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Big E Speakers Part 4 - Quadraphenia
- Thread starter kesslari
- Start date
MAS 112 LPT
Flight tested and ready for takeoff.
Should be inbound next week.
Flight tested and ready for takeoff.
Should be inbound next week.
- Mar 1, 2005
- 3,101
- 385
- 62
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Crook Custom Guitars
I've been lurking on this thread for a few days now, as I have the possibility of making a trade for a MAS112, so I'm trying to read up and learn.
One of my main rigs has been a Mesa Walkabout head thru a Berg HT112 and EX112 stack. Does anyone have any experience using the MAS112 with a Walkabout head? I would love to get some opinions here!
One of my main rigs has been a Mesa Walkabout head thru a Berg HT112 and EX112 stack. Does anyone have any experience using the MAS112 with a Walkabout head? I would love to get some opinions here!
Sorry - can't help. I sold my Walkabout to fund another all-tube amp before I snagged my broken-in (18sound) 112. It sounded fantastic when I tried it with my Reeves C225, but it had to go back to the sanctuary. The 112 was forced to sit idle for a few weeks as I waited for Kevin to build one of his Shaw B-150 amps for me. The sound of Mike's cabinets (especially the 112) with a good tube amp is some tone to live (not die!) for. 
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I have a Walkabout and an 8 Ohm MAS 112 with the 18 Sound woofer. There is also a 4 Ohm version with a Faital woofer and Mike is working on a version that would be friendly to low-wattage tube amps and the like. I've played the 112 out and I've played that Walkabout out, but I haven't played the two out together, so I can't give you a definitive answer, but my gut says that the Walkabout would run out of juice well before the 112 hit its limits - at least the 8 Ohm version. That's not to say it won't get loud or sound good (I think it sounds great with the 112), but if you want to stay clean and dynamic at high volume, you'll need more juice, IMO.
Perspective: before my MAS 112, I played a pretty efficient, 4 Ohm, mid-loaded 2x12" cab. Played a certain loud club around here, known for being a difficult room for bass, with that cab and the WA. The WA was loud enough and the tone was gloriously complex, but we were well into power-section compression and some overdrive by then. Nice if that's what you're going for, but I'm usually not. Next week, same club, same rig, with the addition of an fDeck HPF3. Was able to stay significantly more dynamic and less compressed, but there was still noticeable compression. The WA could've gone louder, but it was as at the limits of what it could do while staying clean and dynamic. My Markbass F500 through that 212 was enough power in that club. With my MAS 112, it was enough, just. (Felt it was near its limit, but we're talking a fairly loud night sans PA support). My GBE 1200 (550 watts at 8 Ohms, 1000 Watts at 4 Ohms) was more than enough with each cab, but I did have to turn it up higher through the 8 Ohm MAS.
That's a lot of triangulation to say I don't know if it'll work for you - depends on your style of play and your volume needs - but the cab can make good use of a solid 500 or 600 watts... put another way, if you feel that you've got plenty of headroom with your 4 Ohm stack, you might be okay with the 8 Ohm 112. You'd probably be fine with the 4 Ohm cab, but you're not going to push either to its limits with the WA.
Perspective: before my MAS 112, I played a pretty efficient, 4 Ohm, mid-loaded 2x12" cab. Played a certain loud club around here, known for being a difficult room for bass, with that cab and the WA. The WA was loud enough and the tone was gloriously complex, but we were well into power-section compression and some overdrive by then. Nice if that's what you're going for, but I'm usually not. Next week, same club, same rig, with the addition of an fDeck HPF3. Was able to stay significantly more dynamic and less compressed, but there was still noticeable compression. The WA could've gone louder, but it was as at the limits of what it could do while staying clean and dynamic. My Markbass F500 through that 212 was enough power in that club. With my MAS 112, it was enough, just. (Felt it was near its limit, but we're talking a fairly loud night sans PA support). My GBE 1200 (550 watts at 8 Ohms, 1000 Watts at 4 Ohms) was more than enough with each cab, but I did have to turn it up higher through the 8 Ohm MAS.
That's a lot of triangulation to say I don't know if it'll work for you - depends on your style of play and your volume needs - but the cab can make good use of a solid 500 or 600 watts... put another way, if you feel that you've got plenty of headroom with your 4 Ohm stack, you might be okay with the 8 Ohm 112. You'd probably be fine with the 4 Ohm cab, but you're not going to push either to its limits with the WA.
Dude, I have got to hear that amp. Was just talking with Mike about it. Curious about the pre, too, but don't know if that would be the same thing. I'm wading through the tube pre + poweramp thing now, but have never done a full on tube amp. Don't know if it would be for me, but I'm curious!
I think the Shaw amp is 150 watts... about what the WA does into 8 Ohms. I know we're talking tube vs. SS watts, but I'd be curious to knowhow the Shaw pushes the 4 Ohm 112. Being a tune amp, its power into 8 Ohmsshould be the same, right?
Here is a quick recording I made last month at home with the Walkabout and my 112. Posted it in the KXB 500 thread, along with recordings of that amp and a Markbass F500 for comparison. Bass is an EMG-loaded reverse-P/J, slightly favoring the neck pickup. Volume is necessarily lower than I'd play on a gig, so bear that in mind.
A MAS112 LPT would be perfect for aWalkabout. It's much more efficient than the other 112's . The Walkabout would drive it just fine. while not having the power handling of the other 112'S, it's darn close. It goes loud enough for any of my gigs and better clarity, too.
Stephen Regier
Commercial User
- Apr 11, 2014
- 78
- 131
- Disclosures
- Co-Inventer and Co-Owner of Big E Loudspeakers Technology
Though the LpT is undoubtedly louder per watt, the MA-109 is no slouch with WA, and it goes deeeeep.
I am so impressed by MAS and the response to customer input. So Mike has a Low power tube cab in response to a customer inquiry.. Try that with other custom builders.. MAYBEEE.. or not.
Stephen Regier
Commercial User
- Apr 11, 2014
- 78
- 131
- Disclosures
- Co-Inventer and Co-Owner of Big E Loudspeakers Technology
The LPT has a greater sensitivity over it's entire frequency response. It uses a different crossover network as well. It has a slightly higher Fs due to the woofer selection. However, because of the MVW architecture it will still deliver a full B string. The slightly leaner bass works well with tubes for a full rich sound without bloat. The LPT also works well with SS micro heads (up to 450W RMS @8 Ohms) and can deliver a very aggressive and focused sound when called upon.
The LPT is com[parable to speakers with an efficiency of about 102db. And yes--the entire frequency range from around 120 hz to around 3khz. Most speakers either pick the "sweet spot" (as far as sensitivity) or figure from 200 to 2khz. All speakers drop of a bit below that figure, but the MVW cabs do so less than other speakers.
As far as sound comparisons---
the MAS112 with the 18sound woofer
I wouldn't say "leaner" in the bass---it's just not boomy and doesn't have that extra "warmth" in the form of a slight boost between 150 and 250hz. Actually, very powerful in the low end---but great clarity. The mids are a bit more forward and a bit more aggressive. Better for "piano string" clarity. And can be driven by around 300 watts. 400 to 500 is better, but 300 will work fine. 150 tube watts work fine.Can be eq'd to more of the balance of the Faital version.
the MAS112 with the Faital 4 ohm (or 8 ohm) woofer
Bigger, fuller low end. Very controlled and punchy, but a stronger, warmer balance. A bit more natural mids, but plenty articulate in the mids. Very powerful and balanced. I'm more of a pizzicato r&b and funk guy. I ;like a more hifi and modern take on the traditional balance for those types of music. This cab is better for me. Can be eq'd to more like the 18sound version.
the MAS112 LPT
Incredible clarity of the bass envelope between 120 and 300hz.A slight bit warmer than the 18sound but a bit leaner than the Faital. Slightly forward (less than the 18sound) but very natural and balanced mids. Doesn't go quite as low as the other 112's but the B string still sounds very focused and deep. Doesn't go quite as loud as the other 112's but moves about twice as much air as the 109. Probably my favorite sound of the 112's within it's limits. It would work well on my loudest gigs.Sounds the best of the 112's with tubes. The tubes add a bit of thickness and warmth to the low end. It does sound great with SS amps, too. I boost the bass by a notch. Sounded great at gig volume with a Fender Bassman (a relatively anemic 50 tube watts ). Broke our eardrums with 100 tube watts and had really great sound and headroom with the 150 watt Shaw. Iv'e driven it with 150 solid state watts with no problems. I've also put 400 SS watts into it and it worked great.
