Username: Password:

Author Topic: Best 4X12?  (Read 5251 times)

dragonfire709

  • Bantamweight
  • **
  • Posts: 147
    • www.onedgerock.co.uk
Best 4X12?
« on: April 19, 2012, 07:41:35 PM »
i've come to the conclusion that my current 4x12 is the weak link in my rig at the moment. Im still using my H&K vortex cab that I bought maybe 15 years ago. Its been ultra reliable and battered around over the years, but its starting to develop a few rattles and creaks. I also suspect it doesn't project as well as it could.

So, I'm looking for a good solid 4x12 that projects well but doesn't cost the earth. My current band plays rock, so don't need anything too Metalz. Should I stick with a good old Marshall 1960, or are there some hidden gems out there?

Thanks in advance for your wisdom.

Cheers

Roy
www.onedgerock.co.uk

Nailbomb, Painkiller & Mule's.

Toe-Knee

  • Welterweight
  • ****
  • Posts: 1162
    • DIY Audio
Re: Best 4X12?
« Reply #1 on: April 19, 2012, 07:53:12 PM »
it depends what you are looking to spend.

For great tone at a bargain price check out roadkillcabs.

Theyre are UK based company and are super cheap and will customise anything you want within reason.
Please visit and share my guitar gear & DIY Blog
http://WWW.BACKLINE.TK
Non Biased Guitar Forum
http://fret.boards.net

Twinfan

  • Light Heavyweight
  • ******
  • Posts: 10528
Re: Best 4X12?
« Reply #2 on: April 19, 2012, 08:04:46 PM »
A used Orange or Matamp would get my vote.

If your speakers are OK, how about an empty Zilla cab?

Either of those are better than a cardboard 1960 Marshall...

Toe-Knee

  • Welterweight
  • ****
  • Posts: 1162
    • DIY Audio
Re: Best 4X12?
« Reply #3 on: April 19, 2012, 08:07:53 PM »
A used Orange or Matamp would get my vote.

If your speakers are OK, how about an empty Zilla cab?

Either of those are better than a cardboard 1960 Marshall...

have you seen the insides of the modern orange cabs? theyre really really shoddilly made I was quite shocked
Please visit and share my guitar gear & DIY Blog
http://WWW.BACKLINE.TK
Non Biased Guitar Forum
http://fret.boards.net

TheyCallMeVolume

  • Welterweight
  • ****
  • Posts: 1602
Re: Best 4X12?
« Reply #4 on: April 19, 2012, 08:11:29 PM »
I would go against Marshall cabs, they're not worth the hassle of cr@ppy build quality. I've not heard of Road Kill, but another brand where you can get some pretty cheap and very well made cabs is Avatar. I'm currently running through one of their 4x12's, and they sound awesome. The Mesa Boogie Traditional cabs, like their Stiletto series, are attempts to get a more Brit feel, so if you can find one of those used, I would vote for that too, along with the Avatar.

FredD

  • Guest
Re: Best 4X12?
« Reply #5 on: April 19, 2012, 08:12:01 PM »
it depends what you are looking to spend.

For great tone at a bargain price check out roadkillcabs.

Theyre are UK based company and are super cheap and will customise anything you want within reason.

+1  on Roadkill Cabs

dragonfire709

  • Bantamweight
  • **
  • Posts: 147
    • www.onedgerock.co.uk
Re: Best 4X12?
« Reply #6 on: April 19, 2012, 08:24:29 PM »
I didnt realise Marshall cabs weren't too well thought of these days. Will check out all the other suggestions.

Cheers guys!

Roy
www.onedgerock.co.uk

Nailbomb, Painkiller & Mule's.

Dmoney

  • Welterweight
  • ****
  • Posts: 3577
Re: Best 4X12?
« Reply #7 on: April 19, 2012, 08:28:13 PM »
+1 Call zilla or RoadKill. Zilla may be able to offer a few options for a 4x12. the blurb about 4x12's on the site looks interesting.

The 1960A Marshall for me has been consistently dependable. I've played a lot of cabs having only needed to take a head to shows over the years. Apart from one time everything has been 4x12's. At the moment my 1960A cab is set similar to the Bogner Ubercab, and I like that. V30 & G12T75 X-pattern and some other stuff, but I really want to try Tayden's. I rewired mine but I've never played a 1960 cab that has blown or one that has broken. None of my friends that play have mentioned anything like that either. When I see touring bands most of the time they have Marshall 1960A or B cabs.

The worst 4x12 I've ever played was a Harley Benton. It sounded terrible. Made my amp sound broken it was that bad. I've also played some truly terrible Vox 4x12's.

Toured with an angled VHT/Fryette cab that was cool. I find some over-sized cabs to be muddy or to have too much low end. I don't really like using 4x Vintage 30's, I think it's a bit much, I prefer 4x G12T-75s if I'm not using my cab. Hence I don't really like an Orange or Mesa Recto 4x12.

Go out and try a few things if you can and don't buy all the hype about 18mm baltic birch and marine grade glue.  

MDV

  • Middleweight
  • *****
  • Posts: 6945
  • If it sounds good it IS good
Re: Best 4X12?
« Reply #8 on: April 19, 2012, 08:38:31 PM »
Orange are garbage. Ihave one. I was briefly enamoured with it. I was wrong, its shiteee.

I have an Ubercab. It make all other cabs I've played through sound like toys. Get one of those.

Honourable mention to diezel cabs for being nearly as good as the uber. NEARLY.

Second honourable mention to zilla for coming just behind the deizel.

itamar101

  • Lightweight
  • ***
  • Posts: 680
Re: Best 4X12?
« Reply #9 on: April 19, 2012, 09:13:53 PM »
Orange are garbage. Ihave one. I was briefly enamoured with it. I was wrong, its shiteeee.

I have an Ubercab. It make all other cabs I've played through sound like toys. Get one of those.

Honourable mention to diezel cabs for being nearly as good as the uber. NEARLY.

Second honourable mention to zilla for coming just behind the deizel.

Is that the 4X12 or the 2X12 and was it the "made in China open back" or the "made in England closed back"?
I tried out the  Made in England 4X12 and 2X12 a few days ago and, while I thought that the 4X12 was really much too bassy, I really enjoyed the 2X12. What're your opinions on it?

+1 Call zilla or RoadKill. Zilla may be able to offer a few options for a 4x12. the blurb about 4x12's on the site looks interesting.

The 1960A Marshall for me has been consistently dependable. I've played a lot of cabs having only needed to take a head to shows over the years. Apart from one time everything has been 4x12's. At the moment my 1960A cab is set similar to the Bogner Ubercab, and I like that. V30 & G12T75 X-pattern and some other stuff, but I really want to try Tayden's. I rewired mine but I've never played a 1960 cab that has blown or one that has broken. None of my friends that play have mentioned anything like that either. When I see touring bands most of the time they have Marshall 1960A or B cabs.

The worst 4x12 I've ever played was a Harley Benton. It sounded terrible. Made my amp sound broken it was that bad. I've also played some truly terrible Vox 4x12's.

Toured with an angled VHT/Fryette cab that was cool. I find some over-sized cabs to be muddy or to have too much low end. I don't really like using 4x Vintage 30's, I think it's a bit much, I prefer 4x G12T-75s if I'm not using my cab. Hence I don't really like an Orange or Mesa Recto 4x12.

Go out and try a few things if you can and don't buy all the hype about 18mm baltic birch and marine grade glue.

Was that the Harley Benton 4X12 with V30s or the one with standard harley benton speakers?

Has anyone ever tried framus cabs? What're your opinions on them?

Sorry for the questions, I'm on a search for a new cab so i'd like any info :)

Toe-Knee

  • Welterweight
  • ****
  • Posts: 1162
    • DIY Audio
Re: Best 4X12?
« Reply #10 on: April 19, 2012, 09:19:28 PM »
Another cab that is decent is the Peavey 212m.

They go fairly cheap and are very balanced tonally and built like a tank.

Please visit and share my guitar gear & DIY Blog
http://WWW.BACKLINE.TK
Non Biased Guitar Forum
http://fret.boards.net

Alex

  • Welterweight
  • ****
  • Posts: 2004
Re: Best 4X12?
« Reply #11 on: April 19, 2012, 09:34:21 PM »
I had a Marshall 1960AV and it is a good cab. It is not an excellent cab, but they are also priced less than an ENGL or Mesa/Boogie or the like. It is by no means shoddy and it is reliable. I like the fact that they are not as stiff as some of the supposedly "better" cabs and let the wood come through a bit more.
I think the claim that "Marshalls aren't good anymore" comes from their budget lines mostly, which of course are cheaper.

A few things that I never liked is the plastic handles Marshall uses. I also heard that simply by opening it and tightening the screws inside a bit you can improve it as well - I did that on mine.

Marshall 1960s come in a few flavors and my fave is the AV one. It gives a great Angus Yound/Michael Schenker sound IMO and cuts the mix better than the A. We had both in the rehearsal room so we could A/B it.
Current BKPs: Miracle Man, Nailbomb, Juggernaut, VHII
Past BKPS: Holy Diver, Trilogy Suite, Sinner, Black Dog

Kiichi

  • Welterweight
  • ****
  • Posts: 2492
Re: Best 4X12?
« Reply #12 on: April 19, 2012, 10:03:37 PM »
I had a Marshall 1960AV and it is a good cab. It is not an excellent cab, but they are also priced less than an ENGL or Mesa/Boogie or the like. It is by no means shoddy and it is reliable. I like the fact that they are not as stiff as some of the supposedly "better" cabs and let the wood come through a bit more.
I think the claim that "Marshalls aren't good anymore" comes from their budget lines mostly, which of course are cheaper.

A few things that I never liked is the plastic handles Marshall uses. I also heard that simply by opening it and tightening the screws inside a bit you can improve it as well - I did that on mine.

Marshall 1960s come in a few flavors and my fave is the AV one. It gives a great Angus Yound/Michael Schenker sound IMO and cuts the mix better than the A. We had both in the rehearsal room so we could A/B it.
I agree about the Marshalls in general.
I can certainly say that not all Marshalls are bad. Yeah, the cheap ones are rather sucky, but is that really a suprise?

I got a 2x12" Marshall Cab from the made in the UK series. Handwire and all. Celestion G12H30 in there, closed back. Oversized too, so the bass is nice. Bloody rocks.
Tried it against every other 2x12" in the store and it blew them all out of the water.
Great speakers, great cab and giving you that classic Marshall upper mids spike. Sounds amazing with my Orange Tiny Terror (also UK made version).

BKPs in use: 10th set / RY set / Holy Diver b, Emerald n / Crawler bridge, Slowhand mid MQ neck/ Manhattan n
On the sidelines: Stockholm b / Suppermassive n, Mule n, AM set, IT mid

MDV

  • Middleweight
  • *****
  • Posts: 6945
  • If it sounds good it IS good
Re: Best 4X12?
« Reply #13 on: April 19, 2012, 10:19:05 PM »
MIE closed 2x12.

My opinion is not high.

bucketshred

  • Welterweight
  • ****
  • Posts: 1408
  • Groovy
Re: Best 4X12?
« Reply #14 on: April 19, 2012, 11:20:17 PM »
I've found that the Marshall Mode4 and Orange 4x12's have worked best for me. Both heavy as hell though. Both loaded with V30's too.

Paddy
GREAT GOOGILY MOOGILY!