Mesa Subway cabs vs Ampeg Neo Cabs

[DanL]

Hi fellow TB'ers -

I recently picked up a Mesa Subway 112 Cab and I've played it at a couple of rehearsals (low volume jazz ensemble) - Playing a Keith Roscoe bass...

I am trying to decide if I should keep it or not - because based on my limited playing with this cab in a rehearsal context - I honestly don't know if this is the right cab for that setting or not?

I also have an Ampeg 210 Neo cab and a MAS 110 cab and I kind of think I am liking the sound from those cabs a better than the Mesa 112 - and that really does surprise me as the Mesa Subway cabs are very popular.

So... my question to all of you out there is... What am I missing?

The Mesa cab - to my ears - sounded a bit "covered" and did not seem to have much "presence" - which again surprised me... so... maybe there is something wrong with it?

I don't have any previous experience with Mesa gear - I'm coming at this from more of an upright bass / Acoustic Image / Euphonic Audio background with amps and cabs...

And all Ampeg gear on electric bass.

Thanks!

 

[lomo]

It doesn't "sound" to me as though you're missing anything. You like 1 cab better than another. Why over think it? Just sell the Subway 112 and be happy

 

[roccobass]

Hi fellow TB'ers

I recently picked up a Mesa Subway 112 Cab and I've played it at a couple of rehearsals (low volume jazz ensemble) - Playing a Keith Roscoe bass...

I am trying to decide if I should keep it or not - because based on my limited playing with this cab in a rehearsal context - I honestly don't know if this is the right cab for that setting or not?

I also have an Ampeg 210 Neo cab and a MAS 110 cab and I kind of think I am liking the sound from those cabs a better than the Mesa 112 - and that really does surprise me as the Mesa Subway cabs are very popular.

So... my question to all of you out there is... What am I missing?

The Mesa cab - to my ears - sounded a bit "covered" and did not seem to have much "presence" - which again surprised me... so... maybe there is something wrong with it?

I don't have any previous experience with Mesa gear - I'm coming at this from more of an upright bass / Acoustic Image / Euphonic Audio background with amps and cabs...

And all Ampeg gear on electric bass.

Thanks!

I play upright bass too. The Acoustic Image doesn’t “color” your bass sound, if you know what I mean. I own a D800 with two Subway 1-12 cabs my electric. I also owned Ampeg. Each one is distinctive. I myself, hate the Mesa sound for my upright, AI is perfect, whereas, Mesa sounds perfect for my Fender Jazz. As IOMO stated, it is personal preference. Nothing wrong here. Go with your ears. Heck, I took back a Phil Jones Briefcase combo because I thought it was too muffly. I was so used to the AI sound.

 

[Al Kraft]

All good quality cabs with very different voicings IMO. Just go with the one that sounds best to you and sleep well knowing you auditioned some excellent gear to arrive at the right choice for your tone goals.

FWIW I own a SW112 (plus a lot of other cabs) and the SW112 alone is rarely my first choice when using a single 12 cab. However, it's the only thing I reach for when I need a partner for my SW115...it's simply different tools for different jobs and tastes.

 

[WoodyJ]

^^^^ What Al said.

My Subway 112 is good by itself if mid-focused is your thing but coupled with the Subway 115......MAGIC!

I'm an ex-upright player and what works beautifully for those may not be the best fit with amps or cabs designed for electric bass, and vice versa.

 

[uncle woody]

I’m throwing my bet with the rest, it seems like the 112 shines in combination with the other subway 210 or 115. They are made to be paired (quote from @agedhorse)

For standalone the 115 seems to be blowing people away left and right.

 

[p12bassnut]

I have 2 Subway 112's and together they sound great ! up goes the Deep switch on the D-800+ and they sing.
1 cab alone is mid focused but that's good in my opinion. These cabs can go low you just need to EQ a little to get it there.

 

[Al Kraft]

I have 2 Subway 112's and together they sound great ! up goes the Deep switch on the D-800+ and they sing.
1 cab alone is mid focused but that's good in my opinion. These cabs can go low you just need to EQ a little to get it there.

+1...The SW112 can give you some surprising low end but you have to coax it out of the cab (and it is designed to take that). The 115 or two 112's will get you there much more easily/naturally IME.

 

[Lovep]

I understand what you mean. I tried the SW112 by itself and I was not happy with the tone. Like others have said, I added the SW115 and was completely satisfied. I eventually swapped out the 112 for another 115.

The Ampeg PN210 cab is killer and sounds really tight and punchy with tons of low-end. I would add a PN115 cab and it would sound incredible!!

I never tried the MAS series cabinets, but I always hear good things about them being excellent cabs.

 

[slagbass]

It doesn't "sound" to me as though you're missing anything. You like 1 cab better than another. Why over think it? Just sell the Subway 112 and be happy

+1. As a counterpoint to some of the praise being heaped on the Subway 112 and 115 combo noted above - I purchased both cabs and took them to a gig, powered by my trusty Mesa Prodigy. They went back to the store the next day. Different strokes.......

 

[DanL]

Thx to all - I will try using my Subway 112 in conjunction with my Ampeg 210 Neo and see how I like that... if not... I'll be looking to sell or trade it for something else. Thanks for everyone's input.

 

[burgerdj]

It’s defective. I’ll take it off your hands , just need you to cover shipping

 

[JimmyM]

It’s defective. I’ll take it off your hands , just need you to cover shipping

I'd love to see stats on how many times that's been tried vs how many times it worked. I'd guess a 4 million to 0 ratio

 

[DanL]

It’s defective. I’ll take it off your hands , just need you to cover shipping

Lol

 

[retroXvertigo]

I've never tried the SW112, but I have two of the SW115s and they're incredible matched up with the D800+

 

[red_rhino]

I also have an Ampeg 210 Neo cab and a MAS 110 cab

You're comparing apples, oranges, and grapefruit. Those comparisons aren't really meaningful. Each of those cabs, including the Subway 1x12, have different characteristics that are going to either excel or lag given the use case, bass played, or bassist playing it.

That said, no matter what else, you should always do what you think works best for you. If nothing else, at least you know more about what you like, and what you don't.

Edit: Now that I think about it, I'm surprise nobody suggested the Mesa 2x10 as a better comparison to the Ampeg 210. Personally, I really like the Mesa 2x10, but it sounds nothing like the 1x12 or 1x15, IMHO.

 

[Silky Johnson]

Hi fellow TB'ers -

I recently picked up a Mesa Subway 112 Cab and I've played it at a couple of rehearsals (low volume jazz ensemble) - Playing a Keith Roscoe bass...

I am trying to decide if I should keep it or not - because based on my limited playing with this cab in a rehearsal context - I honestly don't know if this is the right cab for that setting or not?

I also have an Ampeg 210 Neo cab and a MAS 110 cab and I kind of think I am liking the sound from those cabs a better than the Mesa 112 - and that really does surprise me as the Mesa Subway cabs are very popular.

So... my question to all of you out there is... What am I missing?

The Mesa cab - to my ears - sounded a bit "covered" and did not seem to have much "presence" - which again surprised me... so... maybe there is something wrong with it?

I don't have any previous experience with Mesa gear - I'm coming at this from more of an upright bass / Acoustic Image / Euphonic Audio background with amps and cabs...

And all Ampeg gear on electric bass.

Thanks!

Is the tweeter control turned way down? To my ears the sw112 is very "open" sounding, it does take a touch of eq to coax deep bass but it's there as well. I boost at 80-100hz

 

[darwin-bass]

I'm probably way out of line with this (not an upright player) but don't you want as uncolored a sound for an upright as possible? And you don't need rock-concert volume levels, right?

Uncolored amp (Claris, Genzler, other?) with 500 watts and a Acme cabinet or maybe a fEarful would be the right thing, yes?

 

[foolforthecity]

^^^^ What Al said.

My Subway 112 is good by itself if mid-focused is your thing but coupled with the Subway 115......MAGIC!

I'm an ex-upright player and what works beautifully for those may not be the best fit with amps or cabs designed for electric bass, and vice versa.

The 112 or 112/115 combo does it for me gig after gig. My all-time favorite rig.

 

[Kukulkan61]

The SW112 is a great single cab, it was my main rig for the last 2 years in a 5 piece band, never had an issue sitting in the mix no FOH...and I pair it with a SW115 when needed but not very often...