Oversized Mesa Recto 4x12 - tightening it up?

[turmoil]

I've had this cab for the last 5 years or so and i've been trying new speaker combinations for fun. right now, i have two 16 ohm V30's and two 16 ohm G12K-85's in an X configuration. It sounds killer! tons of bass but not too boomy.

The thing that i'm wondering is, is there a way to pad the back board of the cabinet (maybe with foam?) to help tighten up the low end? Naturally, this cabinet is extremely bass heavy so i'm looking to try and tame it a little bit.
I remember reading about people doing this before on various forums but i don't remember what the consensus on it was.
Any input would be greatly appreciated

 

[redrol]

I've had this cab for the last 5 years or so and i've been trying new speaker combinations for fun. right now, i have two 16 ohm V30's and two 16 ohm G12K-85's in an X configuration. It sounds killer! tons of bass but not too boomy.

The thing that i'm wondering is, is there a way to pad the back board of the cabinet (maybe with foam?) to help tighten up the low end? Naturally, this cabinet is extremely bass heavy so i'm looking to try and tame it a little bit.
I remember reading about people doing this before on various forums but i don't remember what the consensus on it was.
Any input would be greatly appreciated

What i did was sink 4 3" brass screws through the back plate, into the bracer in the middle. Made a nice nice difference

 

[turmoil]

so you just drilled in 4 screws through the back wood panel into the 2x4 looking brace in the middle of the cab? i feel like 4 might cause it to potentially splinter and crack the brace

 

[redrol]

so you just drilled in 4 screws through the back wood panel into the 2x4 looking brace in the middle of the cab? i feel like 4 might cause it to potentially splinter and crack the brace

yeah thats exactly what I did, it didnt crack it. I was careful to leave a good distance from the edges of the brace though

 

[glpg80]

search this rig-talk forum section in "cabinet padding" or "cabinet foam"

i remember it was a topic with positive results on a particular padding, it did exactly what you are wanting.

the entire cabinet was covered, not just the back-plate, and it helped tremendously from what i recall reading.

 

[turmoil]

search this rig-talk forum section in "cabinet padding" or "cabinet foam"

i remember it was a topic with positive results on a particular padding, it did exactly what you are wanting.

the entire cabinet was covered, not just the back-plate, and it helped tremendously from what i recall reading.

awesome! i'll give that a search in the morning! thanks man

 

[lolzgreg]

Is there something wrong with your cabinet? The Mesa Rectifier cab with the stock speakers is the most recorded cab for metal and downtuned metal since its release. It sounds more desirable under a microphone than just about any other cabinet out there for heavy music. I would put the stock speakers back in, tighten the back up nice, and give it a whirl.

 

[turmoil]

nothing's wrong with it at all, but i found with the stock speakers the cab was slightly boomy and i thought it didn't sound that fantastic. i've also about 2 other cabs with vintage 30's so i wanted some variety

i'm pretty sure there's a difference sonically between the standard recto cabs and the oversized cab. they don't even make the oversized cab that i have anymore. the standard is probably a fair amount tighter than my particular cabinet.

 

[thegame]

I've had this cab for the last 5 years or so and i've been trying new speaker combinations for fun. right now, i have two 16 ohm V30's and two 16 ohm G12K-85's in an X configuration. It sounds killer! tons of bass but not too boomy.

The thing that i'm wondering is, is there a way to pad the back board of the cabinet (maybe with foam?) to help tighten up the low end? Naturally, this cabinet is extremely bass heavy so i'm looking to try and tame it a little bit.
I remember reading about people doing this before on various forums but i don't remember what the consensus on it was.
Any input would be greatly appreciated

I would swap the 85s into one of your other, presumably standard sized, cabs & the V30s into the Mesa. K-85s produce alot of lows, and are on the scooped side, as is that cabinet. So that combo is probably not the best match.

 

[moltenmetalburn]

nothing's wrong with it at all, but i found with the stock speakers the cab was slightly boomy and i thought it didn't sound that fantastic. i've also about 2 other cabs with vintage 30's so i wanted some variety

i'm pretty sure there's a difference sonically between the standard recto cabs and the oversized cab. they don't even make the oversized cab that i have anymore. the standard is probably a fair amount tighter than my particular cabinet.

When did they stop making the oversized cab?

AFAIK all they did was change the name of the smaller cab from "traditional" to Stiletto. The "standard" rectifier cab was always the oversized one. Ive had a few in my days and got along pretty well with them. check your cab against these dimensions from their current site:

Rectifier cab dimensions:

32-7/8in H

30-1/8in W

14-1/4in D

I also screwed the back panel to the brace but I only used two screws. It seemed to help a bit.

 

[smdb]

If you do put those screws in the back I would drill a pilot hole first to avoid splitting the wood.

 

[turmoil]

nothing's wrong with it at all, but i found with the stock speakers the cab was slightly boomy and i thought it didn't sound that fantastic. i've also about 2 other cabs with vintage 30's so i wanted some variety

i'm pretty sure there's a difference sonically between the standard recto cabs and the oversized cab. they don't even make the oversized cab that i have anymore. the standard is probably a fair amount tighter than my particular cabinet.

When did they stop making the oversized cab?

AFAIK all they did was change the name of the smaller cab from "traditional" to Stiletto. The "standard" rectifier cab was always the oversized one. Ive had a few in my days and got along pretty well with them. check your cab against these dimensions from their current site:

Rectifier cab dimensions:

32-7/8in H

30-1/8in W

14-1/4in D

I also screwed the back panel to the brace but I only used two screws. It seemed to help a bit.

this is basically my recto cabinet...just not my picture. i'd have to measure the dimensions next time i'm home to check and see.

 

[dfrattaroli]

so you just drilled in 4 screws through the back wood panel into the 2x4 looking brace in the middle of the cab? i feel like 4 might cause it to potentially splinter and crack the brace

That's what I'm thinking. Even if it didn't split now, it could later. What I'd do is get a single 4" x 1/2" lag bolt, pre-drill a 3/8" diameter hole through the plate and into the brace, then screw in the lag bolt using a large diameter washer on the outside against the back plate. Four screws in such a small area is just over kill.

 

[dfrattaroli]

When did they stop making the oversized cab?

AFAIK all they did was change the name of the smaller cab from "traditional" to Stiletto. The "standard" rectifier cab was always the oversized one.

You are correct sir!

 

[moltenmetalburn]

nothing's wrong with it at all, but i found with the stock speakers the cab was slightly boomy and i thought it didn't sound that fantastic. i've also about 2 other cabs with vintage 30's so i wanted some variety

i'm pretty sure there's a difference sonically between the standard recto cabs and the oversized cab. they don't even make the oversized cab that i have anymore. the standard is probably a fair amount tighter than my particular cabinet.

When did they stop making the oversized cab?

AFAIK all they did was change the name of the smaller cab from "traditional" to Stiletto. The "standard" rectifier cab was always the oversized one. Ive had a few in my days and got along pretty well with them. check your cab against these dimensions from their current site:

Rectifier cab dimensions:

32-7/8in H

30-1/8in W

14-1/4in D

I also screwed the back panel to the brace but I only used two screws. It seemed to help a bit.

this is basically my recto cabinet...just not my picture. i'd have to measure the dimensions next time i'm home to check and see.

I always like that slant/straight design best. I had the slant one also but preferred the other.

 

[Jay Strange]

If you do put those screws in the back I would drill a pilot hole first to avoid splitting the wood.

+1` and measure it out so your clear of the edges of the 2X4.

 

[D-Rock]

When did they stop making the oversized cab?

AFAIK all they did was change the name of the smaller cab from "traditional" to Stiletto. The "standard" rectifier cab was always the oversized one.

You are correct sir!

What was discontinued was the straight box with slanted baffle.
Now is it only avail. in the typical slant box/slant baffle & straight box/straight baffle.

 

[moltenmetalburn]

damn figures thats the one. thank for clearing that up.