NAD! Mesa/Boogie Mini Rectifier Review

[bcdon]

http://www.haggertysmusic.com/components/com_virtuemart/shop_image/product/Mesa_Boogie_Mini_4e543468156ad.jpg

Great demo from Don at Haggerty's Musicworks (http://www.haggertysmusic.com/)

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[FrankenFretter]

Pretty cool, Don. Still way out of my price range, but very nice amph.

[bcdon]

Pretty cool, Don. Still way out of my price range, but very nice amph.

Yeah, but you can still look..

Here's a comparison between the Dual Rectifier and the Mark V. Something I was wondering about. I think the Mark V sounds brighter. But I'd still take the mini! :dude
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[deeaa]

Yeah! A long time EL84 fan I'm happy to see how most every manufacturer has finally waken up to how cool that tube is and what superb tones it can offer.
I love 'em all, Laboga Caiman, H&K Tubemeister, Mesa Mini Rectifier, any EL84 amp usually sounds great! Can't get that sound from El34 or 6L6 types...however I also always feel in these demos they rarely well portray the one unique, great sound EL84's can offer. What you do with them is you turn the master volume at 3/4 full...not all the way so they retain clarity, and then you turn the gain up 1/4th or so, again not too far so it won't get buzzy, and that's where you get the pure power tube drive, and boy, it is SWEET.

These demos are very good. I'd dial in slighly less buzzy sounds, but it might just be enough to use an active guitar to get a little less buzzy and warmer &clearer sounds. I'd get that amp any day, same as the Tubemeister and such!

[deeaa]

Oh! I wrote this in the middle of watching..he does use an active guitar around 8-9 minutes...and you instantly hear how it clarifies up, despite too much gain...that same setting but with wayyyy less gain would be just the sound I like. Around 10 minutes, for solo, it's right about there! Just a smidgen less drive 4 me, but, terrific demo! I can't remember the last time I saw such a comprehensive and well done demo of how an amp sounds like.

[bcdon]

If you liked that demo, you should check out the rest of Don's demos @ Haggerty's Music (http://www.youtube.com/user/haggertysmusic). He is very thorough and a very good player too.

[deeaa]

Thanks, yeah, really good demos. Almost only mesas it seems, but very well done!

[bcdon]

Mesa/Boogie Mini Rectifier Vs Dual Rectifier Comparison Video
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[bcdon]

Modern Chunk
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[bcdon]

Mini Rectifier Channel 2 Modern ~ Metal
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[bcdon]

Man, is the GAS ever growing...must resist... ;-)

[deeaa]

Nice sounding clips indeed! That metal sound sounds like it could clarify up just right with active pups and the crunch sounds pretty great as is!

[Tig]

Guitar Player magazine featured a gear rundown on a Carvin, the Hughes and Kettner TubeMeister 18 Head, and this Mini Rectifier. While the Hughes and Kettner rated positively, the Mesa got their editor pick award with glowing reviews.

I could see possibly owning one after a giving it good demo. :thumbsup

[bcdon]

Okay, I think I'm going to buy this! :dude
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[Tig]

Okay, I think I'm going to buy this! :dude


Those are really cool!
I would, but bought this instead...
http://www.rocknrollvintage.com/images/Carl-Martin-Plexi-Tone-s.jpg

[bcdon]

Those are really cool!
I would, but bought this instead...
http://www.rocknrollvintage.com/images/Carl-Martin-Plexi-Tone-s.jpg
Hey Tig, yeah, I saw that. Very cool indeed!

[bcdon]

Not just a 'metal' amph...
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[bcdon]

ausgezeichnet!
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[bcdon]

Look what I picked up from Music Makers (http://musicmakersaustin.com/) in Austin, Texas.

I couldn't wait to open it so here is a shot I took at the hotel:
http://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-q1A2oiRraSA/TzKbLx5cjbI/AAAAAAAAAI8/CzzuoVaAMds/s576/DSCN5744.jpg

[bcdon]

In the dark... poor quality photo but looks evil! :dude

http://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-GrKwS5TLu8w/TzKb9Z-SsAI/AAAAAAAAAMM/21w5r0Lgya4/s512/DSCN5776.jpg
http://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-qmcZqeQDxw4/TzKcBxj4h6I/AAAAAAAAAMk/7vTzHDCCxbU/s800/DSCN5786.jpg

[Eric]

Wow, Don -- congrats! I guess I shouldn't be too surprised, considering how much you've been sweating that thing recently. That your fourth amp? Pretty nice collection!

[bcdon]

Wow, Don -- congrats! I guess I shouldn't be too surprised, considering how much you've been sweating that thing recently. That your fourth amp? Pretty nice collection!
Wow, you do keep track of these things! :) Actually, I'm going to sell my Marshall Class 5 (which was Roberts) and, perhaps, my VOX VT30. Let me know if anyone is interested in either.

[FrankenFretter]

Nice! Hey, if you're out of room for amphs in your apartment, you can drop that Mark V off at my place. Just sayin'!

Seriously, that's great, Don. You going to run it through one of your Boogie cabs?

[Ch0jin]

Wow Awesome! Happy NAD :)

[marnold]

I was just reading about that in Premier Guitar. Looks very slick.

[Tig]

HNAD! :thumbsup
I can see owning one of these sweet amps.

[Ch0jin]

Yeah I tried out the H&K Tubemeister and it blew me away. Even the (to my tastes) tacky "Look at me I'm all blue and glowing" design is forgotten once you get stuck into the gain channel. The power to burst eardrums in a lunchbox package i can carry under one arm? WINNER!

If the Mesa sounds even better, I'd have a VERY hard time not dropping one the credit card.

I'm assuming the Mesa does the 18/5/1 watt thing and has a loop too?

[Tig]

I'm assuming the Mesa does the 18/5/1 watt thing and has a loop too?

It is a 25/10 Watts switchable and has a fully buffered effects loop. :drool

[bcdon]

Thanks, guys!

Cho, like Tig said, it's 25/10 with a loop but no reverb. This is much more than just a metal amph.. It sounds really good in clean/crunch mode. It's a completely different amph than my mark v. I've only had a few hours to play, but I really like it.

Right now I am using my extension cab for it and it sounds great. However, I've really grown attached to the 2x12 on my boogie so I might buy another cab just for it in the future -- if I can sale my other amphs to fund it. I'm in no hurry actually, I don't mind swapping cables in the mean time.

I have some gut shots of the mini that I'll post in a few and then explain why I took it apart. :dude

[bcdon]

Some Mini Rectifier uncovered photos...
http://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-fkrkS5wnVWM/TzKba_McoFI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/mf7UYTZ4ahg/s800/DSCN5752.jpg
http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-t1grEitpRBs/TzKbb6OFxOI/AAAAAAAAAKE/n5P9DI3azIA/s800/DSCN5753.jpg
http://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Qx6kdtMUpJU/TzKbmcLWD1I/AAAAAAAAAK0/8GzUHI_uTVA/s800/DSCN5760.jpg
http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-S-lR5l7Yi-o/TzKb5SUL3_I/AAAAAAAAAL4/rl-bepofisw/s800/DSCN5768.jpg

[bcdon]

Take a look at this photo to see why I took it apart.

http://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Gbo60oQC5AE/TzKb9zG3C_I/AAAAAAAAAMU/Kf8DDKJnnsY/s800/DSCN5774.jpg

If you look closely at the wire in the middle (all black one) you'll see a nick in the wire. Well this wire is right next to a chassis screw which looks to be a little too long and so when the case was attached it made contact with the screw. So, when I got it home and plugged it in and hit the power switch the lights went out! Needless to say, I was s---ing bricks.

I had decided to hand carry this thing back from Austin because I was scared to let the airline destroy it. This amp never left my site so I thought my ginger care would surely prevent such mishap. Fortunately the mini has a nice slow-blo fuse and it did exactly what it was supposed to do. I called Mesa the next day and told them what had happened and they said to open it up and look for this. They originally suggested that the power tube might have blown but since I didn't switch it out of standby they immediately suggested this. I suppose it is possible all the rattle in overhead caused the wire to run against the screw, or it was just pinched after the top was added, either way I'm sure they will shorten that screw in the next revision. BTW, Mesa has great technical support. I got them on the phone and had a solution in less than 5 minutes.

[bcdon]

Yeah I tried out the H&K Tubemeister and it blew me away. Even the (to my tastes) tacky "Look at me I'm all blue and glowing" design is forgotten once you get stuck into the gain channel. The power to burst eardrums in a lunchbox package i can carry under one arm? WINNER!

If the Mesa sounds even better, I'd have a VERY hard time not dropping one the credit card.

I'm assuming the Mesa does the 18/5/1 watt thing and has a loop too?

This thing gets very loud! When I was checking it out at Music Makers we were playing it 10-11 and it was crazy loud out of the matched mini-1x12 cabinet.

As for the red leds, they are pretty subtle especially when it's not completely dark like this photo.
http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rqqPlkLKRYM/TzKb-yFddtI/AAAAAAAAAMc/ah4lGCcTbNw/s800/DSCN5780.jpg

You should really give the Mini Rectifier a try, it really is a very versatile amp.

[bcdon]

Nice! Hey, if you're out of room for amphs in your apartment, you can drop that Mark V off at my place. Just sayin'!
I still have room, that is why I bought 'mini,' it's the only thing that will fit! :dude

[Katastrophe]

Dude, congrats! That is one wicked amph!

Musicmakers has been around Austin forever. I bought my Charvel there years ago.

[Ch0jin]

Take a look at this photo to see why I took it apart..

Dude, as a former repair guy, that shot freaks me out! If that's a mains wire, that layout should never have made it past initial testing. Combine mains power shorted to the chassis with a crappy house (venue) wiring job and boom. You're dead.

Kinda tarnished my impression of Mesa a bit I have to admit.

(and do I win a prize for spotting the new Lamb of God CD cover in the shot?)

[Robert]

Congrats don. May I rock out with it next time I'm in Vancouver?

[bcdon]

Dude, as a former repair guy, that shot freaks me out! If that's a mains wire, that layout should never have made it past initial testing. Combine mains power shorted to the chassis with a crappy house (venue) wiring job and boom. You're dead.

Kinda tarnished my impression of Mesa a bit I have to admit.

(and do I win a prize for spotting the new Lamb of God CD cover in the shot?)
I understand but I think this was just a fluke. I spoke to the guys and they test it at least four times before going to shipping which is all done before the lid is attached. Like I said, I did have this in the overhead bin rattling around for 8 hours of flight so that might have done it. Also, I don't think there is a shock hazard as the fuse handles this. If you look at the photo the wires are right above the fuse holder. This thing is built like a tank just like my Mark V. I wouldn't let one odd-off thing dissuade me... these are hand built after all, and even if they weren't something like this can always happen. Besides, the fuse is there precisely for this reason. It did its job and did it well. :)

Good eye spotting the Lamb of God CD.. I didn't intentionally place this in the shot, it just happened to be on my desk. :dude

[bcdon]

Congrats don. May I rock out with it next time I'm in Vancouver?

Absolutely!! Can't wait to see you next year. :dude

[bcdon]

IAlso, I don't think there is a shock hazard as the fuse handles this. If you look at the photo the wires are right above the fuse holder. This thing is built like a tank just like my Mark V. I wouldn't let one odd-off thing dissuade me... these are hand built after all, and even if they weren't something like this can always happen. Besides, the fuse is there precisely for this reason. It did its job and did it well. :)


As follow up, I just spoke to the techs at Mesa Boogie there is no chance of shock because of the fuse. The tech I spoke to today again said he hadn't heard of this happening before so I really think this was a fluke. That said, I think I am going to open it back up this weekend and trim the screw and double secure my fix.

[bcdon]

http://www.jamesjoyce.co.uk/images/14817_thisthis.jpg

http://www.haggertysmusic.com/components/com_virtuemart/shop_image/product/Mesa_Boogie_Mini_4e543468156ad.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/35/Plus_sign.jpg


http://hellguitars.com/stuff/Bender_BkTopDtl_Sml.jpg

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CDu9v7gCQjs/TwxqAEI4pbI/AAAAAAAAAjk/D420wjG0HJ0/s400/EqualSign_400.jpg

http://marinasleeps.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/metal1.gif

[bcdon]

Scored a mint condition Mesa 2x12 rectifier cabinet (http://www.mesaboogie.com/Product_Info/Guitar%20Cabinets/RECTOcabs/Recto2x12H-LG.htm) on Craigslist last night. It sounds awesome!

http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-PQu3y8cvZO4/T1JSj7dR8fI/AAAAAAAAARA/3LOOPmKEfBU/s1024/DSCN5870.jpg

http://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-dz91-JxbTzo/T1JSkIBul7I/AAAAAAAAAQ8/M8L1vj3zxpo/s800/DSCN5872.jpg

[duhvoodooman]

Perfect match! Wow, that's in beautiful shape!

[bcdon]

Perfect match! Wow, that's in beautiful shape!

Yeah, the only marks on it are from drywall paint that I haven't got all out yet. This 2x12 has great low ends...palm muted notes sounds amazing. I've only played it at 10 Watts at low volumes but it's the sound I wanted. I'm going to crank it next and see what happens. :dude

[Ch0jin]

You know, with the width of that cab you could probably run dual mini recto's side by side on top of that cab. One for each speaker. :poke :)

Nice to see the El Cap in the shot too. Even after having it for ages now it still blows me away when I use it.

[bcdon]

You know, with the width of that cab you could probably run dual mini recto's side by side on top of that cab. One for each speaker. :poke :)

Nice to see the El Cap in the shot too. Even after having it for ages now it still blows me away when I use it.

Now that is a great idea and I'm sure my neighbours would agree too! :) Yes, I love that El Capistan although I have not tried it with the mini yet. I'll do that next as I know it will sound great. When I purchased the mini, the dealer put a MXR Carbon Copy delay in the loop on the mini and it sounded awesome... so I know El Capistan will really shine. :dude