Featured review by:
rockstrongo, on july 28, 2004 2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Price paid: $ 350
Purchased from: Used
Features: This is a very, very early model Mesa Boogie 4x12, built for the Rectifier series right when it premiered. Most came with Custom 90's, but this one came stock with Vintage 30's. The tolex is just elephant grain, before Boogie started tolexing everything in leather. It will handle 280 watts combined power and will take a stereo or mono signal. // 10
Sound: I'm using this cab with a Diezel VH4S head. Honestly, I not very impressed with this cabinet. Don't get me wrong, it sounds really good with a Mesa head like a Dual Rectifier or Mark IV, but with pretty much any other amp I have the same problem: too bassy, muddled midrange and it farts out at high volumes. The cab sounds better than any Mesa Boogie that I've heard or used so far, however. Personally, I think that Bogner cabinets sound much better. The Uberschall cab just kills this one for rock and metal, and the other cabs sound woodier and punchier. It sounds like the Mesa is just trying to hit you as hard as it can, and not really thinking about it, if you know what I mean. It doesn't sound very 3-dimensional, and for the price of a new one you could easily get a better sounding cab (like a new or used Bogner or Orange). // 8
Reliability & Durability: The cab is built like a tank. It's solid, just too solid. It doesn't breathe very well. It's gone through a couple of tours from the guy who owned it before me and the tolex hasn't even ripped anywhere. This was from an era when Mesa was using quality parts and hardware, rather than cutting corners and charging an arm and a leg like they do right now. Its a very strong, sturdy cabinet. And heavy. // 10
Impression: Overall, it works but it doesn't breathe like a cabinet should. A cab can still sound punchy and roar like the devil but sound organic, tight, 3-dimensional and huge, most of which this cab and others after it aren't. With a Mesa Dual Rec, it sounds much better, seeing how they were voiced for each other, but with other amps like my Diezel it just sounds muddy. // 8
Reviewed by:
dflwol, on august 15, 2005 0 of 1 people found this review helpful
Purchased from: Guitar Center
Features: I got this Mesa cab hoping big, and dreams came true. Wow. The cleans can shimmer and bite no problem, and perfect response and tightness on the lows. I play with a guitar tuned A, 5 notes below standard tuning, and it produces extreme bass tight lows. This is an most definitely a rock/metal even punk cab. It has absolutely perfect sound when running distortion or clean. It is not open back, so the mids on the amp have to be higher to compensate. On the back, there is an 8 ohm input, 2 4ohm inputs, and 1 output jack. The 4 ohm inputs can be used for biamped signals or just single 4 ohm signals. I'm in love with it, and Mesa is not overrated nor is it too good to be true. // 10
Sound: I play with a guitar tuned A, 5 notes below standard tuning, and it produces extreme bass tight lows. This is an most definitely a rock/metal even punk cab. It has absolutely perfect sound when running distortion or clean. It is not open back, so the mids on the amp have to be higher to compensate. // 10
Reliability & Durability: You can drop this thing out of the back of a truck moving 65 mph and it will still sound perfect. Not that I have, or wish to taint the absolutely stunning perfection in the looks of my Mesa cab, but still. It has slider slots for wheels on the bottom, so you can walk it around no problem, then take them off for the stage or studio. // 10
Impression: I got this Mesa cab hoping big, and dreams came true. The cleans can shimmer and bite no problem, and perfect response and tightness on the lows. Get this cab. // 10
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