Mesa cabs Love or hate them?

[Tag]

I have a 4/12 Mesa Cab that came loaded with G12H30s, and the thing just KILLS. I know people seem to love or hate them, so just wondering what your thoughts are. Like them or hate them, and why? Mine has a nice rubbery feel compared to a newer Marshall which sounded like cardboard, or a bogner which was stiffer (still very nice!) and a VHT which sounded to scooped and metal like. (Very cool cab as well though, just not the tones I was looking for). The Bruno 4/12 may have sounded eveb better than the mesa, but it was close and there was a several month wait at the time. Anyway, I LOVE this mesa for cleans, low and high gain types of tones. It does not seem to have any weaknesses. Nice tight bass, deep, rich mids, and the ability to get chimey cleans, yet not get buzzy in overdrive. FANTASTIC! I think the closed back really helps in that area. I use it with my Dumble and tworocks, and its a match made in heaven. Thumbs up to Mesa on a killer cab. Man is the thing HEAVY though. Built like a tank, but you need a fork lift to move it around. great touch to have the removable wheels! remove them and put the cab flat on the floor for some extra bass, or leave the wheels on for a little less bottom, and accentuated mids. 10 years with it and still loving it! One of the best pieces of gear I have ever bought!

 

[Kenny D]

I have 2 MESA 2x12s (V30s) and love them. I also have two Marshall 2x12s and there is no comparison. The MESAs win hands down. It's the cleans I dig most about the MESAs.

 

[mesanatic]

Well I love my 2x12. Nice and tight, great lowend, but not boomy like the OS Bogner 2x12 I had. Very even response. Works with most of my amps and as close as I've heard to that full 4x12 sound.

The 4x12's are definitely built like tanks too, though I prefer the Stilletto to the Recto oversize. Your's has G12H30's? Great speakers better than the standard V30's for certain. Are they Heritage or Anniversary?

 

[axelfoley]

Mesa cabs sound the best to me of all that I have owned. Unfortunately they are also the heaviest.

 

[TNJ]

I have a semi open back 112 Mesa cab with an EVM12L in it...

SOUNDS PHAT with the Two Rock/Fuchs/Glaswerks amps!!!



S.
j

 

[Deaj]

I don't think I've ever played through a Mesa cab I didn't like. I used to own one of their 4x12's back in the late 80's. I had two EVM-12L's in the bottom and two Mesa C90's in the top. That cab was HEAVY!!!! Sounded great though! I eventually sold it and and replaced it with a Rivera 2x12 'Q' cab loaded with 12L's. The Mesa cab was probably the better sounding of the two though the Rivera sounded great as well.

 

[ReddRanger]

I had inherited a Recto oversize cab for use in a band I was in a few years ago. I didn't really like the oversize version, but often came across standard size Mesa 4x12's on gigs and really liked those. If I had another chance, I would get the standard Recto cab in a heartbeat.

The thing was indeed heavy and built like a tank. I was very happy with the build quality.

 

[Bad Juju]

I've got a Mesa widebody 1x12 open back cab with a C90 in it that I will never part with. Sounds incredible - very responsive. It can go from smooth and refined to punchy and aggressive while letting the amp's character shine.

I thought I'd try to double up the pleasure and put 2 C90s in a Bogner Shiva-sized 2x12 cab. It's similar but slightly stiffer and more bottom-end heavy.

 

[Mike K]

I have a Mesa 3/4 back 1x12 oversize cab that is my favorite. It has the standard Black Shadow speaker and it seems to sound good with every head I've plugged into it.

 

[JRDill]

I love playing through the Mesa cabs at work, but dear LORD I hate loading them into cars for customers! Things are ridiculously heavy!

 

[anoobis]

I've got a Mesa widebody 1x12 open back cab with a C90 in it that I will never part with. Sounds incredible - very responsive. It can go from smooth and refined to punchy and aggressive while letting the amp's character shine.

I thought I'd try to double up the pleasure and put 2 C90s in a Bogner Shiva-sized 2x12 cab. It's similar but slightly stiffer and more bottom-end heavy.

I can't stand the Recto V30 cabs-too tight and focused and too harsh on the high end. On the other hand, the C90 open back 1x12 you mentioned is fantastic with the Electradyne combo. It sounds HUGE for a 1x12. I sold all my 4x12 cabs as this is more than enough for me now. I plan on getting the 2x12 open back Express cab with those C90s to add to my combo.

 

[never-enough]

Count me in....
I have:
oversized recto 4x12 loaded with rola cl-80s
3/4 back 1x12 with a v30
3/4 back 2x12 with greenbacks
metal grill 2x12 halfback cab with ev bottom and 90 in top
openback 2x10 widebody stereo cab with 2 50w eminence

every single one of these cabs is a different flavor of great tones!
None of them are light.... But I have dragged them around on tour for years and they can take some abuse.... Very well made.

 

[Dr. Tweedbucket]

Every Mesa cab that I've owned was from the 80s with the mesh grill. The tone was open, BIG and BOLD and would RIPP your face off! They too weighed a ton but were rugged. I still have my 2x12 half back and will never sell it!

The 1x12 cabs are amazing as well!

 

[Blanket Jackson]

I love playing through the Mesa cabs at work, but dear LORD I hate loading them into cars for customers! Things are ridiculously heavy!

My Mesa 1/2 open 4x10 is light. Then again, 4x10s are generally lighter

 

[thiscalltoarms]

love em. just too big for my current situation, plus I keep acquiring combos for whatever reason.

 

[Occam]

I have no interest in Mesa amps or most of their cabs but their 1x12 Thiele loaded with the EV12L is amazing. I've used it as my main bedroom cab and now it's in my band's studio because I need to bring the volume down a bit and I decided to use fewer speakers instead of turning my amp down. It hands my 120-watt amp on 10 without a problem and sounds great...clear and punchy with plenty of depth.

 

[sfarnell]

I love Mesa cabs. I'd like a 4X12. Also, the Lonestar series 4X10 is amazing. No denying that Mesa's build quality is top notch.