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As far as tone goes what are the differences between a dual and single recto? Is it only power or is there a tone difference as well?

I've only had the privelage to own a Triple and a Single Rectifier, so I can't directly answer your question for you. But I can tell you all that I know.

The Single's circuit should be identical to the Dual's other than the power tube displacement and the loss of a few features such as the Rectifier Select Switch (Tube/Silicon Diodes) and the Bold/Spongy “Variac” Switch. Not a big deal.

However, you will find that the Single will be able to achieve great tones at a much lesser volume due to the single pair of power tubes. You probably know that a 50W tube amp will be more than sufficient in most gigging situations, but if you need the excess, the Dual may be your ticket. With the Dual, you can also remove two of the power tubes to lose some of the output.

Now a lot of controversy comes in comparing the earlier 2 channel Dual/Triple Rectifiers with the newer 3 channel models. Lots of people claim that the earlier models sound better, you know, the typical quot;tighter bottom end, less buzzyquot; nonsense. I'm not so sure that all of that is accurate, but I also can't disprove it, because I haven't played those 2 channel versions.

I can tell you for a fact that the Series II Single Rectifiers are much more desireable and if you get the option of deciphering between Series I and Series II, that the II should be your first choice.

Well, hope that helped. Feel free to ask any other questions and I'll do my best to help.

Well also in my opinion the single has a much sweeter/versitile sound than a dual. I can get blues, jazz, rock, metal from my single. I have never been able to get that from a dual which I have tried numerous times. Also the single just completely destroys the dual on cleans. I am referring to the rectoverb combo and not the solo head version though.

Guitarist said basically everything that needed to be said

the recto does sound nice. its one of the best sounding mesa's in my opinion. its cleans are good and its brown sound channel is very nice for 6L6 tubes.