New Amp -OR- Midpriced modelers -OR- Is anyone here (still) playing a Tonex?

[Ovibos]

Played my first gig with the HX Stomp XL last night. DI’d right in with just a TRS->XLR adapter. Super easy, got the sound I wanted and saved my back.

 

[Gtrbldr]

I am not married to one or another platform, but am using Kemper for more than 4 yrs and Helix for 6. Both of them evolved and only got better to the point they are great. But new stuff is itching and crawling its way to my Mac. A Tonex with HX should be a great combination and I am checking that out.

I make my own profiles in my Kemper (amp, loadbox, IRs) and I am noticing lately there is something in the low end and low mids that sound tightend to the extend it sounds congested. And mucking with the sound of my CU24 and McC with 57/08s. Something the amp (with loadbox and IRs) or HX with the same IRs does not do. The Kemper does not breathe in the lower register. Some guitars just dont jive with that. I am loving profiling tech, So will try tonex next.

 

[alantig]

Me too! I’ll show you mine if, ahhh, never mind.

Okay - take a couple steps back first.

 

[aamefford]

Okay - take a couple steps back first.

‘Bout wet myself on that one.

 

[alantig]

‘Bout wet myself on that one.

 

[Bogner]

Okay - take a couple steps back first.

‘Bout wet myself on that one.

Easy Now...Before Somebody Gets An Eye Poked Out...

 

[alantig]

Easy Now...Before Somebody Gets An Eye Poked Out...

Yeah - don't want to do that again.

 

[alantig]

Took the plunge and ordered from Sweetwater today. Should have it next week.

They were wrong. It showed up today. Gonna start putting it together while I watch Tim Pierce in an hour.

 

[aamefford]

Being the all over the map guy that I am, I got to looking specifically at closed 2x12’s. The horizontal ones tipped vertically are small enough in the wide/deep dimensions to make an ok mini stack with my mkv25 combo. The vertical ones are ok size wise as well. I think they also will do better if/when I get a bigger iron amp.

I’ve found some interesting things locally. Comments are welcome:
1. Mesa compact horizontal Recto/roadster with V30’s.

2. Dr. Z “Z Best” 2x12 with a V30 and a G12H30, set up for Horizontal or Vertical orientation. This one is front ported.

3. Marshall 1965A 4x10 with G10L-35’s (outlier, but decent size)

4. Mesa open 4x10, with either unknown Jensen or celestion cream backs, I found 2. Not closed, but a surprisingly decent size. The TC-100 is one of the amp recommendations for it.

5. Bogner 4x12 with unknown eminence speakers. I’m totally unlikely to do this, but the price looked decent, and I’m curious. Condition looks great from the photos.

Last, a Mojotone 1x12 with a V30. This also makes sense. Convertible closed or open.

Eventually, whatever I get will be paired with something like a Mesa TC-100, Archon 50, or something big(er) with a good master volume. Family friendly volume except when the family is gone…

Kemper rig probably stays, mkv25 probably goes when I get a big amp.

Comments? Criticism? Other ideas? Random derails?

 

[Bogner]

Well....I Am A 4x12 Guy So My Vote Is Always A 4X12 And The Bogner Cab Is A Nice Cab. It Totally Contradicts Your Space/Size Parameters But Out Of The Listings You Mentioned It is By Far The Best Cab...(I May Be Biased). But Seriously...Out Of Those Cabs It Is The Best. Not Sure About Those Speakers Though As They Are Unknown.

Choice 2 Would Be The Compact Roadster Cab As It Meets A Space Need And Still Would Deliver Down The Line On Your Future Moves.

I Still Like My Milk Crate Idea And A Black Yard Sale Table Cloth.

 

[aamefford]

Well....I Am A 4x12 Guy So My Vote Is Always A 4X12 And The Bogner Cab Is A Nice Cab. It Totally Contradicts Your Space/Size Parameters But Out Of The Listings You Mentioned It is By Far The Best Cab...(I May Be Biased). But Seriously...Out Of Those Cabs It Is The Best. Not Sure About Those Speakers Though As They Are Unknown.

Choice 2 Would Be The Compact Roadster Cab As It Meets A Space Need And Still Would Deliver Down The Line On Your Future Moves.

I Still Like My Milk Crate Idea And A Black Yard Sale Table Cloth.

Thanks! I anticipated your preference for the 4x12. Your last option is the most sensible. I had just spotted a couple of pretty good deals that got my gears turning. I’ve always liked the Mesa cabs. Im chatting with the owner of it. If it’s clean, and we can come to a fair price, well…

Edit to add I’m curious about that Dr. Z cab. It’s the same price as the Mesa.

 

[DreamTheaterRules]

Z-best! Killer cab!!! It is a 2x12 Thiele cab, not just a regular front ported cab. They flat rock and sound BIG! This is the cab I really wish I had when I had all the Mesa amps!

 

[aamefford]

Z-best! Killer cab!!! It is a 2x12 Thiele cab, not just a regular front ported cab. They flat rock and sound BIG! This is the cab I really wish I had when I had all the Mesa amps!

Wow, that’s enthusiastic! Consider my use case - spare bedroom/studio, lots of conversation + level volume, like 75-ish db. P.O.’ing the neighbors once in a while when I can. I’m pretty confident the Mesa will more or less do that. If the Z will as well, then it will come down to price and condition. It’s gotta be pretty clean condition to live in the guest bedroom. Or the milk crate. A decent BATNA if you happen to be one of those MBA/negotiation type guys.

 

[DreamTheaterRules]

Wow, that’s enthusiastic! Consider my use case - spare bedroom/studio, lots of conversation + level volume, like 75-ish db. P.O.’ing the neighbors once in a while when I can. I’m pretty confident the Mesa will more or less do that. If the Z will as well, then it will come down to price and condition. It’s gotta be pretty clean condition to live in the guest bedroom. Or the milk crate. A decent BATNA if you happen to be one of those MBA/negotiation type guys.

I have the PRS 2x12 pine, and the Mesa 2x12 vertical recto. Both highly regarded cabs for 2x12s. While I know speakers are a huge part of it, and I don't like the speakers in the PRS (I replaced one with Warehouse ET90 and it is better now), my Z-best was bought used and he swapped the G12H for a Warehouse ET65. It is hands down the best cab, with ALL amps I've tried it with, that I've ever owned. It can be set upright or on it's side. It's smaller than either of the other two and sounds bigger. As I said, this is basically a Mesa Thiele Cab x2.

I do know that the Bogner cabs are great (all of them, 1x, 2x and 4x) and I haven't played any of them in my room. But if the Z-best meets your size requirements, I promise you it is a GREAT cab.

 

[aamefford]

I have the PRS 2x12 pine, and the Mesa 2x12 vertical recto. Both highly regarded cabs for 2x12s. While I know speakers are a huge part of it, and I don't like the speakers in the PRS (I replaced one with Warehouse ET90 and it is better now), my Z-best was bought used and he swapped the G12H for a Warehouse ET65. It is hands down the best cab, with ALL amps I've tried it with, that I've ever owned. It can be set upright or on it's side. It's smaller than either of the other two and sounds bigger. As I said, this is basically a Mesa Thiele Cab x2.

I do know that the Bogner cabs are great (all of them, 1x, 2x and 4x) and I haven't played any of them in my room. But if the Z-best meets your size requirements, I promise you it is a GREAT cab.

@DreamTheaterRules - Promise, I'll lay off after this. I can tell you love this cabinet. Do you think it will work for my primary use, which is Mkv25 or other amp through the PS2 or low setting on the master, and use it at conversation to loud TV volume, figure 75 db A scale plus or minus a bit (Determined by holding my phone with a sound meter app up at arms length and yelling at it)? I ask, only because I've read a couple of accounts of folks finding the cab too loud in a live stage setting. I know that's a pretty different set of circumstances. Basically at the stage volume the guitarist in question wanted, it was killing the sound guy and back of the venue. The end result was he pulled one speaker to use it (recommended by Dr. Z), and eventually sold it. My use case is going to be in a 11x12 foot bedroom/studio/escape pod/panic room. I'll be within 5 feet of it or so. Eventually, maybe it will get used for jam sessions in other places, louder.

My current, if I do something now options:
1) The aforementioned Dr. Z Z Best - pretty clean, one small tolex nick and some rust on the metal corners, $550, down from $650
+ DTR Loves it!
+ Size and shape work
+ Well Regarded
+ Decent-ish price?
- 60 Watt Rating?
- Loud AF, directional, may or may not work for my needs?

2) A super clean Mesa compact recto 2x12, asking $550, I think $500 is reasonable.
+ Mesa (plus for me, for no good reason)
+ Mesa / Celestion V30's
+ 120 Watt Rating?
+ Decent-ish price
+ Size and shape work, just slightly smaller than the Dr. Z
- Not as "Punchy"?
- "Thin" midrange?
- 'Bout 5 lb Heavier than the Dr. Z

3) A little Mojotone Select Series 1x12 with a cream back 75 $250
+ Hell of a decent price
+ looks mint
+ Probably makes more sense for my use case
+ Convertible closed/open
+ Light
- 1x12
- No sac swinging street cred
- Didn't I more or less just sell the Mesa open version of this?
- 75 Watt rating?

4) Milk Crate(s)
+ Serves my purpose
+ Light weight
+ Cheap
+ Requires late night Ninja moves behind the grocery store
- Requires late night Ninja moves behind the grocery store
- Doesn't make any sound (this may also be a plus).
- Fugly

 

[dmatthews]

Bwahahahahahaha!!!

 

[dmatthews]

Bwahahahahahaha!!!

It was in my feed, OK?
Lol! Just a joke... I respect the product.

 

[DreamTheaterRules]

Ok A, I have to tell you, I'm a big conflicted on this. Yes, the Z-best is a great cab! No question about it.

My concern is your 75dB comment. This is all my opinion, but I used to have all 1x12s (about 10 of them at one time). Then I got some 2x's and even tried a few 4x's. IMO, the 2x12 cabs just sound bigger, etc., than the 1x12 cabs. And yes, the 4x12s are a notch up from the 2x12s. However, I found 2 2x12s that sound bigger than most, and that is the 2x12 vertical recto cab, and the Z-best. Both of those will punch with a 4x12, especially the Z.

Here is my concern. That 75dB number is low. There is a point, (to me!) where you are better using a 1x12. A 2x doesn't open up and show that "bigger" until a few dB more than that, again IMO. If I have to play below 80-85, I run a 1x12. My Avatar Cube sounds big for a 1x and so does my Mesa Thiele. I just don't know if you'll get the benefit of a 2x12 if you can't turn it up a little louder than 75dB. I'd be interested to see if others agree, but this is what I believe after about 20 years of experimenting. And, you can always combine 2 1x12s for that "bigger" later if you want too. When I had all 1x12s, I almost always had two of them hooked up to every amp. I did all my speaker mix/matching this way before pairing them in a 2x12.

 

[aamefford]

Ok A, I have to tell you, I'm a big conflicted on this. Yes, the Z-best is a great cab! No question about it.

My concern is your 75dB comment. This is all my opinion, but I used to have all 1x12s (about 10 of them at one time). Then I got some 2x's and even tried a few 4x's. IMO, the 2x12 cabs just sound bigger, etc., than the 1x12 cabs. And yes, the 4x12s are a notch up from the 2x12s. However, I found 2 2x12s that sound bigger than most, and that is the 2x12 vertical recto cab, and the Z-best. Both of those will punch with a 4x12, especially the Z.

Here is my concern. That 75dB number is low. There is a point, (to me!) where if you are better using a 1x12. A 2x doesn't open up and show that "bigger" until a few dB more than that, again IMO. If I have to play below 80-85, I run a 1x12. My Avatar Cube sounds big for a 1x and so does my Mesa Thiele. I just don't know if you'll get the benefit of a 2x12 if you can't turn it up a little louder than 75dB. I'd be interested to see if others agree, but this is what I believe after about 20 years of experimenting. And, you can always combine 2 1x12s for that "bigger" later if you want too. When I had all 1x12s, I almost always had two of them hooked up to every amp. I did all my speaker mix/matching this way before pairing them in a 2x12.

That helps. I’m going to cool my jets until next week. My daughter is participating in a cheer camp for kids with Down Sundrome this weekend. It’s put on by the SF 49’ers every year. They do both football and cheerleading. This is her first time participating.

We’ll see where desire leads me next week. DTR’s comments make good sense. So do @Bogner ’s, to get a milk crate-ish item and enjoy the 1x10 combo. Happy to hear from others. I’ll eventually either do what makes sense, or what looks cool in my space.

 

[aamefford]

It was in my feed, OK?
Lol! Just a joke... I respect the product.

I had to add in that this “advert” led to some additional laundry needs, what with the coffee coming out my nose, and other possible issues.