jp2c cabinet choice

[DR-2C]

Let me start off by saying I am the lead singer in my classic rock band as well as the second guitar player in my band. I am an ok guitar player but unfortunately I love quality gear and also love great guitar tone. I am 51 now and have been playing guitar since I was around 17. The Music I play is basically 80s rock consisting of some Journey , Bon Jovi, Styx, Bryan Adams, Loverboy, Honeymoon Suite etc. I have been playing Mesa amps for as long as I can remember and my favorite up until now was the Mark Five. Yes, I know some Mesa users may not share the same opinion, but that's ok. I just purchased the JP-2C head and regardless of what people are comparing it to, as far as I am concerned it stands alone in its own category called INCREDIBLE! and does everything absolutely amazing. Not just heavy metal. I started out with a Mesa 1x12 Wide body front ported cab. It sounded awesome! It was also light which is important to me at my age, LOL! I made the mistake of going to the local music store where they had a Mesa 2x12 vertical cab. They also had the 1x12 Wide body cab as well as the JP-2C Head. I plugged in the 1x12 wide body first then plugged in the 2x12 Vertical. I was absolutely blown away at the difference. I asked the sales guy how much , and he said $1,028.00 Canadian plus tax. It sounded so good I did not care what the cost was and pulled out my visa and would worry how to pay for it later, LOL! Yeah I could have waited like most guys to find one used for $500 but I am inpatient and I like new things with full warranty. The best way to compare gear if you have a chance, is to do side by side comparisons. It is a dangerous game guys but lets face it, most of us have been searching for that tone we have heard in our heads since we were kids. The Mesa 2x12 Vertical Cab has lots of low end but a good amount of high end. Very well balance. For you guys out there that say you only need a 1x12 for most small gigs, you are absolutely right but lets face it, we like to feel inspired when we play and I can tell you first hand if you don't mind a bit more weight keeping in mind wheels make all the difference in the world,you will also come to the conclusion that the Mesa 2X12 Vertical cab is one of the best sounding 2x12 cabinets out there. The top speaker is angled up which is nice because you can hear your amp much better at lower volumes as apposed to 1x12 shooting across the floor at your knees. Its not a 4x12 but its smaller and lighter and sound equally as good.

I hope my cab review helps someone out there.

Cheers!

DR-2C

 

[bandit2013]

I was hoping for someone to report a verdict on the Vertical 2x12. Thanks as that helps me out with choices. I was looking for something similar in character to the OS Recto 412 but with a smaller footprint. Perhaps the 30lb difference is not much but it has removable wheels on it just like the 412.

For some, the JP-2C will be replacing current gear so I can see reason why one would want to compare and collect as much information on the differences. Can it, will it replace.............. my current amp? On a more personal level, I am comparing my amps to the JP-2C to determine which complements this amp for use on stage or in a recording. the JP-2C and Roadster (and perhaps other Rectifier amps ) would definitely combine in a mix quite well. I would predict the Mark V would also work well with the JP-2C. Not sure about the RA100 though as I have yet confirm similarities or differences as my focus has been with the Roadster and JP-2C. Since I restored my one 412 back to stock (original V30) I have two equally sounding cabinets for relative comparison.

I would agree the JP-2C is in a class all its own. It does have similarities to my other amps but yet some differences that seem more pleasing. I really love the OS Recto 412 with this amp. If the Mesa Recto Vertical 2x12 comes close that it is a winner.

 

[bandit2013]

I decided to get the Vertical 2x12 and find out for myself. There really does not seem to be much of a tonal change between the OS Recto 412 and the Vertical 2x12. Just perceived volume is about it. This small little cab does move plenty of air as I can feel it, almost comparable to the 412. I think I like the Vertical 2x12 a bit more than the 412. I am overly impressed with the small cab, also do not need the extra volume that the 412 provides but I know where to find it when I want to ring out my ears. I would recommend the Mesa Recto Vertical 2x12 for the JP-2C. However if you have other amps that are full sized head (Roadster, RA100, or other Rectifier amps) it will not work out as the heads are too wide to sit on top of the vertical cab. Mark V would fit just right though, as well as the Mark V:35 or other medium sized heads.

 

[elvis]

A/B'd my JP-2C with my horizontal and vertical recto 2x12 cabs last night. Sounded great, and surprisingly similar, through both. The vertical is a bit brighter.

The JP-2C is VERY tight in the lows, so it seems to be less affected by the cab differences than some of my other amps. I'm also thrilled that it sits nicely on the narrower cab, as I rarely have room for a horizontal 2x12 at gigs, and prefer the slant cab.

 

[bandit2013]

I had to move the 412 cab back into the room where the JP-2C is located. I still have the Roadster and the 412 cab but that has CB75 speakers.
My last OS recto cab was bought in November of 2015 It did take a little longer to get as the grill cloth was not standard.

Vertical 2x12 does have more pronounced midrange and a bit more top end than the OS Recto 412 cab, since it is much larger it dose have more bottom end than the Vertical 2x12. It is not all that dramatic of a difference but the 2 years of use on the 412 cab may have contributed to its character. The Vertical cab is new. Even though it had a bit more top end it is not shrill or ice pick. I actually love it, also bottom end appears tight compared to the V30 412. Palm muted chugging is so much more fun with a tight sounding cabinet. I am actually finding my self being more creative with what I am playing. What I love about the JP-2C, it can really enhance creative or emotional style. Perhaps this is good or bad, I do not have to push the volume up for the amp to sound big. The vertical 2x12 is more fun to use than I anticipated. Perhaps in two years of use I will have to see how I feel about it. I am really glad I bought it. Second time a win for not having played though one before.

 

[elvis]

Glad you like the vertical 2x12!

I have one that I have had for several years (and I had bought used even then), and another that I bought new a couple months ago. They definitely sound different. The new one is brighter and stiffer. The old one is... perfect. I look forward to having the new one broken in.

In my experience it doesn't take a lot of time to break in a V30. The cab itself, I have no idea.

 

[bandit2013]

I was referring to the V30 speaker in terms of break in. Makes me wonder if Mesa does any break-in cycles with the raw speakers before installing into the cabinet as I have not experienced any tone shift or change in voice of the Mesa 412 cab. Still sounds like it did when it was new, however if the change is gradual and subtle I probably would not notice a difference.

Maybe there is change in resonance of the cabinet over time but may take a few decades vs one or two years.