Clip: Mesa OS vs Traditional

[Nigel]

@FourT6and2

I don’t know if my V30’s are totally broken in, but my OS cab was bitey/shrill like the OS in the video until I did the studio foam.

Did you try the foam on the back of the cab when you performed your OS series/parallel experiment? Curious. My OS cab sounds like the trad in the video.

 

[FourT6and2]

@FourT6and2

I don’t know if my V30’s are totally broken in, but my OS cab was bitey/shrill like the OS in the video until I did the studio foam.

Did you try the foam on the back of the cab when you performed your OS series/parallel experiment? Curious. My OS cab sounds like the trad in the video.

Didn't try foam. And I never rewired the OS. I got rid of it after a few days, it was so bad. The trads sounded great from day 1. And unless you actually had a trad to compare to your OS, you really don't know. You might think it sounds like the one in the video, but I'm telling you... once you have a trad next to that OS, you'll see...

 

[Nigel]

Didn't try foam. And I never rewired the OS. I got rid of it after a few days, it was so bad. The trads sounded great from day 1. And unless you actually had a trad to compare to your OS, you really don't know. You might think it sounds like the one in the video, but I'm telling you... once you have a trad next to that OS, you'll see...

Well a friend is a Mesa dealer and I’ve been meaning to show him my cab so I’ll probably A/B it with a trad and report back.

 

[Epiplatys]

I’ve read through the whole thread and I really don’t know what to say… I’ve owned and used concurrently both the OS and the traditional for a long time. I don’t find one sounds better than the other, or all that drastically different. My OS has some more mids, in the entire mid range from low to upper. But that’s about it really. Just slightly different midrange curve. It is not boomy, it is not harsh. Both the OS and traditional are well broken in by now, both are like 20 years old and played. I don’t prefer one over the other, personally. If it had to be only one I’d be OK with the either one.

 

[FourT6and2]

I’ve owned and used concurrently both the OS and the traditional for a long time. I don’t find one sounds better than the other, or all that drastically different. My OS has some more mids, in the entire mid range from low to upper. But that’s about it really. Just slightly different midrange curve. It is not boomy, it is not harsh.

Great! Put 'em next to each other and record a clip

 

[SonVolt]

Fwiw about buying new cabs;

My fav cab is a Marshall 1960AV that a bought brand new when at the time I owned probably ten other 4x12s (the basement looked ridiculous). I was so disappointed when I first plugged it in. Sounded dreadfully bright and thin. It took a few days of burning in the speakers my ears adjusting before the cab warmed up and started sounding right. And as I said it's my favorite cab now and I've sold nearly all the other cabs (except for one 4x12 with greenbacks and an OS412 that I happen to actually like).

FTFY

 

[Metalhex]

RT is much much higher IQ than TGP. They would be arguing about the tone wood of the guitar

 

[Nigel]

RT is much much higher IQ than TGP. They would be arguing about the tone wood of the guitar

They argue about speaker break-in being real or not, lol.

 

[Holy-diver]

I’ve read through the whole thread and I really don’t know what to say… I’ve owned and used concurrently both the OS and the traditional for a long time. I don’t find one sounds better than the other, or all that drastically different. My OS has some more mids, in the entire mid range from low to upper. But that’s about it really. Just slightly different midrange curve. It is not boomy, it is not harsh. Both the OS and traditional are well broken in by now, both are like 20 years old and played. I don’t prefer one over the other, personally. If it had to be only one I’d be OK with the either one.

I previously had both as well and I agree here. My OS is a 2003 straight slant, I kept it over the straight trad sized cuz I like how it is under a close mic slightly more and it sounds great with the band.

 

[Nigel]

I previously had both as well and I agree here. My OS is a 2003 straight slant, I kept it over the straight trad sized cuz I like how it is under a close mic slightly more and it sounds great with the band.

'03 OS Slant gang!

 

[cardinal]

FTFY

Yeah, that's not it. I used a speaker burn in track recommended by Yamaha who actually makes speakers and monitors and would know about burning in speakers.

 

[stephen sawall]

My experience is identical cabs can sound very different. The basic sound shape in the video I find accurate.
But I am sure people from all sides are actually giving a real experience. There is so many variables in everyone's individual rigs.

 

[mwc]

Alright made another video comparing each cab and then running them both together as a full stack with my Bogner Uberschall Rev Green (with tight mod on).

 

[FourT6and2]

Alright made another video comparing each cab and then running them both together as a full stack with my Bogner Uberschall Rev Green (with tight mod on).

Nice job! They sound good togther, but if I had to choose just one, it would still be the Traditional.

 

[TheGreatGreen]

I have one of each. They're both great. But...

Here's a weird take, the OS cab doesn't sound as good in the room as a Trad cab but I'd rather put an OS behind a mic because it gives you a lot more flexibility with how you can shape it with EQ.

In my experience, it's easier to EQ an OS because it's more of an open platform, it gives you everything, extended highs and lows, which means you can carve out exactly what you want for the mix. It's more of a chameleon. The Trad cab is more focused which does sound great but compared to the OS, your options are a bit more limited.

Think of a Recto and a Mark. A Recto can sound like a bloated fizzy mess on its own but in the right chain with the right shaping it can be unbeatable. A Mark is going to sound awesome out of the box (provided you know how to dial it) but it's going to be a lot harder to make it sound like something other than a Mark. The OS and Trad cabs are a lot like that.

Horses for courses.

 

[mermer]

I find a good deal on a used but near mint Mesa Traditional 4x12 cab. Is there anything specific I should check about it (built year, serial number etc.)? I have been searching for a cab with some greenback variant since my 2x12 already has a V30 (paired with Eminence Texas Heat) BUT the Trad sounds so good in the videos. My main amps are Wizard MC 100 and MTL MKII 50W.

 

[FourT6and2]

I find a good deal on a used but near mint Mesa Traditional 4x12 cab. Is there anything specific I should check about it (built year, serial number etc.)?

Nah, it's a wood box. As long as it's in decent shape, it's good to go. You can pop a side handle off to check out the speakers.

 

[Geo]

I was waiting for someone to play the guitar.

 

[reignman454]

I see your posts around (and respect your opinions)... Something else is going on here (different speakers, worn in etc)

If ALL things are the same, I'm in for swapping speakers. It REALLY sounds like speaker difference.


Again, NOT doubting you, your integrity etc, but that's just unbelievable.


EDIT: Not sure if that's your channel or someone else's. Mind blown. I've seen the exact opposite with 2x12's and 4x12's. Small Box 2x12 Thin, Splawn oversized 2x12 same speakers, thunder.

 

[FourT6and2]

I see your posts around (and respect your opinions)... Something else is going on here (different speakers, worn in etc)

If ALL things are the same, I'm in for swapping speakers. It REALLY sounds like speaker difference.


Again, NOT doubting you, your integrity etc, but that's just unbelievable.


EDIT: Not sure if that's your channel or someone else's. Mind blown. I've seen the exact opposite with 2x12's and 4x12's. Small Box 2x12 Thin, Splawn oversized 2x12 same speakers, thunder.

That's not me. That's @mwc

It also has nothing to do with speakers. I bought a brand new OS and a brand new Trad (I have 3 of them now), both built within two months of each other, and the results were the same when compared side by side. I got rid of the OS immediately.