Mesa Mini Rectifier VS Peavey 6505MH! HIGH-GAIN Comparison!

[@SonicDriveStudio]

I totally forgot that I had made this video but here it is anyway! Which one sounds the best to you?

[@adamagapie1298]

Really had to have the resonance all the way up? No bottom end?

[@adamagapie1298]

On the Peavey

[@SonicDriveStudio]

Yeah it's weird isn't it? Other times it sounded thicker. I guess that day there might have been a ghost in the machine... :)

[@nevesnow]

Peavey! I use mine with the resonance at noon, more than this sounds quite fat. By the way I use the lb-2 too. Cheers!

[@kevrem984]

​@@adamagapie1298 Same results with active pickups in my 6505 120w. It sounds thinner than with active pickups. I keep the Resonance knob at noon with passives, and 2 or 3 o'clock with actives.

[@picksalot1]

I preferred the Mesa, but after a few seconds of listening to either Amp, I forgot about which one I was hearing and just enjoyed the music. For me, music always rules the day, as long as gear doesn't get in the way.

[@MetalZoned]

To me its not as much as one vs the other but rather do they hold up to their big brothers. Both sound good, lot easier to carry around too haha. I do think the 6505MH lacks some bottom end. In the mix it sounds fine but the rectifier is fuller. Also worth mentioning that the 6505MH is almost half the price!

[@JohnWiku]

Definitely love the recto on it's own (great for solo practice), the 6505 sits and sounds better in the mix!

[@nuclearpurification7260]

6505 for me, I still consider it the standard for high gain amps.

[@Turbo-D]

the mesa always wins this thing is really ridiculous outstanding good and not beatable in this small form factor territory in my experience, i would just say that this is the best recto amp mesa put out in a very long time, its based on the recto recording preamp, also a hidden treasure for recto tone!... and its OK`ish affordable... the peavey is also very cool but i would go with the 50w stealth instead, the best and most complete EVH head ever! better bang for your buck and compareable to the mesa..cheers my friend

[@Deamonition]

Was gonna comment that they must complement each other very nicely in a blend, only to realize the end of your video is a blend of both! That tone was great.

[@mooocows]

I have a VH4 and wanted a mini amp for rehearsal. I tried both the Mesa and 6505 as I've previously owned both larger heads. I found the 6505 a bit thin and harsh especially at volume yet I believe the Mesa sounded better than the Dual I had years ago. Either way, the Mini is so portable to practice spaces and has so much more versatility. Really happy with it

[@mooocows]

I don't have a VH4 I have a VH2 😆

[@mrchrisbeaver]

I got the Peavey 6505 MH this week, I love it. I want that Mesa too but no one sells Mesa in Europe any more. I've not seen one Mesa product in the last 3 years in the UK 😓

[@Gizmo-st1ky]

Saw the title and came running! Hahaha excellent stuff as always my friend! I really like the sound of the mini recto! It’s very fat in the mix, the peavey is more top heavy in terms of highs/mids so in the mix it lacked some bottom to me. Both amps sound great! The final amp blend was AMAZING!! Both amps complimented each other well!! Id buy both of these just to blend them like you did! 🤘🏽🔥

[@SonicDriveStudio]

Yeah the Peavey definitely has a much tighter bottom end

[@JonpMathewsdxt]

They both definitely have there own thing going on. Mesa kinda sounds like a bigger head. But the hole time I was thinking these would complement each other well in a mix and they sure did. As always you have great tones.

[@tobins6800]

Both are usable. Also, both sound way better when you don't drop an earbud. Like the Mesa better overall. Together, killer. Thanks

[@Spider._.dust_music]

Great video🤘 ive had lots of amps over the years. I finally got a mesa duel rec 100 solo last year and love it!! I would like a EVH head next as well

[@evilmastermindgusz3505]

Awesome video and killer guitar tones. I prefer the Recto but these 2 amps are my favorite!

[@westcoastbrotha]

Okay both heads sound great, but I wanna talk about homeboy’s guitar riffs!!! Holy bat shit! I mainly look forward to this channels videos simply due to the heavy and diverse riffs this guy plays. Mad respect.

[@Clinthopanonymous]

Videos like these is how wars get started and I for one choose to be on the right side of history. Peavey for life!

[@yosephmcjoe9575]

I cannot wait till you get a 5150 iconic. Your videos are the best on the platform, man. Great commentary, outstanding playing and Awesome environment to help people make an informed purchase. I'd happily contribute to a patreon or something if it helped you get more gear to put on the channel!

[@bradovard8657]

If I was into metal, I’d probably prefer the Mesa. The 6505 is great for hard rock. Love the crunch channel on that amp.

[@WholeLottaBulldog]

love to see these two against the dark terror. dark terror is, imo, pretty close to midway between the mini recto and 6505mh tonally.

[@Gumdropnipples]

I started off with a 6505 and liked it alot. Then I heard some of my favorite bands used the messa and though I needed one. I experimented with effects loops until I was able to make them sound identical. I like them both alot but I find myself using the peavey more often.

[@AdamYoudell]

I have a 100w Dual(2005, currently running w/only 2 tubes) and the 6505 MH. Both have their own unique sounds. Great compositions as always

[@xiwiwix]

Thank you! Great video, Jon! I bought the 6505mh when it first came out and I remember it sounding exactly how it sounded in your video. IMO it's really small sounding, very buzzy but when you get it up near band volume its tone falls apart. Though, there is a tiny spot on the m.volume knob where it starts to thicken up a tiny bit before it gets too flubby, and IMO that's where it sounds best. To me, it sounds like a lower quality, imitation of a 5150/6505, it almost feels like a knock off. I own a Mesa Mini, and constantly find myself talking myself out of buying another one xD It's downside is that it needs a boost otherwise it's too loose for my liking. Once it's got that boost in front, man, oh man, does it sound so good! To me, it sounds and feels as good as a Multi-watt. A few years ago, I had a multi-watt triple and a Mini so I was able to do some in-depth comparisons. What I found, I preferred the Mini's tone over the 150w amp. Not only was it tighter, but the preamp sounded nearly identical on the mini to the 150w beast. I was ok with losing a channel and all the bells and whistles on the Triple for just pure raw Recto tone on the grandslam the mini is. So yes, my opinion is very biased :x Together, wow! They sounded amazing, I was kinda hoping it would, I figured it might, and sure enough, they sounded terrific together! IMO their weakness play off each others strengths making them sound great. One's loose while the others tight and voila, awesome tone! I could be wrong, but perhaps if the 6505mh was higher powered, it could solve the problem I think it has with sounding tiny. It just needs some girth ("That's what she said" Michael G. Scott), a little more power to be useable in a band setting and I'm sure I'd love it. But as of right now, everytime I heard some one say they have one and they love it, I cringe. Medium oof Different folks, different tone. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[@felixfersch9498]

I got my Peavey 6505 for 360€. Great Deal. I get an amazing clean sound from it. Did a Preamp tube swap. The Lead channel has an amazing Gain structure and is incredibly loud.

[@missingthepoint557]

Preferred the mesa isolated, but the 6505 MH sounded better within the mix, so in the end I would go for the peavey

[@justokotoeh]

i loveyour channel for the shootouts! it makes difficult decision msking easier for us tone chasers 🙂 i would love to see a shoutout of that mesa mini 25 and the engl fireball 25. 🔥 oh you already have it, with all the other lunchboxes! 😁

[@p0g057]

Thanks for this video it's awesome! surprisingly I prefer the mesa, I would have liked to hear the comparison mesa 25w and marshll dsl 20w

[@eusma75]

This video shows the importance of context, in the mix context!

[@thanos4480]

Peavey just more pleasant to listen to. There is no such an unpleasant highs like in mesa. And also it's sounds more brutal))

[@guitarsehole]

I have the Peavey (and its big brother)...and love it...but now I want the Mesa!

[@MRxr400]

both sounded good to me. i lean a bit more to the recto, but i may run the eq a little different, i never have my single rec bass above 9 o'clock. i like the boogie build quality, and have alot of faith in the brands reliability for working every gig. reliability is very important to me. the peavey was no slouch though, sat well in a mix, i would like to know how it goes in a live setting.

[@translucent17]

I had the 120w 6505+ for years and it was my go to for playing live. Man that mesa sounds great though damnit

[@elgamal1982]

Recto sounded so scooped, fat and throaty tho. The peavey sounded mid heavy and tight but lacks the low end. Blending both is so balanced and sounded really nice for my ears. I always liked blending amps however some amps won’t work together like mesa marks and 6505s imho. My favorite blend is a krankenstein and a mesa mark amp with the 5 band eq turned off or maybe ON with a minimal changes, it sounded amazing. Try one of your victory kraken amps blended with a mark series. Amazing comparison as always thanks so much.

[@bradovard8657]

They both sound great. I would love to try them both in the same room at the same time. One on the left and the other right. I think they would compliment each other and fill in the frequencies the other is lacking.

[@anthonysilva5312]

Great comparison as usual! However, although the Mesa says it is made in the USA, I would bet dollars to donuts that the circuit boards are all made in China, the pots are all made in China, and maybe the cabinet and assembly is done in the USA. Bottom line is, when you come on stage with a killer tone, no one is asking what country your head was made in. Keep up the great work!

[@JacobNates]

They sound so good together in a mix

[@photoguy4212]

Mesa sounds tighter and more professional but the Peavey sounds juicy. I’d be happy with either.

[@lowalkoroc]

I love the 6505MH and use it daily at home, but about being loud enough for live use... It could be possible but just FYI when you turn it up past 5 it gets very messy and looses a lot of tightness. You could definitely use it live mic'd up but you wouldn't be able to get enough stage volume for it and have a good 6505 tone IMO, good floor monitors would be a must.

[@SonicDriveStudio]

It obviously doesn't have the headroom of a 120w amp but for playing at home or recording they're just fine!

[@Dante58426]

I'm glad you did the blend at the end. The whole time I was thinking these amps would sound good blended together, and I wasn't wrong.

[@corvovegetariano]

Nice song. Sound great in both amps.

[@Saurion1]

Wish you'd use some different pickups for the comparison. Fishmans make everything sound flat and compressed.

[@Heisenhuegel]

Great video man! Maybe you can make a match mesa/Peavey vs ENGL Ironball? :)

[@fjk1138]

I admit that I am a biased Mesa user, so I prefer the Rectifier because it sounds fuller. That all being said, the 6505 sounds like the Rectifier with all the low end and low mids pulled out. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but they sound more like a "before and after" of the same amp. Regardless, your riffs continue to sound excellent and are worth listening to for that alone.

[@mikedenkinger9570]

Same here. The Mesa has a more complex tone. The Peavey sounds thinner. I'm wondering if this isn't due to the speakers that are being used. I recently tried my Rectoverb 25 with a buddy's Orange 1x12 (instead of the Recto Mini 1x12 I have). He had an Eminence speaker and it all but eliminated the boom bottom end but really sounded thinner. I realize that we (by default) compare amps through identical cabs/speakers to determine differences. I think it's better to find what cabs/speakers work best with an amp and then figure out which one sounds best.....

[@mystdeisanto9919]

Never like recto, always sounds fizzy and boomy to me. Frequency wise, Peavey definitely sits better in the mix, and you can turn up the bass and make it sounds tighter and ticker in this particular song.

[@brandonharris9160]

Damn both of these are my dream amps. If only Orange had a 30 watt OR120.....

[@GregSobek]

I believe if you would take PRS MT15 it would have sound like a blend of those two amps

[@clairez666]

Mesa all the way... but I like the idea of using both for tonal differences! Can you please do a video comparing a MESA BADLANDER vs DIEZEL D-MOLL!!??? 💜🔥💜🔥💜

[@ronnymilianowicz5228]

I would love to see a video about amp slaving going from the Mesa loop FX into the Engl Fireball poweramp.

[@KahruSuomiPerkele]

I think this riff suits the Rectifier the best, maybe cleaning up the lows so the palm mutes sound less loose would help. The 6505 has too much mids, but maybe a darker sounding IR would have helped. So many things to experiment 😂🤯 The blend at the end 🤯

[@jamesgoodman7096]

Both are great. However, you need to add the PRS tremonti into this to make it a properly fair fight 👍🏻

[@smeemusic]

They both sound great in their own rights but when you a/b them the spiky midrange of the 6505 is less pleasant. But when you just let it play out without a/b the 6505 sits perfectly. And then the Mesa also fit perfectly but in an entirely different way. I have an evh 5150 el34 100 watt head and I have a bugera trirec head as well. The bugera is supposed to be a mesa triple rectifier clone. But I gotta say it sounds SO different from a mesa. Its almost more like 5150 than any mesa I ever heard. So that being said, I've been wanting to add a mesa to my collection so I can have that tonal option for recording and mixing.

[@JimZarasOfficial]

I like them both. It would be awesome to use them both into my mixes. Hard panned left and right.

[@borhksalduero9259]

Peavey has a tighter sound which I like more for this song.

[@richarddwjensen]

Mesa, hands down. The peavey sounds like an angry mosquito by comparison. The kind of tone that’s guaranteed to please only your bass player!

[@brunoalves3958]

Mini Rec for non-palm-muted parts sounded better in my opinion. But the 6505 MH chugged harder.

[@gregmerritt9366]

I could see those two heads run stereo through the same 4×12 cab being a great lower volume gig rig if the drummer's willing to play an e-kit.

[@emocapybara8676]

the mesa amp gives u that late 90s nu metal harsh and heavy, peavey give more modern rock tone

[@rayfoster4339]

Peavey is more percussive, and less muddy ...it would been better to boost the Peavey bass a bit more, to be more equal, or turned Mesa bass down

[@kataklysm6542]

Peavey on top 🔝

[@sheriffdohboy]

Compare both with Orange Jim Root,,,I’ve owned standard tiny terror, dark terror and now the root. Best out of the bunch the little Jim and it appears loudest out of the 15 watt oranges

[@sergejkrynycky728]

Good one!! How do you think Invective MH stacks up against the Mini Rectifier?

[@SonicDriveStudio]

I did a comparison of the 6505mh and the Invective. The Invective sounds a little bit more modern than the 6505mh but the differences would be similar as in this video.

[@stuffdowntown]

Mesa all the way!

[@markolivares6943]

I own the 6505 mini and love it. However I would really like to try the Mesa and peavey side by side

[@markolivares6943]

Update. I purchased the 25 watt mini rec and it sounds awesome. However it goes from 0-100 really quick on the volume and the 10 watt setting does not sound good at all. Very unfortunate I must say. So far the 6505 mini and engl power all are winning the completion for me

[@scottchamley181]

Another amazing video! I think I missed the signal chain if you posted it. Just wondering if you used an overdrive. Thanks!

[@SonicDriveStudio]

No overdrive! It's just the pure amps

[@scottchamley181]

Wow Jon, very cool! I'll give it a try with my MH.

[@kinglord5163]

Everytime I get my hands on a mesa dual it literally sounds terrible. I cant get a decent tone out of it. John what is the trick behind the mesa dual? What Pickups and how to dial?

[@billw2809]

@sonic drive studio, is it possible to play to mesa at bedroom volume? or is it overkill for neighbors with like a 1x12?

[@spyware1100]

I've read about serious quality issues on mini 6505. (voltage regulator doesn't have any cooling and it fries/dies in the amp) How reliable are they in your experience?

[@bastianvanstigt6246]

Could you do the Neural Quad Core next? I see great videos about it, would love to hear your opinion.

[@SonicDriveStudio]

I don't have one so I'm afraid it won't happen. Not soon anyway.

[@deaffatalbruno]

I wonder how close to a mesa sound could you get with 5150 type amp if you eq it with e.g. 7 band eq pedal? The distortion sounds very similar to me, but mainly the voicing is different. The Mesa is soo scooped. Even with mid turn down on a 5150, it is still very mid heavy compared to the 12 o'clock setting a the mesa. So maybe with expanded EQ might be able to get close ... ... It's normally easier to cut things, than to boost things that aren't there anymore.

[@montereycalifornia]

6505MH All day long!

[@mikedawg2CDR]

mini recto sounded way better and more alive imo

[@billw2809]

is there a way to plug headphones to the mesa for silent playing or greatly reduce its power? thanks

[@nefariouspreludev2.046]

I prefer the 6505 because I'm broke and can't afford the recto🙃

[@juancarlosbernabeaviles]

Peavey wins.

[@TopK3k]

Would be cooler if you have covered new Soldano mini SLO also

[@SonicDriveStudio]

Would be cool if I had one

[@pavel061195]

I like mesa most than peavey

[@amaurypalmen7968]

Hey thanks for the video but How can you put the gain on 5 on the peavey, what tubes do you use?

[@SonicDriveStudio]

Just the stock tubes

[@amaurypalmen7968]

@@SonicDriveStudio yes but I think they changed the tubes through the years for this model

[@Turbo-D]

sorry for another comment here but next comparison, please evh 50w stealth vs mesa mini

[@SonicDriveStudio]

I don't have a stealth

[@Turbo-D]

@@SonicDriveStudio whaaat? you are missing one of the best amps of all time, just get one! its so rare here in germany just sold out for year now i got one luckily b stock for 800€ now its about 1300€.. 🙄

[@SonicDriveStudio]

@@Turbo-D just got my 50w 6L6 so I'm good :)

[@Turbo-D]

@@SonicDriveStudio much different, a nobrainer if its available, sold mine for the stealth❗🙏

[@SonicDriveStudio]

@@Turbo-D I'm really digging it tbh

[@davidparedes3613]

Jesus they sound so similar

[@ThatDudeEv]

How about mini rec vs invective mh?

[@SonicDriveStudio]

Could be fun

[@danomnihility2453]

Had em both. Peavey too noisy. Mesa had more tones. Kraken vx wipes the floor with these and is more than loud enough for playing with a band. The sound falls apart up loud for both these amps.

[@dongwarrenmusic]

With the price difference, start with peavy to buy the mesa. 😆

[@luizfelipeclf]

6505>>>>

[@JosephCee]

Mesa sounds infinitely better. I wanted to like the Peavey but it just sounded like crap compared to the Mesa.

[@clcartlidge]

Rec sounds fizzy imo

[@godzilla964]

The peavey cannot do clean, while the mesa can.

[@guitarlair]

I had a Mini Rectoverb for a while, ended up returning it.... these little guys are fun until you try a real 50/100w amp, then you realize the HUGE difference in headroom, punch and low end that a bigger amp does. My EVH EL 34 wiped the floor with the Mini Mesa... it was not even close...you turn up the master volume on these mini amps and the headroom never comes, the low end never comes, it gets better obviously but never really gets THERE!! If you dial it past 12 o clock it doesn't do anything, only gets super muddy and starts to sound like crap...The EVH on the other hand, if you open the master volume, oh boy.... it screams, it punches you in the guts.

[@user-do7vd9tx3h]

Fishmans plus mh plus v30 is just not a winning combination

[@WholeLottaBulldog]

why is that, in your opinion?

[@T00DEEPBLUE]

As much as I'll happily clown on Peavey as a company, the 6505MH sounds better by a country mile. The Mesa is way too flubby/splatty in the low end and fizzy in the highs. The 6505MH is more balanced in those aspects and the mids do a great job of cutting through in the mix.

[@Starch1b2c3d4a]

You take those parts out with a pedal…

[@T00DEEPBLUE]

@@Starch1b2c3d4a Yes. However I'm glad that wasn't done for the sake of the comparison. Makes the test more fair.

[@parallaxgaming5070]

6505 sounds way better

[@Feverdream7777]

6505 has a dominant trashy upper mid thing going on... sounds like part of it is playing through a crappy tiny little boom box speaker.... like around 10k trashy hiss ... I don't like it.

[@sendtodevnull1269]

6505MH sounds better and it’s not even close, imo.

[@parallaxgaming5070]

rectifier is over hyped and over priced ! get the same sound from a 6505 all day long , this video should have been done with real cab etc.

[@spacefx1340]

both crap imo.