Roadster through an OS 2x12

[ElectricTurkey4369]

Right now im running my roadster through a recto horizontal 2x12, it sounds good but just a bit too bass heavy and scooped sounding. Im curious to trying an OS type 2x12 like the Vintage Avatar and Bogners. Any cab experiences with the Roadster are appreciated!
I'm just trying to find the "perfect" cab in terms of balance across all frequencies.

 

[screamingdaisy]

Have you tried standing further out front of it? Or sticking a 2x4 piece of wood under the front feet so that it's tilted up slightly? Or leaving the casters on so that it doesn't couple with the floor/stage and upping the bass response?

(Just throwing out suggestions that cost nothing)

Regarding standing further out front, I find the Recto cabs in general sound kind of bass heavy and scooped up close, but a lot more balanced once you get far enough out front of it. Not super helpful to you personally if you're always standing a few feet in front of it, but better than a cab that sounds good up close yet drives an icepick through the head of everyone 20-40 feet out.

Alternatively, the vert 2x12 has a speaker that's angled up for better personal monitoring.

 

[ElectricTurkey4369]

Have you tried standing further out front of it? Or sticking a 2x4 piece of wood under the front feet so that it's tilted up slightly? Or leaving the casters on so that it doesn't couple with the floor/stage and upping the bass response?

I find the Recto cabs in general sound kind of bass heavy and scooped up close, but a lot more balanced once you get far enough out front of it. Not super helpful to you personally if you're always standing a few feet in front of it, but better than a cab that sounds good up close yet drives an icepick through the head of everyone 20-40 feet out.

Alternatively, the vert 2x12 has a speaker that's angled up for better personal monitoring.

I don't usually move out in front of it because then it sounds very nasal and honky sounding, it looses its 3 dimensional sound...I moved on an angle and it sounded better.
I should try what you said about the 2x4...

 

[espboogie123]

Have you tried standing further out front of it? Or sticking a 2x4 piece of wood under the front feet so that it's tilted up slightly? Or leaving the casters on so that it doesn't couple with the floor/stage and upping the bass response?

(Just throwing out suggestions that cost nothing)

Regarding standing further out front, I find the Recto cabs in general sound kind of bass heavy and scooped up close, but a lot more balanced once you get far enough out front of it. Not super helpful to you personally if you're always standing a few feet in front of it, but better than a cab that sounds good up close yet drives an icepick through the head of everyone 20-40 feet out.

Alternatively, the vert 2x12 has a speaker that's angled up for better personal monitoring.

This... I had teh 2x12 and sort of had that problem. My main problem was hearing it in close gigs due to my taller height

 

[BostonRedSox]

Most oversized 212s will sound bass heavy. I don't have experience with the Mesa, but a lot of people comment on it sounding "scooped." I would seriously try an Orange PPC212. Those things have a ton of midrange! I've gigged with them before and often regret not having one any longer.

 

[espboogie123]

that orange cab has same speakers and almost same size dimensions. Vintage 30s are very middy speakers. I never found my 2x12 to be scooped but hard to hear the midrange. I rather heard the bass side of the cab more because they are very directional cabs. Angle it up and it be better.

 

[jbird]

I'd think Mesa has probably tuned the Roadster cabs to best match the Roadster amplifiers?

 

[BostonRedSox]

No, Mesa didn't tune the Roadster cab to match the Roadster head. Having talked to Mesa about this, they made the Roadster cab to match the combo in size. This way, a combo owner could match up the Roadster combo on top of the 212 and create a 412 setup. After building it, the testers were very happy with how the Roadster ended up sounding through the cab. Having been told this, it makes me think that this must've come before the Stiletto cabs were built and designed, but alas that is speculation on my part. From what I was told by Mesa, the Roadster cab, while sounding good, was created out of necessity and aesthetic purposes. This would've been done with the Road Kings too, but the Road King 212s house two different speakers that require more space between one another, not to mention having a middle divider seperating the speakers completely. Again, this is all enlightening information that I received from a great conversation with Mesa when I was having some tube issues.

While the Orange is of similar dimensions as the Mesa, the Mesa does employ Vintage 30s that are very different than the Vintage 30s that most companies use. Whether or not Orange uses these same "old spec" Vintage 30s that Mesa uses is a mystery, but I was told that Mesa's Vintage 30s are different and of an older spec. Even though the Orange is similar, the sound is different than the Mesa Recto 212. The Orange has a pronounced midrange and highs -- lots of bass too, but that is to be expected with a cab of that size and design.

Talk to rezamatrix about this -- he uses the Orange now and loves it, but I believe he came from a Recto 212 and liked the change.

Good luck!

 

[screamingdaisy]

Having been told this, it makes me think that this must've come before the Stiletto cabs were built and designed, but alas that is speculation on my part.

The Stiletto cabs have been out for years. They used to call them the "Recto Traditional" and renamed them when they released the Stiletto head. The Roadster is a relative newcommer, as are it's cabs.

 

[BostonRedSox]

Yeah, that makes good sense then. I do know that the Roadster cabs, from what I was told directly, were created to aesthetically accompany the Roadster's combo dimensions. Interesting how they are both the same size though.

 

[espboogie123]

While the Orange is of similar dimensions as the Mesa, the Mesa does employ Vintage 30s that are very different than the Vintage 30s that most companies use. Whether or not Orange uses these same "old spec" Vintage 30s that Mesa uses is a mystery, but I was told that Mesa's Vintage 30s are different and of an older spec. Even though the Orange is similar, the sound is different than the Mesa Recto 212. The Orange has a pronounced midrange and highs -- lots of bass too, but that is to be expected with a cab of that size and design.

Talk to rezamatrix about this -- he uses the Orange now and loves it, but I believe he came from a Recto 212 and liked the change.

Good luck!

Having looked inside quite a few mesa recto cabs, their pretty much the same vintage 30 every company uses. There's no special specs. The 2x12 closed back orange and recto cab sounds similar. It's the open back orange 2x12 cab that has a drastic sound change. That might be suited for the OP.

 

[frets70]

I'm not sure on the Roadster, but I play my Single recto through a Port City OS 212 with Eminence Cannabis Rex speakers and I don't miss my 412 Recto cab at all.

The Port City sounds as big as a standard size 412 (stiletto, marshall etc) but you can carry it with 1 hand!!

 

[BostonRedSox]

About the Vintage 30s Mesa uses, I am not speculating that they are different Vintage 30s -- this is what Mesa told me over the phone, so I consider it to be fact. I doubt that they'd lie about something like that. Consequently, it should be noted that even if Mesa Vintage 30s are not packaged differently than the Vintage 30s that Celestion normally issues, the fact is that they are two different speakers altogether.

 

[screamingdaisy]

About the Vintage 30s Mesa uses, I am not speculating that they are different Vintage 30s -- this is what Mesa told me over the phone, so I consider it to be fact. I doubt that they'd lie about something like that. Consequently, it should be noted that even if Mesa Vintage 30s are not packaged differently than the Vintage 30s that Celestion normally issues, the fact is that they are two different speakers altogether.

From what I understand, most of the differences are in the cone treatment, dope and dust cap... not something you'd see from the rear anyway.

 

[vitor gracie]

Having owned a brand new in the box Recto 2X12 cab for a while (and using it live a lot) and currently owning an Orange 2X12 closed back cab they sound so completely different that its comical. I had a Roadster for over a year and a half and I gotta tell you the Orange blows the Mesa out of the water. The Orange sounds full, natural, and "wider" overall against the boxy, unnaturally scooped woofey sound of the Mesa to me. I could never get my Roadster to sound right with the Mesa and almost ditched the Roaster out of frustration. Once I switched to the Orange (I tested them against each other loudly in a shop with my amp) I kept the head and fell in love with the Orange cabs in general.

Now, I am not sure about speaker specs between the two, but for live use and recording all I use currently is an Orange cab. I think it's more the cabinet design then it is the subtle spec differences...its hard to hear that stuff when you are playing loud. I just think the frequencies are right on the money with the Orange, and to me, the Mesa 2X12 is a bad match for such a beefy amp as a Roadster. You need a BIG 2X12 like the Orange or just go for broke and get either a Mesa 4X12 or Orange 4X12. The tone gets a bit squished in a weird way to me through the regular Recto 2X12. I also could hear myself way better with the Orange. Just my thoughts.

p.s. yes I tried using the 50 watt setting OFTEN with my Roadster (as well as using EL34s) ....didn't help at all.

 

[espboogie123]

i guess all factors can be played. Especially if the v30s in either cab are fully broken in. A broken in v30 will sound bassier/warmer than new v30s. The orange has thicker wood as well i believe.

 

[screamingdaisy]

i guess all factors can be played. Especially if the v30s in either cab are fully broken in. A broken in v30 will sound bassier/warmer than new v30s. The orange has thicker wood as well i believe.

Mesa 5/8" vs Orange 3/4"... in the 4x12s anyway.

My response is almost the total opposite of vitor gracie however, and I don't know if it's preference or if the Orange 2x12 sounds way different than the Orange 4x12, but I have a couple of Orange 4x12s and I almost ditched my Recto head before stumbling upon a Recto 2x12 and realizing it was the sound of the Orange cab I didn't like. The Orange 4x12 was a lot brighter, harsher and kind of flat compared to the Recto cabs (I use a 2x12 and 4x12 now).

Not that the Orange cabs are bad... just different... and tone is subjective.

Anyway, I'm mostly just posting this to show that there's no 'correct' answer and that the only way to really know if something is right for you is to try it for yourself.


(although having an Orange fullstack is pretty f*ckin' cool)

 

[ElectricTurkey4369]

Not that the Orange cabs are bad... just different... and tone is subjective.

Yeah, thats what it all comes down to. Some people hate things (tone-wise) i absolutely love, so i should try them out.

I'm probably going to be changing speakers, so i don't know weather to stick with the mesa 2x12 and put in new speakers, or buy a new cab that will suite the new speakers more.
The V30's just are not doing it for me anymore, the high mids really get annoying, but i have it mixed with a G12H30 which is awesome.