Why are boogies so expensive?

[Justin518]

I'm looking to buy a new 12" extension cabinet to primarily play alongside my fender Princeton. I went to the local guitar store and came across the mesa boogie "thiele" cabinet, I plugged it in and I thought it sounded incredible super thick, great bass response, exactly what I wanted the tone to be. I was a little started to see it was priced right around $450 dollars, I know it sounded great, but it just seems like a little bit to much. Could someone explain why technically speaking the price tag is so high? Could it really just be the name? I hope that's not the case.. I am probably going to end up buying the cabinet, is it really worth the price?

Justin

[trailrun100s]

Well, it's American made, high quality, good materials, and if it has an EV-12L speaker, those are pricey....

Boogie isn't the only pricey 1x12. My Suhr cab was $350 unloaded...

[Sirloin]

... I plugged it in and I thought it sounded incredible super thick, great bass response, exactly what I wanted the tone to be. ...I am probably going to end up buying the cabinet, is it really worth the price?

Justin

:facepalm ....if a cab meets all your tonal requirements for $450...it's a bargain. Buy it and rock out. Those cabs are built like tanks and will last forever. Doubt it has the EV though, probably the Celestion C90....either way, if you like it, that's really not a bad price from a retail store.

[Dr. Tweedbucket]

The EVM 12L is a 200watt cast frame speaker and not exactly cheap. Plus the cabs are great! Heavy duty!! Sent you a PM.

[DGTCrazy]

I'm looking to buy a new 12" extension cabinet to primarily play alongside my fender Princeton. I went to the local guitar store and came across the mesa boogie "thiele" cabinet, I plugged it in and I thought it sounded incredible super thick, great bass response, exactly what I wanted the tone to be. I was a little started to see it was priced right around $450 dollars, I know it sounded great, but it just seems like a little bit to much. Could someone explain why technically speaking the price tag is so high? Could it really just be the name? I hope that's not the case.. I am probably going to end up buying the cabinet, is it really worth the price?

Justin


"Worth" the price is both Subjective and Objective. Try to find one used if it doesn't fit your budget. They are GREAT cabs, and will hold up forever if you take care of them.

[Brion]

Definitely a C90 in the new Theile cabs.

[gixxerrock]

IMO, it is better built and worth the price. You can buy junk for half the price that is a bad investment. If you don't have $450, shop around for something used. There are some companies that are less money (due to mail order) and still decent quality such as Avatar or Saxon.

[tiktok]

I can't recall ever seeing a "cheap" Thiele cabinet. Those cabinets are worth $450 though.

[TRS1]

I plugged it in and I thought it sounded incredible super thick, great bass response, exactly what I wanted the tone to be.

This is why.

...and they arent that expensive.

[stratovarius]

Well, you can always buy a cheaper cab, then another one, then another one...

[pjrhd28]

:facepalm ....if a cab meets all your tonal requirements for $450...it's a bargain. Buy it and rock out. Those cabs are built like tanks and will last forever. Doubt it has the EV though, probably the Celestion C90....either way, if you like it, that's really not a bad price from a retail store.




yep

[shredtrash]

Well, you can always buy a cheaper cab, then another one, then another one...

That's a fact OP. Get what you want the first time and be done.

[ifailedshapes]

If you think those are pricey, check our Dr Z cabs, Suhr cabs, or any of the other high-end companies. Quality gear is seldom cheap.

[JunkGear]

There is currently one in the emporium for $350 and it has the EVM 12L.
A steal with the EV.

[hktk]

You should see the price of Mesa in australia. I don't think you can buy any mesa product here without at least 4 digits in the price tag.

I agree with the above posts. With many of these types of products the price comes down to better quality parts and workmanship. It's better to save for what you want and get it first rather than buy a cheaper cab that you will end up selling (at a loss) to buy the one you wanted in the first place.

[bkd_guitarist]

Pretty nice deal, IMO. I'm tempted to go buy one myself.

[whoismarykelly]

Entirely American-made product from a respected company that is sold through a retailer. All of those things lead to an item being expensive to purchase.

[billfoma]

Like, cuz Mesa rulz, duh! They bring teh brootalz! :D

[ifailedshapes]

There is currently one in the emporium for $350 and it has the EVM 12L.
A steal with the EV.

Somebody please jump on this! That is an AMAZING deal, unless it's beat to total crap. ;)

[tele_jas]

Mesa really makes great products and have great service after the sale too. One of my favorite cabs is a Mesa openback 1x12. Great cab!

Mesa gets a bad rap around here since it has more than 4 knobs, but they make outstanding, well built products. Well worth the money, IMO.

[SteveO]

Quality doesn't come at bottom-dollar prices. Some companies have chosen to enter the price-point market with amps and cabs made in China and elsewhere with price-oriented components, and some companies have consistently refused to cut any corners in order to keep the quality of their product (and the reputation of their company) high.

Not everybody is a fan of Mesa amplifiers, but nobody will ever claim that their products aren't rock-solid and built like tanks.

[dspellman]

As the old joke goes, "Why are divorces so expensive?"
"Because they're worth it."

That said, there's nothing at all keeping you from building an identical cabinet (the EV TL806) if you're willing to either do the wood work yourself or have someone do it for you: http://hf-antenna.com/Flotsam/EV/ElectroVoice_TL806.pdf

Essentially, Mesa builds this very cabinet.

And there's more -- you can put an Eminence Delta ProA in it and have virtually the same sound and capabilities. It'll cost you around $135 at http://www.usspeaker.com/DELTAPRO12-1.htm .

Best glue for these is Loctite PL Premium (a single tube of 28 oz should more than do you). You'll want some furniture clamps, too. You don't need to tolex these things -- use a 1/2" roundover and roll on some Duratex. If you need a grill, talk to Reliablehardware.com . Or talk to www.speakerhardware.com about handling the whole build for you.

[gatordoc]

In addition to what everyone said above, keep in mind that the Thiele cab is also front ported so it's a little more complicated inside structurally than a typical speaker in a box.

[NashSG]

I don't think that is that bad a price, especially for a US built special ported cab.

A Bogner Cube which is a pretty similar cab by design is like $600 bucks.

[jb4674]

Sorry to derail the thread guys but, what about the Rectifier 2x12? Do you guys think it's worth the price?

[SteveO]

Sorry to derail the thread guys but, what about the Rectifier 2x12? Do you guys think it's worth the price?

I love mine. BTW, the Celestions that Boogie uses are still made in England. Most of the other manufacturers are using Chinese versions.

[jb4674]

I love mine. BTW, the Celestions that Boogie uses are still made in England. Most of the other manufacturers are using Chinese versions.

That was going to be my next question SteveO. So Mesa is putting genuine UK made Celestions in their cabs?

[SteveO]

That was going to be my next question SteveO. So Mesa is putting genuine UK made Celestions in their cabs?

Yes, Celestion makes them specifically for Mesa.

[ZenFly06]

Mesa is a quality product. i had no issues with the asking price for my MKV. As for speaker cabs, i opted for a 2X12 Port City....about double the price of the Thiele cab you tested, but worth every penny!

[groovington]

The Mesa Thiele cabinet is worth every penny! If it's exactly what your looking for, don't waste your time and money on something else. This is the kind of purchase that actually helps to relieve G.A.S.

[jo2012]

The speaker alone is $200-$250...

[SteveO]

If it's exactly what your looking for, don't waste your time and money on something else. This is the kind of purchase that actually helps to relieve G.A.S.

This is true of anything. Getting the best price on the planet for something isn't a deal at all if you hate it and never use it.

[NashSG]

"Sorry to derail the thread guys but, what about the Rectifier 2x12? Do you guys think it's worth the price? "

I've got a vertical Rectifier 2x12 cab. That thing sounds awesome, easy to move and I think looks really cool.

[Nickstrtcstr]

The speaker alone is $200-$250...


:agreeYou get what you pay for.

[Justin518]

Thanks guys, I'm very tempted to buy the 350$ one on here for sale right now. The one I played in the store did in fact have a C90 in it and I liked it a lot. I've never played the EVM 12L.. How is his cab with that speaker in it going to sound as compared to the cab I played and loved.

EDIT: is the EVM 12L what comes stock in the Lonestar's?

[SteveO]

EDIT: is the EVM 12L what comes stock in the Lonestar's?

The only speakers that Mesa is using these days are the the C90 and Vintage 30. Most combos have the C90. Everything is listed on the Mesa/Boogie website.

[NorCal_Val]

I have two Boogie Thiele cabs.
Some of the best $$$ I ever spent on music gear.
"You can pay me now or, you can pay me later."
If it sounds fantastic, you won't regret spending the $$.

[guitarrhinoceros]

I have rented numerous Boogies for gigs and owned a Mark V (briefly) and now own a Royal Atlantic. From my experiences with Mesa, in terms of tone, packaging, build quality, customer service, etc, they are one of the finest amp companies out there. I truly love my Mesa and would buy more amps from them considering the faith I have in their products and customer service.

[Rhomco]

Santana :munch

[ziehmrd]

IMO, compared to /13, Bogner, Two Rock, etc., Mesa's are a bargain for what you get in terms of quality, features, and tone. As for the speaker cabs, from what I've seen, their cabinet work is better than some of the more expensive brands.

[guitarrhinoceros]

IMO, compared to /13, Bogner, Two Rock, etc., Mesa's are a bargain for what you get in terms of quality, features, and tone. As for the speaker cabs, from what I've seen, their cabinet work is better than some of the more expensive brands.

So true. And I have never understood what makes a Bogner higher priced than a Mesa. Both are PCB and offer similar amp styles.

[Justin518]

Can anyone touch on the EVM 12L speaker in a the Thiele cabinet as compared to the C90?

[Blix]

Can anyone touch on the EVM 12L speaker in a the Thiele cabinet as compared to the C90?

The Thiele TL806 design is specifically made for EV12L's, not C90's.
Now I haven't tried a thiele with the C90, so I can't compare how the sound though.

[Justin518]

^^Why are all the ones being made right now come with C90s stock in them then?

[supergenius365]

The Mesa Thiele cabinet is worth every penny! If it's exactly what your looking for, don't waste your time and money on something else. This is the kind of purchase that actually helps to relieve G.A.S.

Yep. It makes EVERYTHING sound better imo.

The new C90's are Celestion?

[stratovarius]

I can't imagine you'd be going too far wrong with the EVM 12L unless you have a fizzy amp that needs blurring by a dark speaker. If the EVM 12L has a fault, it is that it doesn't cover anything up.

[djw]

^^Why are all the ones being made right now come with C90s stock in them then?
They used to stock their cabs with Mesa-branded EVMs back in the day. But they're very heavy and expensive speakers, and later they switched exclusively to Mesa-branded Celestions. Anyway, the EV sounds amazing (smooth highs, fat lows, pretty even response all around), can handle anything you throw at it, and weighs a metric ton all by itself. If you liked the C90, you should just get that cab and be done with it. 350 is a good deal for that cabinet. Mesa cabs really are some of the best on the planet.

[Justin518]

^well I liked the C90 but the one I'm about to buy off of here has the EVM 12L in it.. That's the one for 350$ the one with the C90 in it is the one in my hometown store and is 450$. This is going to be used primarily as an extension speaker for my 65 princeton reverb reissue. I feel like I'm going to be just as happy if not happier with the EVM from what I've been reading about them.

[djw]

^well I liked the C90 but the one I'm about to buy off of here has the EVM 12L in it.. That's the one for 350$ the one with the C90 in it is the one in my hometown store and is 450$. This is going to be used primarily as an extension speaker for my 65 princeton reverb reissue. I feel like I'm going to be just as happy if not happier with the EVM from what I've been reading about them.
Got ya. That is sort of a weird tough call. Is that 350 shipped?

If it were me, I might be inclined to go with the local one because a) immediate gratification, b) LIGHTER -- by a long shot, and c) an EV as an extension for a 15 watt amp seems like major overkill. Both speakers can handle way more than the Princeton can put out, but the C90 is at least rated with the same number of digits as the amp's output (15 > 90 as opposed to 15 > 200).

The only reason I'd spring for the monster speaker would be if I planned on using it to handle heavier loads than 15 watts. EDIT: Then again, you can always get the fatty and then swap in a lighter speaker, and use the EVM in some other cabinet.

[MRCHILL4]

i don't get all this boogie downing. it's simple. you get what you pay for. boogie makes great stuff, you are going to pay for it.

[Justin518]

Yeah it's 350$ shipped, I just sent him a deposit.. The seller actually just gave me the option if I wanted for him to swap out the EV for a C90.. He said he has a C90 in another amp of his and wouldn't mind sending it out in the Thiele rather than the EV. I'm not really sure what I want to do, based off of everything I've been reading the EV sounds like a better match for my sound (as clean and fat as possible, with mild OD occasionally), but on the other hand I do already know what the C90 sounds like. I think either way I'm probably going to be pretty happy!

[djw]

Yeah it's 350$ shipped, I just sent him a deposit.. The seller actually just gave me the option if I wanted for him to swap out the EV for a C90.. He said he has a C90 in another amp of his and wouldn't mind sending it out in the Thiele rather than the EV. I'm not really sure what I want to do, based off of everything I've been reading the EV sounds like a better match for my sound (as clean and fat as possible, with mild OD occasionally), but on the other hand I do already know what the C90 sounds like. I think either way I'm probably going to be pretty happy!
Yep! Enjoy, that's a great cab!

[Justin518]

I'm not going to run into any issues running this cab alongside the princeton, right? I'm definitely no expert when it comes to electronics and loads and all that. The EV is an 8 ohm speaker I believe, all should be groovy right?

[djw]

I'm not going to run into any issues running this cab alongside the princeton, right? I'm definitely no expert when it comes to electronics and loads and all that. The EV is an 8 ohm speaker I believe, all should be groovy right?
Yeah, that's what you want. Pretty sure these Fenders are built to split their load into parallel when running on both output jacks, so both 1 and 2 x 8-ohm speakers are optimal.

[Justin518]

Great, thanks man!

[Blix]

^^Why are all the ones being made right now come with C90s stock in them then?


More profit for Mesa.

[Blix]

And you'll love the EV I'm sure, fantastic speaker. I have two 1x12's with them. :)

[Miles]

Well, it's American made, high quality, good materials, and if it has an EV-12L speaker, those are pricey....

Boogie isn't the only pricey 1x12. My Suhr cab was $350 unloaded...

What he said. USA made, high quality, good materials, sturdy, etc...
$450 for a Boogie cab is a fine price.

[tiktok]

^^Why are all the ones being made right now come with C90s stock in them then?

I thought they stopped making the EV for a while, which triggered the changeover?

[Blix]

I thought they stopped making the EV for a while, which triggered the changeover?

Yeah true. Too bad they didn't change back when the EV's became available again.

[xjojox]

Years ago when living overseas I had 4 of those. I stacked them like Lego and it looked and sounded killer. I usually used all 4, but I could bring just two and still run stereo. Or just one for mono.

Two had C90's and two had EV's. You just couldn't hurt the ones with the EV's, they were indestructible. There are tons of them out there, look used.

[Onioner]

Shoot. $450 sounds cheap for a good loaded 1x12.

[ifailedshapes]

A Thiele-ported design is a cab designed for a particular speaker. The Mesa Thiele can was designed for the EV, not the C90. I think the reason they switched speakers is because they couldn't get enough EV's to supply their demand. Regardless, even though the C90 sounds good, this particular cab was not designed for it. Definitely go for the EV and thank us all later.

Now, if for some reason you don't like the EV, there is a strong market for used EV's in good condition. I'm sure you could trade for a C90 plus cash if you wanted to down the line.

[axelfoley]

A Thiele-ported design is a cab designed for a particular speaker. The Mesa Thiele can was designed for the EV, not the C90. I think the reason they switched speakers is because they couldn't get enough EV's to supply their demand. Regardless, even though the C90 sounds good, this particular cab was not designed for it. Definitely go for the EV and thank us all later.

Now, if for some reason you don't like the EV, there is a strong market for used EV's in good condition. I'm sure you could trade for a C90 plus cash if you wanted to down the line.

The new thiele cab with the c90 is very different than the original that was designed around the ev in size, shape and porting. It's also not available with an ev.

[groovington]

Just go for the EV, I don't think you'll be disappointed. I have one in my Mesa combo and it sounds great to me, although I've never plugged another amp into that speaker, I should soon to get a better opinion of it. I have a C90 as well in a 2x12 and I really like the sound of it too. I believe it's very similar to a CL80 and in my opinion a very transparent speaker that won't color your tone. But if EV was also Mesa's first choice to use before switching to the C90, I'd guess it's gonna be pretty darn transparent as well. And if you want to use it with your Princeton, you should want as transparent of a speaker as you can find!

[Justin518]

Yup, went with the EV, I'm excited to see how it's going to sound

[nickyjoe]

All of my Mesa cabs sounded great. I've played them with different amps and they sound great. My current 2x12 has the best wheels too. A sound company managed to poke a hole through the grill. 3 years later that hole was the same size! Oh, I tried (thought) I could change it. There were what looked like 1000 staples holding it in place. Mesa is one of a group of great cabinet builders, if your ear likes it go for it.