Mesa/Boogie 1x15 DIY Replica

[Stev187]

Hello everybody:

After many years away from electric bass, I am playing a bit again, and more importantly, my son has a bass and is taking lessons. My favorite cabinet when I was playing out was a Mesa/Boogie 1x15 like this one (image attached). I liked it so much that I built an exact replica of it. I've long since sold the original and my DIY reproduction.

Anybody have one of these (or the measurements) on hand? I thought it might be a cool project for my son and me--we could build one together. It's a fairly simple design with a shelf port. It's been years since I've built anything like this.

If anybody has the measurements or is willing to take a tape measure to their cabinet, please let me know.

--Steve

P.S. Back in the day, I bi-amped this cab with a Hartke 2x10. Loved that rig!

[MonsterBass101]

If you search the web for TL-606 Plans, you will find the cabinet plans in which the Mesa 115 Diesel cabinet was based on. One of the modern speakers that people recommend instead of the Vintage EV is the Kappalite 3015.

[T-Bird]

Hi.

And here (in the amp FAQ ) it is:

http://archives.telex.com/archives/E...rs%20Plans.pdf

Regards
Sam

[Alex1984]

Yep, just follow the old EV design! If you go with the Eminence 3015, there are some modifications that can be made to some of the measurements.

Cheers!

[Stev187]

Thanks to everybody. This is perfect--just what I needed. Thanks.

--Steve

[Caca de Kick]

Is this just for a 'project' sake? Because you can find these Boogie Diesel cabs all day long for about $350.

[Bass_Pounder]

Originally Posted by Caca de Kick

Is this just for a 'project' sake? Because you can find these Boogie Diesel cabs all day long for about $350.

Probably cheaper if he takes his time looking.

I paid less than $350 for my Roadready 2X15

[Stev187]

Originally Posted by Bass_Pounder

Probably cheaper if he takes his time looking.

Thanks, guys. Yeah, it would be cheaper to buy one used if I can find it. The price of a decent driver alone might put the thing over the top. My kid is unlikely to need a big rig anytime soon--he just turned 10. We'll probably start with a decent combo amp; right now he's using an old practice amp of mine. That should hold him for a year or two, actually.

I appreciate all the help.

--Steve

[Augment]

I've had the 2x15" version for about 12 years. Love it. A few years later they started putting the shiny grills on them and added the dreaded HF horn.

Just dragged mine from my drummer's flooded basement to my house and back upstairs to my studio to spend some quality time with it while the practice space gets fixed up. Even though I feel like it beat the hell out of me, I know I'll never get rid of it!

If you decide to go through with it, make sure to post updates/progress. Would be great to know someone who could build me a new one if it ever comes down to it!

[Stev187]

Props to you for lugging the 2x15; the 1x15 was big enough for me (but there was a Hammond player in that band, and I had to help load the organ and the Leslie!!!).

If we build one, it will be for the project value. The one I built way back when turned out really nice; as I recall, I loaded it with an Eminence. I also built a 2x8 of my own design and ran it bi-amped, but mostly went full-range with the 1x15.

There's a 1x15 on eBay right now, but it's far away from me. I'll keep one eye out for it for a while, but will probably go a different route.

Thanks all,

--Steve

P.S. Here's a screen grab of mine from an old video; I paired it with a Hartke 2x10 and used a Peavey MegaBASS, which was an under-rated head, IMHO. Thing was a workhorse.

[Epidrake]

I just bought the Diesel 1 x 15 and the 2 x10 from a great guy here on the TB classifieds. I love them. Luckily, I don't have to move them much. Good luck!

[Augment]

That's a good setup. An SWR 2x10 + 1x15 was my first "real" rig. Loved being able to break it down easily, but the SWR's just didn't have the growl to them that I was after.

I pretty much bought the Mesa 2x15" solely on seeing the two bassist band Dianogah play when I was 14 or 15. Figured I'd get the best of both worlds and get a Rickenbacker and a Mesa rig.

YouTube - ‪Dianogah "What is your Landmass?" live in Louisville - 06‬‏ (The one playing the Jazz Bass used to / usually plays a Mesa 400)

For what it's worth, a brand/builder under the name Dietz made cabinets back some time ago, and their 15" cabinets are identical to the old Mesa Boogie cabinets. The bassist from The Jesus Lizard used them, so people into that band will often snap them up, but occasionally they can be found for ridiculously low prices if the seller / retailer just thinks its some no-name brand.

[will33]

Yep, they were made/sold here through Ray Hennigs heart of texas music.

Ray's still around, in his 80's but still runs the store.

They still pop up on craigslist here or in pawnshops but people here know about them and ask a little much.

They're a 15L in a tl-606 box made of solid 3/4" ply, expanded metal grill, speaker and grill are rear loaded with exposed mounting bolts. Kinda industrial looking but built to be thrown in the back of a lot of trucks.

[Augment]

Cool. I never really knew the story behind them. I'd certainly pick one up if I stumbled upon one at a decent price, even though the old Mesa cabinets aren't priced too bad on the used market.

It kind of bums me out that Mesa Boogie doesn't even make the stuff that made me fall in love with them anymore. Gotta get around to taking a test drive with a M6/M9 or Big Block and see if they hold a candle to the 400+.

[will33]

Yeah, the old mesa's were pretty much brick shithouses.

FWIW, an old Dietz 215 is still the "house" bths cab at Antones here. No telling how many great musicians have played on that one. Sweet tone but the newer higherpower amps can fart it out pretty good. The best my bassman135 ever sounded was through that thing.

[takeout]

Originally Posted by Alex1984

Yep, just follow the old EV design! If you go with the Eminence 3015, there are some modifications that can be made to some of the measurements.

Cheers!

What kind of mods?

[Alex1984]

I forgot, but mainly to do with expanding the port dimensions I think. But IIRC, whoever suggested the changes also said the TL-606 and the Eminence works well enough together as is, and that's one of the reasons why Eminence didn't bother to put out a reference design.

[troubledog]

I've got a set of those old Dietz 1-15 cabinets. Mine are the original 'blonde' boxes. A lot easier to carry around when I was 22, these days they tend to sit in one place.

[will33]

Saw a CL ad here a week or two ago, somebody selling a bunch of them, 115's and 215's. Again, asking too much for what they are nowdays. Locally here, they're a bit "iconic" for lack of a better word. Much of the rest of the country hasn't heard of them. Using better construction/bracing methods and losing the thick, heavy panels, you could rebuild one and shed a lot of weight.