Do you demo heavy amps by buying online and returning (Mesa 212 and 215)?

Peter - Oregon

Peter - Oregon

Nov 21, 2021
380
959
801
Disclosures
None
#1
I am looking to purchase a Mesa cab to go along with my D-350. I posted this a couple of days ago, and had a great response by everyone.

https://www.talkbass.com/threads/mesa-subway-115-and-210-stack.1633497/

I am leaning toward a 115, or possibly a 212 or 215. I have played, and like the 115.

I understand that everyone's taste is different, and you need to listen to, and compare the amps. My question is whether it is ok to purchase two high value, heavy amps like that from an online retailer, and return one? I am an older guy, and a bit uncomfortable with that, but maybe that's what everybody does?

PS, if you have an opinion on the 212 vs 215, I would be interested in hearing it.

Thank you!
 
  • Like
Reactions: BOOG and DJ Bebop
#2
Peter - Oregon said:
I am looking to purchase a Mesa cab to go along with my D-350. I posted this a couple of days ago, and had a great response by everyone.

https://www.talkbass.com/threads/mesa-subway-115-and-210-stack.1633497/

I am leaning toward a 115, or possibly a 212 or 215. I have played, and like the 115.

I understand that everyone's taste is different, and you need to listen to, and compare the amps. My question is whether it is ok to purchase two high value, heavy amps like that from an online retailer, and return one? I am an older guy, and a bit uncomfortable with that, but maybe that's what everybody does?

PS, if you have an opinion on the 212 vs 215, I would be interested in hearing it.

Thank you!
Click to expand...

I wouldn't dare to do that personally.

My experience is that between this kind of great gear, the differences between models exist but are not that important IMO. It's only subtle nuances of greatness. So in the end, if I were you, I would order the one that best fits your needs in term of practicle use, taking into account not only the tonal or power characteristics, but also how easy is it to move it, etc. And you can return it if you are dissapointed.
 
  • Like
Reactions: dbsfgyd1, Artman, PBandJazzBass and 14 others
#3
gtirard said:
I wouldn't dare to do that personally.

My experience is that between this kind of great gear, the differences between models exist but are not that important IMO. It's only subtle nuances of greatness. So in the end, if I were you, I would order the one that best fits your needs in term of practicle use, taking into account not only the tonal or power characteristics, but also how easy is it to move it, etc. And you can return it if you are dissapointed.
Click to expand...


Thanks gtirard. In that post, people talked about the importance of trying the different cabs. My shop only ever has a 115. I wondered how many shops actually carry multiple Mesa cabs to compare. Since several people talked of comparing the cabs, I wondered how they actually did that. I figured buying and returning was likely the only way.

As I said, I am trying to decide for sure which cab I want. I am a home player. While I know a 115 would do the job, people rave about 2 115s. Knowing myself, it is likely I will want to add a second cab at some point. It is I believe $300 less to get the 215 vs two 115s. I also like the idea of the 215 to have the top speaker higher from the ground.

I have been using this site to educate myself and make a decision, and hopefully educate others. I realize some will say a 2x is overkill, but I am looking for the best sound for my home practice (people also mentioned the 410).

Since it isn't really possible to try these cabs, I am looking for opinions on this great resource.
 
  • Like
Reactions: DJ Bebop
#5
In general, I feel buying online just to try is not ok. In my opinion that turns a new item into a used one, and I don’t want to pay full price for a used item, or cause the retailer to take a loss on it.
An exception would be ordering something used from a corporate retailer like Guitar Center. It is already a used item, and if it is shipped from one of their locations to another, then there is not a lot of unnecessary shipping wasted.
 
  • Like
Reactions: el jeffe bass, tzohn, Meghans Dad and 21 others
#6
boxerrider said:
In general, I feel buying online just to try is not ok. In my opinion that turns a new item into a used one, and I don’t want to pay full price for a used item, or cause the retailer to take a loss on it.
An exception would be ordering something used from a corporate retailer like Guitar Center. It is already a used item, and if it is shipped from one of their locations to another, then there is not a lot of unnecessary shipping wasted.
Click to expand...
That's been my feeling about it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: mngnt, Bassngtr and DJ Bebop
#7
Peter - Oregon said:
I figured buying and returning was likely the only way.
Click to expand...

:)Don't remember how to get rid of lines through text

Yes for many that's the only way if unsure what you need/want in todays low stock retail environment.

And No it is not 'Shady' doing that in today's market

Like you I am older and did not want to buy multiple cabs go through what it would take to compare and then keep at time what I liked best and ship back other

I was confident the 1x15 would meet my needs at this time in my life[mostly home playing maybe some small gig or Jamming] Were other Subway Cab's or even some from Genzler, Berg, Aguilar,Barefaced ETC. maybe a tad better? Should I take a year trying all of them and sending back then re-buying my favorite?:D

If you know you won't be taking Cab out much if at all and have proper sized room the 2x15, 2x12 and 4x10 are viable. I still am open to Gigging again so 1x15 was a no brainer.

For many consistent Gigging Players going through hassle of ordering multiple quality Cabs and choosing 1 based on nuance differences and sending back others is worthwhile and only way to do it.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: sean_on_bass, DJ Bebop and Peter - Oregon
#8
Peter - Oregon said:
Thanks gtirard. In that post, people talked about the importance of trying the different cabs. My shop only ever has a 115. I wondered how many shops actually carry multiple Mesa cabs to compare. Since several people talked of comparing the cabs, I wondered how they actually did that. I figured buying and returning was likely the only way.

As I said, I am trying to decide for sure which cab I want. I am a home player. While I know a 115 would do the job, people rave about 2 115s. Knowing myself, it is likely I will want to add a second cab at some point. It is I believe $300 less to get the 215 vs two 115s. I also like the idea of the 215 to have the top speaker higher from the ground.

I have been using this site to educate myself and make a decision, and hopefully educate others. I realize some will say a 2x is overkill, but I am looking for the best sound for my home practice (people also mentioned the 410).

Since it isn't really possible to try these cabs, I am looking for opinions on this great resource.
Click to expand...

I understand your context, and I respect your point of view, but I wouldn't order 3 cabs just to compare them, knowing in advance I would send back 2 of them. I would feel guilty, not to mention the economic and ecological cost. That's just me, of course you do what you want. But since you ask…

Maybe you could ask to the shop where you have tried the 1x15 if they can order one or two others for you, if thet are sure you will buy one. I bought a GR Bass cab that way, the shop had some GR Bass cabs but not the model I wanted, so I asked them if they could order for me the one I wanted to buy, they did and I bought it.

But with Mesa, you know they are all designed to be paired together, so they are tonaly in the same family, so if you liked the 1x15, you will also like any other, that's why I said we are talking of subtle nuances of greatness. You can't go wrong with any.

The problem would be more serious if your hesitation was between Mesa and Gallien Krugger or Markbass…
 
  • Like
Reactions: Strung_Low, Meghans Dad, Lee Moses and 9 others
#12
Order/test drive/returns add costs for the retailers, and with prices rising, who needs more gas on that fire?

I find that besides not being something I'd not want to do, I've been around long enough I can read a spec sheet and have a pretty good idea of what this or that is going to do.

The Subways are remarkable, how @agedhorse engineered a 215 that's HALF the weight (65#) of my old Yamaha or Peavey's is amazing.

Personally, I'd buy two 112's, or if I needed a bit more heft to the sound, two 115's.

I'd be moving smaller lighter pieces, I can take just one if that's enough, and The Horse has always indicated the singles are very close performance-wise to the singles.

That's my two cents.
 
  • Like
Reactions: mikewalker, Dynacord, mngnt and 5 others
#18
It's not shady, but it is generally a violation of the retailer's terms of sale. I also don't find it especially ethical. I'd buy the one you *think* you want, knowing you can return it and get the other if it doesn't work out. IMO if you buy knowing you will return one, you are taking advantage of the retailer, and if enough people do it, it could jeopardize their ability to have such a flexible return policy. But hey, that's me.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Meghans Dad, hopwheels, BismarckHerring and 4 others
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back