Mesa cab + Ampeg head

[Dustin Teel]

So, it finally happened. Someone traded in a Mesa 2x15 Diesel cabinet at the Guitarcenter closest to me. And yes, it has both original EV speakers it in. It's in great condition. I'm very excited, as I have only heard and heard of these cabs - I've never been priveleged enough to play one. But from what I've heard, you'll be hardpressed to find a cabinet that projects low mids with such clarity and brilliance as the Mesa Diesel.

I just got off the phone with Guitarcenter negotiating a price. I will be heading there tomorrow to inspect it myself.

Unless something goes terribly wrong, I will undoubtedly be buying this. However, I would like some advice from you guys on a head. All of the heads I own are 8 ohm, and it is my understanding that this cab is 4 ohm.

I've been looking at the new Ampeg PF500 head. 500w @ 4 ohm sounds like it would be a good match for this cabinet. I know it won't be pushing the cabinet to its full 800w potential, but the head is only $400, which is a steal for Ampeg tone, if you ask me. Thus the question:

Do any of you have any experience using Ampeg heads with Mesa cabs? Do the units mix well? Will the Ampeg push those low mid frequencies without making the cabinet sound too boomy? Will the nice Ampeg tone still be preserved through the Mesa cab?

Look forward to hearing from you, and thanks in advance!!

[seventhsunbass]

I had a pair of 2-15" Mesa cabs in RoadReady that I ran an Ampeg B2RE through and a slave power amp before I scored my Boogie tube ones. They made the Ampeg sound better and were great for outdoor gigs, way stupid loud! Mesa cabs are not boomy, I find the old EV loaded ones tight and punchy. I would say you should invest in a light weight cart and a good tie down strap as it is the easiest way to move these 'fridges. If you want to experience all they can deliver, snag a 400 Mesa or a 400+ and let loose the Beast on the unsuspecting masses!!

[Caca de Kick]

That diesel 215 will still sound like itself with practically any head you run through it. Those EV's have alot of midrange bite and that driving low-mid punch. I still have mine, but in the past I've run; a B15R head, an B500DR, B2R, Walkabout, GK400RB, GK800RB, D180, 400, 400+, Titan, a couple of Peaveys, a couple of Carvins, sometimes I even run a 40w Fender '63 Concert's chassis for jams. The signature EV bite was always present, and of course the heads all have their own sound too.
Yup the Mesa tube heads sounded best thru them though.

Just take your bass with you to the store and plug in a few heads to try it out. But I'm sure that Ampeg would work just fine.

[RickenBoogie]

My gig rig used to be an SVT 6Pro through the deisel 215. It rocked. But, the 800 watt rating on the cab is the thermal limit, nothing more. It's best to not think about speaker ratings, as they'll only disapoint you- no way that cab will actually "take" 800 watts, for long.

[packhowitzer]

I have an SVT-2pro and SVT-4pro for heads. I have 2 powerhouse 4x10s and a pwerhouse 1x15. I mix and match these heads and cabs to suit my needs for whatever kind of gig i'm playing. I think the mesa cabs have more punch and definition than their ampeg counterparts. The Mesas' higher power rating gives me a little more peace of mind that I can push them hard if need be and not worry so much that I might be killing the speakers. I think that when my svt-2 gets warmed up and it's matched with my 2 4x10s mono bridged, it's just a rock tone that can't be beat. I play either a stingray or a Pbass with only a BBE sonic maximizer. That's it. Other than the weight of these beasts (both the heads and cabs), there isn't a bad thing I can say about them. You should go for it and never look back!

[Dustin Teel]

Thanks for the great feedback so far.

Just called Guitarcenter and they are putting the Diesel in the back for me and off the sales floor so no one else can buy it, haha.

I can't wait to hear this thing. I'm glad that you all are impressed with the Ampeg/Mesa compatability and I'm really looking forward to hearing how it sounds. I'm using a Peavey Grind 4 which has a lot of natural "growl" to it, so coupled with the classic Ampeg tone of the head, and the tight punchy low mids of the Mesa cab, I should be set for the next several years with what will become my main bass rig. Very exciting.

Please keep any testimonials coming, as I am still very interested to hear what you all think about the tone of Ampeg heads with Mesa cabs.

Thanks again for the valuable input!

[bass dan]

I had a mesa powerhouse 4x10 that I used with a Ampeg v4. Pretty nice, plenty loud. The cab was really nice but too hellish to get in and out of my car. I like Ampeg stuff so I traded it for 2 svt 15e's.

[Alex1984]

Am I the odd man out in not liking that combination? I think the Diesel 215 and the SVT have a similar emphasis, to the point where it made the SVT sound honky. Of course, it can be adjusted by EQing, but you'd pretty much have to nullify the SVT-ness of the amp, and it wasn't how I like my SVT to sound.

It is a good cab though, I've paired it with the Traynor YBA-3 and Mesa 400+, and it's a great match for those heads, especially with the 400+. It added some bite and brightness to the 400+ and the 400+'s smooth, deep bottom-end balanced things out nicely.