Mesa Boogie 4x12- Traditional Rectifier V30 vs C90 EVM12L Half Back. Jackson Phil Collen Archtop.

V30 trad- 2:15
Half Back- 3:03
Hey guys, pretty straightforward comparo with my Mark III black stripe- same settings for both. In the mix I would probably tweak the presence down a bit on the Trad & up a bit on the HB. Which do you like better?

[@YsAbTones]

do you know if the MC90's in it have the 1777 cone ?

[@TIGHTENmetal]

Sorry, I have no idea & it's long gone.

[@YsAbTones]

@@TIGHTENmetal i got the answer from several owner, 1777 cone it is

[@tatteredhope911]

Dude! The C90 EV12L cab sounded way better. Made the v30 cab sound like nails on a chalkboard by comparison. And I'm not a "this is better than that" guy, I'm more of a: "well its just different sounding", person but...yeah C90 & EV12L cab sounds way better. I dont know how that translates in a mix. Awesome vid man!

[@TIGHTENmetal]

I would agree in trying to cop a Collen tone. I think it really depends on the style of music being played!

[@davehendrix671]

@@TIGHTENmetal how would you say that vintage mesa 4yb sounds in person to you does it have decent low end i know youtube doesnt do any justice to any of the cabs

[@TIGHTENmetal]

@@davehendrix671 I think the low end is as good as the amp you're using. It's not tight like a sealed cab though. I'm biased because I don't care for how sterile the EV speakers sound, and I think the cab is too "rock" for me with the half open back. There are a ton of guys that love them though! So, I'd say it depends on your style.

[@tysonarnedt9345]

I liked this cab so much after I put it together for fast13b that I made one for myself - I also loaded an oversized Recto with the US made Black Label 12Ls and V30s in an X Pattern and it made a huge improvement to my ears - also agree completely with the comment on the halfback 2x12 - probably my favorite all around cab - but then I've never gone wrong loading EVMs into anything - they transform the sound whether it's a Fender, Marshall, Mesa - even an old Laney AOR - killer

[@AppleSunbee33]

Thanks! Grabbing one of these old school cabs tomorrow

[@kangaroofoot]

How much did you get it for?

[@ultimatemetalguitartones]

I prefer the C90 EVM12L Half Back. Thx for the video

[@rangle187]

cool gear. Looking for one of those old cabs in a 2x12

[@glaucosouza1971]

Good ol' vintage half cab wins hands down! EV12 all the way and it matches wonderfully with the c90s .

[@jakebenigni]

DUDE ! these would sound fantastic blended together. you may be on to something there. your own signature sound. killer my man.

[@TIGHTENmetal]

It actually did sound very tight & full blended in the band. A nice balance.

[@BlaineLudeman]

are you in between the cap and cone or right on the cap because the 30s were harsher than normal? and I would have liked to hear the difference between the two other speakers but they sounded good blended

[@TIGHTENmetal]

On the V30s I'm at the edge of the cap & the cone. V30s are harsh solo, and that's what makes them cut so well in the band mix IMO. The halfback cab I had to move a little into the cap because at the edge, it was too dull compared to the sound in the room. On the HalfBack the speakers are hard panned left - right. Take one ear bud out. :)

[@leosun8469]

I have a late 80s/early 90s half back 2x12 version of your half back 4x12, but mine has 2 EV12Ls, top and bottom. I got it on a trade and almost sold it until I did a test to see how it sounded before I placed it up for sale. I also have a mid 90s (95-ish) Mesa Traditional Bottom cab with V30s (English made) that I bought brand new, as well as a Marshall JCM900 Bottom cab loaded with English made G12H 30s. I did a comparison of all the cabinets with my HRG C++, my DRG C+, and my OD808 boosted Dual Recto RevF. I can’t even begin to tell you how amazed I was that the Mesa 2x12 absolutely SLAYS the Mesa V30 4x12, AND the Marshall G12H30 4x12, much to my surprise. Amazing little cab, even though it’s not so little- almost the same size as my other 4x12s. HUGE sound- tight, focused and 3 dimensional sounding, I suspect due to the open top half of the cab- especially when you place about a foot off of a wall.

[@EmmanuelGonzalez-pw5eu]

Would you ever sell me the Mesa v30 cab? Lol

[@danielanderson8502]

Man. That vintage Mesa cab cuts! I’m a Mesa fan and passed up a couple of vintage cabs....idk why but I did many years ago. And that Jackson! I have NO IDEA why that shape never took off. I’d LOVE to see that be reissued, because I’d buy it! It looks pretty metal to me!

[@johnnybrit804]

Old 90's half back very very very the best!

[@jsullivan2112]

If nothing else this video reinforces how much I hate V30s. Definitely prefer the old Mesa half-back.

[@shopclown]

I much preferred the V30 trad would be great in the mix , I think the other would be hard to hear live

[@TIGHTENmetal]

I played them both at (metal) band practice last week and all the guys preferred the trad cab as it's tighter & has better cut. That said, I did full stack them for a while and in that context they really did compliment each other.

[@quakana]

Crazy to me ......the V30 cab makes that head sound spongy and fizzy like a marshall and the older cab sounds like a mesa .....maybe it's the tune you are playing but that's how it sounds to me

[@justinTime077]

You have no clue what you’re passing 🆙

[@redwhiteblue9866]

Likin the old school one better

[@Bennett8187]

I hate those c90s with a burning passion. I would very much like to try the evm12l