Mesa Boogie Rectoverb vs Fender Super Sonic

epictring

So here's the dilemma I'm having.

Found a really great deal on a Mesa Boogie Rectoverb, they are quite rare to find and I've always craved for that Rectifier type sound.

I currently own a Fender Super-Sonic (clean and distortion channel) and while it's a great amp, I'm feeling like it's lacking a bit on the distortion side of things - and since I play distortion 80% of the time, it's kind of a no-brainer, or is it?

Some friends are saying I'm better off keeping the Fender and rather buy a few pedals to better the distortion channel - but deep down I know I'm never getting that classic recto tone.

What do you think? Stupid decision?

(old forum) Poll Results: Mesa Boogie Rect-O-Verb vs Fender Super-Sonic

Mesa Boogie Rectoverb: 5
Fender Super-Sonic: 1

Sebber

I've not played the Rectoverb (MK.I with reverb?) but I'm a total and unashamed Mesa fanboy: it's ALWAYS better with a Boogie!

epictring

The Rectoverb is technically a Single-Rectifier (50W) in combo format with reverb as well, as opposed to the normal single- dual- and triple rectifiers not having built in reverb.

Instrumentalman

Mesa!!! 1000% More
(i realy dont like Fender's

IceCreamMan

sounds like the reason how mesa came into being ......(ie wanting more than the fender can deliver)

hey , if your heart want a mesa, buy a mesa ..u aint going to be happy with the fender no matter what ....

epictring

Cool, settled then. Now just gotta find a buyer for the Fender.

ZarK

I have some experience with both brands and won't say I prefer one to the other... Loved my Dual Rectifier for heavy tones but it also had a very good clean- and crunch channel to boot. There where so many tones my Mesa could develop apart from the obvious high gain ones. A truly versatile and very high quality amplifier... Cannot fault a dual rectifier except that it's way too loud for my needs. Preferred my Fender's clean channel but only by a negligible margine... Personally (to date) I haven't been very impressed with Fender's distorted channels when compared to the Boogies I've played and the one I've owned. When I go the Fender route I usually go for the clean tone and then look at decent pedals to produce the driven tones I'm after...

You can make a Fender sound like a heavily driven dual/triple rectifier though. All you need is a very clean Fender channel and a Wampler Triple Wreck pedal. That'll offer you authentic Fender cleans- and Mesa Dual/Triple Rectifier drive all in one amp... (The catch is 1. You have to run the pedal on a very clean channel, not on the driven channels and 2. to produce authentic Boogie (Dual/Triple rectifier) high gain tones, preferably your Fender should have the same speaker(s) and tubes as a Mesa Rectifier... (6l6 power tubes and Celestion Vintage 30 speakers are a must imo. -although probably not a deal breaker in reality...))

karoo

Mesa...The huge variety of tone you can get from these amps are amazing. I own Zark's mesa now, and can I tell you....O mamma!!!

I really would like a Fender amp as well, but then I heard the Mesa Lonestar....man....that amp is hot!

arjunmenon

karoo wrote: Mesa...The huge variety of tone you can get from these amps are amazing. I own Zark's mesa now, and can I tell you....O mamma!!!

I really would like a Fender amp as well, but then I heard the Mesa Lonestar....man....that amp is hot!

+1. I'm in love with the Lonestar Special.
IINM, Marco Melfi on the forum has one.

Sebber

karoo wrote: Mesa...The huge variety of tone you can get from these amps are amazing. I own Zark's mesa now, and can I tell you....O mamma!!!

I really would like a Fender amp as well, but then I heard the Mesa Lonestar....man....that amp is hot!

Yeah I use a Lonestar Special 2x12 as my main squeeze, it's a spectacular sounding amp it really is! It's got the best cleans of any amp I've played through, and the second channel does a great crunch. It's not a "jack-of-all-trades" in that it doesn't do the highly saturated high gain stuff, but with the crunch channel engaged and with a pedal boosting the front-end things start getting well and truly righteous!

needleshy

i have a Dual Tremoverb combo. Its awesome. Cleans are great but its definately not chimey like fender, but then again i dont play country/pop and dont plan on playing it any time soon. The combo also has some nice bottom end.

at the end of the day you are gonna have to think of what kinda music you wanna use the amp for, supersonic i thought is the opposite to the Recto, more for country/pop/jazz/blues while the recto is great for hard rock/metal/blues/rock.

I tried out a Supersonic a couple of years ago and found it lacks bottom end and the drive was very thin sounding.

one thing to remember, there are more tubes on the Mesa that a supersonic so servicing will be more expensive if needed.

If i had yo go back in time and choose between a Rectifier and a SS again i would buy the Mesa again.

epictring

My experience as well. Mesa cleans aren't as great, but the mesa cleans are do able and since I don't use clean THAT often it's something I'm willing to trade for mesa distortion.

Or I can get 2 and A/B the amps, anyone care to donate? :-[

Gearhead

I disagree with the statement about Mesa cleans. If you're talking combo them maybe, but only because of speaker choice. Hook a Jensen up to a Mesa head and you can get 99.9% Fender tone.

epictring

Gearhead wrote: I disagree with the statement about Mesa cleans. If you're talking combo them maybe, but only because of speaker choice. Hook a Jensen up to a Mesa head and you can get 99.9% Fender tone.

Are you also referring to the Dual Rectifier?

Woooo! If sale succeeds I'm getting her today :dance: :woohoo: ?arty:

Sebber

epictring wrote:
Gearhead wrote: I disagree with the statement about Mesa cleans. If you're talking combo them maybe, but only because of speaker choice. Hook a Jensen up to a Mesa head and you can get 99.9% Fender tone.
Are you also referring to the Dual Rectifier?

Woooo! If sale succeeds I'm getting her today :dance: :woohoo: ?arty:

Awesome dude! May the wors be with you!