How are the Mesa Rectifier 2x12s?

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Spaceboy

Spaceboy

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I'm considering one for bedroom recordings and practice since I use Vader cabinets for stage/band use, which those are supposedly sketch for recording. I want to have a Mesa Rectifier 2x12 on hand for Vintage 30 needs and comparison purposes. How much can these be grabbed used? How do they compared to the oversized 4x12s and their popular 'boom' quality? I'm only going to be recording heavy metal of various sorts.
 
Ima be the asshole who ignores the original question, and just gives a different suggestion. :D

Check out Avatar Speakers cabs. I put my 1x12 up against a Recto 2x12 last week, and we all liked my 1x12 more. The Recto Cab sounded great, no doubt. I'd be happy with one. But we all agreed my Cab was more "musical" if you will. Puts out plenty of bass, a lot more than expected from a 1x12.

Check out my thread about my rig for a video of the cab :rock:
 
I've had an Avatar 4x12 before that was decent, but when I compared it with a Mesa Rectifier 4x12 I ended up selling the Avatar. It could be different with 2x12s, of course. I'll check out that thread though!
 
I've not heard the 4x12's in person, so I can't say anything about that. But I think you might dig the smaller Avatar stuff. I could be wrong though. A gear genius, I am not sir. Worth checking out though, IMO.
 
the avatar 2X12's are awesome. i recently sold the pair of 2X12's i had, and regret it dearly. i will be ordering another matched pair of 2X12's hopefully around the first of the year, or late this year. i have tried there 2X12 directly against there 4X12 and liked the 2X12 sound much more. it is kinda of like an oversized cab in terms of typical 2X12 sizing.

the only experience i have had with a mesa 2X12 wasn't bad, but it also didnt blow me away like i expected it to. they sound good, just not what i expected for the price.
 
CaseyCor":2pp86ghd said:
I love Avatar cabs :rock:

Still got Recto GAS MYLISS? :D
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yeah i do ... although it has been quitened slightly by the onset of baron "snott watt" gas :D
that and the fact i am missing my avatar cabs more than i thought i would, so i am torn on what to get first .... now that i think about it i have a really bad case of GAS :D
 
I've got Snot Watt gas too! That thing is sick! If I could get it switchable between vintage and modern via a footswitch/MIDI, I'd be all over it.
 
I have been using a recto 2x12 for the past 2 years now in live situations and slightly for recording. It is leaps and bounds better than my previous Hartke 4x12 :lol: :LOL: . Right now I'm using it with an ENGL E530 and a Mesa 20/20 for a cover band and it cuts through the mix like butter. I'm very pleased with the sounds. It actually sounds pretty decent with some of the lower gain tones I'm putting through it too. The good thing about the Mesa is that it doesn't fart out at all for and stays tight when you crank it up and handles bass very well. It has a sort of smooth tone, with a slight mid hump, and a very dominant quality about it. I coaxed out some decent recorded tones with the mic slightly off axis.

I have played the ENGL on my buddies Mesa Traditional 4x12 and it was a completely different animal (in an amazingly good way). It sounds about 3 fold better than the Recto 2x12. It really opened up the sound alot and made it ALOT tighter. When you start cranking it up it just comes in with authority man. You can feel that fucker shaking something in your chest lol. It kind of gives a nice huge 3d effect too. I would rather have the 4x12, but I don't have the space to lug it around. The 2x12 can be had for about 450 in great shape, suits my needs just fine, and obviously has the portability factor. You can score a 4x12 traditional for 500-550 if you wait on it. That would easily be your best bet. It sounds soooo much better, and it really takes your tone to a whole new level. I have also comapred the Recto 4x12 to the Traditional 4x12 at GC and the Traditional was the hands down winner. It was alot tighter and more focused. The Recto had more bass but it made the tone slightly flubby.
Here is my friends ENGL Savage through a 4x12 Mesa Traditional recorded with a 57 at his studio https://www.myspace.com/oakleyroadstudio "bare knuckle pickups", "oh, one more thing, everything", "the unreachable standard"
 
The Mesa Recto 2x12s go for around $300ish used. The Mesa Recto 4x12s go for like $450ish used. I'd rather get the 4x12 unless I absolutely needed to have something a little more portable. Volume difference is minimal as they'll both be loud as shit with a proper amp.
 
I have played a Recto 2x12 next to a Recto 4x12 at the music store once and while I don't think the 2x12 has quite the mojo that the 4x12 has, it's not like it sounded bad. If you can't justify the Recto 4x12 right now then just get the Avatar 2x12 for now. Then you can get the Recto 4x12 later because that's what you really want anyway, and your gear won't be redundant. I've heard nothing but good things about the Avatar Contemporary 2x12's from satisfied customers.
 
Id get a Avatar contemporary 2x12. I put this thing up against a mesa recto 2x12, and i liked this much better, and when i compared it with my mesa 4x12, It had as much bass, and the same mid structure, But It never farted out, and it stayed tight. :thumbsup:
 
I am wanting a 2x12 because I'll be doing most home recording my my second-story university apartment with limited space. I've finally lugged the 4x12 and road case out of here to leave at the practice space, and keep the Vader 2x12 and head with me for home practice. I have so much more room in here! I recently got some recording equipment that's going to take a bit more room once I get it in a rack, so I only need a Vintage 30 2x12 or it's going to start getting crowded in here again.

The Avatar 4x12 I owned had a slanted baffle, is that true for the 2x12s? I'm new to this recording crap, it seems like having the speakers at an upwards angle could be annoying for mic positioning. They're definitely cheaper than Mesa Rectifier 2x12s though, and might be easier to find used.

Also, what are some opinions on Emperor and Orange 2x12s? I've never owned cabs by either company, but I've got a friend who's band got "endorsed" through Emperor and their stage sound was much better than the Mesa Rectifier and other nondescript cabinets they had before.

I should've made this a general 2x12 education thread. :lol: :LOL:

Thanks fellas!
 
I don't think you can go wrong with the Mesa 2x12. I love mine, and I also use the traditionl recto 4x12 as well. The 2x12 recto cabs are a LOT more substantial than most 2x12s, even the VHT fat bottom 2x12 which feel like a feather when compared to the Mesa.

I am not sure how much they go for used, but you get what you pay for. Make sure to get one with casters (or put someon if you plan on moving it around) as they are heavy mofos. I've used mine with my Triple Rec, XTC, Herbert and I really dig it with my new PT100. If you like V30s, its a great cab.
 
I love mine. It's fantastic for recording and can rip your face off like a 412. It can be a bit directional and doesn't spread sound as evenly as the traditional boogie 412 cab, but it's a great sounding cab. I'll be picking up a Warehouse ET-65 to mix with one of the v30's in mine soon.
Got mine for $400, but I see them going for around $350 every now and then.
 
I personally don't like Mesa 2x12's for low volume playing. Very boxy and cold sounding. Might also be the V30's though....
But once you really push them at gig volume levels they open up nicely and are very tight with great thump.

I have a OS Randall MTS 2x12 with V30's that I think sounds better than the Mesa, but only by a small margin.
 
Dehumanize":1dmwlpdl said:
The Avatar 4x12 I owned had a slanted baffle, is that true for the 2x12s? I'm new to this recording crap, it seems like having the speakers at an upwards angle could be annoying for mic positioning. They're definitely cheaper than Mesa Rectifier 2x12s though, and might be easier to find used.

Thanks fellas!
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the 2X12 i had, was straight. didnt have any slant to it whatsoever, but it was the traditional series
 
I really like my recto 2x12. I think it sounds great. Normally i see them used for around $400 (but i don't consider my area a big mesa area so they don't pop up too often) 4x12s go for about $550 FWIW. I have had my mesa 2x12 for about 2 years now and really enjoy it and sounds killer with my Mesa Mark IV. I have no plans to get rid of it.

I had a Randall 2x12 MTS cab with V30s and was very impressed with that cab as well. Had good character, good response and put out plenty of low end. Kept it for 5 years, it was a good well built cab.

I also owned another Randall cab the R212CX, smaller and more compact as well as lighter. It came with Celestion seventy/80s which i replaced with WGS veteran 30s (which made a significant difference) I didnt really love this cab, it was ok but nothing special. I also thought it was boxy sounding. After i brought the recto 2x12 home this cab went right on Craigslist.
 
I really like my Mesa Recto 2x12 cab. I picked one up brand new a few months ago. I'm using it with my 5150 III for smaller shows or when I'm just to damn lazy to bring the 5150 III cab. It's loud as hell and sounds good. It's brand new so the more I play it and break in the speakers the better it seems to sound.
 
I've owned a Mesa 2x12 recto cab and 2 of the verticals. All very nice cabs. Having said that, for a smaller rig, I'd go with a Port City OS 1x12 cab. It's sounds bigger to me than the either of the Mesa 2x12 cabs. It's also more open and balanced.
 
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