Pair of Mesa Subway 112s?

[CaptainWally]

Definitely. When I use just one of my Subway cabs, it's the 115.

cheers, guy.
You can keep up with a drummer at a moderate volume?

 

[detracti]

I have a pair of Aguilar GS212's here, and a Mesa Subway 112/115 combo. When I used to gig with my Mesa BB750 over the GS212's, I wanted for nothing, I was very happy with that setup.

Now that I've had the D-800+/112/115, when I go back and plug into the BB750/GS212, the first thing I notice is that even with the bass knob on my BB750 turned DOWN, that GS212 spends an awful lot of energy shaking everything in the room! I never thought of them as mid-scooped. But now that I hear that, I think - maybe that's what everyone means - is that they seem to be really good at pumping super super low-end (that doesn't necessarily translate well onstage).

The Mesa cabs sound more boxy to me, but also more even-handed, and as though there is more usable tone coming out of them. The boxy thing doesn't concern me too much, because when I turn the master up, it goes away, and the cabs really seem to come into their own with great gobs of low-mid punch. Not only that, but I don't think you can really judge an amp and cabs, until you gig them - and I've chosen to trust that once I get there with the D-800+ and Subway cabs, I will be more than satisfied.

That said, if you get a chance to compare a Subway setup to your GS112's, I'd really like to hear what your experience is with it.

...I also have a feeling the Mesa Subway 15's would suit me better overall. But I had such a horrible experience with 15-inch drivers (Ampeg SVT15HE) farting out at high volume, that I've been reluctant to go all-in with 15's.

 

[Billybassbeater]

I have a couple of Aguilar GS112s and am thinking of replacing them with a pair of Mesa Subway 112s to go with my new D800+. Mostly I would be using the one for quiet practice and two of them if out and about.

Would i get the same synergy that i have when going to two GS112s ie. two seem greater than the sum of their parts? Would two SW112s fill more bottom than one while still retaining that nice mid presence?

Is anyone using/used two Subway 112s with the D800(+)? What is your take?

When I got my Subway D800+ I just got on of the 1x12. It was pretty nice. I figured 2 would be twice as nice and I think it surpassed that mark.
Mesa has new cabinets in the subway line. There is a 2x12 and it is considerable less expensive than 2 of the 1x12s.
As far as comparing them to the options you mentioned, I can be of no help.

 

[sstillwell]

I have to wonder what kind of gigs people are doing where a Subway stack of any flavor isn't enough...yikes. I have 2 x Subway 112 and D-800+ One cabinet gets me through any sane rehearsal and most small gigs. Two cabinets gets downright robust and I have to pay attention to my volume if I don't want to wind up being "that guy" that keeps getting asked to turn down...either by bandmates or venue owner. Can't compare to the Aguilar cabinets, but I'll put my vote in for two 112 Subway boxes!

 

[mesaplayer83]

Is the 1x15 a good standalone?

It's a GREAT standalone - I have a pair, but just one has handled a majority of my gigs this year... A D800 with the Deep switch on, into a SW115 on the ground, but tilted up will put out a surprising amount of volume and low end...

 

[klejst]

I have found Mesa's stuff over the years to be top-notch and the Subway cab line is no different. I own their PowerHouse 2x12 cab, but I have heard two Subway 1x12's in action with a D-800 and it sounded amazing! Big tone and sound in a lighter weight, Mesa, in my opinion win!

 

[mmbongo]

cheers, guy.
You can keep up with a drummer at a moderate volume?

Oh yeah, quite easily. My D800 and single 115 is what I use for most of our shows, which is our loud rock band playing at bars and restaurants mainly. I carry the whole thing, no PA support.

 

[Funkmabassup]

I have The 800+ with 12+15 and I simply love it.

The 12 have runder lows and more pronounced upper-mids and treble, The 15 is more Even through The mids, (flater response) and Will pretty much put out what you give it, in a very right and punchy way that No other 15 Will do. As standalone The 15 beats The 12 hands down, much more tight punchy bottom, less mud. What impresses me most with these cabs is how phenomenally well they fill The room, superb projection and you can pretty much dial em too sound how you like. However they provide a littlebit more girth compared too a flat-response cab which is a good thing imao.

Btw The 15 is superquick and really articulate and snappy, my old markbass 2x12 was really sluggish and muddy ON The low frequencies in comparison

 

[CaptainWally]

I have a pair of Aguilar GS212's here, and a Mesa Subway 112/115 combo. When I used to gig with my Mesa BB750 over the GS212's, I wanted for nothing, I was very happy with that setup.

Now that I've had the D-800+/112/115, when I go back and plug into the BB750/GS212, the first thing I notice is that even with the bass knob on my BB750 turned DOWN, that GS212 spends an awful lot of energy shaking everything in the room! I never thought of them as mid-scooped. But now that I hear that, I think - maybe that's what everyone means - is that they seem to be really good at pumping super super low-end (that doesn't necessarily translate well onstage).

The Mesa cabs sound more boxy to me, but also more even-handed, and as though there is more usable tone coming out of them. The boxy thing doesn't concern me too much, because when I turn the master up, it goes away, and the cabs really seem to come into their own with great gobs of low-mid punch. Not only that, but I don't think you can really judge an amp and cabs, until you gig them - and I've chosen to trust that once I get there with the D-800+ and Subway cabs, I will be more than satisfied.

That said, if you get a chance to compare a Subway setup to your GS112's, I'd really like to hear what your experience is with it.

...I also have a feeling the Mesa Subway 15's would suit me better overall. But I had such a horrible experience with 15-inch drivers (Ampeg SVT15HE) farting out at high volume, that I've been reluctant to go all-in with 15's.

I did also notice the Mesa stuff sounds a tad boxy. Good to know it's not an issue at higher volumes.

My perennial lesson is that what sounds great in a practice space is often very different to what sounds good in a mix.

 

[detracti]

... what sounds great in a practice space is often very different to what sounds good in a mix.

Exactly. And ime, Mesa gear is designed to sound great where it counts - on stage / in a mix.

 

[philthygeezer]

Thanks all. Still hovering over a second 1x12 (It would probably still be way more than I need at this point), but leaning to getting the 1x15 per recommendations and for variety's sake. I do like the thin stack approach but can also see a tall 1x12 sitting on the 1x15 in a 'thin pyramid'. This would leave a couple of little shelves to put nick-knacks on.

I see that Les Claypool is using four 1x12s. Probably I would do just fine with half that!

The nuclear option is that nice-looking tilt-back 2x15, which seems like it would be very convenient to lug around! It might preclude mixing tones up at low volume in practice.

Another Q: how does the 1x15 do at low volume? Will it be boomy enough to annoy people in surrounding rooms? Do things start to shake on shelves?

I like finger style funk and JPJ bumpy "Ramble On"-like sounds for example. Don't plan on slapping much but it might happen.

 

[detracti]

...
Another Q: how does the 1x15 do at low volume? Will it be boomy enough to annoy people in surrounding rooms? Do things start to shake on shelves?
...

IME no. Not the way my GS212 shakes things. It is pretty even-handed for me, until I start pushing it.

 

[Ewo]

When I use just one of my Subway cabs, it's the 115.

Same here.

 

[philthygeezer]

I'll probably wait and look for a 115.

With the Subway 112 and two GS112s I'll just leave the D800+ in 2 ohm mode (600w @ 4 ohm, 800w @ 2 ohm, ???w @2.667 ohm):

- first drive the 400 watt SW112 with one Speakon cable from the amp
- if needed, add the 300 watt factory GS112 for a second cab with another Speakon cable from the amp
- if more needed, then add the 250 watt Deltalite II fitted GS112 at the end with a daisy chain Speakon cable out of the Subway 112.

Q. Should be safe, as the <800 watt/ 2.6 ohms is met with three cabs totaling 950 watts capacity at 2.6 ohms, right? Does the daisy chain at the end change the way that things work?

 

[agedhorse]

The Subway amps and cabinets are all matched power-wise on a cabinet by cabinet basis. Each driver would receive the same proportion of power no matter if you have 1, 2, 3 or 4 x 8 ohm cabinets. The way they are connected doesn't matter, they are all parallel connections.

 

[philthygeezer]

@agedhorse : Thanks again for clarification. I was on a web article that said daisy chained and plugged into the amp were parallel and series, so I got worried.

I'll pick up another speakon cable and use it in good health for the third cab. I suspect the factory Aguilar will complement the Subway 112 as a pair, but haven't really had a chance to try it yet.

 

[agedhorse]

Just be sure your amp is rated for a 2.67 ohm minimum load of the parallel combination of speakers is less than 4 ohms.

 

[nostatic]

one thing I've found - "boxy" sound at home often is perfect in a mix on a gig. Big lush bottom end sounds great at home, almost never works on a gig. YMMV.

 

[philthygeezer]

Yeah part of me still wonders of a couple of SW112s would be perfect anyway. I think I'd like the versatility of different sizes as I really don't know what I'll be playing a lot of yet.

 

[agedhorse]

one thing I've found - "boxy" sound at home often is perfect in a mix on a gig. Big lush bottom end sounds great at home, almost never works on a gig. YMMV.

This is indeed one of the balancing acts that must be considered, and is an example of a specific limitation of the Walkabout that was addressed in the WD-800 by popular demand.

This is not a new thing either, the best example of this in the pro audio world was with reverbs. The Lexicon verbs tended to be more lush and sounded great with simple solo instruments and vocals, or in less cluttered mixes but could quickly become overwhelming in a more complex or dense mix. The Yamaha reverbs tended to be simpler and less flattering in solo situations but often outshined the Lexicon reverbs in more complex, denser mixes.

This is why I always recommend trying amps and cabinets out in the context you will be using them as that's one of the factors considered within the design process. The Walkabout/WD-800 comparison is one of these situations IMO.