SWR Megoliath vs Mesa PH 4x10/6x10

[chaosMK]

I've been hunting for a Mesa PH 4x10 for quite some time and found a deal locally for a minty Megoliath at a great price, less than the max I'd shell out for a PH 4x10.

Keep in mind the PH 4x10 is my favorite cab. Just one by itself can usually meet my volume needs and the tone is what I set my standard by. The bulky dimensions and extreme weight... not an issue to me.

I am really interested in this Megoliath though. It's pristine. When I checked it out in person, I was pretty impressed by the dimensions- the thing is huge, quite deep, wider than Goliath cabs. The dual 4x10 mode on it is cool too and I'd probably find a way to use it (dual rig? ).

Based on all of the information I've been able to gather about the Megoliath, it sounds like it could get the job done for me.

I owned a GIII years ago and ended up selling it. It was nice, punchy, etc. It was on the sterile and not-so-beefy side when compared to the PH (the GIII always looked like it was going to blow up too... not good for B-range I guess). My understanding is that the Megoliath is tuned to be a little thicker and more rock-oriented in the low mids with somewhat extended lower range, so what I didn't like about the GIII might not apply. I like the idea of a cleaner/punchier 8x10 than the standard Ampeg (which is a little dark/mushy and not so detailed for my taste).

What do you guys think? Will I be happy with this cab and stop chasing after the Mesas of the past? I'd be running it with a KT-88 loaded Mesa Bass 400.

[georgestrings]

I've played both the Megoliath and Goliath Sr plenty of times, and I'm quite impressed by both - if you're looking for lots of low end, clear, articulate highs, and plenty of volume - I believe you'll like this cab... FWIW, I also owned a PH610 for a few years, and have owned a PH810 for nearly a year - and have owned several Ampeg 810s...


- georgestrings

[CEF]

Alright ChaosMK,

I have come from a similar thought process to you. I have pain stakenly looked for the right cabs for me which has meant me testing and owning a variety of 15", 12", 10" speakered bass cabs and a set of custom made cabs when I felt nothing else was working for me. Over the years I have fallen under the category of slightly cynical about cabs and why I am not blown away by cabs that other bass players have raved about and in my head I am thinking that are there any cabs out there that can produce the bass sound in my head.
I tested quite a few cabs the last time I was cab hunting. In the trials the mesa cab was the only cab I tested that didn't sound like I was was going to brake it when I cranked it up to my gig volume, (it was like it was sticking two fingers up at me and saying is that all you've got, I'm not even braking a sweat here). Unlike the the others which sounded like I was pushing them somewhere close to there limits and the shop owners into mild cardiac arrest on whether they were getting there cab back in one piece. I now own a mesa power house 1200 cab and have never been happier with my sound, (or thats what they call the cab in england). It has done two full uk tours with not so much of squeek from it.
If a 4x10 is what you are after and you want to bring the building down and rock the foundations IMHO I have never heard a 4x10 like a Basson 4x10 I had to check with my mate who was running a 5 string tuned to drop A that he hadn't hidden another cab any where because of what this thing was putting out. Weight will be an issue with both the cabs I mentioned but I think the sound you get from a Mesa or a Basson will ease you conscience. Peace.

[tombowlus]

The Goliath Sr. is a pretty nice cab, and back when I had my first "real" cab quest (about 12 years ago), I was pretty sure that I was going to buy one. Either that, or a Goliath III or an Eden 410XLT. But then I heard a Mesa/Boogie Diesel 4x10 ("deep" version), and it pretty much kicked everything else to the curb (as far as my preferences are concerned).

Now, that may be apples to oranges, since you are talking about the Megoliath (which I have not tried) and the PH410 (which I have not heard, though I do own a PH210, PH212 and a PH610), but my guess is that the PH cabs are going to be more full through the mids and more defined from note to note. I'll also note that my Diesel 4x10 is a bit more clear and articulate compared to the PH610, and the PH610, in turn, is more of a sledgehammer, with a warmer, full tone that quite honestly does not sound as good solo (as the Diesel 4x10) but kicks in a mix. The PH210 sounds a lot more like my old 4x10 than the PH610 does.

Tom.