Mesa Celestion Vintage 30 comparison. 2001 vs 2008 (same cab)

[@snapascrew]

After listening to this for a while on a bunch of different sources (keeping in mind that i was actually in the room with these amps for several hours also using my ears) I’ll say this: I prefer the older speakers. They sound more natural. When one singular 2001 speaker is compared to one 2008 speaker the 2008’s problem frequencies don’t seem *super* apparent (but they are still obvious). When you play all 4(2001) together vs the other 4(2008) all together it really does show you the difference in the two. Again, i must stress the microphone position was absolutely identical on all 8 recordings. A ruler, flashlight, and a laser level were used. Another *very important* thing to note is if you listen to this video on inaccurate hyped speakers/headphones you may not be able to make accurate comments or critiques. You also don’t need world class equipment. For example: on my audio technica headphones the two years of speakers just sound like different flavors. *HOWEVER* if I listen to this video played back on something much less hyped (ie: a phone, laptop, tv, NS10’s, etc) the 2008’s problem frequencies make my skin crawl! This is not some new concept, I’m just noting this for anyone who maybe doesn’t record or mix audio for a living. If you’re listening to this video on (likely consumer grade) speakers that make everything sound really good you’re probably not going to have a good takeaway from this video. Check it out on your phone speaker after too. The differences between these two sets of speakers is nothing you couldn’t fix with eq when making a record. Perspective is also important. Which clip you hear first can change how you feel. At the end of the day, the 2001 sounds more like a guitar to me. Probably because all of my favorite records were made using v30 speakers from the rough era of the early 2000’s. Check out my next video where I try to EQ match them with Izotope Ozone 9’s “match eq.” For any doubters of the cabinets consistency you can call Mesa yourself and ask them the difference between the two cabinets. What they told me and will tell you is they’re identical minus the piping color. I don’t know why anyone would point to the cabinets construction for the differences in sound when you can see in the video that from 20hz - 1khz the cabs perform within 1dB of eachother. They’re clearly the same cab. This is not just my word, this is from Mesa as well. Call them. (As I’m writing this no one has yet claimed such a silly thing but this *is* the internet I’m sure they’re on their way….) Cheers. Thanks for reading and watching.

[@karlc2869]

How much do they cost, pal?

[@nigel7880]

This is God's work, and indeed the early 00's non-B's are the B's knees lol.

[@AndresPrass]

2001 Top Left is INSANITY! Tastyyy

[@demisephil]

Such a massive difference between the two cab's. 2001 sounds like a mesa should sound.

[@ScrewDJ_McDuck]

great comparison. 2001 is a classic sound what we exactly heard on our fav albums.

[@firststep7750]

The 2008 cab sounds scooped in addition to having a harsh top end compared to the rounded top end and mid-strong sound of the 2001 cab. Further, the bottom speakers from the 2001 cab are slightly lower mid focused than the top two speakers which sound slightly higher mid focused. The bottom right speaker of the 2008 cab was the only one tolerable in that cab. Very interesting and informative comparison.

[@LordofDiamondsMetal]

This is a really cool comparison. It's interesting that the most major difference in the two seems to be in the high end, and the midrange characters sound pretty similar to me. Both completely usable, of course

[@snapascrew]

well said!

[@LordofDiamondsMetal]

@@snapascrew I've got a 2001 Vintage 30 and I enjoy it a lot for being a somewhat bright speaker, but not overly "spiky" - that is, with bizarre frequencies that stick out too much that I have to eq out. But I've got one that was made in 2003 and it sounds very different indeed - more bass, smoother top, it sounds like it's in a bigger cabinet than it actually is. I think it's mostly a crap shoot what any vintage 30 is going to sound like, like I've got a modern 2021 Chinese 8 ohm one that's pretty good too

[@snapascrew]

@@LordofDiamondsMetal ya it’s wild. And I’m starting to buy too many cabs. I have to stop. Asap. But then I go online and some April 2003 Mesa cab appears. It never ends.

[@marcelopm3]

@@snapascrew did you already got this 2003 cab? how is it?

[@TudorAdrian]

They both sound good; very close bar the extra sizzle on the 2008 vintage which, with some wear & tear, will probably mellow out eventually & sound closer to its 2001 counterpart. Great specimens both of them. I wouldn't mind owning one or the other.

[@snapascrew]

Ya you can definitely eq one to sound pretty close to the other for sure. I made another video using Ozone’s match eq function to try and match em and It worked great. Hilarious !!

[@TudorAdrian]

@@snapascrew i will check that out, thanks

[@thechannelnobodyaskedfor6116]

This is revelatory Surely way different between both I loved the 2001 cab

[@JoelGrindMusic]

back to back, the 2001's but honestly...both are pretty great. blended it would prob be = * chefs kiss*

[@JoelGrindMusic]

also, top left on the 2008 was pretty much my perfect speaker sound

[@snapascrew]

@@JoelGrindMusic ya when it comes to sharpness in the high end of a speaker it’s a simple as throwing a parametric eq on it and cutting it out. You can definitely make them sound (very close to) the same in post.

[@TonyLaMarca2manygadgets]

It’s really interesting that the 2001’s seem like they have a low pass filter on them (though I realize that you didn’t apply any post processing EQ). Cool comparison!

[@snapascrew]

The crazy thing is I’ve put a few of my favorite isolated guitar tones under an analyzer before and saw the exact same curve and now I think I know why!!! Some Mark Lewis and Adam D records showed that same sharp cut at 8khz followed by a little bit of like 10k added back in. .

[@joeblow1229]

@@snapascrew mark has made the majority of his records with a 2008 Mesa cab, just fyi ;)

[@norwardradtke1361]

For sure I’ve noticed a few of the great modern metal engineers like fredman studio jens bogren and Kristian Kohle all do that 8k low pass, I love the monitor mode for my graphic eq because if it’s not upper harmonics I’m losing on the top end then goodbye!

[@snapascrew]

@@joeblow1229 I wasn’t aware! I’ve seen him post pics of a straight Mesa traditional cab but it had dark grey piping not silver (old traditional not stiletto like 2008) so I’ve just never seen him post pics or talk about the cab you’re speaking of. Regardless, as we saw in the video it’s the same sound below 1khz so if he uses his ears and places the mic and eq’s it it’ll sound great no matter what for sure.

[@timperry2375]

Great comparison. Apparently Andy sneap had a 2003 slanted mesa cab that he and other producers including Colin Richardson used extensively in the 2000s. Definitely an iconic sound. I just got myself one from 2002, sounds incredible with my 6505+ and randall rm100. Can be hard to come by

[@adamnollygetgood5545]

I hope it's not too pedantic to correct this, but Andy's cab has speakers from 2000 in it

[@timperry2375]

@@adamnollygetgood5545 😱 do you have the cab serial or speaker codes by any chance?

[@adamnollygetgood5545]

@@timperry2375 Yeah, I won't divulge the specific serial but it's in the low 32xxx range and has V30s from the start of 2000

[@timperry2375]

@@adamnollygetgood5545 Interesting. He had 2 traditional straight cabs, one which was used to reamp As I Lay Dying an ocean between us. That tone is wicked I've always wondered what speakers

[@marcelopm3]

@@adamnollygetgood5545 what about late 2003 T4335 Speakers? Are they from that 'golden era' you talked about with Kristian? Should I expect it to be similar to these 2001s?

[@obestertomas]

best metalcore tone ever man ! oh, it´s so good that I tweak my axe fx based on this video /,,/

[@Jenswsmjens]

This is the content that we need! The truth is out there that the older mesa cabs (before 2002) had the UK made v30's and and the more recent have chinese ones. But i'm suprised how different the speakers from the same cabinet sound on it self(!). Some of them are a litle more distorted and bold, others have more high-end fizz,... Very interesting!

[@snapascrew]

All of my recto cabs have English made ones so i dunno lol. (1998,2001,2002,2008)

[@Jenswsmjens]

@@snapascrew That makes it even more interesting haha

[@marvelharris9540]

this is the type of uninformed bro science that leads to video's such as this

[@moonelfcosmo]

Mesa V30’s are made in the UK

[@400_billion_suns]

It's possible to have an identical average frequency response but still have different dynamic traits, so I don't doubt that you were hearing a different quality to the 'thump' even if the traces were identical. In other words, the transient pulse shape could be different between two speakers/cabs, but the average frequency response over time could be nearly identical.

[@snapascrew]

I too have thought about this since posting!! Great comment!

[@EthanMckennaMusic]

2008 left something frying on the stove lol

[@snapascrew]

Lmao

[@roycekillz2404]

Great video. I get drunk off the sound coming from the 2001.

[@Hagstrom4ever]

Both sound good, in the 2008 only the bottom left seems to be different (brighter) compared to the other 3, on the 2001 the difference between speakers is more apparent. I have a 2004 Traditional and all sound different from each other. I'm trying to buy a Standard because I'm pretty sure it will sounds the best with my VH4.

[@timperry2375]

What's the serial number on your 2004 cab?

[@vaclavslovak3104]

brutal tones! I prefer 2008 cab sounds

[@snapascrew]

Not gonna lie the bottom left speaker on the 2008 cab is pretty awesome!

[@chrisfoster5]

I would pay you some big money for that 2001 mesa cab lol Thats the sound i have been looking for. Idk how many mesa cabs i have bought over the years and have never been able to locate anything from 2000-2003.

[@snapascrew]

Pro tip: when looking at used cabs online the older cabs have non recessed / not flush handles on the sides! Dead giveaway of an early cab.

[@chrisfoster5]

Does your 2008 have flush handles? Your cab sounds like this guy i knows cab and i have used probably 100 other mesa cabs and this is the only one i have ever heard that sounds like his miced up. I have chased for a mesa cab that sounds even remotley like his for years now lol, I always figured his was very early 2000s

[@SlyHikari03]

2001 variant sounds like they should.

[@NStuffGuitars]

Great I just bought a 2008 Mesa speaker so now I'm going to have to sell it the 2008 sounds hissy and scratchy sounding

[@snapascrew]

if you like it it's fine! don't just sell it, next one could be worse. lol

[@solidsnakec20]

i hear a difference, great tones either way

[@snapascrew]

Yupp. Simple eq could get them sounding very close to each other too. Check out the other video I posted today where I EQ match them. Almost identical. It’s just nice to have the one already “de-fizzed” lol.

[@lordgraga]

This was very well done. Did you see John Browne's V30 video?

[@snapascrew]

Probably in the past

[@petesorensenguitar]

Man I love these vids, Blair. I would kill for either of these cabs but the used market in New Zealand fucking sucks. Cheers

[@snapascrew]

honestly.. there's plenty of good cabinets out there you don't need something from a specific year I kinda think its all BS now.. I mean sure different years have a sound but some of my favorite records were done with cabs from the not so good years like 2005 and 2008 cabs. I recently spoke with Mark Lewis who's mixed and recorded a lot of the records im speaking of and he says its all bullshit lol

[@petesorensenguitar]

@@snapascrew oh for sure I don't give a rat's about years. I'm saying it's so bad here you'd almost never find what you want. I've had serious thoughts about relocating to the States purely because the gear is so much more abundant and affordable there.

[@timperry2375]

​@@snapascrew what did Mark Lewis say about the cabs and years he's used? I've always wondered what they used in All that remains - Overcome which was 2008. Thanks

[@RAGOG92]

2008, in a mix with a bas guitar! Defently enjoy 2001 on it,s own! ...Or Maybe scope some 4-5k with the 2008 in the mix .....Or maybe...I don,t know shit ^,^ This is why i love music...All the variations Great video! \,,/

[@JonJourdan]

great vid man

[@snapascrew]

Thank you Jonathan I agree 😂🤷‍♂️🤘

[@sadji96]

hi can you make an impulse response? For the 2001 model.

[@snapascrew]

Not at this time. There are certain things that I am comfortable sharing with the world and other things that I’d like to keep for myself. Maybe some other time.

[@gastonjabaly]

I sold my 2002 mesa cab out of hardship back in the day and now i regret it got new v30s and i dont get what i ised to get out of them anymore

[@snapascrew]

for what its worth there are a few very well known metal recording engineers and producers who still just buy new v30s and swear that they're all fine. Mark Lewis is one of them I can name off the top of my head. I believe Glen Fricker did a video on the brand brand new (like 2022?) v30s and that they sound great compared to what was out recently in the last few years. idk !

[@heinzketchup8489]

Nice comparison, thanks! Do you know, which serial numbers the cabs have?

[@snapascrew]

Newer cab: C2- 67801 Speakers inside it: Dec 2 2008 Older cab: C39684 Speakers inside it: May 25 2001

[@heinzketchup8489]

@@snapascrew Thanks man!

[@heinzketchup8489]

@@snapascrew Thanks man!

[@untoldguitarist]

The 2001 speakers sound better to my ears. But also shows people who say that you can't get any good tones out of Peavey's and that Peavey's suck and have a terrible mid range! Are absolutely full of shit with their opinion, and either 1. Don't how to Dial in a 5150, or 2. Are running it with a shit cab/speakers/pickups/guitar/etc or even the true sleeper problem that people 99.9% overlook, the tubes they're running in the 5150. Just because they're glowing doesn't mean that they're at 100% functioning. They can still be worn the fuck out and glow perfectly normal... and still People will still say "pEavEY's SuCk" 🤣

[@snapascrew]

Thanks! For the kind of music I play a 5150 is the most common amplifier so I don’t often hear this peavey comment haha. But ya I agree there’s idiots everywhere you turn on the internet 🤣🤣. Imagine j was actually trying to dial in the worlds best tone? Different mic position, maybe a secondary mic, little bit of eq in protools. A 5150 is unstoppable haha ❤️. The funny thing about tubes in this particular amp is I never really hear a difference when I swap so I stopped. My first 5150 was a 1992 block letter amp and I pulled out 17 year old tubes with peavey stamped on all of them. Got excited and replaced them with tube amp doctor, shuguang, and sovtek. Didn’t hear a difference 🤣🤣. Granted that was like 12 years ago and I was literally a teenager in highschool haha

[@untoldguitarist]

@@snapascrew If those were Peavey stamped 6L6' s those are the really good late 80's early 90's Sylvania Glass, a d same for the 12ax7's that just have that stamped on the side, also Sylvania glass. I have those 12ax7's loaded in both my 92' Teal stripe Ultra 120 and my 5150 II and both have tone for days. Yeah man, I've heard that comment on various high gain amp forums, when the 5150 is a staple in the metal world for a reason. And the entire Ultra lineage is stupid versatile and affordable, with everything from the Teal stripe Ultra,Ultra +,XXX, and JSX heads. They all have a active EQ built in the crunch channel and ultra channels. I had to replace the 12ax7's in the 5150 II that I picked up from a older gentleman about 2 months ago. It sounded grainy and fuzzy with muffled tone. So I knew immediately it was shit glass in the pre amp section which had some 12ax7 with nothing stamped on them. The amp had tons of volume and low end, so the power tubes were fine. Pulled the shit no names and installed the spare 4 Sylvania 12ax7's that I pulled from a fried VTM120 and installed them in. And boom 💥 back and business and tone was back to how a 5150 is supposed to sound. Tight, fat and massive sounding.

[@norwardradtke1361]

Ugh yeah the 2008 one has that nasty high end sizzle and sounds thin and cheap to me. I listened with and without anti-coloration software (DSONIQ Realphones) through sennheiser hd598 headphones btw.

[@anthonysilva5312]

Do you think speaker wear has anything to do with it?

[@snapascrew]

Yes this matters but the things I’ve heard with all of my different era speakers doesn’t necessarily follow a trend of “older = duller” or “newer = brighter”. For example the 2001’s are some of the darkest I have compared to 2002 and 1998, and they even have a reputation as such. Idk it’s weird !

[@gastonjabaly]

2001 bottom r

[@AndreySedov]

2001 have same 2013year - just harsh fizz

[@AndreySedov]

just bought 1999 mesa os - happy. making video//... really sounds like sneap cab

[@snapascrew]

Awesome I’m going to watch it now

[@patriknessboLemoran]

Were these 8ohms ?

[@snapascrew]

Yes