4x12 cab question

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Elmo89m

Elmo89m

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Well im looking to buy a 4x12 cab as an extension speaker for my combo before i get my jcm head. And im looking at two thing. First that behringer-jenson cab is looking appealing because although its behringer isnt a guitar cab just mounted speakers, and if the speakers are Jensen wouldn't it be okay. What do you guys think. My other idea was just to buy four celestion rocket 50 guitar speakers mount them in a box that i build and use those. IT seems even better then the behri idea because celestion is better then jensen. Well i just wanted to know your thoughts.
 
I use that Behringer, and it's a little trebly and lacking in the mids. Very clear on clean channel sounds, and on distortion it's "punchy" rather than smooth. Bang for the buck? You can't find a better deal--a 400 watt cabinet for 200 bucks is something that's hard to ignore. However, there ARE better cabs out there...but they're gonna cost ya.
 
what about my idea about makeing my own cab with celestion rocket 50's that would be even cheaper. IS a cab just speakers in a box wired together?
 
That can be done, but the speakers will run you 200 bucks alone, plus material and hardware to build the cab.....

You could probably pick up a nice used 4x12 for 200 bucks......like purge suggested..

Most would argue that there's much more to building a 4x12 cab (or any speaker cab for that matter) than just slappin' some speakers in a box. There are so many variables that effect the way a cabinet sounds that you can't just slap something together and expect it to blow you away. (although it may :) )

Another option may be to build a 2x12 instead.....this will cut your production cost in about 1/2....and it will still be able to produce a wall of sound! :D

I'm not belittling 4x12's as I've got 2 of them, but 2x12's are very nice as well.....cheaper and easier to move!

just some thoughts...

Rick
 
Elmo89m said:
yeah ive decided against making my own. I think im goin with with the Behri BG412s ultrastack. THanks purge and Werner
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I would suggest you do some more research into the construction of that Bearinger cab before you buy it. There are concerns about the materials used and moisture issues, not to mention how heavy it is. I would suggest researching it more before you buy something that you'll grow out of quickly, especially if you gig a lot and need to lug it around. From what I read, the cabs are made of some type of compressed fiber (wood fiber) that is super heavy, absorbes liquids and then expands, and chips apart much more rapidly than a plywood cabinet.

I was looking at doing the same thing you're thinking about doing, but after researching a bit more, I decided to save my money for a few weeks longer and get a more solid cab which sounded exactly like I wanted a cab to sound like. I ended up purchasing a Mesa Recto 4x12 cab and I've gigged with it for about a year or so now and it still sounds as sweet as it did the day I bought it!! Built like a tank, it is... :D

Hope this helps.

-mr moon
 
Thanks for your perspective. Im curious how much the recto was.Im on a pretty tight budget. and even with what you said the behri sounds like my most appealing option.
 
Elmo89m said:
Thanks for your perspective. Im curious how much the recto was.Im on a pretty tight budget. and even with what you said the behri sounds like my most appealing option.
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The Recto was not cheap, but you get what you pay for. I was going to buy the Beari and dump some different speakers in it, but that would have ended up costing me just as much after all was said and done.

I just wanted to bring another perspective to you to and perhaps help you make the best purchase to suit your needs. Just think about how much it will cost to return ship the Beari cab if you end up hating it!! :eek:

Good luck!

-mr moon
 
Check out this place - Avatar Speakers.

I don't have any first hand experience with them, but I am thinking hard about getting a cab from them with celestion vintage 30's. You can pick and choose whatever speakers or combination of speakers that you want. Their prices look pretty reasonable, btw.

http://www.avatarspeakers.com/
 
I needed a 4x12 cab and ended up buying an old Marshall cab on ebay. It was unloaded and the grille was trashed. I already had a couple of greenbacks from a 2x12 cab I own, so I just needed 2 more. I replaced the grille and put a new logo on the front. Also put a set of ernie ball pop out casters on it(HIGHLY RECOMMENDED)!!! I A/B 'd it once with a newer cab with gt1275's . My cab was much louder...The greenbacks are more efficient.
The tone is much flatter from mine. More even and less "scooped ". My cab is much lighter too. It's all plywood. I easily pick it up myself. I love my cab but it was still a bit pricey...........
empty cab....$130.00 shipped
2 speakers $ 180.00
grille $45.00 (vintage "checkerboard")
logo $20.00
casters $20.00 Still, it was a lot cheaper than a new one and I've got fresh speakers. It's also a bit "beat up" and I don't have to worry about every little scuff or tear I put in it!!
Carvin used to sell empty cabs... They are excellent quality too. I know a few people that have them.
 
thanks guys, thanks especially for the avatar link i followed that up and it looks pretty good. My other question is how much worse is the four hundred watt behri without jensen speakers?
 
Ebay has a half a dozen marshall 2x12 cabs sitting at $200 right now. Any of them will sound better and be a better investment than the behringer
 
im looking as i type here and i dont see them. Maybe when there five days out
 
If it's going to sit on the floor, I recommend getting a slant cabinet rather than a straight one. It will make a significant diff in how well you hear yourself on stage.
 
Construction

The construction of the cabinet makes a HUGE difference in the sound and durability of the cabinet.
As always - I suggest going to a store and plugging the same head into all the different cabs there and seeing what you like and what you don’t.
I've owned shoddy cabs with great speakers in em – couldn’t figure out why my great speakers sounded like Ass. A badly and/or cheaply assembled cabinet will make your sound slushy. Well made cabs stay together longer on the road and your sound stays tight and your speakers protected.
For the record, I’m also a proponent of 2x12's. The 4x12 cabs are great, but for 99% of your gigs, you don’t need that much (half the time your going through the PA and the other – there’s no PA cause the place is so small that one 10" speaker would suffice).
Anyway - I hope you end up with something you like. You can always buy new heads to change your sound, but great speakers and cabinet could last you a lifetime.

Good luck :D :D
Todd
 
I just wanted to throw in a comment on the quality of the Carvin 4x12 cab construction...

I own a 1994 Carvin V412, and I also own a Marshall 1960 TV (Tall Vintage) loaded with original GreenBacks(made in England).

The marshall was a mono cab when I bought it, so I decided to make it stereo. I bought the Stereo / mono jack plate for it and some good speaker wire (The wire marshall uses is pure junk! ) So I opened it up and did the job...nothin to it. Well about a week later I had to get into my carvin cab to get some #'s off of the speakers to find out exactly what I had in there. Well the Marshall is a rear loaded cab, and the Carvin is a front loaded cab......this is what kept me from prying into my Carvin before, but the curiosity got the best of me! :) After seeing the materials and construction of both cabs, I can say with out a doubt that the Carvin Blows the Marshall away in that area! Marshall construction and materials were boarder line shoddy to say the least........especially for a cab that sells for over a grand!!!

My Carvin cab sold for like 400 - 450 bucks!

Rick
 
Nnnnnnoooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DON'T BUY THE BEHRINGER!!!!!!!!!!!!

Go to http://avatarspeakers.com/ and look there!!! Then, go to Harmony Central and read all the incredible reviews!!!

Pick your own speakers/wiring/cabinet construction...

I bought a 4x12 from Dave at Avatar, and it's a better sounding, better built cabinet than my Marshall 1960A.... (At least as good...)

Really.... read the reviews, call Dave, and you'll be shocked.... I was VERY happy.... (obviously) :D :D :D :D
 
WERNER 1 said:
I just wanted to throw in a comment on the quality of the Carvin 4x12 cab construction...

I own a 1994 Carvin V412, and I also own a Marshall 1960 TV (Tall Vintage) loaded with original GreenBacks(made in England).

The marshall was a mono cab when I bought it, so I decided to make it stereo. I bought the Stereo / mono jack plate for it and some good speaker wire (The wire marshall uses is pure junk! ) So I opened it up and did the job...nothin to it. Well about a week later I had to get into my carvin cab to get some #'s off of the speakers to find out exactly what I had in there. Well the Marshall is a rear loaded cab, and the Carvin is a front loaded cab......this is what kept me from prying into my Carvin before, but the curiosity got the best of me! :) After seeing the materials and construction of both cabs, I can say with out a doubt that the Carvin Blows the Marshall away in that area! Marshall construction and materials were boarder line shoddy to say the least........especially for a cab that sells for over a grand!!!

My Carvin cab sold for like 400 - 450 bucks!

Rick
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When I worked at Daddy's Junky Music in BossTown (Pre-eBay), we loved when the Marshall rep came in and told us about the Marine Grade Plywood and how well built they were. We'd look 'em str8 in the I...smirk...and rattle off about how only the ones built like crap actually sounded good- and that's why we liked them. He didn't like that...but we always thought we were hysterical...
*Former obnoxious music store worker snob*
But, for the record, I luv Carvin stuff too- just not the company employee attitude
 
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