Mesa Diesel RR 215...Should I

[jhines]

Anyone,
There is, locally, a Mesa Boogie Diesel RR 215 for $500 available. My mind has been telling me an old Diesel is the way to go but I don't want to waste the seller's time or my money. I play mostly five string bass but generally use the B string on the fifth fret or higher (i.e. extended positions instead of extended range). I currently play a cabinet with one 12", one 6", and one tweeter (tweeter is "off" all of the time). The cabinet has two flaws: it doesn't like to go very loud (when there is no PA support which is rare for me) and it doesn't seem to produce the sound in my head. I really like the sound of "Brian's cabinet" (LDS single 15") as posted by KJung on the forum. My goal is to punch people in the chest with clear lows/low-mids and somewhat ragged higher mids but somehow stay in the mix (I play mostly pocket stuff as a support role with walks and turns for "spice"). I am also concerned with 2x15 getting too muddy by the time it reaches audience space. So, based on any of this, does it sound like a guy with the equipment in my signature would find a good match with the Diesel 215?

[DaZombieWoof]

Mesa 15 boxes have long had a rep of having bottom with some mids and tolerable snap. They also have a rep for making cabs that can pull duty for nuclear fallout shelters in their earlier stuff before they figured out how to make things not a hernia waiting to happen.

[Alex1984]

Yes, you should, though some people have reported lower prices. It's definitely a nice cab. Have you checked if the speakers are original?

[interstatejoe]

Do it. I wish I'd never gotten rid of mine.

[snowblinder]

Originally Posted by interstatejoe

Do it. I wish I'd never gotten rid of mine.

+1. Amazing cabinet. The stock EVM-15L's are great sounding speakers. They will definitely put you forward in any band mix. Go for it, you won't be sorry.

[rpsands]

Not worth more than 350 in my opinion. Seen'em even cheaper. Those things weigh a TON, and the EVM15Ls are of dubious quality when you want lots of bottom...sound nice enough though I guess.

[Gizmot]

EVM 15Ls are super-fine speakers but their performance has everything to do with how a cabinet is tuned. Although originally designed for guitar, they can sound phenomenal for bass if the cabinet is tuned correctly.

[RickenBoogie]

Deisel 15's are the shiz. The price is a little high, but not criminally so. Grab it.

[Alex1984]

Yep, Diesel and RR are pretty much the same cabinet, just that RR has a more sturdy casing. EVM15L are fantastic speakers, good for mid-voiced bass amps, but if you want a scooped sound with emphasis on treble and bass, this may not be for you.

[Queg]

I love the tone of the EV15L Diesels, very grindy mids cut through the mix. But looking at your equipment list (fretless, 8string, 12 string), I'm wondering if you'd be better served by a more "modern" full-range cab?

[Chef]

The stock speakers are a nice fit for that box. Not huge dubby lows, but, solid blues band type stuff. Present mids. Decent highs, for what it is.
The RR series215 will weigh about as much as a garbage truck.

Really nice cabs, if they meet your tone goals.