Getting a 4x12 cab: Mesa vs Orange?

[Clark Kent]

Hey guys. I just ordered an Orange Rockerverb 100 MKII. I'm also going to buy a 4x12 cab and I was planning to get the Mesa 4x12 Rectifier cab simply because it seems to be industry standard for everything. Also I like the flat sound of the cab and the tight response.

Now... I started thinking about the Orange 4x12 cab since it's a lot cheaper and people only compliment the cabinet. I've dealt with the cab once briefly and I remember it had this ice pick type of frequecy somewhere in the upper mids. I'm not sure though.

Do any of you have experience with both and which one do you prefer?

 

[JakeAC5253]

The Mesa cab has its deal of upper mids as well, make no mistake, but it's a different sound than the Orange for sure. I own the Mesa cab and I've heard the Orange cab in person. The Orange cab, to me, has a very distinct midrange, I did not favor it. As you said, I think the Mesa cab is both tighter and more flavorful. The Orange cab has the wood panels on the bottom of it, which couple it to any stage platform you play on, which helps projection in live playing. For studio use, this may not be a desirable thing. Or it may be, up to you.

 

[amarshism]

Mesa > orange

 

[MarcusGHedwig]

^Word to that!

 

[PhilTheBeard]

Mesa all the way brother!

 

[Derykus]

When I got rid of my Orange cab for my Mesa cab, my dick got bigger. 'Nuff said.

 

[Sloan]

When I got rid of my Orange cab for my Mesa cab, my dick got bigger. 'Nuff said.

 

[TaylorG]

I've owned 4 Mesa cabs in my life, and two Orange cabs.
I kept the Mesa cabs.



I found the Orange's harsh and tinny, but way overly boomy at the same time.
Live they were even worse.


I now own two Mesa cabs. I'd still have the other two but I don't play live anymore so I have no need.

 

[DocSauerkraut]

I'd go for the 2x12 Roadster. Best cab to my taste

 

[Clark Kent]

Haha. Okay I'll get a Mesa. I've had so many 2x12 cabs already... it's time to get a 4x12 Mesa cab.

 

[ang3]

you gonna get straight or slant?

 

[Josh Burgess]

I thought the orange cab was just too middy, boxy, and muffled sounding. It's pretty tight, because the dimensions are smaller than a lot of 4x12 cabs, but it doesn't have very clear highs. It's just this fuzzy boxy mids kinda sound you can't really get rid of.

When I first got the Mesa recto cab it felt a little loose to me, but it was really more just me getting used to the different kind of bass response. The mesa has the mids a little scooped and sitting differently.... it has very percussive low mids (in a good way). I really think the Mesa v30s have a lot to do with it too, because I've never heard another v30 cab sound as good as a mesa v30 cab (even when talking about the the stiletto/traditional cabs)....

 

[Clark Kent]

I guess I'll be getting the Stiletto/Tradition Mesa 4x12 cab. Tried Metaltastics impulses and that's exactly the type of response I want!

 

[raisedfist]

Mesa, no question and I'm British!

 

[ForceTheTriggerSucks]

Oversized slant recto cab. Can't go wrong son

 

[Clark Kent]

Okay so I made a blindfolded test for you guys! Simply because I want this to be all about the sound and not the brand and what people say on forums. I know this is not metal! I threw in a surprise so three cabs in this test. This is a Redwirez test with the cabs that we've talking about plus a secret one. Here are the files:

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/19579590/Rock-Cock A.mp3
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/19579590/Rock-Cock B.mp3
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/19579590/Rock-Cock C.mp3

Let me know which one sounds best for you.

 

[drew_drummer]

Okay so I made a blindfolded test for you guys! Simply because I want this to be all about the sound and not the brand and what people say on forums. I know this is not metal! I threw in a surprise so three cabs in this test. This is a Redwirez test with the cabs that we've talking about plus a secret one. Here are the files:

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/19579590/Rock-Cock A.mp3
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/19579590/Rock-Cock B.mp3
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/19579590/Rock-Cock C.mp3

Let me know which one sounds best for you.

B sounded pants. A sounded a bit muffled. I preferred C.

 

[Tommy Evans]

...whichever one is the mesa!

No but really, B. I vote B.

 

[Clark Kent]

I struggled getting a clear tone out of the A cab. In the A cab the mic is placed almost on the cap.

...whichever one is the mesa!

No but really, B. I vote B.

Haha... This is why I made this comparison. Everyone will vote for Mesa for all the things the cabinet has achieved. Me too... I want a Mesa cab because every serious studio seems to be recording through a Mesa cab. However the Orange f.ex. is a cab that's being used by many pro players. The users are basically saying that the Orange has a tighter low end than the Mesa. But seems like the Orange sounds very similar to the Stiletto/Traditional Mesa cab but even tighter.

 

[P-E]

Orange cabs have horrible mids for metal IMO. Can work well for some punkish stuff but not for metal.