Best Mesa Subway cab to pair with a 1x15

[Smooth Operator]

I'm looking to buy another subway cab to pair with my 1x15 and WD800 and would like advice on adding another Subway cab. My new band will be playing out soon and I won't have PA support at all venues, and so I can leave 1 cab at our drummer's house for practice. We are a rock/pop/classic rock cover band with a few original rock songs. I love the crisp lows from the 1x15 and was considering another 15", but I've also heard really good things about the 1x12 and 2x10. Those of you who own or have experience with 2 Subway cabs what setup do you prefer? Have any of you owned or played through a 2x10? I have never played through 2 Subway cabs and don't have the ability to A/B/C test them given the current pandemic. I'm looking to buy new from Sweetwater.

FYI I searched a bunch of threads but didn't find many answers about this specific 2 cab subject.

 

[Smooth Operator]

Just to add. I play a Fender Elite PJ 4string, and a Warwick Corvette 5 string.

 

[CatOnTheBass]

Call me crazy but I would get the 2x15. Then I'd have my choice of modular 1x15, 2x15, or 3x15 rigs to cover any size gig.

Just be sure to flip the impedance switch to 2 ohm if you are using 3x15, because that's a 2.67 ohm load!

 

[agedhorse]

It's really a personal tonal preference thing, it's all about YOUR taste.

 

[two fingers]

Another one.

 

[abarson]

112+115 Subways is still one of the best tones I've heard.
I haven't heard the 210 in person yet.

 

[Lovep]

I owned all three combinations and I favored the 1x15 x2 configuration the best--fat, creamy and no harsh mids. My 2nd favorite was the 1x12 + 1x15. To me, the 2x10 sounds slightly different than the 1x15 and I heard more of the 2x10 (if that makes sense). I liked the 2x10 more as a stand alone cab, however I bet a 2x10 x2 would be very nice.

 

[mam1862]

I own the 112, 210 and the 115 and my go to set up is the 210/115 set up. I use the 112 for rehearsals. The 112/115 set up to my ear doesn't have enough punch. Again that is just my taste. I have not had the opportunity to try another 115 so I can't comment on that. The 210/115 set up to me has a great low end with the right amount of snap.

 

[musicman556]

I asked the exact same question in the TT800 thread here!

NEW MESA TT 800 AMP. OH. MY. GOD.
My 115 is arriving tomorrow, and I am planning for the rest of the rig I am hoping to build. There are some great responses here from other folks with experience with all the cabs.

I am not making my mind up already, as I haven't even gotten my 115 yet, haha! But if it's what I'm expecting or close to it, then I'm already leaning towards adding the 112. I don't play grindy, heavy stuff. Mostly fat, warm, gooey stuff. I don't really need/want the agressiveness of the 210. Like Andy says, each cab and amp has its own thing, and not everything is for everyone.

I also like the idea of a smaller cab for portability to jamming with friends, etc. I think either cab on its own has plenty of volume for 90% of my usage situations. When I need more... take both! And I've got also 2 Ampeg 410s if there's a big club that needs rocked, haha!

Best of luck with your search! Let us know how it all turns out!

 

[BogeyBass]

It's pretty straight forward.
Another matching 1x15

Tone will be consistent. But will expand to different levels. By just adding a matching driver. 2x the pleasure

 

[agedhorse]

It's pretty straight forward.
Another matching 1x15

Tone will be consistent. But will expand to different levels. By just adding a matching driver. 2x the pleasure

How is it so straight forward when it's not?

This family of cabinets was designed from the ground up to be 100% compatible across driver sizes, specifically to allow for the mixing and matching to achieve combined tone profiles/flavors that were not possible with a single driver type. This addresses those players who do not care for the results of 2 identical drivers and prefer the combinations that are being offered over identical drivers.

But, you already know this.

 

[BogeyBass]

If you want to mix a 12" and a 15"
Go ahead.

I have no interest in mixing 2 different drivers with similar but not exact bandwidth. Only difference is sensitivity and box tune. No benefit in mixing 2 different sensitivity levels and 2 different box tunings.
Technically they all " work" together
You just plug them in and go.

Heck even a guitar center Acoustic combo has been " designed" to mix with anything and everything. My car stereo mixes with " anything "

Not stupid, not here to argue.
Original Post asked for suggestions.
Gave my simple answer. Use a 1x15 with a 1x15.

I know I'm the most horrible person in the world for suggesting a matching 1x15 for use with another 1x15. Lol
I don't see how it could be anymore straight forward. You can shove Eminence drivers in a Reflex box and say whatever you want it does.
I'll shove Eminence drivers in a box and do the same.

 

[Ewo]

My .02, being I own and have gigged all three of the combinations.

Think of the native voice of each cab as a different additive primary color. Which combination gets you to the color you want?

Again, my .02:

The 1-12 is nicely mid-forward. It falls off a bit in the extreme low register, as you might expect--but that's not to say it's deficient.

The 1-15 has lots of meat in the upper bass and low mids. The extreme low register is tight, and plenty muscular. The pleasant surprise is how much mid definition and clarity it has, even with the tweeter off.

The 2-10 is "wider" in the low end, and has a nicely controllable ping in the upper mids.

So...my suggestion is to ponder what you want to get by adding a second cab to the 1-15 you have. More of the same? Get another! (A pair of 1-15s is my fave; I love the phat soul/RnB/bluesy sound it can do, and it's great for an old-school slap tone, too. There's plenty on the top end, for my taste.)

Want to push the mids more? Add a 1-12.

Want to widen the bottom end, or add some bite to the upper mids? Get a 2-10.

 

[Kukulkan61]

I have the 15 on top of the 12 and love it, I think 2 15s is overkill for most applications, to me anyway...

 

[Killing Floor]

given the current pandemic.

??? What do you mean???

 

[Matt Dean]

I voted for the 115/210 pairing, something about the sweetness of the 15 paired with the clarity of the 210 just works for me.

 

[Chef]

Shortest long answer I can give:

I got the 112 first. I liked it ok.
I got a second 112; I liked the pair less. Too middy, for me.
So I sold one, and got a 115. Better, more lows.
So I sold the other 112 and got a second 115: too fat.
So I sold one 115 and got a 210, and that pairing works for me.

Individually, I like none of them all that well, but that 210/115 works for me, in these cabs.
I've never been a fan of mixing driver sizes previous to this.

 

[p12bassnut]

Everyone's situation is different. You'll just have to try something and if you don't like it that way you have the power to change it.
BTW- I like using 2 -112's. I get plenty of lows and love the focus and definition in the midrange. Also, these 112 cabs are very easy to transport.

 

[Valveman]

I have the 15 on top of the 12 and love it

I would have to agree. This was one my favorite live configurations:

 

[Yummy Notes]

Maybe a 212 to pair with the 115. Price-wise the 212 is very close to the 210, and just a bit more than another 115. Or carrots.