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NCD: Mesa Subway 212!
- Thread starter 4SG
- Start date
I wasn't able test or compare a 2x10 with a 2x12.....and based on reputation/reviews bought the 2x12 blind. I am beyond pleased and happy with my decision, of the larger Subway box's, the 2x12 seemed to have the best ratio of price, power and portability. I think in general 12's will disperse the sound a bit better than 10's....the Mesa 2x12 has great mids, while still having more than enough fullness and beef to the tone.
I just realized (after someone brought this thread back to life) that I never answered here. I did purchase the 2x12. Total, I have the D800+, two Subway 1x15's, and also a single 2x12, and some other nice heads as well. I have sold all non-Mesa cabs. For my "big" band, I use the two 15's, but for my smaller band, the 2x12 does more than well. I have also gigged it with my big band and it was very good (medium venue... 125-150 people). And from time to time I have stacked it on top of one of the 15's, and it is glorious.
Compared to a single 15 (or double), the 2x12 is more mid-range forward, more "in-your-face" than the bigger brother. But, still plenty of bottom - I don't feel that the sound is lacking in that area. Much brighter than the 15's as well. I have owned a 2x12 SWR in the past (two, actually), so I experimented with the settings just a bit to get "my" sound. Rolled the tweeter nearly completely off, pulled down the highs a little, rolled back the mid-highs a little, and within minutes I found it. Plenty of lows, mid-lows, but plenty of clarity as well. No clank.
If I could purchase only one... I would pick the 2x12 again. Fortunately, I don't have to pick.
Great cabs.
Compared to a single 15 (or double), the 2x12 is more mid-range forward, more "in-your-face" than the bigger brother. But, still plenty of bottom - I don't feel that the sound is lacking in that area. Much brighter than the 15's as well. I have owned a 2x12 SWR in the past (two, actually), so I experimented with the settings just a bit to get "my" sound. Rolled the tweeter nearly completely off, pulled down the highs a little, rolled back the mid-highs a little, and within minutes I found it. Plenty of lows, mid-lows, but plenty of clarity as well. No clank.
If I could purchase only one... I would pick the 2x12 again. Fortunately, I don't have to pick.
Great cabs.
I have a done a couple of gigs on large stages with the WD800 and Subway 2x12 over the past few nights.
4 piece based blues. Loud, Stevie Ray Vaughn style guitar player and a harmonica player that takes up a lot of mud and high register.
The 2 X 12 was great. I mostly used a P Bass and the Big, Round setting suggested in the manual.
Very articulate, lots of bottom end, very smooth and clean headroom for days.
I also was able to try out the slap settings in the manual during soundcheck. Also excellent
This is a very versatile set up.
- Feb 12, 2006
- 61,030
- 5
- 220,910
- Disclosures
- Development Engineer-Mesa Boogie, Development Engineer-Genzler (pedals), Product Support-Genz Benz
No, they are 4 ohm only, 800 watts RMS power handling (including mechanical). All of the Subway amps are 2 ohms stable if you need to use 2 of these, and if you need or want more power, many amps (including the Subway amps) can be doubled up, one amp driving one cabinet and the other amp driving the other cabinet using the effects send/returns. 1600 watts RMS into 2 x 4 ohm cabinets this way.
Im looking for a pair of 8 ohm 2x12 cabs to mate with my custom Gss sumo power amp its running 500 watts rms per side @8ohms
Can you slave two Subway amps together as described without a signal splitter? Didn’t think you could do this without one.
If so, how do you wire the send/returns?
The Mesa Subway 2x12 is the best all around cab I’ve ever owned!
... sorry, I had to chime in.
-ScottM
- Feb 12, 2006
- 61,030
- 5
- 220,910
- Disclosures
- Development Engineer-Mesa Boogie, Development Engineer-Genzler (pedals), Product Support-Genz Benz
Sorry, I should have been more clear. With the effects loop linking, that would apply to the D-800+ and WD-800.
This is not possible with the D-800.
The 212 is fantastic with every old school head I've played it through. I've not played an 800RB through it, but I gigged an 800RB for many years and have a pretty solid memory of it. I can't imagine it not being a good pairing, and I haven't been a super fan of the 800RB through most modern cabs.
why would you not be a fan of the gk 800RB through modern cabs. just asking ~ Thanks btw I also have a peavey Mark IV...sounds killer through my Ampeg heritage 410
It's been years, but I didn't like the way modern cabs sounded in the treble range. I remember the 800RB being fairly aggressive and pairing best with cabs that could smooth it a bit. I found that mid heavy cabs paired well with the mid scooped GK. The Subway 212 with the tweeter down is like a great refinement of a classic tweeterless cab, and the tweeter brings in more presence and bite. If I were an electric bass only player playing rock, this would be my favorite cab. For the player I am, the Subway 115 is a better fit with it's deeper low end and different mid texture.
yeah i was looking at the mesa boogie subway 212 earlier but then again the ampeg heriatge is a beast all itself when I played my GK 800RB through it. I guess it depends on what cab you have and bass and how you dial it all in. I even had a very pleasant sound with the Markbass IV through that ampeg cab but I also heard the mesa boogie subway 212 is a few notches lower growling,,,and we all could on and on about cabs/basses and dialing things in LOL.... either way the ampeg heriatge 410 is a nice sounding beast. i have not seen any threads of pairing up a gk or peavey with a mesa boogie 212 but like i said we can all go in circles
thanks for your input
I should go grab my dad's 800RB and try it with the Subway 212. He stopped using it a few years ago, but I think he still has it.
