Mesa/Boogie 4x12 Halfback Cabinet

This cab is old. I think it was made in the early to mid nineties. Its a half back with Black Shadow speakers on top. I'm not sure whats on the bottom two.

It has mounting brackets on the bottom in case you want to install casters.... Probably a good idea since this beast weighs easily 90 lbs. My last cab was bigger and still weighs less.

Sizewise its pretty compact for a 4x12. It would easily fit into the back seat of a compact car.

It has handles on both sides, the paint has worn off from years of use, but they handles remain solid and intact.

This thing was built to last. Probably something you won't get out of a budget cab [B-52, Avatar]

I'll give it a ten because I'm sure you could throw it out a second floor window and still get it to sound like new next time you play it.

I would deduct a point for the metal grille which can easily be perpetrated by a toddlers finger or a stray drumstick, etc... But I think thats what lets the speakers breathe. Sometimes grille clothes can muffle the sound too much.

I use this beast with all humbucking guitars, a Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier [3 channel], a boost pedal up front and a 10 band EQ in the loop.

For metal and hard rock it suits me perfectly. It has a very open sound to it. I don't know if its due to the metal grille or the way the speakers are voiced or a combination thereof.

My last cab get woofy and distorted with too much bass, but this cab can dish out the low end frequencies in spades. I like to boost the low mids to get that thump that nails you right in the chest. This thing handles it superbly.

To those who say Rectos are loose and flubby obviously haven't played through my setup. Between the EQ'ing that I do and the boost pedal this thing can get as tight as any Mark IV or Marshall, all while retaining that fat, warm sound that Rectos deliver.

I gave it a 9 because I'm a tone chaser and theres always the days that you hate your tone, or think you've heard something better. There is no perfect tone and never will be. IMO I think its all one big compromise.

Well, its at least 15 years old and doesn't show any signs of slowing down.

Never had to contact Boogie, but I've only heard good things about their service.

I'd buy one again....

I was actually looking for a V30 loaded cabinet, but now that I found these wonderful MC-90 Black Shadow speakers my quest for the V30 has ended. Besides, everyone uses V30s these days.

Half back with closed bottom. I own one with 4 EV-12's, and my brother has the standard with C-90's up top and EV-12's on the bottom. Both sound awesome. They're small for 4x12's, which is a good thing. These cabs are very heavy though, but if you want EV's, it comes with the territory. Metal grill looks wicked, but it does allow for small slender objects, like dangling 1/4 jacks, to poke at the speaker cones.

Using EMG pickups with a Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+, a Mark IV, or a Triple Recifier, these cabs have proven top notch. Delivers, both, clean and distorted tones with devasating effect. The EV's give the articulation and the tone that just cannot be matched by anything else I've heard. Does not break up or flatten out at extreme volumes. Makes other cabs loaded with Celestion V-30's (which is pretty much every 4x12 nowadays) sound flat and dull in comparison. I'll never go back to Vintage 30's.

Tough as nails and made to last. The super high wattage ratings of the speakers means that they're made to take a beating and keep going.

I go to the Mesa store in Hollywood whenever I need repairs on anything. They take care of me well enough.

My brother played through a Mesa/Boogie Standard Recto cab before, and there was just no comparison to my half back, so he went and got a half back, too. They're that good. I wish these things were still in production.

Great cab. I bought it used so i dont know when it was made. Mine is road ready so it is very sturdy. Mine was previously owned by the band Red Kross so it has some miles on it. The 2 celestion black shadows with 2 evm 12s sound killer. I might add that i have a bottom cab, the sides are straight but the speakers are still slanted. Make sure to put casters on this thing because it is heavy.

I use it with a parker fly mojo through a mesa mark 3. This setup screams and is exactly what i was looking for. The black shadows are great clean and the evs keep everything tight.

I am not worried at all about this thing breaking any time soon. It is a beast.

Never have had any problems with mesa. They are a standup company.

I would buy it again in an instant. They only draw back is that the cab is very heavy due to the evs.

This thing must be from the late 80's. Handles clean tones fine but is a real monster when it comes to metal. I wish it had the capability to change the impedance because I play a full stack and I can't match it with my Marshall. If I could find a flat (b) cab I would be in heaven.

I play emg 81's (which seem to be quite a trend in metal these days) Cab sounds great, handles everything that my 5150II has had to offer (so far).

Built like a tank. Weighs a ton but it's heavy-duty. I am going to cut a piece of wood for the top half though, I play too many shows to worry about something snagging one of the exposed wires.

Never dealt with the company, being that the cab is so old. I can't find much of a product detail on the item for the same reason.

If I could find another one of these I'd buy it in a second. I had a few chances to get a B cab but they were too far away for pickup. I play a Marshall 1960A but this Mesa blows it away. It has slightly less warm tones than the Marshall but in power and clarity the Mesa wins.

This thing was probably made sometime in the 80's, but i bought my used so really i have no idea, very full mesa sound, this cab screams sounds better then my friends marshall 1960a.

Im using a shecter right now with 2 emgs, 81 in the neck and 85 in the bridge, i play mostly rock and heavy rock, sometimes blues, this cab can handle anything i put through it.

havent had any trouble with it yet.

never had to deal with tem

ive been playin for about 6 years, ive had a few other cabs marshalls. if this thing was stolen id probably search for another one, this is one of the best cabs ive played through, it compares to recto cabs.

Late 80's, maybe? There aren't many "features" to the average guitar cab, but this one certainly has enough: mono or stereo operation, casters, recessed metal handles. It's the most versatile 4x12" guitar cab around -- it handles clean, distorted rhythm, and heavy lead sounds easily, and responds nicely to stereo or mono effects. I've owned a Rectifier 4x12" cab as well, and it wasn't nearly as versatile.

I run an ENGL Fireball head into this cab. My main guitar is a 1999 Les Paul Custom (Seymour Duncan-loaded). With two 200 watt speakers (EVM-12L's in the bottom) and two 90 watt speakers (Celestion Custom 90's in the top), it is simply impossible to get this cab to break up. I think the half open, half closed idea is genius; I'm surprised it didn't catch on with more manufacturers. The open top gives a nice airiness to clean and lead sounds, and the closed bottom has insanely tight bass response. It's also possible to get huge sounds live or in the studio by micing a top and a bottom speaker. I give it a "9" because there may be something better out there, but I've never heard it, and when I do, it'll probably cost three times as much. The Recto cab I owned had better upper-mid presence, but this cab does everything else better, including bass-heavy palm mutes.

This cab is ridiculously heavy. It has to be close to 100 pounds, which is amazing considering the cab's compact profile. I worry about things poking through the metal grill, or snagging the exposed wires in the open half of the back, but I'm pretty careful with my gear. Considering that I only punp 60W RMS into this beast, I'm not even making the speakers break a sweat. I could see this cab lasting anoter 20 years easily.

Never dealt with Mesa on this cab, but I've owned a Dual Rectifier and a Mark IV in the past and Mesa's customer service is the best I've ever seen from a large musical equipment company.

This is my favorite cab I've ever owned. I may sell or trade heads, but I couldn't ever see myself parting with this cab, especially since they're no longer built. MINE! MINE! MINE!

(4) 12" speakers (2 EV's and 2 unknown), casters, recessed handles.

This cabinet has a lot of headroom and the sound is pleasing and full.
I ran an Ampeg V-4 through this cabinet and loved it. Nowadays I run a Marshall JTM-60 (that I paid $150 for and which I've seen bashed here, but never gave me any problems) through it and play a Fender Strat, Esquire, Mustang, Tele, and Gibson SG Custom. All sound great on this cabinet.

The cabinet has never given me any problems. It was purchased from a touring act and saw several months of gigs.

N/A

I could never get such a good deal on such a good cabinet again so I do not know what I'd do if it were destroyed or stolen.

This cabinet is about 10 years old. I bought it used, possibly I am the third owner of this. Loaded with 2 EVMs and 2 Black Shadows. 4 Ohm and 8 Ohm inputs, wired for stereo or mono operation. Half Back cabinet. Metal Grill front. Casters. Heavy duty plywood construction, but im not sure of wood used...but this f*cker is too damn heavy.

Use Jackson SL2H Soloist with Dimarzios, Fender 57 Relic Strat with vintage pups, Wayne Rock Legend with Duncans. I use the Boogie Mk IV head with this cabinet. The two are compatible accessories and sound great together. I only use a Dunlop Wah with DPDT Fulltone mod and TC Chorus for effects. Otherwise, I play mostly dry, unadulterated amp tone and using only the amp's reverb in rare instances. The cabinet sounds full, has a good sonic range. Maybe it would sound less "high end-ish" if it were entirely loaded with Black Shadows. Perhaps more compressed with a fully closed back.

Im sure this 200lb. f*cker can withstand a considerable drop or some banging around but it's not my natural behavior to put expensive items thru the "hell and back" test. Wiring looks "tight", the metal grill as well (doesn't vibrate or chatter, etc.) It does get dusty from electromagnetic attractions of opposite charges.

never dealt with them

It's too damn heavy...Lucky for me I have a heated garage to stow and play this cabinet when not gigging...otherwise I would be upset at having to heave this f*cker up and down the stairs. I tried the Mk IV side by side with this cabinet and with a Marshall 1960 cab and the Marshall lacked something I cannot describe. I suppose a fully closed back will give more of a compressed sound, maybe I could cut a piece of plywood to size and stick it in there to do the job. Thank g*d for the casters as well.

4x12 halfback with 4 black shadow (celestion). 2 4 ohm jacks and 1 8 ohm. it has 360 watt. this is the smallest 4x12 cabinet i've ever seen.

I use it with a rack system: a rocktron chameleon and a rocktron velocity 250 power amp. it has a wonderful sound, full of bass.

i bought it one week ago.it is built like a tank, i think it will never broke down! if it was stolen i'll come back and buy it again, even if it is expensive!

never dealt with the company!

wonderful!

Not many features. 4x12 halfback with 2 Black Shadows and 2 Celstions. 2 4 ohm jacks and 1 8 ohm. With 360 watts this thing is a beast.

This cabinet sounds unbelievable. Better than the Recto in my honest opinion. I am running this cab with a 100 watt Mesa Mark III long head, and this thing can SCREAM!

Shipped all over the country and still in near mint condition. Working 100%! The quality of craftsmanship is amazing.

Mesa returns phone calls the same day, they even mailed me a free manual when I bought the Mark III. Great people, they really care about the customer.

This would get a 10 if it didn't weight 200lbs. (Literally... it weights 200 friggin pounds!) UPS wouldn't ship it because of it's weight so I had to get a freight company to deliver it to my door. Very compact, fits in my trunk beautifully... Now only if it weight 100lbs less! 9 is only because of the weight. If you get this cab and run Mark series heads you WILL NOT be dissappointed!