NCD: Mesa PH215

georgestrings · #1 09-14-2011, 09:02 AM

Well, it finally arrived - a brand new Mesa PH215... I placed my order at the end of June, and was told back then it would be about a 6 week wait - it actually showed up last week, which was a couple of weeks past, but still not too bad considering these are handmade one at a time in the USA...

I had about a 90 minute drive to the dealer - I checked everything out, paid the balance, then loaded up and came home... It definitely has more midrange presence than my other Mesa cab - a PH810 - but will deliver plenty of lows and highs... I think it'll work great for it's intended purposes: occasional classic rock, blues, and country gigs - with the PH810 handling modern rock, hard rock, and metal... I'll be pairing it up with either an M-pulse 600 or 700rb-II, but will eventually get an all-tube head also - probably either a 400+ or SVT...

Anyways, here's some crappy pics:

rockstarbassist · #2 09-14-2011, 09:21 AM

Looks incredible man! I would really like to pick up a PH215 here in the future, just something a little different than the 2x212 setup I normally rock. I've had the Diesel EV 215 as well as a few early model PH115s but never a newer version big 4 ohm one (if yours is). I'm sure it'll rule.

bassgod0dmw · #3 09-14-2011, 09:34 AM

As I mentioned on the other post, you should totally hook up to both amps/cabs and rock out.

georgestrings · #4 09-14-2011, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockstarbassist

Looks incredible man! I would really like to pick up a PH215 here in the future, just something a little different than the 2x212 setup I normally rock. I've had the Diesel EV 215 as well as a few early model PH115s but never a newer version big 4 ohm one (if yours is). I'm sure it'll rule.

Thanks - so far, I'm pretty happy with it... I'm going to use it for tonight's band rehearsal, which oughta give the drivers a little break-in time... It's around 50lbs lighter than my PH810, and *seems* quite a bit smaller - even though I know there isn't that much of a difference, size-wise...

Yeah, it's 4 ohm - I don't believe in 8 ohm big cabs... My thinking is, a cab that size oughta be able to carry a gig by itself - and if the gig is such that I need/want 2 big cabs, it's no biggie to bring 2 amps to push them...

I think I made out pretty good in the deal - I got $750 out of a PH610 that I gigged for 3 or 4 years, that didn't have a cover - I got my new PH215 for $1134 out the door... I bought the PH610 used, and had around $800 into it - so, after several years of gigging it pretty hard, I basically kicked in another $334, and got a new cab with a cover and 5 year transferrable warranty...

Mesa stuff is a bit pricey, but it's very durable, and holds it's value well, IME - besides sounding great along the way...

- georgestrings

georgestrings · #5 09-14-2011, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassgod0dmw

As I mentioned on the other post, you should totally hook up to both amps/cabs and rock out.

I probably will, eventually - if anything, just to see what it sounds like... Then again, it would basically be the same as pairing up two 410s and two 115s - which everyone knows couldn't possibly work - hahaha!!!

- georgestrings

rockstarbassist · #6 09-14-2011, 09:41 AM

Yeah that's not a bad deal at all, honestly. Mesa stuff is tough to find used around here, so I bought my ex PH412 and both of my PH212 cabs new... No biggie, I just write 'em off anyway!

I have a little bot thing that searches for any Mesa bass cabs on my Craigslist so hopefully I'll run across one here in the future. There's actually been a few over time, but are 8 ohms!!?? And likeyou said, there's no need for an 8 ohm "big" cab like that. My M9 can go down to 2, so technically my 212's could've been 4 each but I'd have had to special order them and wasn't really worth it. I barely make the amp sweat as is.

rockstarbassist · #7 09-14-2011, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by georgestrings

I probably will, eventually - if anything, just to see what it sounds like... Then again, it would basically be the same as pairing up two 410s and two 115s - which everyone knows couldn't possibly work - hahaha!!!

- georgestrings

lol

georgestrings · #8 09-14-2011, 09:42 AM

BTW, I pulled the back panel to take a look inside - it's a typical high quality build, inside and out...

- georgestrings

georgestrings · #9 09-14-2011, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockstarbassist

lol

No doubt - on the aforementioned thread, one guy went so far as to say that pairing my PH610 and PH810 up wouldn't work well - hahaha!!! Some people here could stand to play more, and surf less, I tell ya...

- georgestrings

RickenBoogie · #10 09-14-2011, 09:47 AM

Nice. You've got the two biggest, (and best) Mesa cabs currently in production. I don't count the 1200. Rock that sucker.

georgestrings · #11 09-14-2011, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickenBoogie

Nice. You've got the two biggest, (and best) Mesa cabs currently in production. I don't count the 1200. Rock that sucker.

Thanks - I don't think much of the 1200, either - but think the PH412 is something special, too...

- georgestrings

klejst · #12 09-14-2011, 10:28 AM

Nice new cab man, congrats. I can still remember when my Mesa PH 610 arrived at my doorstep I was so thrilled!

Caca de Kick · #13 09-14-2011, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by georgestrings

I probably will, eventually - if anything, just to see what it sounds like... Then again, it would basically be the same as pairing up two 410s and two 115s - which everyone knows couldn't possibly work - hahaha!!!

When we play outdoor shows I drag along my PH810 and the old diesel 215. I do use two heads (Titan and Bass 400) so I keep one clean channel/one dirty channel, and it sounds awesome.
Someday soon though I'd like to fully retire the old diesel cabs and get a PH215.

RickenBoogie · #14 09-14-2011, 12:06 PM

Yes, the 412- so you now have 2 of the 3 best Mesa bass cabs.

georgestrings · #15 09-14-2011, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by klejst

Nice new cab man, congrats. I can still remember when my Mesa PH 610 arrived at my doorstep I was so thrilled!

Thanks - and yeah, I remember when I got my 1st Mesa cab - also a PH610 - it was definitely a step above anything I had ever played thru at that time... and continued to be 'til I bought my PH810...

- georgestrings

georgestrings · #16 09-14-2011, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caca de Kick

When we play outdoor shows I drag along my PH810 and the old diesel 215. I do use two heads (Titan and Bass 400) so I keep one clean channel/one dirty channel, and it sounds awesome.
Someday soon though I'd like to fully retire the old diesel cabs and get a PH215.

I've played plenty of the old Diesel 215s, and IMO the PH215 has the same strong mid presence as those, but way stronger/deeper lows and much power handling capability - besides the additional highs you *can* dial up(or not) provided by the horn, L-pad, and adjustable crossover... The PH215 is definitely a more versatile cab than the Diesels were...

- georgestrings

georgestrings · #17 09-14-2011, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickenBoogie

Yes, the 412- so you now have 2 of the 3 best Mesa bass cabs.

Pretty much - and if you add the PH610 into that group, you have 4 of the biggest, baddest bass cabs ever made, IMO...

- georgestrings

Crabby · #18 10-17-2011, 09:30 PM

I am drooling over your 215! I rock a PH412 and also have a PH410 but that 215 calls to me!

georgestrings · #19 10-17-2011, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crabby

I am drooling over your 215! I rock a PH412 and also have a PH410 but that 215 calls to me!

Thanks - I have to admit that it's pretty nice, although it won't get much use 'til I start doing the Alice Cooper trib thing on the side during the holidays and next summer... The PH810 is still doing a killer job on the modern rock/metal gig that's my main thing these days - and I'd rather leave my Peavey 215 at our rehearsal space...

So, other than a single band rehearsal to try it out, the PH215 has sat in my music room, unused... I suppose there's worse things than having a "spare" PH215 kicking around:

Crabby · #20 10-18-2011, 11:22 AM

I know what you mean. I have too may rigs as it is. i sold my pair of Powerhouse 115 cabs this year as it was just getting silly how much gear I have. I really liked those cabs but at 80 pounds each, they were just too awkward to lift in and out of my hatchback. My PH412 is actually easier to tilt into the back of the car and slide in and out.

The 215 is really tempting though to go with my Walkabout head.