Clip: Mesa OS vs Traditional

[FourT6and2]

He bought the cab without Mesa speakers. I’m pretty sure they are standard model V30’s (also made in UK now)

Oh that's new info. His video description says:

Cab1: 2026 Mesa Traditional with 2025 UK V30s (8 ohms)
Cab2: 2005 Mesa OS with 2005 UK V30s (8 ohms)

So which cab came unloaded? And does that mean neither cab has its original Mesa-spec V30?

 

[peterc52]

Oh that's new info. His video description says:

Cab1: 2026 Mesa Traditional with 2025 UK V30s (8 ohms)
Cab2: 2005 Mesa OS with 2005 UK V30s (8 ohms)

So which cab came unloaded? And does that mean neither cab has its original Mesa-spec V30?

I’ve asked him. The new unloaded one he bought is the Traditional. I also got a traditional cab. It’s awesome. And very rare here in europe

 

[Brandonrz]

Another thought to any speaker and cab conversation that definitely amounts to preference… I usually love 8 ohms in oversized cabs (more mid forward speakers) can’t stand them in traditional. Too much mids and in a mix just causes problems. Traditional sized cabs scooped 16 ohms work out great to balance their more mid forward sound.

 

[ChurchHill]

But what did make an audible difference was loosening all the mounting bolts, putting washers on them (Mesa doesn't use washers for some reason), and retorquing them all using a torque wrench to 10 in-lbs. I think even, consistent pressure on the speaker frame is key. These simple things did improve the sound of the cab. And I will do it to the other two as well.

This, absolutely. I don't think it applies just to Mesa cabs but to all cabs. It also helps to ensure that the voice coil is properly aligned. It's more of a problem for pressed frame speakers, like most Celestions, than it is for cast frame, like an EVM-12L, but can affect all types. The problem is, unless there is equal and even pressure on all the mounting bolts, the frame can twist and if it twists too much, worst case, it can cause voice coil rub and kill the speaker. Even if it doesn't go that far, it can still cause the cone and spider to be out of alignment, which will affect the sound. I do this to all my speakers, add washers if they don't have them, and use a torque wrench.

 

[Metalhex]

$600 - $800...I have bought and sold several

Where? Im looking at GC used and im seeing $1500

 

[TheSneakyTruth]

This needs close micing, and swapping speakers between cabs to truly be scientific.
What I will agree with is the top-end fizz that's present on the Mesa OS. Seems to be ubiquitous in all comparison clips.

 

[FourT6and2]

Where? Im looking at GC used and im seeing $1500

They're $1500 new...

 

[FourT6and2]

This needs close micing, and swapping speakers between cabs to truly be scientific.
What I will agree with is the top-end fizz that's present on the Mesa OS. Seems to be ubiquitous in all comparison clips.

I had a brand new OS next to a brand new Traditional. Same speakers. Cabs literally built this year. The results were the same as this video.

 

[angelspade]

Where? Im looking at GC used and im seeing $1500

Well I live in Pacific Palisades (West Los Angeles), so used cabs are in pretty good supply (Craigslist / Facebook Marketplace) on the market, which drives down pricing a bit.

 

[grrr_me_scary]

They're $1500 new...

Yeah, $1500 for a new one is definitely the better way to go for this cab but don't forget to add tax, and possible shipping.

I had paid around $1700 for mine from Sweetwater after taxes.

My buddy paid around $1900 for his cab "shipped" and "taxed" from another seller.

Personally, I like Sweetwater for some things but they are not my Automatic-Go-To-Seller any longer due to the tax they are required to charge (they had changed the "no tax" policy probably 6 years ago), and my city is the highest taxed one in California (and probably the USA), plus I always make sure I definitely want the item from them before purchasing since they have charged me for return shipping as well as the original free shipping cost.

EDIT: I had meant to reply to the other person after I had noticed you were saying new was $1500 where the other person was saying used was $1500 (my reply was more specific to what they cost new).

 

[grrr_me_scary]

I have owned the Traditional and the OS 4x12's.

My preference is the Traditional 4x12's.

I had compared them side by side, and I feel the Traditional is the better cab (at least for me).

A few years ago, I had purchased a used 4x12 from a guy that had advertised the cab as the Traditional one.

It didn't look right to me when I went to his place and then when I got home I had realized it was the OS cab.

I had compared them again, and I definitely liked the Traditional a lot more.

The guy felt bad about incorrectly advertising the cab as the Traditional and didn't have a problem refunding me my money (and he was only 20 minutes away so not a problem for me returning the cab).

I have two of the Traditional 4x12's.

An older one where I had swapped out two of the V30's for two EVM's (sounds great together), and a brand new one (never played since I was waiting to get some more EVM's and swap two speakers).

I've always received complements on the older cab with the two V30's and two EVM's.

Also, I had found the all V30 cabs really come alive after getting broken in over time.

 

[FourT6and2]

I had paid around $1700 for mine from Sweetwater after taxes.

My buddy paid around $1900 for his cab "shipped" and "taxed" from another seller.

Personally, I like Sweetwater for some things but they are not my Go-To seller any longer due to the tax they are required to charge (they had changed the "no tax" policy probably 6 years ago), and my city is the highest taxed one in California (and probably the USA).

EDIT: I had noticed you were saying new was $1500 where the other person was saying used was $1500 (my reply was more specific to what they cost new).

I don't know what to say... you're angry that Sweetwater is obeying the law and charging you sales tax? And yes, I was pointing out how silly it is for Guitar Center to price a USED cab the same as a new one...

 

[Metalhex]

They're $1500 new...

That sounds about right. All I know is I went to their used website and saw that price

 

[dave74]

My ‘03 OS sounds like the trad but bigger and deeper like an OS should.

The video doesn’t lie.

That cab sounds uncool and kind of like mine did before the mods, which is why I did the mods in the first place.

Probably good for numetal and active rock stock, and likely pretty different at stage volume with a hot power amp cooking too.

Not for me tho. I’d mod it or sell it.

Sorry if I missed an earlier post but what did you do to yours to mod it? ,,,,,,,or can you link your post if you've already described the mod.

 

[dave74]

I have two OS.

One is a 2000 straight/slant that has the "golden-era" V30's. It had truly awesome mids but to me it lacked a bit of zing and thump so I ended up doing the x-pattern with some 8ohm k100s. The result works great with my older 2-channel rectifiers but when I use my MW-triple I don't like the extra sizzle from the k100s. Lesson learned, but with the revGs it is great.

My other OS is a 2011 true-straight that I have been pondering doing a "displacement-mod" to for awhile now.
What I was thinking is that if I were to install a big chunk of dense wood at the bottom-back inside the cab to displace some of the air-space then maybe it would sound a bit closer to a traditional. I was thinking to glue some Velcro to either the chunk or the inside bottom of the cab and then to glue some auto carpet to the other so there wouldn't be any vibration or rattles, plus then it's an easily removable mod too. Maybe a 4"x4" that was cut just a sliver narrower than the cab's internal width and installed across the cab's internal bottom back.

Thoughts? Stupid idea? It really wouldn't cost much at all and wouldn't be much hassle.
Maybe a 6"x6" with a bit shaved-off the front so it wasn't too close to the bottom speakers.

 

[Nigel]

Sorry if I missed an earlier post but what did you do to yours to mod it? ,,,,,,,or can you link your post if you've already described the mod.

N

Thread 'If your Mesa 4x12 is fizzy/harsh, or you want for more mids, this post is for you. Series/Parallel Bogner treatment!'

Jan 11, 2024

So I got a holy grail 2003 OS Rectifier 4x12 and have loved it. Wanted to see what it would sound like with Bogner treatment, and my god, it's a whole new level of cool.

The jackplate has your tone going through a Switchcraft jack which has a open circuit that closes on a small contact a little bigger than a ball point of a pen. It's what closes the circuit to join the two vertical, parallel wired 2x12 stereo pairs in series.

So I installed a single jack, 10 gauge Sound Runner 238 strand copper, and some auralex foam on the back panel.

All I can say is I prefer the sound of two 2x12...

• Nigel
• Replies: 54
• Forum: Rig-Talk

• 

The mods fixed the problems complained about herein. Blending the best of Mesa and Bogner’s contributions to 4x12 excellence yields results that completely satisfy my needs. YMMV of course.

 

[grrr_me_scary]

I don't know what to say... you're angry that Sweetwater is obeying the law and charging you sales tax? And yes, I was pointing out how silly it is for Guitar Center to price a USED cab the same as a new one...

Well, I didn't think my reply would come across as "angry" but more like I was disappointed the policy had changed, and I totally get they were obeying the law.

It is what it is these days when it comes to sales tax.

Mainly, I was pointing out that the new cab really is not even $1500 as well "after" taxes and shipping.

Thanks for the reply back!

 

[FourT6and2]

Well, I didn't think my reply would come across as "angry" but more like I was disappointed the policy had changed, and I totally get they were obeying the law.

It is what it is these days when it comes to sales tax.

Mainly, I was pointing out that the new cab really is not even $1500 as well "after" taxes and shipping.

Thanks for the reply back!

I still don't understand your point. Sales tax isn't a store policy, it's the law. And you're gonna pay taxes and shipping on that $1,500 used cab from Guitar Center all the same. I'd rather have a new one with free shipping from Sweetwater. Mesa also provides free shipping when buying direct.

 

[grrr_me_scary]

I still don't understand your point. Sales tax isn't a store policy, it's the law. And you're gonna pay taxes and shipping on that $1,500 used cab from Guitar Center all the same. I'd rather have a new one with free shipping from Sweetwater. Mesa also provides free shipping when buying direct.

Agreed on all statements here.

I had meant for the reply to be for the other person (and looking back, there were a few people that had mentioned the cab at GC for $1500, so I incorrectly replied to your post), and I should have just deleted the reply to you.

I had updated the original reply to include it was meant for the person that had seen the cab at GC for $1500, and included a few words here and there that I noticed were missing there, apologies for any confusion on my part.

 

[stephen sawall]

I have both cabs here. I find the video accurate.