Mesa V30s

[Random Hero]

They're definitely different but I disagree with which sounds better. I much preferred the V30s in my Bogner 4x12 to the ones in my Mesa 4x12 and 2x12 cabs. I A/B'd them quite extensively and always preferred the Bogner with 3 different heads. I guess I prefer that cab's voicing or whatever because the Mesas always sounded more... distant and had this metallic edge to them. To my ear atleast.

 

[JamesPeters]

Dear James,
Funny thing is that I looked very closely to see if there is any difference in the appearance of the two speakers. I didn't notice any at all... Same metal frame, no "Made in UK" or anything of the like, exactly the same, except the Mesa one was 16 ohms and the regular one was 8 ohms.
The Mesa had a smoother more extended frequency response, while the regular one was a bit honkier, with less sizzle and with somehow "congested" and muddier mids.

If I ever get around to opening a couple cabs, I can take pictures of the magnet structures to show what I mean. The baskets and cones looked the same but the metal of the magnet structures is clearly different. As for how much that affects the sound, I can't be sure, but it really stood out visually.

As for the difference in sound I've noticed (and some friends of mine have noticed, since I subjected them to the tests), it's possible I heard what I heard because of the particular speaker cabinets I was using, the amps used, the settings of the amps used and so on. I tried to sum up what I heard overall as well as I could, after having used both speaker types in the same cabinet (then again with a second cabinet), but I can't speak for everyone's experiences.

The labels I referred to might not be so obvious if you're not looking for the differences, or the separate white label (which is about 1" x 0.5" and on the side of the magnet structure) which would indicate "made in China" on one of the speakers. It's also possible the speakers you tried had been exchanged at some point.

 

[Vince Sansevere]

There is absolutely no difference!

 

[Holy-diver]

There is absolutely no difference!

Except there is.

 

[Vince Sansevere]

There is absolutely no difference!

Except there is.

So you started a thread questioning if there even IS a difference, now you are 100% sure there is? Sheesh!!

 

[Gainfreak]

I live on Long Island and I have more then a few friends who work at marshall. The v30's that you hear in a Marhsall are voiced differently then the ones you can buy stock and the same goes for Mesa. Ive heard it directly from the horses mouth...so If anyone tells you different then Id question the source.

YES>>>THERE IS A DIFFERENCE.

 

[Holy-diver]

There is absolutely no difference!

Except there is.

So you started a thread questioning if there even IS a difference, now you are 100% sure there is? Sheesh!!

I have heard the difference firsthand. I made this thread to see if anyone else has noticed this and to maybe find out the actual differences

 

[dass101]

The labels I referred to might not be so obvious if you're not looking for the differences, or the separate white label (which is about 1" x 0.5" and on the side of the magnet structure) which would indicate "made in China" on one of the speakers. It's also possible the speakers you tried had been exchanged at some point.

I know about the "made in China" little label, I've seen it on other speakers also. My non-Mesa V30 was pretty old though, like at least 5 years old, bought it myself from a local distributor. Is it possible that it was also Made in UK?

 

[pioneerprogress]

hmm. I had always wondered why I didn't hate recto cabs even though I've despised pretty much any experience/clips with v30's I've had otherwise.

 

[~Abstract~]

IIRC it's a different mass cone...

look at the cone codes...

 

[sled]

My experience with stock V30 loaded Mesa Cabs and retail V30s says they are different.

 

[blackba]

IIRC it's a different mass cone...

look at the cone codes...

Does anyone have a Mesa, Marshall, and regular V30 that they can confirm the codes on the cones?

 

[DEWD]

I think Bogner cabs use regular V30's made in China and they sound amazing. Mesa v30 cabs sound great too. To me the Mesa's sound a little bit deeper and the Bogner is a little more crunchy, woody and articulate.

 

[thegame]

I think Bogner cabs use regular V30's made in China and they sound amazing. Mesa v30 cabs sound great too. To me the Mesa's sound a little bit deeper and the Bogner is a little more crunchy, woody and articulate.

Yup, though I'd put half the difference to the cabs themselves.

 

[locoed]

What I wanna know is why the wattage has changed.
I have 2 Mesa 4x12's that are 280 watts,the new cabs
are rated to 240 watts,I blew one speaker about a year
ago and had to hunt down a 70 watt V30,it wasn't an easy
task,online stores had the 60 watt version,I ended up
finding one at Metro amps,sounds just like the rest,but
the 60 watt sounds bright.
Anybody know why they changed the wattage from 70 to 60?

 

[Holy-diver]

Idk about the wattage change. My mesa cab is older, a rectifier traditional. Has the 70w v30s.

 

[thegame]

What I wanna know is why the wattage has changed.
I have 2 Mesa 4x12's that are 280 watts,the new cabs
are rated to 240 watts,I blew one speaker about a year
ago and had to hunt down a 70 watt V30,it wasn't an easy
task,online stores had the 60 watt version,I ended up
finding one at Metro amps,sounds just like the rest,but
the 60 watt sounds bright.
Anybody know why they changed the wattage from 70 to 60?

The number is just their best approximation of what the power handling capacity is. V30s have always been "officially" 60w. Marshall felt confident enough to rate them at 70w because in reality they can take more than 60w. Invariably, some people will abuse them and put 1 V30 in an open back cab, which lowers the power handling capacity. Thats why Celestion plays it safe and labels it 60w.

As to why Mesa changed the labels from 70w to 60w, two theories : 1) they want to play it safe for warranty issues 2) they possibly noticed V30 build quality diminish through the years and maybe the speaker is not as strong as before. That is not fact and just a possibly theory.

 

[Les Zombie]

So which do you guys like better and why ?


Mesa or regular v30.

 

[locoed]

Black shadow/Mesa Boogie V30?
Never seen them,all my newer Boogie cabs say Celestion on the
speakers,my old metal grill cab says Black shadow,and EV.
But I'm starting to dig my Bogner cab with 2 V30 and 2 green backs.
I have a Marshall cab with the Black Label 300's
ton of low end but that's it,kinda bright.harsh.

 

[Shiny_Surface]

So you started a thread questioning if there even IS a difference, now you are 100% sure there is? Sheesh!!

I'm going to have to go with Vince on this one.