I've changed my mind about V30's!

[d1dsj]

Cab construction obviously makes a massive difference to how speakers sound AND how they project the sound. I used to have a Marshall purple Hendrix R.I 4 x 12 with Greenbacks which sounded pretty good... the spread of sound was great. The problem? I noticed that the jack plate was falling off, so I took the back off and was disgusted to find that the great Marshall company had cheapskated on the materials. The reason the plate was falling off was coz the back panel was made from crappy particle board!!! And this was supposed to be a Re-Issue!! Anyway, I heard that Mesa's cabs were awesome... so I got a 2 x 12 Recto with V30's. In isolation I "thought" it was great... very solid and full sounding. When we gigged I found that it was a nightmare, the sound just didn't cut through and it was VERY directional... i.e if you were not standing right in front of it you couldn't hear it. Major problem for the rest of the guys in the band. So, that went on EVIL bay, and I got a Mesa Trad 4 x 12. Well this thing was big and solid, and loaded with V30's... it had the be the Daddy right? Wrong... same problems as with the 2 x 12. Directional and got lost in the mix... plus the added bonus of being so heavy... lol, NOT. You may be thinking that it my amps? I'm using handbuilt point to point wired Cornford valve amps... NOT my amps. Not so long ago I got an old Orange 4 x 12 with 70's Greenbacks.. hey presto.. awesome smooth and warm sound. The spread of sound is great.. this cab is so good I'm going to get another as soon as funds permit. Anyway, I always wanted to try a Cornford 4 x 12 to match my amps but they have V30's in... that put me off as these cabs are not cheap. Last week I saw one for what I thought was the right price and took a chance. This cab is superb!!! Build, look and more importantly sound and spread. So as for me really taking a dislike to V30's, it seems it was the cab design all along. Sorry for the long rant, but I'm still genuinely shocked that Mesa's cabs put me off the V30... I'm just glad I gave this speaker another chance.

Has anyone else experienced this problem?

 

[OlinMusic]

Re: I've changed my mind about V30's!

I went thru the same thing.

You must also bare in mind you are mixing and matching. I know we want to think companies are evil and just copy one basic cab design and charge whatever they want, but that is WRONG!

I used a Mesa 2x12 Recto and it was very dark. Then I tried the Bogner stuff, also with V30s, and the projection and tone was night and day. I also have to say, the Bogner is better voiced to Bogner cabs, and the Mesa was engineered with the Dual Rec in mind.

Mixing and matching CAN work very well, but do always try the matching stuff. The Orange cabs are HUGE and THICK and don't work well with EVERY amp if you have specific tonal needs.

 

[drew_half_empty]

Re: I've changed my mind about V30's!

you're also using 30 year old speakers so keep that in mind

but yeah, i just can't bring myself to like anything made by mesa

and marshall is notorious for cost cutting materials

 

[Virtual Kevorkian]

Re: I've changed my mind about V30's!

Horses for courses - I prefer V30's in Mesa cabinets to V30's in Marshall-styled cabinets .

 

[Sludgenutz]

Re: I've changed my mind about V30's!

All is good and valid. I removed the V30 pair from my vertical Recto, and plumbed in an EVM12L, and a Swamp Thang. This removed the fizzies, and more importantly, jibed with the tone I grew up with, in my mind's ear.

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: I've changed my mind about V30's!

I think they sound unpleasent in the long run, and lacks airyness no matter the setup.
Sometimes I actually likes GT75's better in spome setups
Guess I am no big fan of V-30's, but I can use them.

 

[d1dsj]

Re: I've changed my mind about V30's!

I went thru the same thing.

Mixing and matching CAN work very well, but do always try the matching stuff. The Orange cabs are HUGE and THICK and don't work well with EVERY amp if you have specific tonal needs.

You're absolutely right bud, I should have stated the Cornford cab with V30's sounds great with both the Hellcat and the MK50... warm and yet aggresive with none of the harsh and dark sounds I had with the Mesa cabs (that was the main reason for getting rid). The Orange sounds better with the MK50 which is a more raw, old school GOOD Marshall type sound! The Hellcat has a more complex modern sound and the Greenbacks sound ok... I could live with it, but the V30's are definately better! The good thing is I now appreciate that the top amp mfrs match their cabs for a reason. I did think that it was the Mesa cabs, yet I love the sound of a Mesa stack though I wouldn't buy one 'coz it's not the sound I want to play with.

So, all in all, a valuable lesson learnt and hopefully some of the guys on here will read this and save themselves alot of money and frustration .... try the matching cabs with the amp you want to buy first! :beerchug:

 

[disturb]

Re: I've changed my mind about V30's!

After trying many cabs over the years, I settled on two oversized Mesa Recto cabs, w/V30's. They are the ****, and sound great with my Marshalls, Recto, and Diezel.