2x12 cab solution. (semi building a cab)

[beggar_guitar]

I have been considering getting a 2x12 cab, or 2 1x12 cabs. I think 2x12 is the way to go right now. I think I have decided what I will do if it is feasible.

Seeing that I have 2 4x12 stacks. I am considering buying an empty 2x12 enclosure, and pulling 2 speakers from one of my 4x12 cabs to put into it, and a little later down the road buying a 2nd 2x12 enclosure and doing it again.

If I were to do this what all would I need to take into consideration as far as wiring? Also what are the pros/cons of closed back, open back, 3/4 open back... etc etc.
As well any brands that make empty enclosures that are quality? I see quite a few on Ebay, but I don't know about the quality.


Good idea? Bad Idea?

 

[beggar_guitar]

Re: 2x12 cab solution. (semi building a cab)

Back to the top....

Might be a bit early to bump... But if anyone can point me in the right direction on this it would be appreciated.

 

[RW James]

Re: 2x12 cab solution. (semi building a cab)

If I were doing it, I would probably try to provide as many options down the road as possible. I haven't thought this completely through, but a switch to change the speakers from series to parallel woulkd be one thing. Then two speaker jacks - for a dasiy chain - one in series and the other in parallel. This would give you a number ohms options for any varitey of set up.

As for closing the back - I just don't have the skills there. I've built a lot of speaker cabinets - but I have been scared by the articles I've read about how you can damage the speakers if you seal the backs incorrectly - and I like the opne back sound just fine. But that's just me.

Hopefully you get someone that is more helpful here.

 

[beggar_guitar]

Re: 2x12 cab solution. (semi building a cab)

If I were doing it, I would probably try to provide as many options down the road as possible. I haven't thought this completely through, but a switch to change the speakers from series to parallel woulkd be one thing. Then two speaker jacks - for a dasiy chain - one in series and the other in parallel. This would give you a number ohms options for any varitey of set up.

As for closing the back - I just don't have the skills there. I've built a lot of speaker cabinets - but I have been scared by the articles I've read about how you can damage the speakers if you seal the backs incorrectly - and I like the opne back sound just fine. But that's just me.

Hopefully you get someone that is more helpful here.

Thanks... It's helpful but I am a bit ignorant on this stuff.

Series...parallel.... Yeah... all over my head. :smack:

 

[Christobevii3]

Re: 2x12 cab solution. (semi building a cab)

Series means you add the ohm value of the speakers, parallel you half the value for the total.

series 4+4=8
parallel 4+4=2

 

[RW James]

Re: 2x12 cab solution. (semi building a cab)

Thanks... It's helpful but I am a bit ignorant on this stuff.

Series...parallel.... Yeah... all over my head. :smack:

I'm sure someone here has links to pictures... but

in series, the + from one speaker is connected to the - on the other, then the remaining + and - are connected to the amp output

in parallel, the + from one speaker is connected to the + of the other speaker, as are the two - leads connected together. The the + and - leads both go to the amp output together.

Then, if you wire two 8ohm speakers in series, they become 16 ohms total.

a + b = c (8 + 8 = 16)

If you wire the same 8 ohm speakers in parallel, they become 4 ohms total.

1/a + 1/b = 1/c (1/8 + 1/8 = 2/8 = 1/4)

That's about as complicated as it gets. But here's the point. If you have another 2/12 cabinet, and you want to run them together like a 4x12, depending on what your amp is rated, you need to change the configuration.

If your amp is rated for 8 ohms, then if you wire each cab with the speakers in parallel, giving you 4 ohms, then you can run the bas in series, giving you a total of 8 ohms.

If however, you only want to run on 2x12 cab, 4 ohms could damage your amp - so switch it so the speakers are in series and are 16 ohms, which the amp could handle.

Pictures would be better, and really, it isn't all that complicated (easier than installing pickups).

 

[34029324079]

Re: 2x12 cab solution. (semi building a cab)

I built a box for my car subwoofer, and let me tell you one thing about building speaker cabs: DONT DO IT! IMO

reason: very expensive to do, easy to spend hours perfecting, and the result is either you have a good cab with no resale value, or you have a marginally average cab that you could have bought at a flea market for 1/3 of the price.

 

[Simon_F]

Re: 2x12 cab solution. (semi building a cab)

If you are pulling speakers from a 4x12 they will most likely be 16 ohm. If you're putting two into a 2x12 and you wire them in parallel you will get an 8 ohm cab. If you wire them in series you will get a 32 ohm cab - not much use on its own, but if you had two 32 ohm cabs connected to an amp in parallel you would be back to 16 ohms (like a 4x12).

Basic speaker wiring diagrams here: http://professional.celestion.com/guitar/features/drdecibel/secret_swd.html

With an open back cab some of the sound goes out the back (and reflects off the wall behind it), which helps it fill the room more and be heard from different angles. Useful in small venues and when your cab isn't miked. The tradeoff is less bottom end - you don't get the thump. Conversely, a closed back cab has more bottom end and punch, but is a lot more directional.

 

[The Golden Boy]

Re: 2x12 cab solution. (semi building a cab)

I've heard only the best stuff about Avatar cabs.


You do realize that a 2x12 isn't just a smaller 4x12, right? You're not going to get the same "thump" or "whallop" out of a 2x12 that you get out of the 4x12. It's not just that it's not as loud, it entirely changes the sound and feel.

This coming from a lifelong 4x12 user and current and prior owner of several 2x12 cabs.

 

[kmcguitars]

Re: 2x12 cab solution. (semi building a cab)

One of the best 2x12 cabs I had was a Tube Works. The bottom speaker had a panel that could be removed to make it open back. Although it sounded better than my Randall 2x12,I got rid of it.:smack: It was that grey carpet covering, And the speakers where vertically mounted. This meant my amp head would hang over the side.:13: I'm very Anal about how my amp sits on the Cab.:28:

 

[34029324079]

Re: 2x12 cab solution. (semi building a cab)

^^ that is a big consideration...I had a head that was bigger than my 4x10 and got made fun of cause my amp had a big head lol

what a headache

 

[kmcguitars]

Re: 2x12 cab solution. (semi building a cab)

^^ that is a big consideration...I had a head that was bigger than my 4x10 and got made fun of cause my amp had a big head lol

what a headache

:laugh2: I hear ya ! I was actually looking for a 2nd Tube works cab. I though that would solve my personal dilemma. But apparently they stopped making them?:yell:

 

[kmcguitars]

Re: 2x12 cab solution. (semi building a cab)

Here ya go. All I needed was a 2nd cab. and I would have a killer rig.:smack: (This was back in the days B4 ebay)

Tube-Works-2-12-guitar-speaker-cabinet-exc-condition