Mesa 2x12 rectifier cab - horizontal vs. vertical

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Beret

Beret

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Hey All,

I have a horizontal Mesa Rectifier 2x12 that I like the sound of. I'm looking for something with wheels and quite honestly, don't want to go the 4x12 route. Anyone know if the vertical 2x12s sound as good as the horizontals?

I'm also considering grabbing a Port City OS 2x12 with V30s because I hear they're extremely versatile, better projection than the Mesas, still have the nice low end but aren't as scooped (or as heavy). I'd appreciate any opinions on those as well - no place around here has them for me to try.

I play a wide variety of music so it's not just a metal sound I'm looking for. I need good cleans and articulation.

Thanks,
~B
 
Beret":17mbx7qj said:
Hey All,

I have a horizontal Mesa Rectifier 2x12 that I like the sound of. I'm looking for something with wheels and quite honestly, don't want to go the 4x12 route. Anyone know if the vertical 2x12s sound as good as the horizontals?

I'm also considering grabbing a Port City OS 2x12 with V30s because I hear they're extremely versatile, better projection than the Mesas, still have the nice low end but aren't as scooped (or as heavy). I'd appreciate any opinions on those as well - no place around here has them for me to try.

I play a wide variety of music so it's not just a metal sound I'm looking for. I need good cleans and articulation.

Thanks,
~B
Click to expand...

You could get one of the Halfback Boogie 2x12's with EV12L, they go very well with either the V30 or C90 Celestions in Mesa cabs. In fact if you see one with an EV12L, C90, or V30 it's a damn good cab.
 
The vertical Rectos are pretty highly rated. Haven't played one myself. I'm happy with my horizontal Recto. I find it nice & compact for how huge it sounds.
 
The verticals sound good. I prefer the horizontal Mesa 2x12 but it's pretty much just personal preference. Stand your horizontal Mesa 2x12 on it's side and that is pretty much what the vertical will sound like. The dimensions are slightly different but the sound is basically the same IMO. The vertical does have casters and side handles but it also weighs slightly more than the horizontal.
 
I've got one of the verticals and i have a very love/hate thing going with it. The cab sounds great (has v30s). It has a very nice presence gives a good low end response (although mine is sitting right on the floor). However it really isn't much smaller or lighter then a 4x12. It's about 3/4 of the size of a standard marshall 412 (which is the hate part). Other then that, i couldn't play with out this cab. It's the best sounding cab i've owner, and my MarkIV just looks sexy sitting on it!!
 
You are gonna get more bottom end out of the horizontal than the vertical.

Steve
 
I love my port city 2x12os. it crushed my mesa 4x12 so i sold it.
 
steve_k":3n095efq said:
You are gonna get more bottom end out of the horizontal than the vertical.

Steve
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Nah, depending on your orientation to the cab you may have the impression of greater low end, or less highs, but that's just because it's blasting at your knees, and not your ears. The cab with the greater volume will have the deeper over all tone, all other things being equal. If you place the horizontal cab where it's blasting at your ears, and the vertical cab in the same position the one with the greater internal volume is gonna have more lows.
 
moltenmetalburn":3il5lqfq said:
I love my port city 2x12os. it crushed my mesa 4x12 so i sold it.
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Did you get that loaded with V30s?

Thanks,
~B
 
I have a vertical 2x12 recto cab with C90s in it. It's an excellent cab. Plenty of low end. Especially without the casters. Put it in the corner and you'll think you're playing a 4x12.

I also have 2 Port City OS 1x12s with Emi Gov's in them and one sounds as big as the recto cab.

rigs_1.jpg
 
Beret":2w1dqwoo said:
moltenmetalburn":2w1dqwoo said:
I love my port city 2x12os. it crushed my mesa 4x12 so i sold it.
Click to expand...

Did you get that loaded with V30s?

Thanks,
~B
Click to expand...


No at the time I was tired of the v30 sound went through a bunch of speakers and settled on the TT hempcone ceramics. lately though i have been thinking of mixing in a scumback.
 
The vert is rather bright. Better of with a slant 412 using only two speakers.
 
I find my horizontal 2x12 doesn't project as well as a 4x12, less air being pushed? Although, it sounds incredible up close. Maybe the vertical is the way to go. Less lows but being higher up it will project more.
 
Can't you fix the less lows with an eq in the loop, boosting lows? ...My EVH 5153 resonance knob should take care of that. I'm considering another vertical in addition to my Forte S/V
 
i had a vertical Recto 2x12 (sold to me by dfrattaroli, above! :thumbsup: ). it was stock with C90s, but i also tried non-Mesa V30s in it. (remember that Mesa V30s are a different flavor of V30 and sound different.)

it was noticeably boomier and less articulate than other 2x12 cabs i had or A/B'd with it. (playing rock, hard rock, and metal through a Mesa Mark V and Bogner XTC.) i put some 1" thick stiff polyester batting on the rear panel, like Bogner uses in their cabs, and that made it a bit more articulate.

but it couldn't hold a candle to my Bogner OS2x12, with stock V30s. tighter, more articulate, a more nuanced sound. it also wasn't as tight and articulate as i remember my buddy's horizontal Recto 2x12 being, but he sold it years ago, so i was never able to A/B them.

if you want a new 2x12, you should play the Bogner before buying. but the best option might be to just stick with your horizontal Mesa, since you dig the sound already. :thumbsup:
 
Th vertical has plenty of low end, the cab is much bigger internally than the horizontal. I imagine that helps. If you are getting mic'd the audience wouldn't hear a difference in the lowend anyway.
You might outside of a band setting, but I have had a Mesa vert 2x12 for a long time and never had an issue. YMMV
 
I don't think it's the cab that's bright, it's the vin30's especially before they're broken in. You may just not like that speaker, I do. Most people around here seem to prefer greenbacks it seems.
It can be boomy if anything, in which case you'll be lowering your bass.
This is all however just my experience.
 
Mogwai said:
I don't think it's the cab that's bright, it's the vin30's especially before they're broken in. You may just not like that speaker, I do. Most people around here seem to prefer greenbacks it seems.
It can be boomy if anything, in which case you'll be lowering your bass.
This is all however just my experience.

Nah. The vert mesa cabs I have played had WGS speakers and. One had a V30 and K100.

I have been using V30s for years and have never ever found them fo be bright.

I am just getting another 412.
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I've had a vertical 2x12 and it sounded nice but didn't have as much bottom as my horizontal 2x12 does. I remember Mesa telling me something about the metal handles on the vertical amp having an effect on that. :confused:

Who knows.....
 
PBGas":2jgvap5z said:
I've had a vertical 2x12 and it sounded nice but didn't have as much bottom as my horizontal 2x12 does. I remember Mesa telling me something about the metal handles on the vertical amp having an effect on that. :confused:

Who knows.....
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Sorry for the necrobump, but I've compared the vertical 2x12 slant as well to a horizontal; both closed back. The horizontal (which I positioned vertically) did have a bit more low-end and sounded less middy.
I thought since the vertical slant would have more internal space, that it would sound noticably bigger, but it was very similar, with a slightly rolled off high-end.
 
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