Best 2x12 cabinet for around $300?

[GilmourD]

Re: Best 2x12 cabinet for around $300?

I totally agree with you. I lent this cab to a total tone freak friend last weekend for a gig and he was blown away by it. I wouldn't call this guy a cork sniffer but he has an amazing ear. He is getting ready to buy one because he is sick of dragging his 4x12 around. I don't get the deal about MDF. In a blind test I doubt there are too many people that can tell the difference between MDF, pine and birch. The Celestion Seventy 80 speakers are more than serviceable. I couldn't see dropping another $500 for the high end Marshall.

Ever see MDF get wet? It expands. I've seen MDF expand in high humidity areas. Also, MDF breaks a lot more easily than solid boards or plywood. So, simply for durability reasons I go with solid wood if possible, even on a head cabinet where there is no sound concern.

 

[Demanic]

Re: Best 2x12 cabinet for around $300?

That's a good deal. But it reminds me of an MTX car audio subwoofer box from the 1980's. Functional but fugly.
But if just getting the job done is all that matters and the Classic Lead 80's fit the bill, it should work great. The Celestions alone, new, are what? 150 bucks each? Yep, a real good deal. Even if the cab was a total piece of ship, you only paid full retail for the speakers.

The cab is made of 3/4 birch ply if I remember correctly. It's built like a tank.

 

[Securb]

Re: Best 2x12 cabinet for around $300?

Ever see MDF get wet? It expands. I've seen MDF expand in high humidity areas.

I live in a high humidity area I have never had a problem with MDF expanding. If your cab actually gets wet it doesn't matter what it is made of.

 

[GilmourD]

Re: Best 2x12 cabinet for around $300?

I live in a high humidity area I have never had a problem with MDF expanding. If your cab actually gets wet it doesn't matter what it is made of.

My brother's dog peed on the corner of my Peavey 412MS. After I contemplated dropping the thing (the dog, not the cabinet) in the Passaic River (I am Italian from north Jersey, after all), cooler heads prevailed and I just cleaned it. No wood damage.

I've also seen solid wood cabinets that have been sitting in water survive. Somebody over at another forum I belong to restored (I think it was) an early Silverface Deluxe quite nicely after it was soaking.

I've had MDF furniture get wet from something as stupid as condensation on a glass and there's been permanent expanded rings through the thin veneer on top.

 

[Securb]

Re: Best 2x12 cabinet for around $300?

My brother's dog peed on the corner of my Peavey 412MS. .

That cracked me up and brought up a memory. In high school my drummer's dog Paco peed in my friend's Kustom bass amp, right through the grill. We never told him.

 

[Demanic]

Re: Best 2x12 cabinet for around $300?

Ever see MDF get wet? It expands. I've seen MDF expand in high humidity areas. Also, MDF breaks a lot more easily than solid boards or plywood. So, simply for durability reasons I go with solid wood if possible, even on a head cabinet where there is no sound concern.

It also sucks tone. Tap a pencil on a cab made of decent ply or solid wood and do the same to one made of MDF. The wood will have a ring to it, the MDF more of a thunk.

 

[Securb]

Re: Best 2x12 cabinet for around $300?

It also sucks tone. Tap a pencil on a cab made of decent ply or solid wood and do the same to one made of MDF. The wood will have a ring to it, the MDF more of a thunk.

I strongly doubt you could tell the difference in a blind test with the same speakers in similar cabs.

 

[Demanic]

Re: Best 2x12 cabinet for around $300?

Maybe many couldn't. I think that I can. MDF cabs just don't seem to breath the same.

 

[Wormhelmet]

Re: Best 2x12 cabinet for around $300?

Different woods might have different reflective, or resonant properties that might affect tone, but given the environment most cabs are put in which can consist of a combination of deadening or reflective material surfaces, tone sucking by my mdf is really not a thing I worry about. Surviving road trips and gigs I would worry. Parked in my living room, no worries. I'm 100% ok with my mdf cab. I'm even ok with my valveking II micro head. Two items for sure that will get constant repeat worriers and naysayers on guitar forums, but really when I compare to other gear I have had in the past or my other 50 watt head, or the numerous more expensive cabs I played through at the music stores next to me. The gear does what I need it to and sounds good to me. I got it at the price point that made me not care about the purchase too much.

More power to ya if some people fall into the best or not at all camp, but I can still rock my gear ok enough for me and recording for a lot of people, myself included, consists of direct outs into IR cab simulation or similar stuff, so in the end my cab doesn't get used like that. Most likely if mic'ed up, the 70/80's would be eq'ed in final mix anyway.

If other need to do some hand wringing over my choices, then at least its not me doing it.

Haha. Rock on with what ya got...

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: Best 2x12 cabinet for around $300?

That cracked me up and brought up a memory. In high school my drummer's dog Paco peed in my friend's Kustom bass amp, right through the grill. We never told him.

back in the Eighties my buddy had a Kustom guitar combo that took alot of beer and wee
we didn't tell him either
he also rode it down wheelchair ramps on its casters

he loved that thing

 

[dkal24]

Re: Best 2x12 cabinet for around $300?

http:// https://m.thomann.de/gb/search.html?ref=mcp_s&q=harley%20benton%20vintage%202x12

Shipping may take a little longer since it is coming from Germany but they only charge about $30 to ship.

 

[Demanic]

Re: Best 2x12 cabinet for around $300?

That's the beauty of America. You can choose MDF and I can choose ply.

 

[Darg1911]

Re: Best 2x12 cabinet for around $300?

The cab is made of 3/4 birch ply if I remember correctly. It's built like a tank.

Not saying it isn't a good cab. Just that the entire cab with speakers costs what the speakers do alone. So a cab change, for whatever reason, means you are out no money for the Gregs cabinet.

 

[Demanic]

Re: Best 2x12 cabinet for around $300?

^^
That is true. Just another good reason to get one.

 

[JimmyO]

Re: Best 2x12 cabinet for around $300?

Just noticed Avatar is having a 2x12 speaker cabinet sale stocked with Celestions
Not much more than your target price.

http://avatarspeakers.com/home/product/special-g212-traditional/

http://avatarspeakers.com/home/product/special-g212-contemporary-special/

I've got a couple of cabs from them and they've been great to deal with and make quality stuff manufactured in the US, you may want to check them out. They've been able to order and install mostly any Celestion or eminence speaker if you don't see what you want listed on the website.

 

[Kcz5o]

Re: Best 2x12 cabinet for around $300?

I just put together two different 2 x 12 cabs for aobut 300 doolars each. The first is a seizmic audio box with 2 x 12 Warehouse american style guitar speakers. And the second I bought a 2 x12 Kustom tuck and roll cab for 200 that ended up having one of the speakers blown. I replaced the jensons with british style WGS and came in around 140. BOth seem to sound good although I am not gigging with them at this time so don't know how they will sound in a club.

 

[Wormhelmet]

Re: Best 2x12 cabinet for around $300?

I just put together two different 2 x 12 cabs for aobut 300 doolars each. The first is a seizmic audio box with 2 x 12 Warehouse american style guitar speakers. And the second I bought a 2 x12 Kustom tuck and roll cab for 200 that ended up having one of the speakers blown. I replaced the jensons with british style WGS and came in around 140. BOth seem to sound good although I am not gigging with them at this time so don't know how they will sound in a club.

I love those tuck and roll cabs. particularly if they have a matching tuck and roll head. Like the old Kustom's.

 

[LatsMcGee]

Re: Best 2x12 cabinet for around $300?

I really like the Ear Candy's I've heard and they offer cabs in that PR, I'd also look used for one of the Bogner Alchemist 2x12 cabs, they sound really good...

 

[TheMadGypsyBaron]

Re: Best 2x12 cabinet for around $300?

I'd use Craigslist. I got a vintage fender bandmaster 2x12 for a little under $100.
Though it's a HUGE cab for the size of the speakers, craigslist clearly has some good deals.

I'd recommend the bandmaster type can I got, cause I love it, but it's a crap shoot what you're gonna find

 

[agufish]

Re: Best 2x12 cabinet for around $300?

I got my Mesa Rectifier 2x12 for $300 used and I love it. I mostly play hard rock and metal and it is amazing with just about any amp I pair it with.