Price Check: Mesa Boogie Halfback Cabs

  • Thread starter Thread starter feintguitarist
  • Start date Start date
feintguitarist

feintguitarist

Member
Hey All,

Years ago when I was actually active on the forums, lets say 10+ years ago, I wanted to get a Mesa 4x12 half back cab. Never happened. Ended up going a different route and picking up a Engl 4x12. Fast forward to now and I've decided I was going to track down a 2x12 version in /hopefully/ excellent condition. Couldn't find any on eBay, Reverb, here, or CL. However, eBay completed listings show 2 that went for about $425 after shipping. Then I find one on Guitar Center's used site for $499 (+tax) in what may not be excellent condition -- hard to tell from the one grainy picture. Decided I'd keep looking.

Coincidentally a 4x12 version in excellent shape pops up on the local CL today for $450. I couldn't belive.. Unfortunately for me, with my bank being closed, I didn't have access to $450/cash, and he emails me back about an hour ago to let me know someone else picked it up. Granted, I was after the 2x12.. but that price seemed too good to be true and I would gladly take a 4x12 when the price is right..

So, with that said...

Any of you bought/sold the 2x12's for 4x12's recently give me a better idea of what to expect price wise? There's one 4x12 on Reverb in excellent shape for $699 + $200 shipping. And I have 2 completed listings for 2x12's to go off of. A pretty small sample size. $900/shipped for the 4x12 seems a little high for me, $450 seemed to good to be true. And $499+tax for what is probably 'good' condition for a 2x12 seems high, whereas the $350 (~$425/shipped) for the 2x12's in great shape seems more realistic.

-fg
 
I normally buy mine for $500 FWIW. Anything over $500 may be warranted if the cab is on good shape and loaded with C90s. Expect to pay a little more if it still has the EVM12Ls. Very few cabs came with the EVMs on the top and bottom, and many come with the EVMs on the closed bottom and C90s on the open top.

Make sure you check the speakers that are loaded with the cab. I've seen a few sellers that advertised stock speakers when they were swapped for Eminence or Creambacks. They may sound great, but they weren't factory.
 
fretout":248lq2vu said:
I normally buy mine for $500 FWIW. Anything over $500 may be warranted if the cab is on good shape and loaded with C90s. Expect to pay a little more if it still has the EVM12Ls. Very few cabs came with the EVMs on the top and bottom, and many come with the EVMs on the closed bottom and C90s on the open top.

Make sure you check the speakers that are loaded with the cab. I've seen a few sellers that advertised stock speakers when they were swapped for Eminence or Creambacks. They may sound great, but they weren't factory.
Click to expand...

Good to know... I thought the C90s up top and EVM12Ls in the bottom were the only config.

Thanks
 
feintguitarist":3sju4kvb said:
fretout":3sju4kvb said:
I normally buy mine for $500 FWIW. Anything over $500 may be warranted if the cab is on good shape and loaded with C90s. Expect to pay a little more if it still has the EVM12Ls. Very few cabs came with the EVMs on the top and bottom, and many come with the EVMs on the closed bottom and C90s on the open top.

Make sure you check the speakers that are loaded with the cab. I've seen a few sellers that advertised stock speakers when they were swapped for Eminence or Creambacks. They may sound great, but they weren't factory.
Click to expand...

Good to know... I thought the C90s up top and EVM12Ls in the bottom were the only config.

Thanks
Click to expand...

I bought a Mesa half back cab loaded with 4 EVM’s. I’m 99% sure it was all original. I bought it from a pawn shop a couple of years ago for $100. That beast was stupid heavy.
 
They can come with any of the 4 speakers Masa had at that time. Eminence 50 watt, not that great. EVM, Celestion 90, and the Eminence 150 watt. Never played the Eminence 150, supposed to be their early attempt at the EVM, but not the Delta which was never offered by Mesa. Make sure you know what is in the cab first. EVM speakers kill with these.
 
I bought my halfback 412 cab years ago for around $450. It had to Eminence MS12's in the top and 2 EVM-12L's in the bottom. One of the EV's was blown, but the seller stood behind and covered for a replacement. I thought I had to have 2 Celestion MC90's on the top, so I sold the Eminence MS-12's. The MC90's did have more character, which I liked. I have the back panel for both sections, which I also prefer with my mesa Mark IVA. cool thing about the 412, is that it sounds great with all my amps, and I have a good variety. Its a super versatile cab. Only downside is the weight, it stays in the basement.

I used to own the 212 mesa halfback cab. Came with 2 Celestion G12T-75's (not stock), which I don't like with Mesa amps. Swapped for 2 MC90's, which helped, but overall the 212 was a far cry from the 412. The top was always opened, which was part of it, but also I think the bottom thiele section of the 212 would have done better with an EV. Was actually really disappointed with the 212, but as I said with an EV in the bottom my thought may have been different.

A few years ago I got some Eminence MS-12's after heaving Psychodave talk about how great they were and I had been kicking myself for selling the 2 I had. I finally scored a nice pair on Ebay. I first tried them in an opened back 212 and they are like a dark EVM-12L, very nice for solos, but a bit dark. So I ended up mixing with a Celestion MC90, wow, what a great sound. Gives the thump and punch from the MS-12 and the warmth and airness from the MC90. I like this so much, that I put this combo of speakers in another 212 cab and that one I use live. I mic both speakers or just the MC90 if I have to mic one. Its also for this experience why I think on the halfback 212, that the bottom section with an EV or MS-12 and the top with an MC90 is the way to go.
 
I've had a few, and currently own a 2x12 halfback with EVs. 275-500 is what I've paid. The last 4x12 I bought off Craigslist in MPLS was 275, my son has it now. EVs and C90s.
 
The 4x12 that I have, I paid $600.00 loaded with all EVM-12L speakers in like new condition with the back cover and a road case. I had to drive about 45 minutes one-way, and worth every dime. I have an EVM-12L loaded 2x12 in the same condition with the original cover that cost me $350.00
 
I’ve paid $250-$600. It all depends on the speakers. $600 was with 4 EV12L’s
 
Thanks for all the replies everyone.

There's a minty 4x12 loaded with EV12L's on eBay, ending in about 3 hours for $600.... local pickup only though out in Woodland CA. Listed as a bass cab. :(
Luckily, I'm not in a big rush here as the amp I'm wanting to pair with it I also don't own yet. :)

EV's and C90 mix vs all EV12L's.... both great? Should I be more excited if I find an all EV12L version?
 
Marked for reference later. Great info as usual. Thanks gents !
 
feintguitarist":b9zdrixa said:
Thanks for all the replies everyone.

There's a minty 4x12 loaded with EV12L's on eBay, ending in about 3 hours for $600.... local pickup only though out in Woodland CA. Listed as a bass cab. :(
Luckily, I'm not in a big rush here as the amp I'm wanting to pair with it I also don't own yet. :)

EV's and C90 mix vs all EV12L's.... both great? Should I be more excited if I find an all EV12L version?
Click to expand...

Based on my experience with the MS12's, I think I would prefer the mix of the EV's and the MC90's which is what my cab has, but I generally really like mixing speakers.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top