Mesa Boogie Recto 4x12 Dislike

[some dude]

Post pics of your jack, I am still trying to find out production variations for myself, like the real leather tolex used in 93, mono/stereo plastic switch, etc. Also the recto, traditional, stilleto name change. Its all very confusing but I would like to see some pics, not doubting you but there is no one place that has all the Mesa 4x12 cab variations listed in order. I know from experience that the cabs do not sound the same.

Leather was used in 1992/1993 on the heads (Rev C to Rev F) and they switched to regular tolex on the Rev G. I would assume that if the cabs were also leather wrapped it would've been the same timeframe.

If I remember correctly it was 2005 when the Recto Traditional became the Stiletto and the Recto Standard was simplified to Recto. Whatever the date, it conincided with the release of the Stiletto head.

There may be some truth to the frames, but I've never heard anyone mention it before this and the way internet gear heads obsess over obscure details that in itself seems a little odd. Either way, the change in frame manufacturers probably has nothing to do with the change in power rating since the rating itself is probably more of a marketing thing than an actual rating.

 

[EXPcustom]

Newer 4x12s are 280 watts, looking for pic of the older jackplate...

 

[JakeAC5253]

Newer 4x12s are 280 watts, looking for pic of the older jackplate...

Seriously bro, what is your deal? You say you only trust 'industry professionals' except that you are so willing to believe a one-off myth which aroused solely from internet folklore?

 

[EXPcustom]

Newer 4x12s are 280 watts, looking for pic of the older jackplate...

Seriously bro, what is your deal? You say you only trust 'industry professionals' except that you are so willing to believe a one-off myth which aroused solely from internet folklore?

All I know is that the older Straight/Slant cabs are where its at in terms of sound. I currently don't have one here now but I have been scowering google for a pic of the jackplate, I believe those are 240watts.

The point of this thread is why do Mesas suck and I am telling you guys that IMO the newer ones dont sound as good. So before you judge all the Mesa cabs make sure you know what version you are talking about.

Regarding the one-off myth I personally researched that myself regarding the stamping dies and carbon steel content. I have yet to be disputed by a Celestion rep.

 

[some dude]

All I know is that the older Straight/Slant cabs are where its at in terms of sound. I currently don't have one here now but I have been scowering google for a pic of the jackplate, I believe those are 240watts.

My old straight/slant was 280w. I only remember that detail because I didn't understand why it was 280w when V30s were only 60w. No pics of the backplate as I sold it in 2006.

From what I understand the straight/slant was the original design. Not sure when they started producing seperate straight and slant cabs, but that could account for shift in tone as well.

Regarding the one-off myth I personally researched that myself regarding the stamping dies and carbon steel content. I have yet to be disputed by a Celestion rep.

In fairness company reps are salesmen and not engineers. As a former salesman, if I had someone trying to nerd it up with me over carbon content I'd smile, shrug and politely wait for them to go away.

 

[tlingen]

FWIW,

I've owned a LOT of 4x12's, and my recto OS slant sounded weird, boxy, and piercing, and I never really liked it. I tried a few sets of speakers, and yes, they were all in phase

I'd take an MDF-backed Marshall 1960A over an Oversized recto 4x12 any day of the week.

Agree 100%

 

[stephen sawall]

I am not sure about any of this .....but this is what I remember from over the years ....

The very early Vintage 30 speaker were rated 10 watts less. Celestion re-did them, there is a slight change in the sound mostly in the bass .... but the difference is very small. The early ones are rated different but I have no idea if they really are different or just changed the number.

Mesa has done many variations of a 4x12 over the years. I am not going into this because it would take a page and what someone likes better than a other is only personal taste. I like the cab they now call the Stiletto cab best by far. I like it much better than any other 4x12 they have built.

As far as the China frame thing goes in China in 2003 .... many feel there is no difference in the sound. But you well always find people that claim they sound different. One thing is for sure .... the metal is not as strong and you can bend the frame a lot easier. Personally I have never bent the frame on any speaker.

If I remember correct the only difference in the Mesa Vintage 30 and the rest of the Vintage 30's is they are sprayed with the chemical that many speakers are sprayed with that makes them sound more broken in right from the beginning. Like everything else you well find many views on this.

Part of the reason I feel many like the older cabs is the speakers are very broken in. I would think this is as important as any other factor any way.

 

[nighttrain69]

Part of the reason I feel many like the older cabs is the speakers are very broken in. I would think this is as important as any other factor any way.


+1 seems to make the most sense to me

 

[some dude]

If I remember correct the only difference in the Mesa Vintage 30 and the rest of the Vintage 30's is they are sprayed with the chemical that many speakers are sprayed with that makes them sound more broken in right from the beginning. Like everything else you well find many views on this.

So far as I know, they have a slightly different dust cap and a slightly lower bass response than a regular V30.

I've been told that both Mesa and Orange use the same speaker. I could be wrong though...

 

[SFW]

I have had nothing but good tones from the three Recto cabs that I've owned. On the other hand, I find that I don't care for Marshall cabs. Different strokes...

 

[EXPcustom]

I guess my point is because you had a bad experience with one Mesa cab dont discount them all.

 

[Nigel]

That cab is probably wired parallel-series, or "series at the jack."

Wire it series/parallel, or two series pairs paralleled at the jack.

You will achieve toanz. You will like it.

Then you can play your guitar, and know that the rig-talk brothers love you.

 

[Nigel]

Bump.

Examine your wiring, and if it's series at the jack, REWIRE IT.

It's worth trying, believe me.

 

[thiswaythatway]

Newer 4x12s are 280 watts, looking for pic of the older jackplate...

Seriously bro, what is your deal? You say you only trust 'industry professionals' except that you are so willing to believe a one-off myth which aroused solely from internet folklore?

All I know is that the older Straight/Slant cabs are where its at in terms of sound. I currently don't have one here now but I have been scowering google for a pic of the jackplate, I believe those are 240watts.

The point of this thread is why do Mesas suck and I am telling you guys that IMO the newer ones dont sound as good. So before you judge all the Mesa cabs make sure you know what version you are talking about.

Regarding the one-off myth I personally researched that myself regarding the stamping dies and carbon steel content. I have yet to be disputed by a Celestion rep.

Sorry about the 6 year bump but I think you had it backwards. The older Mesa cabs were labeled with 280 watt jack. If you look at the Mesa brochures that came out every year from 2006 and back the cabs were listed as 280watt. I'm pretty sure that starting in 2007 they switched them to 240 watts. The other guy who claimed he bought a new Mesa 280 watt cab, well I'm betting it wasn't new but sat around for a few years.

I dug this thread up because I just bought a REALLY old Mesa OS 4x12, it's a slant, not a straight/slant. They guy said he's had it since the 90's and it's got a 280 watt rating on it. It's in pretty good shape, but for 250 bucks I'm not complaining.

Whether or not the 60 watt V30 is the same exact thing at the 70 watt version? I don't know. One thing I DO know is that when V30's aren't broken in they sound like a barrel full of assholes. Once broken in they sound like Thor's Sledgehammer!

 

[FourT6and2]

Wow. lol anyway...

I remember reading (I think from Fryette?) that the rating on the outside of the cab is meaningless. The speakers on the inside never changed. Why Mesa went from 280 to 240 escapes me, but the V30 speaker on the inside is the same.

 

[mctallica1]

I DO know is that when V30's aren't broken in they sound like a barrel full of assholes. Once broken in they sound like Thor's Sledgehammer!

That gave me the LULZ

 

[stephen sawall]

$250... That is awesome.

 

[mudf00t]

I own 3 Mesa cabs. 2 4x12s and a 2x12. I have never noticed any of the shit the OP was talking about. They sound freaking awesome to me.

Both 4x12s say 280 watts.

2x12 says 140 watts.

 

[thiswaythatway]

$250... That is awesome.

Yeah, a whole 4x12 with V30's for cheaper than some people ask for a pair of speakers alone. OMG the thing is heavy. I found some guy on Craiglist, he said he was moving and needed it sold this week so he lowered his price. He also gave me a Peavey Solid State amp, I think it's broke though. Probably sounds like ass when it's not broke though.

 

[maddnotez]

Holy necrobump.

I was going to reply directly to the OP but that was 6 years ago.

IMO The OS Recto cab hype is not that it is a good cab. The hype I heard is that it is too boomy and from my experience that hold true. It did sound good BUT it was boomy as hell. I can see it working with some amps that lack in the oomph department but to the poster who said it sounded great with the Rev 2???? Are you sure it was the OS Mesa you played through?

Even with my bass on zero it was very boomy and the low end projection/frequency was just all bad.

It is NOT the Vintage 30's they are great speakers for rock/metal. They may sound weird when you are A/B ing them to other speakers on youtube but they are great speakers and for metal they are pretty much the standard imo. You just need the right cab to compliment them or to NOT alter their sound in a bad way.