Cabs: Rectifier vs. 1960A

RatPoison

RatPoison

New member
K, I'm back. I'm getting a head real soon from now., I'm likely getting it on ebay..I have a good idea of what I want as far as that goes. Likely a 5150, but the XXX and some of the newer Randalls dont look bad either. For a guitar, I have a Dean Caddilac, which has a mahogany body and a ebony board, and I will be putting a DD in it soon hopefully. I want some of your opinions.

I am buying a cab before hand.. 1) I don't want to buy that online and pay gross shipping charges 2) I'd rather have that available to me right away so I can test the amp out on the spot.

I'm playing metal and modern hardcore, so what I want to hear is something really tight and agressive and composed........late 80's Metallica and Anthrax is a good example, as well as the modern American/Swede sound like Meshuggah, Lamb of God, In Flames, KSE, SF, GF, whathaveyou. BUT I also like the Pantera, Machine head, Sepultura, Crowbar sound.
as you can see, I need a cab with decent highs and mids of course but it is paramount that the low end stays focused and tight, for that foot-to-the-forehead feeling. I hate it when the low end flabs, or the sound is too dark, which is why I'm a little hesitant with Mesa

Hope I'm making sense. Please don't reply "get the amp first...." ....many people combine 5150s with these cabs anyway so there.

thanks
 
Re: Cabs: Rectifier vs. 1960A

My experience has been that as the cab gets bigger, the amount of bottom increases, but the tightness of it decreases (with the same speaker - a HUGE variable).

The original Boogie cabs (the ones with the steel mesh grill) and Fender Tone-Masters (also Super-Sonic, same cab, different name) are about as small as a box can be and hold four 12s. They're very articulate and tight but don't have a ton of thump.

Rectifier cabs are the opposite - TONS of chunk but a little 'slow' and soft.

Marshall 1960s are both, and neither. In-between in terms of size and performance, one could say they're a great compromise, OR that they have the worst attributes of both.
 
Re: Cabs: Rectifier vs. 1960A

there's two versions of the rectifier cab: the standard is NOT for you. This is oversized for huge chunk.

The one you should look into is the "traditional" rectifier cab. It is much smaller and thus very tight. Lamb of God uses these. I believe they changed the name this year to "stilleto cab," but it's the same cab.
 
Re: Cabs: Rectifier vs. 1960A

I agree, 1960 could get a little messy when you do the end of the world palm mute stuff on the E string, but I think you can sove this with the right pups and some JJ vavles.
 
Re: Cabs: Rectifier vs. 1960A

Here is an easy way to look at it:

Marshall cabs: can be better or worse construction depending on year and model, sound good with V30s or a mix, GB's or G12H30s, 75 (very easy to find in these). they are more focused, and nicer with the bass.

Mesa: Very well contructed, very dark, and bassy, possibly muddy. Recto cabs have V30s. For the music you described, it would offer crushing lows and huge sound. They are a pain to move around! Do keep in mind their Road King and Thiele cabs with C90s as a nice warm option.
 
Re: Cabs: Rectifier vs. 1960A

Marshall cabs basically blow period - I wouldn't touch them if at all possible.

Mesa Trad cab is one of my favorite's, not a fan of the Oversized/Rectifier cabinet at all.
 
Re: Cabs: Rectifier vs. 1960A

OK, good responses. Thank you for the whole standard/trad detail. I think I will have to try these all ofc, but it's good to kow what to ask for.

I thought LOG used Framus cabs?
 
Re: Cabs: Rectifier vs. 1960A

Some people will have you believe that you need a super-duper niche brand cab filled with loads of insulating foam, neon lights and that's really heavy to sound at least half good.

At the end of the day your amp and speakers will make WAAAAAAY more difference than the type of cab used - it's all relative. Marshall cabs don't blow - they're the best selling cabs in the world for a good reason - they're well constructed and sound good from the get go, and the fact that they've got a particleboard rear panel instead of birch ply like the rest of the cab makes little sonic difference (most people can't hear the difference, some even prefer it).

So as long as the cab you're looking at is reasonably priced, supposedly well made and a normal size for holding 4 12" speakers, you should be fine.
 
Re: Cabs: Rectifier vs. 1960A

Jeff Dunne said:
Marshall cabs basically blow period - I wouldn't touch them if at all possible.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't go that far. After all, 3 generations of metal bands have used Marshall 4-12's as a backline. I will say that Vintage 30's sound the best in those cabs....specifically 1960AV.

The main thing is to stay away from "budget cabs".....like Behringer, Crate, Marshall Valvestate cabs, B-52, and all the others for $300 new.

Once you're talking about Mesa, Marshall, Bogner, Rivera, VHT, Orange, etc, you're buying something you'll be happy with.
 
Re: Cabs: Rectifier vs. 1960A

Jeff Dunne said:
Marshall cabs basically blow period - I wouldn't touch them if at all possible.
Click to expand...

Couldn't disagree more. I use a JCM 900 cab (almost exactly the same as the 1960B cab) and that thing has real balls. Its got the V30/G12H in a X formation, and that thing seriously kicks it out. I've used a single rectifier, 5150 and a JCM 800 through it, and got some awesome results. Plenty of chunk, no mud whatsoever. Unless I want mud of course.
 
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Re: Cabs: Rectifier vs. 1960A

From what you describe imo Vintage 30s should be the way to go.
The mesa traditional cab(the oversized recto cab is too flabby in the bottom end) or the Engl Pro cab would work out perfectly for you. They are pretty much the same in build quality and sound(maybe the Engl is a little brighter). Main difference is the looks.
 
Re: Cabs: Rectifier vs. 1960A

It's not that Marshall cab's really blow, persay, but more of that Rivera, Mesa, Bogner, VHT, Splawn, etc, really kick the **** out of them.
 
Re: Cabs: Rectifier vs. 1960A

Jeff Dunne said:
It's not that Marshall cab's really blow, persay, but more of that Rivera, Mesa, Bogner, VHT, Splawn, etc, really kick the **** out of them.
Click to expand...

And they are all twice the price. But far from twice the quality.
 
Re: Cabs: Rectifier vs. 1960A

Mesa, Rivera, VHT, and Splawn all cost within 50-100 dollars of a 1960AV, and are by far more than 100 dollars better.

Bogner might run you 300-350 more, brand new, but it's damned worth it in the long run.


Marshall cabs are overpriced for what they give you, anyways. Stock Peavey cabinets sound better.
 
Re: Cabs: Rectifier vs. 1960A

AH ****GIN ****. AHAHAHAHAHA
ANY doubts? check my g12 t 75 loaded marshall 1960 cabinet
with the 5150 on my signaturelinks
the you tube.
****GIN HAILS
ANy solution to the marshall bass flabbyness ?
 
Re: Cabs: Rectifier vs. 1960A

WITH FULL DISTORTION said:
ANy solution to the marshall bass flabbyness ?
Click to expand...

The main thing causing flab would be the amp head, but if you want to tighten up the sound of a Marshall cab, replace the back panel with birch plywood and put a thin layer of Corning insulation on the inside of it. I noticed that's one secret of high end cabs. It kills standing waves inside, and sounds better than the particle board one Marshall uses now. The rest of the cab is fine.
 
Re: Cabs: Rectifier vs. 1960A

Jeff Dunne said:
It's not that Marshall cab's really blow, persay, but more of that Rivera, Mesa, Bogner, VHT, Splawn, etc, really kick the **** out of them.
Click to expand...

+1

Look around for a used cab. I've owned a few different 4x12 slants over the years & NEVER paid for then $350 or so for one and in one case, snagged a JCM900 slant for UNDER $200.

Anything made of baltic birch ply is good. You can always replace the speakers if you aren't digging them.

Anyway, with Marshalls (and others) I've ended up putting a screw through the center on the back panel to hold that tight against the center post. That's the first thing I'd check if there's some nasty low end resonance happening.
 
Re: Cabs: Rectifier vs. 1960A

I've never tried the foam trick but have thought about it... I'd like to see the inside of some higher end cabients though - I don't think Mesa's or VHT's have them, or even Splawn - do Bogner?
 
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