Mesa Cabinets - C90 vs V30

[vandyne11]

I have the Roadster Head and i'm currently playing through a POS Behringer cab. I've heard different things about the V30's and C90's, and i'm left with 3 choices.

-All V30's
-2 V30's and 2 C90's in an "X" pattern
-All C90's

All sealed back, 4x12 cabs. The big advantages about the V30's is that my local store already has one in stock, it could take a while to get the others ordered, and I wouldn't be able to play through them. The only way I could play a C90 is that I know a guy who has a 1x12 cab with one I could try. So this is the predicament i'm in. Let me know what you think and recommend!!

 

[glassjaw7]

One of the best cabs I've ever heard/played with my dual recto and a Mark IV is the Mesa Traditional (Stiletto) cab. I just said this in another thread, but it's super punchy and well balanced. Not harsh at all like v30's can be in other cabs.

I've also played C90's in mesa 112 cabs and they sound awesome too, but I think for a 412, the traditional with all 30's is the way to go. Oh, and get the traditional, not the OS recto cab.

BTW, the Roadking cab comes with 2 V30's and 2 C90's. It might be worth checking out if you can find one at a GC, but I would bet that the traditional would blow it away.

 

[herbertmark5]

i like em both ha ha

 

[droptrd]

Never heard the 2 mixed but the V30 mixes well with many speakers. the C90 is darker than the V30. So Id say if you are worried your current tone is a bit flat and not cutting well, go with the V30s. If you feel your current tone is on the bright and harsh side, go with the C90s

 

[petejt]

Get a mix of C90s and V30s, they fucking rock. I've got one each in my cab with two EV 200 watters, sounds huge!

 

[ibanez4life SZ!]

I've tried all those combinations with those speakers...straight V30s sounded best to me.

Eric

 

[guitarslinger]

Generally, I avoid V30's at all cost.

 

[kmanick]

I've had both, I stuck with V30's and only because I found that the C90's sounded much better with
some juice going thru them , then they do at lower volumes.
I don't gig anymore so I don't play very loud. When I got the chance to crank up I really liked them
but most of the time I'm not playing very loud and the V30's in my Recto 2X12 are relly broken in
nicely so they sound great at low to mid level volume.
If I was gigging I'd probably use both, I liked the mix.

 

[herbertmark5]

I've tried all those combinations with those speakers...straight V30s sounded best to me.

Eric

i agree that most speakers suck compared to broke in v30s. c90s sound good though. but i agree im not into mixing

 

[guitarslinger]

I've tried all those combinations with those speakers...straight V30s sounded best to me.

Eric

i agree that most speakers suck compared to broke in v30s. c90s sound good though. but i agree im not into mixing

I disagree.

I can usually coax tones I like more out of most other speakers.

 

[herbertmark5]

I've tried all those combinations with those speakers...straight V30s sounded best to me.

Eric

i agree that most speakers suck compared to broke in v30s. c90s sound good though. but i agree im not into mixing

I disagree.

I can usually coax tones I like more out of most other speakers.

not saying tou cant butican have more control without, remember ear of the beholder

 

[Motorpud]

Could be just me but the only C90 I've ever heard wasnin a MarkIV combo and I thought it sounded horrible. It was very farty and flubby sounding. The guy who owned it even commented on how "farty" it was, then he plugged into a stiletto 4x12 with V30s and it was night day. Obviously the difference of a 4x12 and the combo cab is pretty big but I still didn't like the C90

 

[thiswaythatway]

Generally, I avoid V30's at all cost.

I'm starting to feel that way.

 

[locoed]

I have 2 C90's and 2 EV's in an older metal grill Mesa
and I don't like em,I can't put my finger on it but it
just doesn't sound warm enough,or it could be that
the cab is almost 20 years old.

 

[jlbaxe]

I have a MK III combo with the C90 and it is not flubby, sounds great. I also have a cab with (4) V30s and luv it. I think if you had the 2 mixed you couldnt go wrong.

 

[philb]

Another vote for the Stiletto cab with V30. I've had this cab for 4 years now and it's the best cab I've ever had.

 

[vandyne11]

One thing i'm worried (if i got the mix) is that since the V30's break up more that they would almost overpower the C90's, and if the C90's don't have the punch to cut through then it's just gonna sound like a weak V30 cab. Seems like most people favor the V30's anyway, so I think that's going to be the direction now. Correct me if I'm wrong too.
So now the question is about cabinets...Recto cab or the Stiletto cab? I know the traditional cab is supposed to have a tighter, balanced low end, and better articulation but what's the trade off? I guess what i'm trying to say is...what does the Traditional cab have that the Recto cab doesn't?

 

[D-Rock]

One thing i'm worried (if i got the mix) is that since the V30's break up more that they would almost overpower the C90's, and if the C90's don't have the punch to cut through then it's just gonna sound like a weak V30 cab. Seems like most people favor the V30's anyway, so I think that's going to be the direction now. Correct me if I'm wrong too.
So now the question is about cabinets...Recto cab or the Stiletto cab? I know the traditional cab is supposed to have a tighter, balanced low end, and better articulation but what's the trade off? I guess what i'm trying to say is...what does the Traditional cab have that the Recto cab doesn't?

I find the Recto cab sounds...bigger, but that doesn't mean better.
The Trad size, like you said, has better articulation and tracks tighter/faster. My Trad. size also projects like a mofo. Clear, loud and great from a distance.

 

[Death by Uberschall]

The C90 seems to work best in open back back cabs.

I have the Mesa 2 x 12 3/4 back with two C90's and it sounds great, but I also have the Mesa 2 x 12 Recto cab with two V30's and it rocks. I think Mesa got it right with this set-up.

The Road King 4 x 12 cab is two C90's in an open back side with two V30's in the closed back side.

 

[vandyne11]

The C90 seems to work best in open back back cabs.

I have the Mesa 2 x 12 3/4 back with two C90's and it sounds great, but I also have the Mesa 2 x 12 Recto cab with two V30's and it rocks. I think Mesa got it right with this set-up.

The Road King 4 x 12 cab is two C90's in an open back side with two V30's in the closed back side.

I saw that, although i'm not really into the open back thing. I just don't like the sound of un-sealed cabs. Just personal taste. Thanks for the suggestion though!