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To simplify the GAIN Control’s role in shaping the overall tone of the sound we will look
at it in two ways: 1) alone and 2) in conjunction with the tone controls.
1) GAIN has three tonal regions: LOW (7:00 - 11:00) provides the cleanest, least saturated
sounds and in this region the sound will be brighter and contain more upper harmonics
lending a three-dimensional character to the sound.
MIDDLE (11:00 - 2:00) enhances the saturation and replaces some of the upper harmonics
with a richer, warmer quality and a fuller bottom-end response. Not yet fully saturated,
this region is the easiest place to get a great sound in both channels. This region contains
many of the Recto’s best sounds – especially for soloing – due to the crucial blend of an
expressive attack combined with ample sustain.
HIGH (2:00 - 5:00) saturates the signal and enhances low and low-mid frequencies. While this region provides the maximum
saturation and sustain, it also compresses and softens the attack characteristics. For this reason we suggest using this higher
region of the GAIN Control sparingly and only when maximum sustain is needed.
NOTE: Due to the Recto’s extreme gain potential, the highest regions of the GAIN Control may possibly push the pre-amp tubes
past what they can handle, producing microphonic squealing. While we screen and test the tubes your amplifier was shipped
with and the tubes in your amp passed our rigorous test, we can’t predict how the tubes will respond over time exposed to
extreme gain settings. Your tubes are warranted for a period of 6 months under normal use, but you can save yourself the
present and future inconvenience of having to deal with annoying microphonic tube problems by simply using a little common
sense...Don’t turn the Gain all the way up!
If you must for a specific part, or at very low volumes, back down the TREBLE and PRESENCE Controls. Your Recto-Verb 25 was
designed to provide amazing gain and tone at less than extreme settings, removing the need for you to crank everything all the
way up. If you are not able to achieve the sound you want at sensible settings on any or all of the controls, your problem may lie
elsewhere in the signal chain, i.e. pick-ups, cabinetry, processing, etc. Keep in mind, you can always call on one of our Product
Specialists, Monday through Thursday, and seek some advice should you find yourself struggling to get the sound you want.
2) GAIN in conjunction with the Tone Controls: Basically, a simple rule applies...as the Gain is increased the Tone control string
has less and less effect on the signal until at 5:00, the signal is so saturated that you are getting mostly Gain and very little Tone.
Again, this is the reason we suggest using the GAIN Control in its middle region. Here, the Tone control string is very active and
provides maximum shaping power, allowing you to dial virtually any sound you desire.
TREBLE
As in most tube guitar amplifiers, the TREBLE Control (in both channels of your Recto) is the most powerful of
the Tone controls and is next in line only to the GAIN Control as a shaping tool. Because it is first in the signal path of the Tone
controls (and from here the MIDDLE and BASS receive their signal) it is by far the dominant Tone control.
Like most of the controls on your Recto, there is an optimum region of the TREBLE Control where ample top
end is mixed in and yet enough signal is still passed on to the MIDDLE and BASS Controls.
As you might surmise, 11:00 - 1:30 is the sweet spot. There are definitely great sounds above and below this
middle region, but the balance between the TREBLE Control and the other two Tone controls is compromised.
The one place you may want to throw caution to the wind and set the TREBLE Control above this median zone
presents itself in Channel 1 of your new Recto-Verb 25. In both modes (CLEAN & PUSHED), the TREBLE Con-
trol can be used to dump extra gain into the mix. This is especially effective in the PUSHED mode for crunch
sounds. When doing so use the PRESENCE Control to roll off some of the more than ample top-end for a more compressed
feel and fatter voice. The BASS Control’s effectiveness will be reduced, so you may have to run a much higher setting than you
are used to seeing to achieve a balance. That said, keep in mind that the TREBLE Control in Channel 1 PUSHED should not be
set too much above 3:00 to avoid unwanted microphonic tube problems.
GAIN
CLEAN
PUSHED
VINTAGE
MODERN
GAIN REGIONS
Brightest
Most Balanced
Warmer & Saturated
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