Mesa/Boogie Mini Rectifier Vs Dual Rectifier Comparison Video

[@ricotinez]

This is one of the best demo videos I have ever seen on KZbin! Glad to discover it!! VERY well done!!!!

[@haggertysmusic]

Thanks for watching, and glad you enjoyed the video. The mini was on. The amp you're seeing is the amp you're hearing. I played the amps separately and our video editor switches them back and forth.

[@jamescheney2944]

I just bought the mini this year, I'm pleased to say that I can feel that it's a top quality amp!!

[@hellskreamer]

+James Cheney Yes ofcourse! It's a mesa!

[@rigorhead01]

Don, you have the best demos of Mesa gear on the net; keep 'em coming! As far as I can tell from the 'net research I've done on the Mini Recto, the preamp circuits are identical. The only difference between these two amplifiers is of course, the power sections. The mini running 4 x EL-84's and the Dual running 4 x 6L6's. Anyone wanting to hear the sonic differences between these two power amp types need only to view this demo. Nice job Haggerty's!!!

[@RiotBadger]

This is exactly the video I needed - I was considering a mini as a backup to my Dual Rec for rehearsals and smaller gigs. It really holds it's own against the full size - your video makes my wallet cry! I hope you're happy! :)

[@zerosoma33]

Haggertys was my old jam back in early 2000s!!

[@JohanBogomir]

Love the Dream Theatery/Petrucciness of this video, Don! Great comparison review!

[@cocooreo100]

Mini for cleans and pushed, dual for everything else.

[@zerosoma33]

Omg, is that Don? Wow, he was the first guy to put a huge smile on my face with a guitar comment. "Woah, slow down!" He said. I was 16. Made me grin from ear to ear.

[@LasseLammert]

great video, thanks. that mini certainly isn't bad, it does sound a bit "small" and congested compared to the bigger brother though.

[@ReddenDoom]

Very cool, it was impressive to see how well they maintained the tonal character on the 25. Its one of those things though that if you need the big one you can't cheat it. Definitely heard a difference, similar to the 6505 & mini, the big one has this huge bottom and size to it that the little amps just can't do. Very close in character though, good comparison!

[@rigorhead01]

This is a really great video! It really shows the difference the power section makes. The preamps are identical, and the tones show that. The difference is that tiny little bit of "air" the 6L6's put on the tone, while the EL34's sound just slightly less polished. It's just personal preference from there.

[@joehahn8817]

Love my Recto-verb 25!!!

[@rigorhead01]

The differences might be greater hearing these through a 4x12 cab, rather than computer speakers/headphones of course. The advantages of the Mini's portabilty and wieght and it's ablilty to create the same tones make it a true contender in the recto series.

[@EirikStenSyrdalen]

Don, you're doing an amazing job! I wish you made even more demos - for example of a Lonestar. As soon as you start playing, i can see your passion for what you do flow trough your fingers.

[@haggertysmusic]

Stock 6L6's. Thanks for watching!

[@1997CB750]

Another excellent presentation of the Mini. I suspect with a little tweaking of the EQ parameters, one can get these to sound identical in every mode.

[@MichaelMykingWilson]

i agree... tweaking will do wonders for the mini :) cheaper price and less weight.. winner in my book

[@villyramos]

DT riffs sound great! well made comparison by the way, cheers!

[@MaestorPaul]

Suhr sounds awesome!!! Now I have to try a Mini. I also like the more present / focused mid characteristic of the smaller amp. Aside from that, the two amps sound much more similar than different .

[@Bognerman14]

CORRECT me if I am wrong, but the mini sounds tighter and warmer? How would it handle small gigs, I am in a 90s cover band playing bars and clubs.

[@valentinpau1434]

It seems to me that the Mini Rectifier sounds a bit more opened. (Am I wrong ?)

[@realnigga4133]

It sounds more boxy. Not more open.

[@hollow3122]

IDGAF I dont think so.

[@beeps123]

Kinda wrong. Sowwie.

[@Jalliams]

EL84 valves are definitely colouring the sound. Pleasantly surprised.

[@flyfishphil]

That Suhr is AWESOME man! Mesa stacked some serious tone in that mini.

[@haggertysmusic]

@ophiuchus1970 Thanks for watching! The Suhr is an Alder body, maple neck, pau ferro board, candy orange metallic finish. :-)

[@rizalkhan]

Ok. Looks like my comment was cut short. Im just curious how the volume levels were more or less the same. But in essense. Great video. Can you do a video of the Mini at bedroom levels?

[@ueharabane]

Do you believe if this little Mesa Rectifier have sufficient power for play with band at studio (training) and play live on stages?

[@haggertysmusic]

@beret37 No, this was a 4x12 Rectifier. We ordered it with white piping, so that may be throwing you. :-)

[@Bret_Sanor]

It would have been interesting to hear the difference with the EQ settings the same on each. Then we could tell if the differences were the amps or just EQ settings.

[@ophiuchus1970]

Nice comparison. Thanks for doing it. I have to ask. What are the specs on the Suhr?

[@uraplayer]

Hi, what do you think is better for home playing with mini rectifier, rectifier cab 1x12 or 2x12?

[@TobiGuitar94]

Great Video! I think the Mini actually hast that tightness, the Dual lacks a bit (al least If you want a tight sound) Also noticable the additional Midrange the EL-84 has compared to the 6L6. Thats a beautiful Suhr too, and really nice playing!

[@bognerblue]

Wow! Amazing demo. The mini seems to be throatier and less scooped than the rectifier. Is that your impression when you are playing it live as well? Thanks Haggerty!

[@ronnymilianowicz5228]

Take out some mids and you are there. My stands up to both my 100 w EVH and ENGL.

[@ronnymilianowicz5228]

I would love to hear it through a Red Seven Amp central with the same iR. Its they way I use the mini 99/100 of times.

[@rizalkhan]

Ok. I really enjoyed the video. You play well and definitely a dream theater fan I own a dual rec myself and was looking to compare it against the mini. Very good to get a rough comparison. Now what confuses me though is how the recording was done. I mean, firstly, it doesn't look like the mini was on ( I could be wrong). Secondly, how did you manage to play at exactly the same tempo using both amps while keeping the exact posture. My only guess is that the playing were recorded separately

[@metalshredder1000]

just wondering but which would be better for touring purposes like without microphones to mic the amp at all the triple, dual or mini recto?

[@treybarjot4381]

Thanks for this--the Mini sounds great. The stores around here can't keep it in stock long enough for me to demo one. Someone please tell me what the last song is (at 4:00). I've got to hear more of that.

[@AdamGuitar87]

John Petrucci - Damage Control, you should recognize this by a sound! This Mini Rectifier sounds great, have to buy one :)

[@vileguile4]

I like the mini i think Great playing (as always) and congratulations on the new guitar!

[@JME033089]

The mini sounds a little less butch to me. Little thinner and higher pitched. I'd be interested to know what kind of decibel difference is going on here for these similar tones.

[@-MyNameHere-]

Just finding this video now that I’m getting a mini. If these were being played through the same 4x12 cab, that means you were running the 8Ohm mini through a 16Ohm cab? Doesn’t the mismatch change the tone of what it’s supposed to sound like? Or is the discrepancy so small it doesn’t matter?

[@jakestewartmusic]

I would personally get the mini Recto. Sounds a tad smoother, seems more focused, and the low end is perfect to me. It seems like the mini would probably sit in a mix much better, too. Not to mention the fact that you can get the power tubes workin a bit more

[@reticle36]

does the mini rec have much more gain than the regular dual rec?i have to use a distortion pedal as a clean boost to overdrive my dual rec more to achieve metal distortion

[@mikesinaro]

@poisonedflood The loudness of an amp depends on the head alone, however plugging it into a 4x12 will give you more low end so it will presumably seem louder, but its just the speakers pushing more sound allowing for a wider spread.

[@wrathchild269]

Great demo....love the dream theater riffs !!!

[@jaiwook63]

They sound really similar to me, a few very small difference, maybe a little more head room in the cleans from the Dual and a bit more saturated distortion from the Dual, I'm guessing this is due to the higher wattage, but for half the price it seems like a fucking awesome amp.

[@haggertysmusic]

The dual rec was set to diode, not tube, rectifiers. Thanks for watching!

[@thatcoolG]

the dual just sounds more full to me. i like that it pushes more than the mini. i've got the dual rectifier on my list along with an orange rockerverb but i think mesa takes it over orange after this.

[@TobyKBTY]

I can't wait to try a mini recto! I've always wanted a real single recto for home recording, but didn't want to spend more for a a good attenuator. Do you think the mini can achieve all the extreme crushing tones that made the Rectos so influential? I WILL be using an OD in front once I get one : D

[@javiXYX]

Does that cabinet worth the price? i´m considering about buying it

[@rpolsgro]

Hey, Don, love your demos! I'm in the market for a Mesa/Boogie and I'm trying to decide between the Mark V head and the Dual Rectifier Roadster head. I don't live anywhere near a Mesa dealer, so it's not easy for me to demo them myself. I would love it if you could post one. I've just about settled on the Mark V, but recently started looking at the Roadster and now I'm not sure!! How to choose between 2 amazing amps??? Thanks!

[@Krystof.Veritae]

Yep the EL84's in the MINI making it sound tighter and more Mid heavy .....I think on both there is to much bass pushed in considering MESA cab is already bass very bloated sounding as is ....I would back the bass off below mid point it would sound so much better imho.......Cheers.

[@gnryeah]

What sort of era of Dream Theater do you like the most? The modern DT uses a much more mid-rangey sound, the older, Awake sort of tone uses a very scooped setup.

[@LPMojoGL]

The Dual has more grunt and sounds more open. The Mini doesn't sound bad, but those el84s narrow the tone, and limits the headroom quite a bit in a band situation. I'm diggin the Dual.

[@Bognerman14]

@haggertysmusic But most people who are local club players don;t need high volumes.....we only play one place that uses stage volume.

[@theway1031]

Hello Don..... ok does the full size recto have EL84 or 6L6 Tubes?????

[@Jalliams]

Great demo! Cheers Don. Now, forgive my ignorance but what is the name of the Dream Theatre song you play at 2:31, I'm 28 and discovering the wonderment of these guys only now, and that riff is just too cool. Thank u!!

[@loko__mcd]

That's Erotomania, from the album Awake

[@haggertysmusic]

@ueharabane Tough question to answer because it all depends on your stage volume, and everyones definition of "loud" is different. It will have plenty of volume to hang with most drummers. Just mic it and let FOH do the work for you.

[@thomascorneliomusic]

why were the mids different in the diagrams? thats doesn't seem fair?

[@P0rkPieHaT]

The Mini is darker and more touch sensitive... It has some "Marshall soul" inside! GREAT MINI AMP!

[@Aaronmac404]

Both amps sound fucking killer for different reasons!

[@MajorGRecording]

Sounds like different microphone placement. What chain is being used?

[@GregLynn]

do you pick "Shawn Lane" Style? (pick pointed upward?) DAMN considering NO boost pedal, and still got those techniques out of "Attitude song!!" WOW! KUDOS TO YOU!! I would need my Tech21 Double Drive easily

[@alexandrasings]

When it comes to spending more money on something, I always like to see if I can tell the difference using my crappy ear buds. If there is actually a big difference on those things, then I can justify throwing down another $4k if need be. I do not feel the need to throw down any extra in this instance, but I am only recording in my studio. If I were doing it live, the story might be different.

[@chucknspunky]

Secondly at least to my ears the dual rec sounds less immediate is the vacuum tube rectifier, giving it a somewhat more softer character. My two cents

[@hawg427]

I made the mistake of not having my main volume up high enough so my effects loop didn't come through loud enough even with the level maxed on the back of the amp, same with the Reverb.

[@unofighters]

i have the chance to buy a Mesa Boogie Nomad 55 or a F-50. What do u recomend me ? This Mini rectifier, the Nomad 55 or the -F-50 ? Greetings From Chile P.S: ur Suhr ROCKS!

[@liberty5565]

Why buy a mini when you can buy a used dual or even a triple for a little bit more? The mini is way too expensive for what it is, imo.

[@Bandersnatch786]

Because, for most guitar players looking for a Mesa sound but don't tour, live in an apartment or don't play at insanely loud volumes, a 25w amp head makes much more sense than a 100w. I also look at what a used 100w 3-channel dual rec goes for and in my area, and it's actually slightly less than the mini rec is new. While I would absolutely love to have that big, juicy dual rec, I don't play shows or tour, mainly play guitar for myself and noodle or do youtube videos and record in the studio. I have a 100w amp head that I have as a "just in case I join a band again" but I will probably sell it because it just doesn't make sense for me to have it. I have an Orange Rocker 15 Terror as my main amp now and it does everything I want it to. The quality of the lunchbox heads has risen dramatically in the last 7 years and these small amps are no longer a joke when you see them on stage. Most bands I've seen this year are rocking lunchbox amps. The ones that come to mind are Unleash the Archers running a Hughes & Ketner Tubemeister Delux 40 and EVH 5150 III 50w, Vedic running an Orange Dark Terror, Phil Collen running a Blackstar combo.... I could go on. The point is that the 100w amp heads are just no longer practical when you can get a lunchbox head that sounds just as good. Given the choice of touring with a 100w head and a 25w or 15w head that takes up less space AND weighs less, most guitarists these days will go lunchbox. At the end of the day, you're either going to pay for convenience or pay for high wattage. Which one you choose will depend entirely on you and what suites your need, but lunchboxes are becoming the new norm.

[@robertciaschini7625]

Exactly! Dual Rectifier are going for $800

[@AndreNieri]

the dual recto has, of course, more bass, due to more wattage. The mini, on the other hand, sounds more midrangy with more breakup

[@81giorikas]

This guitar sounds like it has ultra low action on the clean sounds. Poppy and compressed rather than big and pounding if it makes sense. Still sounds very good!

[@Jalliams]

@ Lachlan- thanks heaps man!

[@haggertysmusic]

@richedie Yeah, the feel and girth are the same, or at least extremely close, the mini just does it at a lower volume, so it all depends on how loud your band is on stage and what you use for a monitoring system. It's certainly not a replacement for a Dual Rec, as each amp will best fit a different application. The Mini would be excellent for studio use where loud volume isn't critical.

[@47Wolfgang]

Think i might have to make a deal with ya Don,

[@junNohara]

how's the sustain and feedback for d mini one? i love feedback effects~

[@hellskreamer]

Hey Don! I would like to ask, The dual rectifier has a Output and a solo output aswell, if you had the solo output scooped it will sound much more tight and weird, sounds much better when it is turned up just a notch, anyways the output, It kinda affects the sound aswell, so that would also be a thing i would like to see, can you post a comment with the answers to this? Thanks!

[@Andybaby]

@givemeajackson how can you like it better if it doesn't have the tone you like?

[@galarius]

amps sound even better with hot pickups like an evolution, for cleans with an evolution the 2 and 4 spots sound best as humbuckers are a little boomy with rec cleans.great for distortion though

[@tman6495]

Put an eq b4 the Mini....you really have the tone

[@jspinks2388]

either way get a decent delay pedal and both of these amps have great lead tones

[@ophiuchus1970]

@haggertysmusic Very cool! Those are probably what I would get if I were to order a Suhr.

[@cunjoz]

hell yeah man, dream theater! 🤘

[@metallicCenturion]

Can the Mini Rectifier handle a band practice?

[@gnryeah]

Couldn't you hear all the extra mids it has? I personally prefer more mids, but if you want a more scooped tone, the dual rec is definitely more up your street.

[@haggertysmusic]

@TheRedDash The Damage Control Glass Nexus. It's a great unit that's no longer produced as Damage Control became Strymon.

[@browsif]

Wow, finally, a (Mini) Recto that I actually want!

[@AndrewZeleno1]

Ahh. The stupid thing that I hear EQ settings. I know why they changed them but comparing Dual with no highs vs Mini with high boost is stupid.

[@sega62s]

Andrew Zeleno i dint think you can call this video stupid, i think he adjust the sound so they sound similar and than hear the nuances between them, like hiw fat one can be, or transparent... ask him before calling something stupid, its just not necessary

[@nxsr]

Hey there! can this amp manage enough gain to play death / metalcore ?. Thanks for reply..

[@TrippyTro]

the dual recto is a bit warmer and more rounded tone. i like it better then the mini's tone but that said the tones are pretty close

[@DuneDee]

Good vid, should've cranked the gain though

[@kevah94]

Stupid question I guess... But can I run a Mini-Rect thru a 4x12?

[@chrisplummer]

Kevin McDonald he just did..

[@kevah94]

Well... I saw that right after I posted the comment, haha

[@chrisplummer]

***** ?

[@CuttemJack]

Close my eyes and just pick one and I'd say that Mini freaking rules!!!! I'd feel a little less manly packing it into rehersal though.

[@chrisplummer]

Matt Hansen your back would thank you later.

[@DanielFantini]

why? it's as loud as a lot of 50 watt amps

[@Smurfman256]

Trust me when I say 25 watts is plenty loud. Hell, The Beatles used 30 watt Vox AC30s to play those giant shows back when they were the biggest band in the world (It didn't help that the girls in the audience were still louder than those, but never underestimate the power of those little 25/30 watt amps).

[@givemeajackson]

i like the mini better, it's is more marshally. more mid bite. dont really like the top end on rectifiers while palm muting and they feel a bit muddy. was thinking bout the mini rec, but it hasnt got the exact tone i want and it's way too expensive for a compromise.

[@saarangnarayan123]

What tubes were you guys using, btw?

[@jimmychan1486]

I also thought it sounded better The dual seemed to be missing somehting imo

[@haggertysmusic]

@MyLifeChanger Haha. Both are excellent guitars. If I add another custom guitar line to our shop it will definitely be Anderson!

[@givemeajackson]

25. the wattage on the cab indicates how much power it can take. but all the power comes from the head, if you put in 5w you wont get more just cause the cab could handle over 9000.

[@jamesha175]

IMO the little one sounds better. maybe because it is turned up louder?

[@81giorikas]

Get the f-50. One of the best tracked high gain sounds I've ever heard was the f-50. Through a 4x12 with V30's but nonetheless. Kills most rectos for me and any other mesa. Also I really like the f-30!

[@theguardiansofavalon]

so many dream theater songs, i suppose your a fan.

[@AllWaitingCore]

from which song is extract the riff at 4.38 Please? Nice review!

[@koryutheriverflow]

nice guitar color dude ;)

[@haggertysmusic]

If you're touring with no mic's definitely avoid the Mini and get a Dual or Triple.