MESA BOOGIE??? new amplifier and new cabinet (which one??)

Mr. BassmanPT · #1 06-25-2010, 11:10 AM

i am currently playing exclusively a hartke amplifier (HA3500) and cabinet (410 XL) but want to switch to better hardware. not that the current hardware is failing or not satisfying me, it is just that i want more and better.

i have been reading a lot on internet about possible solutions and my reading brought me to Mesa Boogie Titan v12 and Genz Benz ShuttleMAX 12.0. it seems both models are recognized as top quality and both have really nice features. although from my reading, the majority of opinions point towards Mesa Boogie to be the supreme bass amplifier at the moment. and i really like it, my rack would be really nice with one of these in there (black faced model, the one with the extra fan).

Having that said, i still do not know what cabinet to use (assuming i get the mesa titan), i like 410 cabinets a lot but the 810 ghost keeps hunting me! so i still do not know if i should hold on and get a 410 and be happy or loose it, buy the 810 and feel like god the rest of my life!

the thing is, usually my gigs are in discrete places, i play for 100 to 400 people most of the time and going with 810 maybe is too much?

currently i use my cabinet mainly for stage sound only, PA to the audience. if i buy the 810 maybe i do not need to worry with getting the bass to the PA anymore? the problem is space, i do not have roadies and dragging this back and forth should be tiring not to mention i need another car just for this!

if money isn't a problem, what cabinet would you buy? do not say 810 just for the sake of it.. is 810 really better? i also read that 810 x 1 is not the same as 410 x 2. why is this?

MJ5150 · #2 06-25-2010, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmaranhao

if money isn't a problem, what cabinet would you buy?

AccuGroove El Whappo
Mesa PowerHouse 1200

-Mike

Mr. BassmanPT · #3 06-25-2010, 11:32 AM

what about the amplifier, do you think it is a good bet on the titan? i am now looking at the mesa boogie site, perhaps a 610 would be more humble? those accugroove cabs also look nice, i wasn't aware of those!

MJ5150 · #4 06-25-2010, 11:38 AM

I have no experience with the Titan other than seeing it on display. I have always been impressed with anything Mesa makes, so I am quite certain the Titan will not dissapoint. Hopefully some folks with a Titan will join the thread shortly to offer some real world experience.

If you are only needing stage sound, then the PH112 will be fine. No need for a 610 or the 1200 I suggested.

-Mike

buffordbass · #5 06-25-2010, 12:27 PM

I would say a Shuttlemax 12.0 and dual Uber 212's or Uber 410's... much lighter than the Mesa and still will knock the paint off the walls!

RickenBoogie · #6 06-25-2010, 05:54 PM

I'd go with the Titan, (or Big Block 750), and either a pair of Powerhouse 212's, or a pair of Genz Benz Uber 212's.

KsPiNeSh · #7 06-25-2010, 07:16 PM

What kind of tone are you looking for?

Dan Knowlton · #8 06-25-2010, 07:20 PM

For the tone *I* am looking for - Accugroove Whappo Jr.

I got to try a Genz-Benz Shuttle 9.0 and will probably be moving to that from my 6.0 - just a bit darker tone.

Obviously, YOUR mileage WILL vary.

Dan K.

Mr. BassmanPT · #9 06-26-2010, 05:00 AM

i play covers, pop/rock from the 70's, 80's and 90's mostly.

i really dig jazz though i currently do have have a band to play it.

but i want this to be future proof. will not play in metal bands anymore (i already had a past with them and moved in a different direction but i keep listening to some heavy stuff from time to time).

but "my thing" is jazz. absolutely. from bebop to acid and fusion, as long as it is good quality i like it.

at the moment i mainly use a custom fretless bass for like 80% of the time, 20% a fretted stingray 5.

KsPiNeSh · #10 06-26-2010, 06:42 AM

If you're already looking at the Titan, I would offer up the Genz Benz GBE 1200 for consideration as well. Having the dual preamp channels (and on the Max 12) has been great for me, as I can dial some fuzz/dirt in and out to taste depending on the tune being played. Also, to my ear, the Genz amps inherently sit a bit further forward in the mix and are a bit edgier through the mids - based on the bit of jazz I listen to, IMO the extra edge is a good thing.

That being said, I do own the Mesa M6 and M9 and love them to death. They are definitely more "solid state" sounding than the Titan, but still have that Mesa smoothness.

Mr. BassmanPT · #11 06-26-2010, 05:39 PM

now you are making me think of another amplifier and the main reason i started this topic was for the cabinets. LOL

i do not know if genz benz has a dealer here in Portugal, Mesa Boogie only has one and that was also one of the reasons i leaned towards Mesa. that allied to the fact that the Titan is really good.

MysticMichael · #12 06-26-2010, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmaranhao

i play covers, pop/rock from the 70's, 80's and 90's mostly.

i really dig jazz though i currently do have have a band to play it.

but i want this to be future proof. will not play in metal bands anymore (i already had a past with them and moved in a different direction but i keep listening to some heavy stuff from time to time).

but "my thing" is jazz. absolutely. from bebop to acid and fusion, as long as it is good quality i like it.

at the moment i mainly use a custom fretless bass for like 80% of the time, 20% a fretted stingray 5.

OK. The Mesa Titan is a fine - and powerful - head. But it's really designed and voiced for high-octane hard rock & metal. Not that it couldn't be used for many other styles, but for a situation like yours that requires more versatility - especially the jazz - the ShuttleMax would be a much better choice.

Likewise with the 8x10 cab: Since you've got consistent PA support, an 8x10 cab is overkill.

My suggestion: Consider picking up either a couple of those GB NeoX 1x12 cabs (8 ohms each) OR if you want big volume, a pair of those GB NeoX 2x12 cabs (4 ohms each), and run one through each channel of your ShuttleMax. Great sound, plenty of volume, excellent clarity & articulation, excellent versatility.

Just do it...

MM

Ebelow · #13 06-26-2010, 08:20 PM

I 'v used Hartke 4000 with Hartke 4x10 + 2x10 XL cabs for few years, than I saved some cash and traded that rig for my Mesa M9 and Powerhouse 4x10 + 2x10!
Never been happier, go for it!

lpdeluxe · #14 06-27-2010, 06:34 AM

I traded a Hartke HA2500+210+115 in on a Mesa/Boogie Walkabout Scout 1x15 and I have found nirvana.

The Hartke did a really good job of reproducing the bass frequencies, but the Mesa sings. There's absolutely no comparison. Go for it

Dan55 · #15 06-27-2010, 12:04 PM

Mesa Walkabout or BB750 head.

Mesa PH 212 or PH610 cab.

Can't go wrong.

Mr. BassmanPT · #16 06-27-2010, 05:29 PM

ok, i am set on buying Mesa Boogie. I can't find a genz benz retailer over here (Portugal) and i do not mind about the Mesa being built with a heavier tone in mind. in fact, it is a tone that i like (referring to the tone and not this particular amplifier).

as much as there are plenty of good cabinets, i will stick with Mesa Boogie on them as well. been searching the internet on speaker sizes and how they influence the sound. found some trivial information but not a good comparison.

maybe someone can fill me here?

1) how 212 compare to 410? what are the advantages of both?

2) is 212 the middle term between 410 and 115? i like my sound to be defined but to be fat as well. i can get that with my 410 hartke ( in a matter of fact, i have the 4.5 XL, it has the 410+tweeter ). maybe 212 is even better (fatter without loosing clarity??)

3) a 610 cabinet is like a 410 with more power? and a 810?

4) mesa boogie have the vintage powerhouse and powerhouse cabinetry series. what are the differences between both?

5) if i buy the 1200 powerhouse for example, will the 15" speaker mud my sound?

i think that if i can get these questions answered i might have a really good idea on which cabinet to buy. and the amplifier will be the titan. i am set on that

Dan55 · #17 06-27-2010, 06:05 PM

The only difference in the two lines of cabs at Mesa is the cosmetics - grill cloth etc. Otherwise identical.
As for the differences in sound as it pertains to speaker size, I think that has more to do with the cabinet design than the speaker size/configuration. Fat with definition is a great way to describe the 212. I think the 212 and the 610 are the sweet spot in the PH line, although their 410 and 810 have excellent reputations as well. I think the 1200 suffers a bit on the "definition side", plus it weighs a ton.
Your best bet, if possible, is to play through all of them then decide what is right for you. Having said that, I bought a PH212 without playing through it first and couldn't be happier, although for smaller gigs my Walkabout Scout 12 is getting a lot of work.

Dan

rayzak · #18 06-27-2010, 06:10 PM

Sorry. I can't help you with the cabs, because I don't play Mesa's, but, great choice on getting a Titan. It really does everything and does it well. It can also get pretty darn clean/transparent sounding. I've never played GB so I can't offer a comparison, but I will say that I would be absolutely shocked if you don't love the Titan. I sure do.

I do know that the only difference between the Vintage vs standard PH cabs are the grill coverings. That is all.

Matt Dean · #19 06-27-2010, 06:11 PM

M-Pulse 600 does it all... rock, soul, jazz, funk. Put a M-Pulse 600 on top of 2 Powerhouse 212s and you have the ability to run a 212 for smaller venues and 4 12s for the larger.

carlos840 · #20 06-28-2010, 03:31 AM

This is what i would recommend to anyone, Mesa Walkabout scout 12 and an extra extension, small and cute i know, but so easy to move around!
I go to my gigs in public transports and its easy with this rig!
I just take the combo when playing smallish venues and when needed i get the second 12 out.
For a small combo its pretty loud and sounds great, if you can afford to carry the extension around all the time it sounds even better, played some pretty big gigs with it and it was perfect.