Clip: Mesa OS vs Traditional

[Anje]

They both have characteristics I like, I wonder if they sound good together.

Yes that’s the main question to me too;
back to that parallel with old Marshall cabs I know, the only usecase I liked with that tall ‘70 bottom straight 4x12 was when using it with a top standard 4x12. Then you get the full extended spectrum AND that unique Hendrix / Beck tall stack look.

Btw in general, there is something special about running a full stack, especially when combining slanted top & straight bottom and/or different speaker types for each cab.

 

[angelspade]

I have owned many Mesa 4X12 and 2X12 cabs, and I am pretty surprised just how differently they present in this comparison.

 

[thegame]

Not redialing in the amp when switching between them automatically favours one over the other. Plus @Brandonrz gets great recorded tones with his OS Mesa paired up with a wide variety of amps too.

 

[Exo-metal]

Not redialing in the amp when switching between them automatically favours one over the other. Plus @Brandonrz gets great recorded tones with his OS Mesa paired up with a wide variety of amps too.

He wired his cabs with #10awg wire.

 

[FourT6and2]

I wish! These things are super rare here in EU let alone Athens where I live...

I speak from experience in that sure, you may love that OS, but if you played a trad next to it, you might change your mind.

 

[FourT6and2]

Yes that’s the main question to me too;
back to that parallel with old Marshall cabs I know, the only usecase I liked with that tall ‘70 bottom straight 4x12 was when using it with a top standard 4x12. Then you get the full extended spectrum AND that unique Hendrix / Beck tall stack look.

Btw in general, there is something special about running a full stack, especially when combining slanted top & straight bottom and/or different speaker types for each cab.

I think Eddie said he's going to do another video with both of them together. That said... I loved the trad cab so much I got another one. Sounds even better together!

 

[ultimatemetalguitartones]

I speak from experience in that sure, you may love that OS, but if you played a trad next to it, you might change your mind.

I'm pretty sure about that!

 

[ultimatemetalguitartones]

I think Eddie said he's going to do another video with both of them together. That said... I loved the trad cab so much I got another one. Sounds even better together!

View attachment 449511

That Duvell tho...

 

[FourT6and2]

Not redialing in the amp when switching between them automatically favours one over the other. Plus @Brandonrz gets great recorded tones with his OS Mesa paired up with a wide variety of amps too.

Well he's had the OS for a long time so all his amps were dialed for that cab. And yet, the trad sounds better to me. Check out his other video clips. They're all with the OS.

 

[Anje]

I think Eddie said he's going to do another video with both of them together. That said... I loved the trad cab so much I got another one. Sounds even better together!

View attachment 449511

Quick off-topic remark: I really love how this amp at the top in the first photo looks; very slick & fresh to me, I get some kind of "retro Sci-Fi meet motorsport tech" cool vibe from it.

 

[anomaly]

That's a really bright tone and I don't think Marshall's work that well with either cab to be honest. Mesa cabs work better with more modern high gain amps like rectos, 5150's, Mark series.

I've got a Mesa OS cab from 2006 and it's got tons of play time on it so at this point the speakers are well broken in and it just sounds really good. When I first got it in 2008 it didn't sound as good but it was still useable with certain amps.

 

[FourT6and2]

Quick off-topic remark: I really love how this amp at the top in the first photo looks; very slick & fresh to me, I get some kind of "retro Sci-Fi meet motorsport tech" cool vibe from it.

The Omega? Yeah they look really cool haha. Best sounding amp I have at the moment!

 

[Anje]

Yes, I discovered those from your photos; I need to loop them up!

 

[Brandonrz]

Not redialing in the amp when switching between them automatically favours one over the other. Plus @Brandonrz gets great recorded tones with his OS Mesa paired up with a wide variety of amps too.

I think recording with a camera mic can swing things pretty wildly too. Just the slightly different direction the sound is coming in can wildly change things. Wizard mids really do need to be tweaked cab to cab.

I will say a lot of people struggle with the OS just due to fighting the boominess. I do have an 80s Marshall cab I really dig, and ann Engl xxl with karnivores that fuckin rips.. This clip the way the camera mic is set almost sounds like a 16 ohm speaker vs an 8 ohm. Much more mid forward vs not as mid forward.

 

[cardinal]

I've had maybe six OS cabs (embarrassing) but it's because they can sound wildly different for reasons that I don't know. Several of them sound just awful. Piercing and boomy.

But the first and last one I had (I still have the last one) sound good to me. Compared to the traditional size, they definitely are more hollow in the mids and have a more brash top end. But I think it works for some things like just big, background rhythm guitar. I enjoy having it, but don't use it a lot.

 

[FourT6and2]

I will say a lot of people struggle with the OS just due to fighting the boominess. I do have an 80s Marshall cab I really dig, and ann Engl xxl with karnivores that fuckin rips.. This clip the way the camera mic is set almost sounds like a 16 ohm speaker vs an 8 ohm. Much more mid forward vs not as mid forward.

But that's how these cabs actually sound in my experience. I did this exact test when I had an OS. And the sound in this video is how it sounded "in the room".

 

[valve]

 

[glpg80]

I have owned many Mesa 4X12 and 2X12 cabs, and I am pretty surprised just how differently they present in this comparison.

In the video he’s comparing UK V30’s in the standard and Celestion V30’s in the traditional (OS). But I do agree with others that OS cabs sound woofy overall and outside of bedroom lunchbox amps sounding great through them, big amps benefit from the smaller regular cabs.

 

[Metalhex]

This video makes me want to switch my OS for a trad. Though with the prices nowadays im not sure if can justify it

 

[jasonP]

I've owned both the traditional and OS cabinets. I now own 4 traditional cabinets. To me the OS wasn't the fact it was boomy or woofy it's more beamy with less mids and pearcing highs. I had the OS for many years and finally sold it and never looked back. That cabinet made a lot of amps sounds like shit. I almost wonder if it was wired incorrectly with 10 gauge wire from the factory.