Mesa Vintage 30, 8 vs 16 ohm?

[Nigel]

They all are T3904.

I've read that pre '91, all V30s were the Marshall spec, even those stamped 3903 or 3904. In '91 they changed the T3904 to generally what it is today, and the Mesa 4335 and 4416 came out around there as well as its own thing.

But I don't know if that's true. According to the Internet the Mesa spec is the "original" V30 which sure doesn't seem right to me.

Dad just snapped a photo of one in his Marshall combo, and it's the OG T3896 made April 30th, 1986. Will be interesting to compare it to my T4335's:

 

[Meeotch]

I'm really tempted to pick up a pair of 8 ohm Mesa V30's and see how they sound in my Emperor OS 2x12. I've only ever played 16 ohm speakers, as this is standard issue for most any 4x12 on the market.

I currently own a single 16 ohm Mesa V30, and while I find it to be a touch warmer than it's Chinese brother, it's still a bit harsh for my tastes. Hmm...

 

[thegame]

I spoke with a good brother over at Mesa a while back and asked why the 4x12’s and combos had 8 ohm speakers, and he said when they were testing them it was agreed that the 8 ohm just have better tone.

I believe all modern 2x12 Mesa cabinets and combos have an 8 ohm total load. They must use two 16 ohm speakers to achieve this.

 

[Nigel]

Well they sound different. They sound right in the Mesa cabs but IMHO I prefer the Celestion or Marshall spec in a Marshall cab. Mesa spec doesn't have enough bite.

Yes, Dean DeLeo’s use of Marshall 4x12’s on the Classic STP records gives me want for the 16 ohm Marshall/Celestion spec for that precise reason.

You are a gentleman and a scholar. ??

 

[Nigel]

I believe all modern 2x12 Mesa cabinets and combos have an 8 ohm total load. They must use two 16 ohm speakers to achieve this.

They do. 16 ohm speakers in a 2x12 are rich and more explosive sounding. Mesa and Dave both do this.

 

[Nigel]

I've read that pre '91, all V30s were the Marshall spec, even those stamped 3903 or 3904. In '91 they changed the T3904 to generally what it is today, and the Mesa 4335 and 4416 came out around there as well as its own thing.

But I don't know if that's true. According to the Internet the Mesa spec is the "original" V30 which sure doesn't seem right to me.

Sauce (links) on this? Only thing I've seen is the oft quoted Steve Fryette blog about his experience detailed in the clip I shared.

 

[cardinal]

Sauce (links) on this? Only thing I've seen is the oft quoted Steve Fryette blog about his experience detailed in the clip I shared.

I'll try to find it.

I'm just coming out of a ridiculous V30 obsession. I have so many 4x12s right now.

Oddly my favorite is a 2020 Marshall 1960AV that had about 20 hours burn in. But that's fine with me.

 

[panhead]

They do. 16 ohm speakers in a 2x12 are rich and more explosive sounding. Mesa and Dave both do this.

Could be the difference between series and parallel?

 

[Nigel]

Could be the difference between series and parallel?

The difference is 8 ohms series for 16 and that tap, and 16 ohms in parallel for 8 and that tap, so there are 3 variables in each experiment.

Series is warmer, more bark, more complex cleans, "smear" in the midrange...

Parallel is deeper, tighter, more bottom and top, "crisper."

Let us not derail this thread into a series/parallel debate.

 

[LCW]

I spoke with a good brother over at Mesa a while back and asked why the 4x12’s and combos had 8 ohm speakers, and he said when they were testing them it was agreed that the 8 ohm just have better tone.

8 ohm speakers or 8 ohm total load? Because Mesa 2x12s use 16 ohm speakers in parallel for an 8 ohm total load

 

[Nigel]

8 ohm speakers or 8 ohm total load? Because Mesa 2x12s use 16 ohm speakers in parallel for an 8 ohm total load

8 ohm speakers and furthermore parallel/series (series at the jack) wiring over series/parallel (parallel at the jack) in the 4x12's.

 

[Nigel]

I'll try to find it.

I'm just coming out of a ridiculous V30 obsession. I have so many 4x12s right now.

Oddly my favorite is a 2020 Marshall 1960AV that had about 20 hours burn in. But that's fine with me.

Bro you and me BOTH. Shooting out a 2006 T4335B, 2003 T4435, and the above 1986 T3896 will be telling!

 

[cardinal]

These are the strangest V30s I've seen. Vented magnets.

 

[squealie]

my old mesa C-90s (vintage 30s) are 8ohms and have the same vent.

 

[cardinal]

Mesa C90 is more like a Classic Lead

 

[Nigel]

Mesa C90 is more like a Classic Lead

my old mesa C-90s (vintage 30s) are 8ohms and have the same vent.

Mesa C-90's are the original, mesh vented Classic Lead 80's per Bob Gjika. That's what's in his $1,500 hand broken-in 2x12 cabs that slay every other cab in the room every time with his amps. Directional speaker cables too? YES.

Oddly enough, my September 1993 V30's have difference VC covers: one is machined, the other is cast, and they are less than two weeks apart (17th/30th). WEIRD, as my dad's looks like it has a spiral and yours @cardinal has the vent. FFS the V30 rabbit hole is deep, far and wide!

 

[squealie]

Mesa C90 is more like a Classic Lead

I also have a set of CL-80s. I think they are wildly different drivers. But I haven't put them in the same box to test that out.

edit: I may be fucked in the head.

 

[cardinal]

Mesa C-90's are the original, mesh vented Classic Lead 80's per Bob Gjika. That's what's in his $1,500 hand broken-in 2x12 cabs that slay every other cab in the room every time with his amps. Directional speaker cables too? YES.

Oddly enough, my September 1993 V30's have difference VC covers: one is machined, the other is cast, and they are less than two weeks apart (17th/30th). WEIRD, as my dad's looks like it has a spiral and yours @cardinal has the vent. FFS the V30 rabbit hole is deep, far and wide!

The Mesa spec backplate/voice coil is machined and smaller than the cast piece on the Celestion and Marshall labels (maybe they all start out cast and are machined down for Mesa?). No idea what impact that would have on performance.

 

[squealie]

Yall are gonna make me open my 1993 cab (that has never been opened!)

Arent you?

 

[Nigel]

These are the strangest V30s I've seen. Vented magnets.

What's the T-number and date code on that specimen?

Acheoaudiology of Vintage 30's...man that should be a class at GIT! Ha!