cheap cab - pimped with decent speakers... good idea?

[gwEm]

for example the Marshall AVT112 cab is deperately cheap, has the Marshall look, but I'm sure has a very sh!t driver in there.

Now, lets say I'd by such a cab, and swap the speaker for a nice Celestion or something thats knocking round my parts box.

Is it actually going to sound as good as something like a proper Marshall 1912 with the same driver?

I'm thinking that dimensions, porting and wood are probably the only other things that affect the sound of a cab. Presumably, sizing to good sounding dimensions and porting don't affect cost? So one might assume the only difference with a more expensive cab is the quality of the wood used.

I have my doubts if a Cornford 2x12 with V30s is going to sound incredibly better than a Harley Benton 2x12 with the same V30s?

I would be interested in peoples thoughts on this.

[Twinfan]

I've found that cab quality (re. rigidity) makes a big difference to the sound, so I would think what you're suggesting is a false economy.

[gwEm]

thanks twinfan... since i have only ever used cabs built like brick outhouses i was starting to wonder if it was really necessary.

contemplating changing round my cabs at the moment.

edit: hmm... harley benton 1x12 weighs the same as an orange 1x12... very interesting

[AngusYoung01]

Harley Benton looks great value for money, con Vintage 30s. I have no idea about build quality though

[PhilKing]

You might want to read this:

http://www.earcandycabs.com/articles.php?req=read&article_id=9

I don't remember if I had the Ear Candy when you were trying the guitars, but they do sound really good.  Also in TO (the band), Jimmy has the cheaper Marshall 4x12 and you can really hear the difference to Ben's Hiwatt and Rivera.

I would go with the best cab you can get.

[hunter]

Bad cab = bad sound

It makes a huge difference as far as my experience goes. Rather downsize and upgrade on quality (e.g. get a decent 2x12 instead of a cheap 4x12).

Best cab for the money I ever got was a Heritage 2x12. Paid 450 EUR and it's an awesome, awesome cab (V30 and 12H30 and closed/ported design, but great quality, awesome sound). Bought it from Haarguitars.nl

I think it's an art to find the right mix of resonance and rigidness, to make it sound 3-dimensional without it being boomy.

[TheDev01dOne]

Yeah I think you'll find the AVT cabs are built from paricle board and thinner wood than a proper 1912 etc..

I just bought a used and beat up cab off eBay (1936) and swapped out the speakers to my liking, then sold the other speakers on eBay to reclaim some moneys.

Just seems silly to me to spend loads of money on a good guitar, pickups, amp FX and shite and then have it all coming out of a cheap cabinet, you rig is only as good as it's weakest link IMO.

[gwEm]

fair enough.. i'll forget the idea.

wanted a way to experiment with some different speakers. i have some really nice cabs at the moment, and never tried anything cheap.

its a shame in a way as cabs can be surprisingly expensive.

i have a proper marshall 1912, and trace elliot 2x12 (which i'm trying to sell) at the moment - both are of very solid construction.

thanks for everyones opinions on the subject and scaring me off :)

[Brown tone]

if there are any woodworkers near you(anyone who has access to 24mm plywood) you can give them the inner measurements of the cab and get a great sounding thing a lot cheaper than buying one and changing the elements!! Most cabs are not built with the magical golden ratio in mind so making a cab "perfect" tonewise may not be nessessary, though it will sound more solid.