1x12, 2x10, 4x10 thoughts?

[László]

What? That's just FOOLISH. You don't take long term products and start calling them the name of another long term product. This may sound silly, but to fans of the brand, this has to look ridiculous... renaming an established product is one thing, but to just start calling one product by another established products name... kind of clownish if you ask me. Which I guess you didn't.

'Tis but thy name that is my enemy;
Thou art thyself, though not a Montague.
What's Montague? It is nor hand, nor foot,
Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part
Belonging to a man. O, be some other name!
What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet.

-- Bill Shakespeare, 1597

"1597 was the last time the Detroit Lions won an NFL Championship, wasn't it?"

"That was 1957."

"Hey. 1957 is just like 1597. They're both in the past. So they're the same thing as far as I'm concerned: Things that aren't here any more."

"This post will be in the past as soon as you post it."

"It's something that Shakespeare and I have in common, except that he wasn't at the Lions championship game in 1957 and I was."

"Sounds like you'll soon be in the past, too."

"With me comes thee. So don't be in such a hurry, K?"

 

[DreamTheaterRules]

They seem confused since Gibson took over.

Not a good look for longtime fans of the brand who are just looking for clues as to what Mesa will become...

 

[László]

Not a good look for longtime fans of the brand who are just looking for clues as to what Mesa will become...

If experience is a guide, Gibson will work their f#ck-things-up magic as soon as possible.

I've considered a Mark VII mainly because it might be one of the last real-deal Mesas. I'm thinking maybe I should get in while the getting is still good.

Before you know it they'll be making them overseas. Like....um...PRS...

 

[aamefford]

Not a good look for longtime fans of the brand who are just looking for clues as to what Mesa will become...

For sure. Mesa was Iconic. Now, who knows. Given Gibson's general history, they seem to rely on past glories with ever less iconic things. Or ever more expensive. Or both.

 

[László]

For sure. Mesa was Iconic. Now, who knows. Given Gibson's general history, they seem to rely on past glories with ever less iconic things. Or ever more expensive. Or both.

Couldn't agree more. And it never had to be that way.

11Top feels that the Gibson equivalent to Private Stock is top-drawer, and I believe him. It proves that they are capable of great things.

But most of it...bleh. Fender, same.

Paul Smith, still innovating.

 

[Maertl513]

@aamefford, and what is your COA now?
I proposed, to walk the way of curiosity and try something individual.

 

[aamefford]

@aamefford, and what is your COA now?
I proposed, to walk the way of curiosity and try something individual.

I had run across the Barefaced YouTube channel a few days before you mentioned them. I am interested in the concept. If I were to find one local, I might try it. Kemmler would be a fluke of luck here in California I suspect.

I know and like the Mesa 23” widebody 1x12. I’m leaning that way. I may get a chance to hear the Mesa open 2x12 tomorrow. It’s probably overkill for my needs but you never know, Danville Music is having a Valentine’s Day sale…

 

[Maertl513]

Kammler is second hand only by end of '24. Dietmar closed business. I know, he sold to US residents. A friend of mine in Germany tries to sell his currently. A one of.

Barefaced may give you a hint about dealers or distributors.

 

[aamefford]

What? That's just FOOLISH. You don't take long term products and start calling them the name of another long term product. This may sound silly, but to fans of the brand, this has to look ridiculous... renaming an established product is one thing, but to just start calling one product by another established products name... kind of clownish if you ask me. Which I guess you didn't.

Not a good look for longtime fans of the brand who are just looking for clues as to what Mesa will become...

Short road trip today, and we passed one of the Ford electric cars that they named the Mustang. It ain't just Gibson. As my dad says, "at some point the MBA's come in and screw everything up." He thinks it's fun to say that, because I have an MBA from a prestigious southern California University whose initials could stand for the "University of Spoiled Children." One of my benevolent employers bought it for me when I was well beyond being a child, at least by age... Luckily, it didn't really take with me. Once and Engineer, always an engineer in my case. My dad's also an engineer, retired, and a damn fine one at that. His opinion of many (but not all) PhD's is also amusing. He maintains they are "educated beyond their intelligence." Any PhD's here, no harm meant. I'm sure you fall into the (but not all) group!

 

[aamefford]

If you're going for the look of the stack, get the matching one; if you have to spend a little more it won't kill you. I fully understand the 'decor' aspect of this stuff.

Finally found a "reasonable" deal on a Mesa open 1x12 widebody. Just like the one I sold last year for about $50 or $75 less than I paid for this one. I'm starting to understand the "never sell" mentality. This new one is a reverb purchase - I should have it in a week +/- assuming it's a clean reverb transaction. That should set me up just fine. OK, I'm already set up just fine. *This should* give me what I think I want; the options of closed, open and two speakers at once with both the closed and open. I'm hoping the dual 1x12 speakers will sound somewhat close to what a 2x12 would sound like.

 

[DISTORT6]

Finally found a reasonable a "reasonable" deal on a Mesa open 1x12 widebody. Just like the one I sold last year for about $50 or $75 less than I paid for this one. I'm starting to understand the "never sell" mentality. This new one is a reverb purchase - I should have it in a week +/- assuming it's a clean reverb transaction. That should set me up just fine. OK, I'm already set up just fine. *This should* give me what I think I want; the options of closed, open and two speakers at once with both the closed and open. I'm hoping the dual 1x12 speakers will sound somewhat close to what a 2x12 would sound like.

Yup. Never sell.
Cabinet Tetris rules!

 

[László]

I'm starting to understand the "never sell" mentality.

I'm the opposite. I hate clutter.

If I sell something, but need it down the road, I'll just do what I have to, and get it again.

A warehouse for old or rarely-used equipment seems odd to me. Yes, I'm in a tiny minority.

 

[aamefford]

I'm the opposite. I hate clutter.

If I sell something, but need it down the road, I'll just do what I have to, and get it again.

A warehouse for old or rarely-used equipment seems odd to me. Yes, I'm in a tiny minority.

Understood. I don't have that much stuff. 5 guitars, which is 1 to 4 too many, a Triple Crown and a Kemper. And 2 cabs and a Kemper Powered Kab. And a Fryette PS-2. And a pedalboard, and other ...stuff. I'm holding them for now, because:

1) Regarding electrics, I'm not sure what to keep, and what should go. I want a 24.5**" scale, fixed bridge guitar. I have a Santana III, I could block the trem, or part with it. I'll eventually part with my S2 Studio as it is the least played. I probably won't sell my KL 380, 'cause Korina and P90's
2) My Yamaha acoustic. It's an AC3-R, which is actually a pretty nice acoustic, certainly good enough, and I should have an acoustic.
3) My older, Korean nylon string - I'm frozen with inertia. My father in law gave (or loaned? not sure) it to me. It needs stuff. He doesn't really want it back, I can't really sell it. I'll eventually fix and keep it.
4) Regarding amps and modelers, I want a tube amp. A modeler makes sense, so I want one. I have both. A PS-2 is sort of an everything thing, and I have it also.
5) Regarding pedalboard. Pedalboard!
6) Regarding other stuff. Other stuff!

TL;DR, I need(?) to trade one or two electrics for one nicer electric. I think I'm going to be stuck at 4 guitars. And maybe later a tele. And a Strat. Damn, this just isn't working. At least I don't need any more amps. Well, maybe something along the Fender Tweed or something with wonderful clean + grunge. God I'm hopeless. I could ditch everything and just keep the Kemper and the KL 380. Or the Mesa. And maybe the Santana. And gotta keep the acoustic(s). I'm hopeless. All said with varying degrees of tongue in cheek. Or not.

 

[aamefford]

Here’s where I ended up, and a little family shot. My micro-mini studio is at 95%, with just some emptying of the rest of the room and …stuff.
Cabs:
Mesa Widebody 1x12 closed on the bottom, Mesa Widebody 1x12 open on top.
Amp:
Mesa Triple Crown 100. Total overkill? Check.
Other stuff - Fryette PS-2, OG, not the “A.” Kali 6” 2way powered monitors. Beringer Flow8 mixer. Two Notes Opus. Focusrite Clarett 2Pre. Kemper Stage and Kemper Powered Kab.

I’m set up to run from amp to cabs, from amp to PS-2 to cabs, unbalanced line out of the amp or Fryette into the Opus into monitors. I haven’t addressed the Kemper yet since I’ve gotten set up. I think it will just be be kemper to kab.

https://imgur.com/a/oq6psjo

I’m trying to decide if I’m vain enough to post these to the “show us your family” thread.

 

[DreamTheaterRules]

Nice rigs, AA!

 

[aamefford]

Nice rigs, AA!

Thanks! Forgot to mention that both cabs are 1x12’s, just for the record.

 

[Maertl513]

I highly appreciate that you made up a decision in the end. Optically your rig suits very well - additionally chosing an open and a closed back cab.
Personally I would flip the arrangement of the cabs. Open at the bottom, closed on the top.
Open backs tend to focus on mids and highs - standing directly on the floor, whilst the closed focus on the lows and mids (bass coupling).
Elevated or tilt cabs appear with emphasized mids and highs (bass decoupling).
Therefore my concerns are: Your rig could appear very scoup, because your arrangement delivers the more on the bottom and the more on the top.
Clarity of tone could be achieved with the open cab on the ground and the closed back on top.

 

[aamefford]

I highly appreciate that you made up a decision in the end. Optically your rig suits very well - additionally chosing an open and a closed back cab.
Personally I would flip the arrangement of the cabs. Open at the bottom, closed on the top.
Open backs tend to focus on mids and highs - standing directly on the floor, whilst the closed focus on the lows and mids (bass coupling).
Elevated or tilt cabs appear with emphasized mids and highs (bass decoupling).
Therefore my concerns are: Your rig could appear very scoup, because your arrangement delivers the more on the bottom and the more on the top.
Clarity of tone could be achieved with the open cab on the ground and the closed back on top.

Good thoughts on cabinet stacking. I will try the reverse order in the future. The room is quite small, and the volume is low and I sit pretty close to the amp right now. My initial thoughts were to have the less directional open cab on top. I absolutely see your logic though, and it may make more sense. I probably won’t swap them for a little while. I’ll report back when I do.

 

[DreamTheaterRules]

What are the dimensions of the room?

My suggestion would be sealed (ported?) on bottom, open on top but, move them out around a foot from the wall. But, the room size has a lot to do with what works best.

My preference when using closed and open together is take your tight punchy closed and use it on bottom to solidify your bottom. Take your more airy open back and put it on top… get the open cab up away from floor (and back wall) coupling to get more spread and air from it.

This is all preference though. Just sharing what works best for me.

 

[aamefford]

@DreamTheaterRules, those were my thoughts regarding closed cab on the bottom. The speakers are too close to the wall, and the room is roughly 10’ in the direction the speakers fire, and 11’ perpendicular. Small, and not ideal firing across the short dimension, but is what it is due to a multi use room. It’s good enough for sure. I also have the option of the monitors instead, which scales the sound down to the room size a little better.

Really, I don’t need anything in there but the monitors and Kemper stage, or Opus and pedalboard. I just really want a “Guitar Hero” stack in there. Arguably that should be a JCM800 or Rectifier and a 2x12 or 4x12, but the TC-100 and 2 each 1x12’s works better for me.