Mesa/Boogie MarkIIC+ reissue incoming - 1x12 rectifier cab?

[Jakem]

Hi all,
Thinking about getting a rectifier 1x12 cab for my incoming MarkIIC+ reissue. Anyone tested these cabs? There seem to be mini rectifier cabs available but for what people write they have less bottom end and are more mid-heavy, is this right? The regular rectifier 1x12 cabs seem to be deeper for their size and this most likely affects them having more bass? As soon as Friedman releases the reactive IR load I’ll buy a 2nd 1x12 for a stereo setup.

 

[rsm]

I use a pair of Mesa 2x12 recto compact cabs with my JP-2C. For awhile, I used just one because the second was on backorder for months.

I like the tight bottom end, which is why I went with the compact cabs vs standard; and don't want or need a lot of low end, but you can always dial it more bass, and the cab will handle.

 

[Jakem]

I use a pair of Mesa 2x12 recto compact cabs with my JP-2C. For awhile, I used just one because the second was on backorder for months.

I like the tight bottom end, which is why I went with the compact cabs vs standard; and don't want or need a lot of low end, but you can always dial it more bass, and the cab will handle.

Awesome info, thanks!

 

[Speeddemon]

You mean that little slanted 1x12?
I had one with my Mark V:25, but sold it because of what you mentioned; not enough heft and a bit too middy.
Given that Marks are inherently already, tight and mid-forward amps, I prefer to add some thump in the shape of a pair of 1x12 Thiele cabs.

 

[Jakem]

You mean that little slanted 1x12?
I had one with my Mark V:25, but sold it because of what you mentioned; not enough heft and a bit too middy.
Given that Marks are inherently already, tight and mid-forward amps, I prefer to add some thump in the shape of a pair of 1x12 Thiele cabs.

No, not the slant one, that is the mini cab. There is this 1x12 which has the logo in upper left corner and it is deeper in construction and doesn’t have side handles.

 

[Rackman]

I've found TL806 or Thiele cabs pair best with Mk amps. Especially older ones.

 

[Speeddemon]

Gotcha, this one:

Never played it, so I can't comment on that; what I will say, is the size is on the smaller side for a 1x12, so this will affect low-end thump as well.
Of course, you could always add some acoustic dampending material, 5 to 7cm (you're one of the folks that uses logical measurements, right? ;-) ) thick inside and this will help tightness as well as heft.
I did that to my pair of 2x12 Marshall cabs.

 

[schnarf]

I got one of these that I'm using with a Mark III, Quad, and IIC+ and I've been really happy with it. I have the 2x12 too and honestly I don't have a strong preference, the 1x12 has plenty of bass and sounds good. I think John Petrucci was using two of the 1x12s in stereo for a smaller touring rig for years. I'd suggest some way of getting it closer to ear level or tilting it up.

 

[Jakem]

I got one of these that I'm using with a Mark III, Quad, and IIC+ and I've been really happy with it. I have the 2x12 too and honestly I don't have a strong preference, the 1x12 has plenty of bass and sounds good. I think John Petrucci was using two of the 1x12s in stereo for a smaller touring rig for years. I'd suggest some way of getting it closer to ear level or tilting it up.

I thought JP used the mini recto 1x12s.

 

[schnarf]

I thought JP used the mini recto 1x12s.

I'm not 100% confident, but I'm going off this video:

There are both in that video but it looks like the regular 1x12 is miced up. It's been awhile since I was researching this but my impression was that he uses the mini 1x12s onstage as a footrest/monitor.

 

[rsm]

JP is using 2 recto 4x12 cabs live, as of 2024

 

[Jakem]

I'm not 100% confident, but I'm going off this video:

There are both in that video but it looks like the regular 1x12 is miced up. It's been awhile since I was researching this but my impression was that he uses the mini 1x12s onstage as a footrest/monitor.

Indeed!

 

[Jakem]

Ordered the 1x12 rectifier cab.

 

[JimAnsell2]

DON'T FUCKING WORRY ABOUT WHAT PETRUCCI USES OR WHO EVER ELSE!!!!
don't let that sway your opinion. i know its easy to go for that confirmation bias of "well so and so is a pro and uses it, and sounds good so....", but you don't know what kind of mic/mixer pre amp eq trickery they're using it to sound just right. you're dealing with your gear and your space.

i hope that cab works out, let us know how it is. I've never used the older super thick wooded recto 1x12 from the 2000's-2010's. I've also never used the WAY DIFFERENT DESIGNED "mini" recto 1x12s that came out in the later 2010's. I do know that the standard sized thiele 1x12 is perfect for that amp, and the extra wide, mark V era wide body thiele sounds a bit different (i currently own one and run a mark IVa through it), but still great for mark amps. maybe just more modern sounding that the regular one.

 

[Jakem]

DON'T FUCKING WORRY ABOUT WHAT PETRUCCI USES OR WHO EVER ELSE!!!!
don't let that sway your opinion. i know its easy to go for that confirmation bias of "well so and so is a pro and uses it, and sounds good so....", but you don't know what kind of mic/mixer pre amp eq trickery they're using it to sound just right. you're dealing with your gear and your space.

i hope that cab works out, let us know how it is. I've never used the older super thick wooded recto 1x12 from the 2000's-2010's. I've also never used the WAY DIFFERENT DESIGNED "mini" recto 1x12s that came out in the later 2010's. I do know that the standard sized thiele 1x12 is perfect for that amp, and the extra wide, mark V era wide body thiele sounds a bit different (i currently own one and run a mark IVa through it), but still great for mark amps. maybe just more modern sounding that the regular one.

Yep, I read that this cab has more low end than the mini series cabs so therefore chose this one. The cab and the head should be here at the end of next week so I’ll post an update after some testing. Thanks, Jim!

 

[anomaly]

I think 1x12 cabs are way too boxy and midrangy with Marks (well just about any amp) I can't use mine with anything but a 4x12, I need the full punch. Another thing , aren't you a bit worried about blowing the speaker? I'd get a 2x12 at least.

 

[Jakem]

I think 1x12 cabs are way too boxy and midrangy with Marks (well just about any amp) I can't use mine with anything but a 4x12, I need the full punch. Another thing , aren't you a bit worried about blowing the speaker? I'd get a 2x12 at least.

Not worried about the speaker. Will be a stereo rig rig with the friedman IR load as soon as it gets released…

 

[JimAnsell2]

I think 1x12 cabs are way too boxy and midrangy with Marks (well just about any amp) I can't use mine with anything but a 4x12, I need the full punch. Another thing , aren't you a bit worried about blowing the speaker? I'd get a 2x12 at least.

i spent 15ish years feeling the same way...until i got that Master Effects Pupper Master EQ pedal. i sold my 4x12 and have been happy with the 1x12 because of, and ONLY because of that pedal. you can easily dial out the boxy with eq. i scoop my lower mids on my 5 band with the dip in the 240 then dip the 900 - 1.2k on the parametric (depending on tuning, 900 for C, 1.2k ish for E), boost the 120-140hz on the eq pedal. then adjust the brightness with the high pass on the PEM. everything else on my 5 band is pretty much flat. works for me, and i was a quad box or nothing guy for most of my life. if you're young and have disposable income and a strong back, by all means, stick with the 4x12s. once you're creeping into non-gigging, middle aged, hobbiest territory, posing in the mirror in the living room, then the 1x12 with clever eqing is the better option imo.

I'm running a mark IVa, but having owned various real deal c+'s and IVa side by side at least 4 different times in the last 20 years, i always kept the IVa's and got my money out of the C+'s. C+'s are amazing and all, but i like the IVa a little better. its just a little more flexable, slightly less "raw/organic" which works better for more modern metal and thrash than the c+, but its super close / hair splitting shit. if its a difference of 6 to 8 grand these days for a real c+, i'm going with the IVa 100% of the time. you'd be stupid (or rich as fuck) not to imo.

 

[anomaly]

i spent 15ish years feeling the same way...until i got that Master Effects Pupper Master EQ pedal. i sold my 4x12 and have been happy with the 1x12 because of, and ONLY because of that pedal. you can easily dial out the boxy with eq. i scoop my lower mids on my 5 band with the dip in the 240 then dip the 900 - 1.2k on the parametric (depending on tuning, 900 for C, 1.2k ish for E), boost the 120-140hz on the eq pedal. then adjust the brightness with the high pass on the PEM. everything else on my 5 band is pretty much flat. works for me, and i was a quad box or nothing guy for most of my life. if you're young and have disposable income and a strong back, by all means, stick with the 4x12s. once you're creeping into non-gigging, middle aged, hobbiest territory, posing in the mirror in the living room, then the 1x12 with clever eqing is the better option imo.

I'm running a mark IVa, but having owned various real deal c+'s and IVa side by side at least 4 different times in the last 20 years, i always kept the IVa's and got my money out of the C+'s. C+'s are amazing and all, but i like the IVa a little better. its just a little more flexable, slightly less "raw/organic" which works better for more modern metal and thrash than the c+, but its super close / hair splitting shit. if its a difference of 6 to 8 grand these days for a real c+, i'm going with the IVa 100% of the time. you'd be stupid (or rich as fuck) not to imo.

Ya, the IV's are great amps too. I've got an early IVb that I'll never part with, it's got the sound in my head and it's very versatile IMO. I would like to own a IIc+ one day though just to hear what all the hype is about. Thinking about picking up a second hand reissue??

I dig the fact that the IV is more modern sounding cause I've always been a 90's guy when it comes to tone.

 

[Jakem]

Received the IIC+ RI earlier today and the cab arrived a few hours later. Strangely enough the cab was in an unsealed box and one could see half an A4 sized area torn off from one side as if an address sticker had been removed so it looks like this was a demo unit or a customer return product and they sold it as new. Called them and the salesman saw the pics and said the same. Now waiting for the responsible department explanation.