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Anyone here tried out those 1x15 or 2x15 Mesa Ulta-Lite Subway cabs? If so how do you like them in comparison to the Diesel/Dietz/TL606 cabs?

tallchris wrote: Tue Nov 09, 2021 5:51 pm Anyone here tried out those 1x15 or 2x15 Mesa Ulta-Lite Subway cabs? If so how do you like them in comparison to the Diesel/Dietz/TL606 cabs?

I played one of the 1x15's the other day and thought they were fine, nothing special. It seemed to have a pretty flat frequency response but it lacked the bark of my 606-style cab. It was pretty damn light which is a pretty compelling sell at this point in my life.

I love my Hi-Tone 4x12. They just posted this 2x15 and looks pretty sweet. Not too heavy.

"The Eclipse 2x15 is an exercise in beauty and power. Loaded with two Eminence Kappalite 15” drivers it is surprisingly easy on your back. Weighing in at 74lbs."

Owen wrote: Wed Nov 10, 2021 10:48 am I love my Hi-Tone 4x12. They just posted this 2x15 and looks pretty sweet. Not too heavy.

"The Eclipse 2x15 is an exercise in beauty and power. Loaded with two Eminence Kappalite 15” drivers it is surprisingly easy on your back. Weighing in at 74lbs."

What opinion are you requesting? Does that make me pop a lil Pink Floydian boner? Yes. Yes it very much does.

tallchris wrote: Tue Nov 09, 2021 5:51 pm Anyone here tried out those 1x15 or 2x15 Mesa Ulta-Lite Subway cabs? If so how do you like them in comparison to the Diesel/Dietz/TL606 cabs?

I havent. But I have a few related side topics.

1) I live in New York City. I like *never* need to bring a bass cab with me to play shows. I rarely even bring a head, just go with the backline. BUT, there are those rare instances when you play somewhere weird and have to bring you own bass amp. We played such a show two weeks ago and, and with only a Honda HRV to get a three piece band's stuff transported, our options were limited. I figured it out (sub-optimally*) and we got it done but every rare time that this happens I find myself wanting for a small ass bass cab. Like a 1x12".

2) Im sure that Mesa sounds fine but, IMHO, it looks terrible.

3) I should probably just build myself a Balls TL806 to satisfy my needs. That cab plus a neo speaker would probably be perfect.


*I wound up playing bass out of a Sunn Frankenstein because it was the smallest thing I could use. Beta Bass head, but in a Beta lead combo. Open back, total loss of low end but I could wing it. Also for some reason someone put two EVM-12S in it, which means it weighs about as much as the aforementioned Honda HRV:

Dr Tony Balls wrote: Wed Nov 10, 2021 1:01 pm
3) I should probably just build myself a Balls TL806 to satisfy my needs. That cab plus a neo speaker would probably be perfect.

I've kinda really wanted a TL806 style 2x12 cab for bass with some neo speakers, like a mini-version of the old Mesa Diesel 2x15:

^How are you folks feeling about those Neo Magnet speakers for guitar or bass? The weight is obviously enticing. I've thought about making a small 2x12 (or 1x12) cabinet an using some small, clean solid state amp and custom pedal based preamp as a little fucking around set up. Neo Mags seem the way to go for mobility.

I imagine a refrigerator would be lighter than that Sunn set up. Is it true that there's not much difference (like five component values) between a Beta Lead and Beta Bass preamp? If so, is there an advantage to the Beta Lead for guitar that can't be solved by an eq adjustment? It's been a looooong time since I played one.

VaticanShotglass wrote: Wed Nov 10, 2021 5:38 pm ^How are you folks feeling about those Neo Magnet speakers for guitar or bass? The weight is obviously enticing. I've thought about making a small 2x12 (or 1x12) cabinet an using some small, clean solid state amp and custom pedal based preamp as a little fucking around set up. Neo Mags seem the way to go for mobility.

I imagine a refrigerator would be lighter than that Sunn set up. Is it true that there's not much difference (like five component values) between a Beta Lead and Beta Bass preamp? If so, is there an advantage to the Beta Lead for guitar that can't be solved by an eq adjustment? It's been a looooong time since I played one.

Personally, I've never played a Neo guitar speaker that had me think "oh hell yeah". I HAVE had the experience of "this amp sounds pretty good and it's SUPER light."

In addition, I don't think I've cranked a big ass tube head into a cab with Neo speakers. I've maybe played a small tube combo, and I've definitely played SS amps like Quilters and the Tonemaster Twin. So maybe they can sound spectacular, but I've just not tried it with a spectacular amp.

SO, as of right now, I think they're fine for a portable amp and especially something that will be used in less than perfect sonic environments. For recording and gigs that really matter, I'd stick with the classics.

Good info, Ben. Always sounded like too good to be true, but everything has a place, I guess. They used to be

Dr Tony Balls wrote: Wed Nov 10, 2021 11:16 am

Owen wrote: Wed Nov 10, 2021 10:48 am I love my Hi-Tone 4x12. They just posted this 2x15 and looks pretty sweet. Not too heavy.

"The Eclipse 2x15 is an exercise in beauty and power. Loaded with two Eminence Kappalite 15” drivers it is surprisingly easy on your back. Weighing in at 74lbs."

What opinion are you requesting? Does that make me pop a lil Pink Floydian boner? Yes. Yes it very much does.

Did a Sunn amp fuck a electrostatic speaker and this is their love child?