Last year I got one of
these Mesa Road Ready Cabs (not that exact one) - and then found an old Mesa branded EVM 12L to put in it to get it back closer to stock spec. I've never really paid much attention before, but I realized that it sounds quite sort of dull compared to the speaker in my other amp/combo, a 'Warehouse Veteran 30' in a Verellen Coop. By dull I mean, less highs, less lows, just mostly mids.
I realize the Thiele cab should be distinct sounding (I thought supposed to more bassy), but this does make me wonder if there's something wrong with the speaker or the way it's connected. I connected it by stripping the speaker wire soldered to the jack on the cab, and attaching to the speaker via the 2 spring clips.
Any suggestions or things to check here? There's no rattles or anything, I can crank the amp nice and loud and its not a bad sound, just quite lofi sounding compared to my other amp which was surprising compared to general descriptions of EVM 12Ls, especially in Thiele cabs.
Comments
It doesn’t sound like you’ve wired it wrong so I think the speaker may have a fault. If you lay the cab on its back with the grille off and gently push the speaker cone in and out, does it move freely?
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
It's strange, it doesn't sound bad at all, just seems to have a very smoothed off top end, for want of better words. There's no way to get a raspy sound at all (should I want to..). After more thought/playing it seems to have good bass & mids, just the top end is weird somehow. Maybe I'm going mad. Wondering if anything at least visually looks off?
It is possible that you're so used to the sound of the Veteran 30 that the EV's much wider and more even frequency range sounds somehow 'dull'. Personally I thought the Veteran 30 was one of the worst speakers I've ever heard, in that Boogie! Although it may just have been a bad match for the amp... but it was all mid, too 'smooth' and with an odd whiny/grating character. I didn't try it with another amp.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
I have heard others say they lack character but I think that is because they just reproduce sound. There efficiency rating means they don't seem to re-act with the amp in the way of speaker break up and add to the sound. They are just so good at giving you what comes out of the amp.
Maybe that's what you are not used to?
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein