Cab Alternatives for Mesa?

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

I have a Mesa DC-5 50-watt head and a Mesa 2x12 cab loaded with Celestion Vintage 30s. The tone is great, but there are a couple things I don't like:

• The amp is too loud.
• The cab is too big.

From what I understand, a cab with more speakers will sound louder than one with fewer speakers. Is this correct and, if so, will a smaller cab tame the volume significantly? (If not, I can always go the attenuator route.) Will using a smaller cab dramatically alter the tone of the amp?

If you haven't guessed yet, I'm considering switching from a 2x12 to a 1x12. The ideal is to lighten the load and lower the volume without significantly sacrificing tone.

Any thoughts or suggestions?

- Keith

 

[Jeff Dunne]

Re: Cab Alternatives for Mesa?

It won't make a gigantic difference, but it'll be noticable. The most difference will be the spread and amount of bass and air it pushes.

I'd personally just live with it, but I don't live in an apartment or anything like that. I'd go the 1x12 route, attenuator's sound like ass without speaker movement, which you need less of as is.

 

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Re: Cab Alternatives for Mesa?

I live in a house, but I have a family that might not appreciate my playing as much as I do. Plus, being able to get some speaker distortion would be nice but just isn't going to happen for me with a 2x12. (Maybe not often with the 1x12 either, but it's more likely.)

Aside from that, I like being able to tote around a 1x12 instead of a 2x12.

- Keith