Which Mesa Cab for Electradyne Head to get 112 Combo Sound?

[JAZZGEAR]

OK, as most already know, I returned my Mark V because the Electra Dyne hit the spot for me. The Mark V is great and all, but not really what I needed given what I already have.

I was totally impressed with the tone out of the 1x12 Combo, but fear that now in my mid 40s, my back is gonna start complaining about the weight. Last night I had a gig where I had to haul my 1x12 Shiva Combo up 2 flights of steps and 1 city block....and it was painful. So while I was ready to order up the 1x12 Electra Combo, I now want to split the load and not have to haul it all at once.

The problem with this for me in the past, is that I am usually not happy with the tone, other than the form factor in which I auditioned the amp. So I want to get a cab that will closely reproduce the tone I got out of the 1x12 Combo.

Looking at the pic here, the combo is nearly completely sealed. From that, I gather that the 3/4 back cab(s) may be the best fit...

http://store.mesahollywood.com/bd671.html

But please let me know your opinions. (btw my music styles are in line with my screen name....e.g. Jazz, R&B, Blues, Classic Rock, some Hard Rock)

 

[kingdomheights777]

I played one through a 1x12 Thiele C90 and it sounded incredible.

 

[JAZZGEAR]

I went back today and plugged the combo directly to a Recto 2x12 Cab...and went back and forth between it and the combo speaker. In the end, I preferred the overall tone of the 2x12 Recto cab. I think it's a great match. Up to this point I never really cared for the Recto Cab with any of the other Mesa's I've owned. It sounded just right in the cleans and drive dept.

I may even consider the new 1x12 Ported Wide Body Cab that was made for the MK V...for use when I need less volume (lighter load).

 

[primal]

I am so with you on the back thing.

I am 38. Probably a tad heavier then I should be, but I still run 4 miles 3 times a week.

I have had 2 ambulance trips due to throwing my back out and over a half dozen ER or Urgent care trips.

Doctors tell me it is because I sit in front of a computer all day (I'm a software engineer, it's not that I just surf the web ) and have bad posture.

Last Urgent care trip was the day after I decided to hall my recto 2x12 around.

I have cart with casters I normally use for it, but I decided I didn't need it. Next day I was hunched over, couldn't sit,couldn't lay down, could only stand in the middle of the room hunched over rithing in pain every few seconds the next spasm came.

For now I just lug around my Mark IV short head and Recto 1x12. My back thanks me.

As far as answering your question, I used to own a 3/4 back cab that sounded sweet.

I agree with you about the combo though.

I sat right in front of the combo at the store. In front of most amps at that angle you would only hear icepicks. Not the case with the Electradyne.

Even though it is an "open back" combo, the open back area is really small. More like a ported back.

Which in the end I think the slosest to that combo would be the 3/4 back cab.

 

[Finnster]

Does anyone have the weight of the 1X12 combo? Is it as heavy as the Lonestar Combo? Mesa's site says TBA.

Anyone know?

 

[lamadalton]

the ups shipping label on my 1x12 combo said 82 lbs...worth it's weight in gold...

 

[Finnster]

the ups shipping label on my 1x12 combo said 82 lbs...worth it's weight in gold...

ZOIKS!

 

[JAZZGEAR]

I just got back from playing the ED Combo through a PRS 2x12 cab (v30s) and must say that it is the best sounding cab I've ever heard. Not sure if the all Pine construction vs Ply has anything to do with it. But the tone was 3D'ish and sounded almost chorused.

I just hate that paisley tolex...I wonder if I can get someone to build me a cab with the exact same specs.

Also I noticed that in the PRS cab each speaker is in it's own isolated compartment.

Needless to say I was blown away in how well the ED matches up with this cab. Now I just need to find someone who can build me one just like it...or someone that will re-tolex it in black for not too much coin (locally in CT)

 

[kjammon]

I have the Electradyne head (British Tan) with a matching Roadster 2x12 cabinet. Sounds fantastic, looks killer & easy to load in/out. I have a Recto 2x12 cabinet, the Roadster cabinet is much smaller and lighter than my Recto 2x12 cabinet.

 

[MusicManJP6]

What about a 1x12 3/4 back cab? They weigh about the same as a Mesa head and sound awesome for both cleans and distortion. It's one of my favorite Mesa cabs and sounds great with both my Rectoverb combo and my DC-3 head. It also sounds great with any other amp i've heard plugged up to it...

 

[badjohnny]

There was a post about actual Electra Dyne cabinets, even though no info on the website yet.

http://forum.grailtone.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=38624&p=278058&hilit=+electra+dyne#p278058

 

[dodger916]

I just got back from playing the ED Combo through a PRS 2x12 cab (v30s) and must say that it is the best sounding cab I've ever heard. Not sure if the all Pine construction vs Ply has anything to do with it. But the tone was 3D'ish and sounded almost chorused.

I just hate that paisley tolex...I wonder if I can get someone to build me a cab with the exact same specs.

Also I noticed that in the PRS cab each speaker is in it's own isolated compartment.

Needless to say I was blown away in how well the ED matches up with this cab. Now I just need to find someone who can build me one just like it...or someone that will re-tolex it in black for not too much coin (locally in CT)

I'll bet George (member gts) will re-tolex it. He's not TOO far...New Hampshire.

 

[JAZZGEAR]

I'll bet George (member gts) will re-tolex it. He's not TOO far...New Hampshire.

Thanks for the tip...I will contact him once my cab comes in. I am also contemplating retolexing the ED's face plate with the paisley tolex (provided PRS will sell me a sample large enough for it)...and leave the cab 'As Is'

 

[boogieboy]

With ya on the back thing. I had an early ED that fried itself. It was a 2x12...ugh! Since I had to wait for a replacement anyway, I went with the head. I don't miss the weight. ALso, a few places we play, they have a backline, so I just use their cab with my head. At practice, I play through an egnator cab with v30s. Havent tried it with my marshall cab yet, havent had the need. Sounds great through my peavey POS cab I have at home as well. Sucker just sounds good.

 

[mdortona]

I tried an ED head through my EV loaded thiele yesterday and it sounded excellent. Wasn't half bad througha 4x12 mesa cab either!

Matt

 

[teletalkin]

What about a 1x12 3/4 back cab? They weigh about the same as a Mesa head and sound awesome for both cleans and distortion. It's one of my favorite Mesa cabs and sounds great with both my Rectoverb combo and my DC-3 head. It also sounds great with any other amp i've heard plugged up to it...

I couldn't agree more. One of the best sounding cabs no matter what amp you put on top of it!

 

[rocksalt7]

Wow!!...82lbs??!! :shock: ....heavier even than my Ace!!!

Yeah, dude...your haulin' a load with this one! I really need to find one of these to test drive I guess; seems like everyone likes it. ... I haven't seen an ED at GC in Dallas yet. I'll have to be on the look-out so I can lay hands on it :mrgreen:

 

[DWAKO]

I haven't seen an ED at GC in Dallas yet. I'll have to be on the look-out so I can lay hands on it

I know I've jammed on an Electra Dyne Combo at the GC in Plano. I own the ED head and couldn't be happier. I run it through a Stiletto Cab (which sounds amazing) but I always have wondered if something else out there would sound better. I'm considering getting a 2x12 ED cab and run a 3/4 stack. Ideally I'd like to have a Roadking 4x12 cab but they are a little harder to come by without playing full price. I can't justify spending a grand on a cab right now.

 

[YellowJacket]

OK, as most already know, I returned my Mark V because the Electra Dyne hit the spot for me. The Mark V is great and all, but not really what I needed given what I already have.

I was totally impressed with the tone out of the 1x12 Combo, but fear that now in my mid 40s, my back is gonna start complaining about the weight.

Any ported or 3/4 back cab with a Celestion c90 should approximate the tone of the combo. I'm pretty sure Mesa is building Electra Dyne cabs. The 2 x 12 with v30s is going to be a bit of a different sound, with more aggressive highs and upper mids. I happen to like that tone but you might want to try a Dyne head with some different cabs to get and idea of how it sounds.

Oh yes, I second the weight complaints. I am 31 and I still lift heavy weights regularly and even I hate the weight of gear. I used to one hand my Recto 4 x 12 + Side Armour out of the basement but that is idiotic. I already downgraded in favour of 2 x 12s and I put casters on the both of them. Having a head is also massively versatile because you can purchase a selection of cabs and mix / match them to suit your purposes. You can have a selection of 1 x 12s or 2 x 12s which are different and you can mix / match to optimize clean and gain performance. Mixing and matching different speakers is also fun too.

 

[Analog Kid]

I have a few cabs to choose from but prefer a 3/4 back that I have a Celestion Sidewinder loaded in. The head is "almost" too big for the 3/4 cab perhaps but I like the look.