Mesa half back cabs?

[Restless Rocks]

Get it, try it, and if ya don't like it ahh....... let us know 8) I'd bet it wouldn't be too hard to ah... Is this gonna be the boogie bay now?

 

[joepopp]

My Boogie 4-12 Half Back (bottom half had EVs in it) with a Mark III Head was the best sound I ever had. Miss that rig, but I can't even lift it anymore! KILLER Cab!!!

Hey Joe,
Would the "vintage black shadows" sound decent? There's a halfback for sale near me right now & I'm thinking about it hard.

I bet they would! My experience was with the EVs in the bottom. It was purely thunderous. Super Low End. I bet the Vintage would sound good maybe a little more Marshally. Nothing wrong with that though.

I used to live in JAX and worked at The Ameican Music Store on the Westside in the late 80's. I bought my first Mark III when I worked there. Worked my butt off to get it...

 

[Tuna141]

I just wanted to chime in - I have an old 4x12 half-back w/EV's in bottom & Black Shadows in the top. I love it. It makes my Marshall 1960A cab sound like it has a blanket over it. The Boogie is so much punchier, clearer, and has better bass. It does weigh a ton though.

Also, I bought a back panel for the top to make the cab even more versital. BTW - In case anyone's interested, Boogie still sells them (at least they did about 2 years agao when I purchased mine). I think it cost me around $30 + shipping.

 

[tommyhawk13]

I used to live in JAX and worked at The Ameican Music Store on the Westside in the late 80's. I bought my first Mark III when I worked there. Worked my butt off to get it...

Yeah, I know you, man. Jason Mann, one of your old fellow employees at AM, is a real good friend of mine. I started hanging out with Jason, Ken, Mike & the other guys from Prowler right after I got my .50 Cal. I remember Mike's Quad through a Strategy 400 & a wall of those halfbacks. Pure porn!
I also remember Ant Farm. Good times.

How's the skateboard thing coming along? Jason showed me your myspace page.

 

[joepopp]

HA HA! I just read the subject line "Trailer Park Heaven" I should have known I knew you. Great to hear from you. I am still playing but sadly sold my Mark III. I had that amp for like 10 years! It was in a band room fire and dropped about 50 times - worked like a charm. I had it in a combo and then moved it to a rack mount. I have a lighter .50 cal+ now for dragging through he subways of NYC.

I just talked to Mike. Driven sounds really good. That old rig he had was the ultimate. I seem to remember those guys had triple stacks! great old days. I miss them...

Anyway. That half back is the deal as someone said before they need to reissue that thing. It was the deal.

Take care TH,

Joe Popp

 

[LockStock]

I just bought an empty halback 2X12, and now I'm starting the speaker search. I've tried to search here, and I see lots of good info. Thanks all.

I'll be running a Peters Custom Dual Channel amp into it. Many say this is close to the Mesa MK III flavors and can get a decent MOP-AJFA tone. I'm also interested in getting the rhythm sound that Izzy got on Appetite. He said he used a Mesa cab with "EVs on the bottom and Celestions on top."

So I gather an EV12ML in the bottom is a no-brainer. But how LOUD will this be? I'm playing in my basement mainly, and it doesn't need to be quiet at all, but I don't want the ear damage.

Anyone ever pair an EV12ML in the bottom to a Celestion H series in the top? I've got a Scumback H55 (G12H30 bass cone clone) that's not in a cab currently.

I gather the "Celestions in top" would be the MC90? What's the best current production speaker to put in the open top for hard rock and metal (but not modern metal)?

 

[stevehollx]

I just got try try out my new halfback with EVs and C90s.

This cab is HEAVY. No joke, it weighs in at 120 lbs. Its so large for it's weight, that although I can pick it up, if I try to walk with it by myself, I practically fall over. The one downside to the cab. Luckily, casters should help.

I've never played though EVs before. WOW. These speakers are incredible. Its such a relief to have speakers that don't break up when playing at loud volumes. Everything stays clean and pristine at practice volume.

I've noticed the rhythms are now smoother and fatter, but still have that chunk. Leads are waaay smoother, and have more low mids to them, giving them more body.

The EVs are a little brigther than the C90s (If I had to pick only one speaker, it would probably be a C90 instead of the EV). The C 90s are very smooth sounding. Mixing the two is great though.

I'm sitting better in the mix now too, since the spread is better, and things are soooo much more articulate. I seem to have some added low mids that give more body, too.

No wonder the Mark series amps sound so good with these cabs. This cab gives me the edge I was looking for with the IV.

This cab rules. Even for the $550 or so these cabs are going for these days, it's still the best kept secret in the guitar cabinet world.

Too bad you need a crane to lift this thing.

 

[stevehollx]

I just bought an empty halback 2X12, and now I'm starting the speaker search. I've tried to search here, and I see lots of good info. Thanks all.

I'll be running a Peters Custom Dual Channel amp into it. Many say this is close to the Mesa MK III flavors and can get a decent MOP-AJFA tone. I'm also interested in getting the rhythm sound that Izzy got on Appetite. He said he used a Mesa cab with "EVs on the bottom and Celestions on top."

So I gather an EV12ML in the bottom is a no-brainer. But how LOUD will this be? I'm playing in my basement mainly, and it doesn't need to be quiet at all, but I don't want the ear damage.

Anyone ever pair an EV12ML in the bottom to a Celestion H series in the top? I've got a Scumback H55 (G12H30 bass cone clone) that's not in a cab currently.

I gather the "Celestions in top" would be the MC90? What's the best current production speaker to put in the open top for hard rock and metal (but not modern metal)?

I've heard some good things about g12h for the mark amps. If you want current production for the C90, the closest you'll get is the Celestion CL 80.

I would think you wouldn't want two EVs, and you'd want something to balance out the brighter EV, which the C90 seems do do, being slightly warmer.

 

[psychodave]

They have to reissue them.

I hope not... I cant afford going out and buying a few cabinets. :wink:

 

[ursinus]

You guys really want to cry? I used to own two full stacks that were half-backs with celestions and EV's..... :shock: Man, I wish I would have kept at least one cab

 

[lockbody]

I've heard some good things about g12h for the mark amps. If you want current production for the C90, the closest you'll get is the Celestion CL 80.

Not true. You can still order them from Mesa.

 

[Russ]

Gintown sold his halfbacks and Thieles last year. He is regretting it now.

 

[lockbody]

Gintown sold his halfbacks and Thieles last year. He is regretting it now.

Man you got that right. I wasn't too long after selling the last 4x12 that I walked into one of my favorite shops and there was a halfback in the cab pile. Got the story on it and played a few licks through it then called the wife to tell her the bad news. :lol: I won't be so stupid in the future (I hope).

The Thieles I let go to fund this new halfback. I miss them, but don't regret the decision one bit.

I said it before and I'll say it again: selling that 4x EVM cab was one of the dumbest things I've ever done.

 

[LockStock]

I've heard some good things about g12h for the mark amps. If you want current production for the C90, the closest you'll get is the Celestion CL 80.

I would think you wouldn't want two EVs, and you'd want something to balance out the brighter EV, which the C90 seems do do, being slightly warmer.

Probably worth trying the H55 in the top, but I know the EV will take some break in time (anyone have an idea how long - I bought the reissue), and I'd like to be breaking it in with its proper match. The H55, being a copy of a Pre-Rola Celestion G12H bass cone, will certainly be less bright than the EV, but I'm not sure how distorted tones play through it. The G12H speakers are slightly scooped too, vs Greenbacks/G12-65s which have that pleasing mid hump.

Made me think the G12-65 reissue might be a great match with the EV reissue in the halfback.

On these boards someone mentioned that the Weber Thames 12" ceramic is actually a great match in this slot. It's a Fane greyback copy, and the poster said that it works better at lower volumes than the MC90. Anyone else try this?

 

[phyrexia]

I bought a reissue and I think it's broken in now. I only have 10 or 15 hours on it? But pretty mid-volume, no pussyfooting about.

lockbody, you're giving me gas for a 4x12 now that I decided to go the combo/thiele route, damnit!

 

[lockbody]

Made me think the G12-65 reissue might be a great match with the EV reissue in the halfback.

I have two G12-65 in my cab along with two MS-12s, and I think the above combination would out-and-out rule for a Mk Series or Stiletto amp. With my Roadster, the G12-65s were just too heavy in the lower-mids for an amp already heavy in the low-end

Now with my Stiletto Deuce II, they're just right.

 

[lockbody]

lockbody, you're giving me gas for a 4x12 now that I decided to go the combo/thiele route, damnit!

Do it! :twisted: There's no substitute! ***Actually, if you ever get serious about buying one, you're more than welcome to come over and bring your stuff and try out mine to see if it's worth it.***

 

[Russ]

So I gather an EV12ML in the bottom is a no-brainer. But how LOUD will this be? I'm playing in my basement mainly, and it doesn't need to be quiet at all, but I don't want the ear damage.

According to EV the EVM is a good efficient speaker with a nice s/n ratio. Most will find that because the EVM doesn't color your tone that it faithfully reproduces your sound very well and very honestly. Others will find that the EVM doesn't give enough flavor and sounds sterile. I like an honest speaker. I would rather know that exactly what I am putting into my speaker will come out and be unaltered.

I played Celestions for too long and got tired of the slight differences between them and always having to be aware of what I was playing through. I still use them occasionally for certain things but with my Mark IV I like EVM-12L's. I have a Traditional 4x12 cab loaded with V30's and it sounds great with my DR. It sounds good with my Mark IV too but there is a clarity that isn't there in the V30 that makes me prefer the EVM.

Welcome to the Board too :wink:

 

[Russ]

Made me think the G12-65 reissue might be a great match with the EV reissue in the halfback.

I have two G12-65 in my cab along with two MS-12s, and I think the above combination would out-and-out rule for a Mk Series or Stiletto amp. With my Roadster, the G12-65s were just too heavy in the lower-mids for an amp already heavy in the low-end

Now with my Stiletto Deuce II, they're just right.

MMMMMMMMM 65's. I love those speakers. My 800 cab sounds great with my Marshall. It's not quite as nice as my AX cab tonewise but it's a little more versatile and doesn't fart out as easy either. I guess I should play my Mark IV through that cab instead of the AX cab when I want a little color...duh? The Mark IV sounds great through the Traditional 4x12 cab though and before I was having to keep levels down some so I haven't gone there yet. Hmmm, something else to put on the list of configurations to try.

 

[Russ]

I bought a reissue and I think it's broken in now. I only have 10 or 15 hours on it? But pretty mid-volume, no pussyfooting about.

lockbody, you're giving me gas for a 4x12 now that I decided to go the combo/thiele route, damnit!

The sound of the combo with a Thiele is pretty nice. I wouldn't turn my nose to it, especially if EVM-12L loaded. 8)