Mesa 4x12 Wiring: Before and After

[FourT6and2]

Based on the discussion in my previous Mesa cab thread found here:

Thread 'Mesa 4x12: Standard (oversized) vs Traditional'

Dec 16, 2025

I picked up a Mesa Standard (oversized) 4x12 a while back and absolutely hated it. Got rid of it after one week. It was super honky and overly present, with an unpleasant and unmusical sound for my needs. No matter where you stood, it sounded like your ear was right up against the grill cloth. And it took all the bark and growl out of my amps.

A traditional cab just arrived today (new) and I think it's night-and-day better. More balanced sound, less ear fatigue, more growl and grunt and more thump. It still has a bit of that V30 harshness in the highs. But for now, I can use a graphic EQ...

• FourT6and2
• Replies: 216
• Forum: Rig-Talk

• 

...and @Nigel 's assertion that rewiring the stock Mesa cab to series-parallel (or whatever you want to call it) and replacing the jack with a single input will yield a different (better) sound, I have done just that.

This is a brand new Mesa 4x12, purchased a few months ago. I removed the stock wiring and replaced with quality 14 AWG zip cord from Redco. I also replaced the jack plate with a single Switchcraft 1/4. I played the cab extensively with a new 90s Reissue Dual Rectifier and an Omega Granophyre.

I also have an identical Mesa 4x12 that I can directly A/B test this new wiring with in real time. I will report back tomorrow with my findings.

 

[jsizzle424]

This should be interesting. Looking forward to the results

 

[FourT6and2]

This should be interesting. Looking forward to the results

I wonder how many people have done this before. Some have rewired cabs, but our ears have a very short memory. So putting two identical cabs side by side eliminates that variable.

 

[Greazygeo]

Mine is still stock wiring, but it is from 1992. Great sounding cab. The jack does need replaced, speaker cable blows out if the amp is turned up too loud…Wizard for you.

Interested in your findings.

 

[FourT6and2]

Mine is still stock wiring, but it is from 1992. Great sounding cab. The jack does need replaced, speaker cable blows out if the amp is turned up too loud…Wizard for you.

Interested in your findings.

Exo and I had that happen to one of his Marshall cabs. But it was just a bad jack. Replaced with new Switchcraft and problem solved. I haven't had that happen to either Mesa cab. They do have Switchcraft jacks for the main input, but Cliff-style jacks for the others (which I don't generally like). On your cab, which jack kept pushing 1/4 plugs out? You must have been playing pretty damn loud haha...

 

[Klauth]

Based on the discussion in my previous Mesa cab thread found here:

Thread 'Mesa 4x12: Standard (oversized) vs Traditional'

Dec 16, 2025

I picked up a Mesa Standard (oversized) 4x12 a while back and absolutely hated it. Got rid of it after one week. It was super honky and overly present, with an unpleasant and unmusical sound for my needs. No matter where you stood, it sounded like your ear was right up against the grill cloth. And it took all the bark and growl out of my amps.

A traditional cab just arrived today (new) and I think it's night-and-day better. More balanced sound, less ear fatigue, more growl and grunt and more thump. It still has a bit of that V30 harshness in the highs. But for now, I can use a graphic EQ...

• FourT6and2
• Replies: 216
• Forum: Rig-Talk

• 

...and @Nigel 's assertion that rewiring the stock Mesa cab to series-parallel (or whatever you want to call it) and replacing the jack with a single input will yield a different (better) sound, I have done just that.

This is a brand new Mesa 4x12, purchased a few months ago. I removed the stock wiring and replaced with quality 14 AWG zip cord from Redco. I also replaced the jack plate with a single Switchcraft 1/4. I played the cab extensively with a new 90s Reissue Dual Rectifier and an Omega Granophyre.

I also have an identical Mesa 4x12 that I can directly A/B test this new wiring with in real time. I will report back tomorrow with my findings.

View attachment 447091

View attachment 447088

View attachment 447089

View attachment 447090

Curious as to where you got the mono jack plate?

 

[BeZo]

Why does the shot of the unlabeled jack hole turn me on so much?

 

[Nigel]

Why does the shot of the unlabeled jack hole turn me on so much?

It begs for label tape stating the following, so there's no confusion over who's cabinet it is.

"Which one is yours, Mr. @FourT6and2 ?"

"It's the one that says 'Bad Motherfucker' on it, that one."

 

[BeZo]

It begs for label tape stating the following, so there's no confusion over who's cabinet it is.

"Which one is yours, Mr. @FourT6and2 ?"

"It's the one that says 'Bad Motherfucker' on it, that one."

View attachment 447111

I'm not cool enough for that.

Mine just says "8 Ohms".

 

[Greazygeo]

Exo and I had that happen to one of his Marshall cabs. But it was just a bad jack. Replaced with new Switchcraft and problem solved. I haven't had that happen to either Mesa cab. They do have Switchcraft jacks for the main input, but Cliff-style jacks for the others (which I don't generally like). On your cab, which jack kept pushing 1/4 plugs out? You must have been playing pretty damn loud haha...

It is the mono / main input. Some kind of switching jack. There is not alot of tension when plugging in, tried retensioning it but it is pretty worn out. Not sure what type jack it is to get a replacement. Should call them one day. A locking type jack could be handy.

Cab sits in my iso closet, it could be loud in there

 

[FourT6and2]

Curious as to where you got the mono jack plate?

https://www.amplifiedparts.com/products/jack-plate-1-hole-metal-402-x-440-black

 

[Nigel]

It is the mono / main input. Some kind of switching jack. There is not alot of tension when plugging in, tried retensioning it but it is pretty worn out. Not sure what type jack it is to get a replacement. Should call them one day. A locking type jack could be handy.

Cab sits in my iso closet, it could be loud in there

https://store.mesaboogie.com/products/jack-switchcraft-13-washer-nut-included.html

 

[FourT6and2]

VERDICT
I don't hear a difference.

 

[S̷͖͑m̵͎͂á̵̺s̸͚̈́h̴̬̑]

If you want to do this again, use 12 gauge wire

 

[crankyrayhanky]

VERDICT
I don't hear a difference.

I totally did not expect that

 

[Anje]

In my experience with guitar cabs/speakers, going too big of a wire is often either:
A: overkill
B: counterproductive and/or brings more adverse effect than anything else

I have examples for case B, where for instance:
- the smaller wire (about 18-19 AWG) is part of what makes some older vintage cabs sound the way they sound
- going with a too big cable makes soldering more difficult and bring risks to damage some connectors/speaker terminals

 

[Rackman]

VERDICT
I don't hear a difference.

Shocking!

I think we should all take a minute to enjoy how Mesa clocked those speaker labels, which the customer can't even see under normal conditions. THAT is dedication.

 

[FourT6and2]

If you want to do this again, use 12 gauge wire

lol I hope you're joking

 

[harddriver]

VERDICT
I don't hear a difference.

In my experience with guitar cabs/speakers, going too big of a wire is often either:
A: overkill
B: counterproductive and/or brings more adverse effect than anything else

I have examples for case B, where for instance:
- the smaller wire (about 18-19 AWG) is part of what makes some older vintage cabs sound the way they sound
- going with a too big cable makes soldering more difficult and bring risks to damage some connectors/speaker terminals

And Rig Talk called me "TAN PANTS" when I twisted my 16 gauge wiring in my last 4x12 Speaker Cab speaker swap episode........................

Thanks for the verdict on the use of 14 gauge wiring. I've ended up where Anje is over wiring gauges, 16 gauge is a bit of a tight fit on Celestion speaker tabs but I solder all my speaker wires.

 

[FourT6and2]

I totally did not expect that

I kind of did.

I went in with an open mind, but as I said over and over in that other thread I referenced in the OP, there is no electrical difference between most of these methods of wiring a speaker cab. You can wire speakers in series. You can wire them in parallel. You can wire them in pairs: two pairs in series, paralleled at the jack or two sets in parallel, in series at the jack. There are multiple ways to physically wire up how you parallel pairs, but that doesn't change anything.

EDIT:
I'll add that yes, the switching jack Mesa uses does have a rather small point of contact. But it's really no smaller than the prong on a standard mono jack. So while I don't think it makes a difference electrically, maybe if you want to ensure more longevity, you could swap it out for something else. Or get rid of all the switching and just roll with one input. Fine. But it doesn't change the SOUND of the cab.