What lightweight cabs work well with the Mesa Carbine?

Bjazzman · #1 10-01-2010, 07:22 PM

i really like my fearful type 15/6/1 and dr. bass 115 but i was wondering what cabs that are light like under 55lbs that are a good match for the carbine

i was thinking of maybe aguilar, eden, markbass, or maybe even some smaller mesa's

i'll probably be playing jam/dub/african/soul type music

love the quickness of the carbine and want to match it to something that would do well for this type of music and something different that what i currently have

lomo · #2 10-01-2010, 07:39 PM

IMHO/IME you have the right idea. My M9/ LDS nEarful 15/6 has ended my amp GAS for quite a while now. I don't know if the cab is louder than a 410, but it is easily as loud as my Epi UL2-310 was and is clearer/deeper sounding by faaaaar. A shade under 50 lbs with no tweeter (plenty of highs for me via the mid driver). I have a pair of Scout 12s for poops and giggles but the M9/LDS pair does everything. I'm an amateur hack, but I have played a large hotel hall for 300 people with this (with PA) and was asked by the sound guy to turn down-easily filled a large stage and dance floor with the volume at 11 o'clock. I've also played small outdoor shows (about 75 people) with it and no support and it never reached noon on the master. It's overkill for bars but is so clear, fat and easy to transport that I take it anyway. This is in the context of a loud rock band with 2 guitars and heavy drummer. I can't say enough good things about this pair

. IMO you will not do better under 50 lbs.

(note the Shuttle 9 was sold after the A/B comparison. It was a great little box but the Dragon pretty much smoked it to my ears).

Bjazzman · #3 10-02-2010, 08:35 AM

so pretty much the fearful is the best match? i'd be curious to other lightweight cabs. if i could handle the weight i'd be looking at the aguilar or mesa 412's

lomo · #4 10-02-2010, 10:46 AM

If light is <50 lbs I can't imagine better, but it's obviously a matter of taste.

dmusic148 · #5 10-02-2010, 10:50 AM

Have a look at SWR Golight cabs. They have a smooth tone which pairs well with the aggressive mids of the Carbine. Worked for me until I sold Carbine.

Bmorefoozler · #6 10-02-2010, 11:07 AM

Check out am AudioKinesis Thunderchild, or 12/6....

RickenBoogie · #7 10-02-2010, 04:25 PM

Any cab will "work" well, but how it sounds is personal preference.

02Pete · #8 10-06-2010, 09:38 PM

I'm using a Mesa Carbine M3 through an Aguilar GS-112NT. I really like playing through this combination. The GS-112NT weighs 39 pounds. The combination can produce excellent tone, and generates generates more than enough volume for the kind of music I play, which is small-group jazz. At one gig, I was playing with a drummer, two electric guitar players, a keyboard player and a sax player, I had the master volume set at roughly 2 or 3 on a scale of 1 to 10, the others asked me to turn down a bit, and they were right -- even at that setting, the amp was loud enough to throw things off balance. The GS-112NT has no tweeter, so if you play slap bass or like a trebly sound, you might want to get a straight GS-112, which has a tweeter.

I haven't used and thus can't comment on other small 1x10 or 1x12 cabinets, although I know an excellent bass player who plays a Walter Woods amp through a small Bergantino cabinet, with fine results, and I've seen some very positive comments in this forum on small Mesa cabinets.