Discussion on “Golden Era” Mesa V30s

[ZEN Amps]

Thanks for the info! I’ve heard alot about people calling the modern V30s more fizzy I guess that could be the why then. I saw a few Glen Fricker SMG videos on those cabs but was more curious on others real world experience with them.

One man's fizz is another's bite or clarity, so you really have to try them with your rig and see (hear) for yourself.

For heavier stuff I dig the extra sizzle. The favourite metal cab around here atm is a pair of 2011 V30's in x-pattern with Redbacks - Mesa recto 4x12, 16Ω. It absolutely crushes.

 

[BesaMoogie]

That'd be @the other John Browne

John Browne has two videos of v30 exploring this topic with recordings etc

In one of the, he came to the conclusion, that a batch of v30 from 2021 sounded as good as one from 2002. Then, he let the speaker break in for many hours and it started to sound fizzy again

 

[anomaly]

The newer 2024 V30's tested sound much like that golden era. Much less 5-6k fizz to them. But I got a 2006 Mesa OS cab that sounds great, nice and broken in, so I have no problem using V30's from other eras.

 

[anomaly]

John Browne has two videos of v30 exploring this topic with recordings etc

In one of the, he came to the conclusion, that a batch of v30 from 2021 sounded as good as one from 2002. Then, he let the speaker break in for many hours and it started to sound fizzy again

Ya because he used a very bright tone. When speakers break in they become more efficient in the frequencies they are blasted with. I have some 2021 V30's as well and they are some of the best V30's I've heard. I also have some from 2024 that are a little darker, but not quite as balanced. More low mids in those.

 

[FuriousMopar1968]

Okay so I did a little tone testing today and found this on my cabs. I have a Mesa 2002 and 2003 OS combo Slant Cab with the “Golden Speakers” and a 2023 Straight OS Cab. I ran my amps through each and got these results so far:

The 2000s V30s sounded great with the Mesa Rev F Dual Rectifer, the Mesa Ground Zero modded Tremoverb, the Mesa Stiletto Ace, the Peavey 5150 “Block Letter”, and the Marshall JCM 800 2203x (All other amps became incredibly fizzy and unpleasant with very few ways to dial that out of the sound.)

The 2023 V30s in the newer Straight Cab sounded Great with the Orange Dual Dark, The Mark IIc+ Reissue, the Mark V, and 1959HW Plexi. (All other amps came off as alot darker/less present with very limited options to Dian that out of the tone.)

I found this pretty interesting as it seems the newer cabs like the newer or reissued amps better. I’m gonna keep playing around with things and see what else I discover.

Thanks again to everyone’s input on the topic!

 

[andrewd]

Okay so I did a little tone testing today and found this on my cabs. I have a Mesa 2002 and 2003 OS combo Slant Cab with the “Golden Speakers” and a 2023 Straight OS Cab. I ran my amps through each and got these results so far:

The 2000s V30s sounded great with the Mesa Rev F Dual Rectifer, the Mesa Ground Zero modded Tremoverb, the Mesa Stiletto Ace, the Peavey 5150 “Block Letter”, and the Marshall JCM 800 2203x (All other amps became incredibly fizzy and unpleasant with very few ways to dial that out of the sound.)

The 2023 V30s in the newer Straight Cab sounded Great with the Orange Dual Dark, The Mark IIc+ Reissue, the Mark V, and 1959HW Plexi. (All other amps came off as alot darker/less present with very limited options to Dian that out of the tone.)

I found this pretty interesting as it seems the newer cabs like the newer or reissued amps better. I’m gonna keep playing around with things and see what else I discover.

Thanks again to everyone’s input on the topic!

Time to survey the amp companies on how often they "refresh" cabs in R&D department?

 

[FuriousMopar1968]

Time to survey the amp companies on how often they "refresh" cabs in R&D department?

It seems they always say the same thing: “We use the same parts as we always did there should be no difference.” Haha