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...

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).

 

[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