Author Topic: Combo vs. 4x12 (Read 3179 times)

n_mountain · « **on:** November 07, 2006, 10:28:40 AM »

Hi,
I'm thinking about getting some serious amp someday and I am unsure if I should go for the 4x12, a smaller cabinet or maybe even a combo.

Right now I play 4x12, but I'm interested in smaler cabs / combo because it's just easier to carry around.
So the question is, what are the differences, soundwise, between a 4x12 and a smaller cab (1x12, 2x12) or a combo?
Thanks for any help
:D

Twinfan · « **Reply #1 on:** November 07, 2006, 11:00:59 AM »

A 4x12 shakes the entire room and the spread of sound is much greater. You percieve it to be "louder". A 4x12 can also handle higher power ratings.

A combo will have a more focussed sound, more directional.

It depends what you're using for as to which is best. I have a combo for home use, a 2x12 for small gigs and a 4x12 for larger gigs.

Horses for courses...

Skybone · « **Reply #2 on:** November 07, 2006, 11:14:35 AM »

Horses for courses, but don't forget that a 2x12 combo has both the amp and speakers in the same box. If you use/want a valve amp, try to find one with side mounted handles, as they're too heavy (and awkward) to just use the top handle. Even with side handles, lugging them about is a pain!

Have you looked into getting a smaller 2x12 cab? You can use your existing amp, just take different cabs to different venues.

Bob Johnson · « **Reply #3 on:** November 07, 2006, 11:28:08 AM »

One factor that has a very big impact on the type of sound you get is the type of cabinet. An open back cab will give a looser bass with the sound propagating in a "doughnut" pattern around the amp. A fully enclosed (airtight) cab will give a much tighter bass and the sound propagation will be much more directional. Open back cabs are more efficient in terms of dB per watt but the sound is more dissipated because of the proagation pattern.

All this is regardless of how many speakers are in it.

Cheers,

willo · « **Reply #4 on:** November 07, 2006, 11:56:29 AM »

I agree with Skybone; as a 2x12 owner I can vouch for the fact that it's not that portable. I'm in two bands so I have to cart my one amp between rehearsal spaces rather than leaving it at the room - a major pain in the arse. In fact, so much so that I've thought about buying the amp in head form second hand, and getting a couple of cheap 2x12's (second hand or something), leaving a 2x12 at each rehearsal space and carrying the head around.

Because a combo is unseperable, whilst it is smaller than a 4x12, it's not very portable simply because it has to stay as one complete unit.

Bob Johnson · « **Reply #5 on:** November 07, 2006, 05:36:23 PM »

just thought I'd take a second bite at this; if you're mic'ing up your amp to go through a PA when you gig and portability is a real issue then a really good 1x12" combo around 60w is good for small gigs with an additional 1x12" extension cab for bigger gigs. It doesn't have the same pose factor as a big rig but what the hell.

This modular approach works well IF you've got a really good PA.

One of my customers did the Brighton Dome with a 65w Peavey Ultra + a 1x12" extension cab, and we're talking death metal here not "chirpy chirpy cheep cheep".

cheers,

n_mountain · « **Reply #6 on:** November 19, 2006, 11:28:08 AM »

Sorry,

I posted this thread, than had to leave, thus my late reply... :oops:

Thanks, for all the ideas.

You're right skybone, a 2x12 combo is F§$%&§$ heavy, so I'm thinkng more about a 1x12 combo as Bob said. Maybe with an extension box.
Actually all the gigs we get are miced so I don't really need unbelievable power.

Yes I also thought about using a 2x12, or maybe two, Twinfan. That's why I asked what the sound differences are :)

One problem I have with the 4x12 besides the size, is that I feel it to be very directional. I mean, it does shake the room, but that's mainly the lows and lower mids. the highs and higher mids (wihch give definition to the sound) are very focused, so my bandmates often don't hear what is going on with the guitar.
I hear you say make it louder, but I'll add that we play mainly prograssive rock and there's complex stuff going on every now and then. Making it louder would just have the effect that the bass player needs to be louder, than the singer won't hear herself anymore and so on...

I thought that maybe two boxes could solve this problem, as I could point so as to have everybody in the sound-cone and we could turn the overall volume level down...

Ratrod · « **Reply #7 on:** November 19, 2006, 03:03:35 PM »

I have a 1X12 combo but I always have it hooked up to my 2X12 cab. It's a big wide old Fender cab. There are handles on the side, it's not super heavy. It's a couple of inches wider than my amp and the depth is the same so it doesn't take in more space on stage than my amp.

_tom_ · « **Reply #8 on:** November 19, 2006, 03:07:11 PM »

I personally prefer a head and cab setup, as if youre playing somewhere that has cabs then all you need to do is take your head.

I'm using a vertical 2x12 and cant imagine needing any more speakers, as it sounds massive! Plus its got side handles and wheels so very easy to move around (although getting it downstairs is a bit of a pain in the arse).

Twinfan · « **Reply #9 on:** November 19, 2006, 04:56:46 PM »

Quote from: n_mountain

Yes I also thought about using a 2x12, or maybe two, Twinfan. That's why I asked what the sound differences are :)

Sorry dude! I reckon 2 2x12s will sound a bit tighter than a 4x12 as the backboards won't move as much in a smaller box.

Ideally that's what I should have, but I just love the look of a 4x12 :D

screamingdaisy · « **Reply #10 on:** November 19, 2006, 05:09:01 PM »

I have a half back 2x12 sitting on a closed back 4x12.

The thing I like about the 2x12 is that when I move around I can still hear the amp. If I move too far off center from the 4x12 I can't hear it as well.

The thing I don't like about the 2x12 is that it lacks some bottom end and it can get a little loose if you want to do chugga chugga type stuff.

The thing I like about the 4x12 is the focus....particularily on the bottom end. It's also not as bright sounding as the 2x12.

The think I don't like about it is the directionality.....as mentioned above I can't hear it as well when I stand off center, and since it's a strait cab I don't have two speakers pitched up so it tends to sound a tad muddy unless I kneel down to listen to it.

Generally, I like the tone of the open back more for cleans and overdrive, but the closed back more for heavy overdrive into distortion.

One of the things consider with open/partially open cabs is location. Since it'll reflect off whatever's behind it its distance and angle to a wall can be a big influence to it's sound dispersion.....both in good ways and bad ways.