I have a Mesa Express 5:50+ that I cuurently run into an oversize 1 X 12 cab with the stock Mesa C90 speaker loaded. While this speaker sounds great for muscular crunch and high-gain lead tones, i feel something is laking in the clean to moderate gain response, where this speaker can sound a bit dull and lifeless. What WGS options should I look at if achieving great rootsy clean and bluesey lead tones are my top priority?
Thanks in advance,
Scott in Hubbardston, MA
Is the cab closed or open back?
Closed back. Front ported.
Hey Clint ... do you know the orig. poster? Anyway ... I have VERY limited experience in "tuned port" cabinets for guitar use. I know that generally they are tuned fairly specifically to the speaker (or should be). Generally, the port is there to enhance bass frequencies ... VERY SPECIFIC frequencies ... so that makes speaker selection tough!
I guess here is what we're trying to fix: "something is lacking in the clean to moderate gain response, where this speaker can sound a bit dull and lifeless"
So ... that sounds like 1. the high power C-90 isn't nimble enough, and 2. It lacks top-end sparkle.
To fix problem #1 I'd suggest an ET65 ... problem #2 maybe a Retro 30 ... but either of those might not work great if the port tuning isn't a match!
I don't know the original poster. His might be open back. I don't know. Was curious what your suggestion would be. I currently have a Retro 30 in it and it sounds great. Very balanced tone. Probably more balanced than the 2x12 sealed closed back cab I had the Retro 30 in paired with an Et65. The Retro seems to be a good match for the Mesa widebody closed back front ported cab in my opinion. The celestion 90 that came stock did seem to be lacking in high end sparkle. The Retro fixed that and still has plenty of thump. Haven't tried the Et65 in it yet.
Cool ... thanks Clint! So "Scott in Hubbardston, MA" if your cab is closed back & front ported ... sounds like the Ret 30 is the clear winner for you :-)