcess to schematic capture and PC board layout software. I have 2 full sets of 100w transformers ,all the tubes, most of the resistors, caps and tube sockets, and switches already.I have a cheep metal brake and a woodworking shop in my garage. I can build it but is it worth the trouble, I don't know. If someone else wanted to build one, we could share the task.

[austinb]

My son has been playing guitar for 12 years and I have been playing guitar for 51 years. But he is 10 better than me LOL. I play classic rock and he plays new age rock.

[ic-racer]

I suspect this is not a popular 'build' because these were pretty popular amps (dual Rectifiers, in general) and easily available on the used market. (unlike plexi-Marshalls and blackface Fenders) Maybe in 20 years when the supply of un-abused used ones dries up...

I guess you have seen he schematic. If you take out all the relay switching stuff and distill it to just the tonal elements, without all the switching options, I doesn't seem like it would be any more difficult than any other 'hobbyist' type build.

I have the Tremoverb and often think it has too many options.
A cool build would be to just do the Red or Orange channel, hardwire it in low-power mode, hard-wire it with rectifier tubes, leave out the effects loop and copy the rest.

The schematic I have (just the 2 channel) has ten pages, but if you just do pages 1, 2 and 5, I don't think it would be any more difficult than the usual clone amps.

If you do do it, please post your project!

[selloutrr]

It sounds like you have already made up your mind!
best of luck it just seems like a hastle to make something you can buy for less then you can build. Not to mention the resale on a clone is nothing. But it's your labor of love, I wish you luck.
I'm assuming you have played a Triple Rec and are not just wanting one cause it's popular or your kids favorite band played one in a music video (very seldom are they used to record the record, just a very $$$ endorsement on stage, and very seldom what they mic threw the PA)
I own a Single(80's), a dual (late 90's) and a triple Rec. ('01) all purchased used or traded for studio time, they rock for new age but that's it, they are very finicky to dial in the sweet spot on and really need to be power breaked or in an enviroment you can crank them to get the produced sound of Radio Rock. none of them are a winner for small gigs or bedrooms.
But if you must a thought would be to purchase a used one clone it and resell it when you are finished then you have a working unit to base your proto off. you could check voltages and connections as you go and if you get stuck have a known good one to fall back on.
Since you have all the equipment at your dispossal just map the lay out and clone the PCB's and cabinet and Faceplate.

let us know how is turns out take lots of pictures!

[blinddog]

I'm not an expert by any means, but most real amp guys say the dual rect as well as the Peavey 5150 or now 6505 are basically versions of a Soldano SLO. There is a SLO clone forum at : http://www.yesterdaysrevolt.com/sloclone/index.php

One of the guy's on this site turned me on to that site. I think it was Bob I and whoever it is is on the SLO forum as well.

I believe they use PCB.

Maybe Bob can comment f he sees this.

A lot of guys here are starting on they're first build with a copy of a Dumble or Trainwreck so don't think it can't be done, just learn and follow the rules; safety, lead dress, ect. Yes the SLO is has got more things going on but use that forum for help, just like the guy's here use this one.

Good Luck
blinddog

[drz400]

I'm not an expert by any means, but most real amp guys say the dual rect as well as the Peavey 5150 or now 6505 are basically versions of a Soldano SLO. There is a SLO clone forum at : http://www.yesterdaysrevolt.com/sloclone/index.php

One of the guy's on this site turned me on to that site. I think it was Bob I and whoever it is is on the SLO forum as well.

I believe they use PCB.

Maybe Bob can comment f he sees this.

A lot of guys here are starting on they're first build with a copy of a Dumble or Trainwreck so don't think it can't be done, just learn and follow the rules; safety, lead dress, ect. Yes the SLO is has got more things going on but use that forum for help, just like the guy's here use this one.

Good Luck
blinddog

The rectifier is a total rip of the SLO100 and yes that forum has all the info you need to make one. The board is single sided and you can etch one yourself pretty easily, use Press-n-peel

[chromaticdeth87]

I've heard quite a few DIY rectos on youtube and they sound great, also SLOclone is a great place to also find builders who have replicated them even with turret boards. Hell they just got finished making ready to populate boards and REAL verified schematics for the Mk IIc+ for all the great dream theater and MOP tones. also check into thinlizzy.de for Dr. Olaf's creations. He has a great way of giving out useful info to whoever wants it and taught me about great construction methods through his documentation. You will get alot of controversy on hear because Rectos are modern amps with alot of the boogie push pull million switches and more schtick they always put on their flashy advertising. Those factors aside the recto is a great amp in it's own territory just like a trainwreck has is place in this forum. If you really want a badass recto look into the framus cobra, I built the lead channel and power amp and let me tell you it will kick the shit of a recto for tight bottom end. you can find a schematic for it at framus' german site under technical manuals. clips at harmony central, youtube, and rocksolidamps.com are widely available. If you're looking for high gain stuff really check out SLOclone though they are great people just as the guys here are. If you already have your parts than you can really knockout an amp like that for under 300 or so maybe even less.

[benoit]

I'd suggest either saving up on a used one, or looking at the Bugera 333XL which can be had for $600 new.

With all due respect, there is a reason you can get one for that price. To me the Bugera stuff makes even a 5150 sound amazing. Cleans are kind of lifeless. It's not really an issue of too bright or not, they get plenty bright, just not in a good way. Crunch/lead channel has this really ratty sawtooth wave sound to it. In fairness, maybe it's partly the bugera speakers and a different cabinet would help. This is also a subjective thing so maybe this amp would give you what you want.

I don't mean to be argumentative or antagonistic but I would hate for someone to order a Bugera without playing it first.

I think the slo-clone idea sounds great if you are definitely going to build it.

[ryanf]

I built a SLO Clone as my first build with a turret layout and managed to pull it off for the most part. I didnt get the switching to work, but easily could have if I didnt have to go off to college. Join the SLO Clones forum as they have schematics, layouts, parts lists etc. They also have schematics and layouts for 3 channel, dual eq, mods and more. I personally think the SLO sounds better than the Rectum Fryer because it doesnt have all that junk packed into it.

[doctord02]

I don't mean to be argumentative or antagonistic but I would hate for someone to order a Bugera without playing it first.

I wouldnt suggest buying any amp without playing it first either. I have no personal experience with the Bugera, tho I am dying to try one out. My suggestion is based on several glowing reviews/discussions over at the Gear Page. Clips I have heard sounded good. The Bugera is carbon copy of the Peavey JSX, which in turn is based on something else...

I also suspect the matching cabinet sounds like poo - I'd wanna try it using a standard Marshall cab loaded with Celestions.

[lyman]

to the original poster: there's a mesa users forum at forum.grailtone.com. a few of the inhabitants might be able to help you. by and large most of the posters there are players and not amp techs/builders though. i don't recall reading anything there about somebody trying to build a rectifier series amp. personally, i like a couple of the rectifies (the maverick and the blue angel for instance) but something like the triple recto is totally over-engineered, imho.

[moj067]

I think the Slo clone is probably a good bet for your time and money spent. I got a set of boards from their resident guru and they're top notch and the forum suuport is good as well. I'm sitting on the boards for a future project but may let them go, as projects are piling up Good luck on whatever you decide, it does sound like a good father/son project though.