How to choose a guitar cab

[Racko]

Hi,

I was wondering what do you have to look out when purchasing a guitar cabinet ? I know speakers are probably the most important thing. Opened back vs closed back vs semi closed back is another thing to look for I guess, even though I don't know the sound difference between each. Is there anything else that matters ? I mean, if I compare two cabs and both have Celestion 30, which one is better ? I'm looking at Orange, Mesa, Marshall, Blackstar ... what makes the price difference between those ?

Thanks for helping out ! Rock on

 

[Thundermtn]

Re: How to choose a guitar cab

I have a Mesa 4x12 slant front recto cab and a 2x12 orange cab. Both are closed with V30's. They both sound really nice. Quality of construction and grade of wood makes the difference. Heavy though, you better be eating your wheaties. Rollers are a good thing if you have a vehicular way to move a 4x12. They Orange is a little bassier as it is tied more to the floor b/c of the way the feet are designed. They are long rubber slabs that pretty much glue/couple it to the surface it's on.

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: How to choose a guitar cab

Look for wood ply, not some pressboard fakewood. Make sure the ohms resistance is compatible with the head you plan to run into it. Closed vs open back just changes the sound, so that's a matter of what sound you intend to make. Closed back is tighter, open back has more bass response, but it's a bit loose and flabby - which isn't always a bad thing. If two cabs have Celestion 30s, they'll sound similar with a mic less than a foot from the speaker, but to the ears in the room can sound quite a bit different. When you try cabinets, walk around and listen for a sweet spot. Listen carefully to the range of sounds / EQ you hear as you walk around it and make sure there is at least one or two positions where it shines making the sound you want to hear.

 

[IM4Tone]

Re: How to choose a guitar cab

IMO, the material used in the construction doesn't make an appreciable difference in the sound as long as the cab is 'tight' with no loose joints to vibrate. Pressed boards can however affect longevity. With rough handling and moisture, they can more easily deteriorate, and come apart. If the cab is going to stay at home and not be subjected to the rigors of repeated movement as with gigging, and if it is kept in a very dry environment, it matters little. Otherwise, handle with care or get a good plywood cab.

I prefer to buy empty cabinets and then install the speakers of my choice, unless a cab I like comes already with my preferred speaker(s).

 

[zzmoore]

Re: How to choose a guitar cab

IMO, the material used in the construction doesn't make an appreciable difference in the sound as long as the cab is 'tight' with no loose joints to vibrate. Pressed boards can however affect longevity. With rough handling and moisture, they can more easily deteriorate, and come apart. If the cab is going to stay at home and not be subjected to the rigors of repeated movement as with gigging, and if it is kept in a very dry environment, it matters little. Otherwise, handle with care or get a good plywood cab.
Used speaker cabs have never been more affordable. You can hardly give away a 4x12 these days...Dime A Dozen. I would not buy a new cab if you live in or near a fairly large city. Just look at Craigslist.
If you live near me, I have a couple of 4x12 you can demo.
good luck

I prefer to buy empty cabinets and then install the speakers of my choice, unless a cab I like comes already with my preferred speaker(s).

All good advice there ^^^^^^^
Pricing is often arbitrary, or based on popularity. Mesa can throw together a speaker cab, in their shop, in no time at all. Assuming same materials, and like construction, it is pretty much a ply-wood box.
As you (OP) say.....speakers are going to be the biggest consideration by a Huge Margin.
Avatar
Mather
Mesa
Mojo
Marshall
etc etc
they are all going to build a good box.
Used speaker cabs have never been more affordable. You can hardly give away a 4x12 these days...Dime A Dozen. I would not buy a new cab if you live in or near a fairly large city. Just look at Craigslist.
If you live near me, I have a couple of 4x12 you can demo.
good luck

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: How to choose a guitar cab

Plug your amp into them and pick the one you think sounds the best.

 

[Myaccount876]

Re: How to choose a guitar cab

Don't get caught up too much in spec BS. Find something that:

A) Doesn't fall apart (a lot of materials will work for cabinet construction - particle board is not the optimal choice for this reason)
B) Colors the tone the way you like with speaker selection/enclosure dimensions (just try a bunch of different options and see what you like)
C) Projects the way you'd like it to (open vs closed back, which is loose and sound-dispersing vs tight and directional respectively)
D) The cabinet doesn't rattle like a mofo. Turn it up real loud with a lot of low end to test this. This is often overlooked and makes recording impossible if you want a good sound
E) Make sure you can lift it. Some people can lift 4x12s, some can't. Know your limits - it's a lot harder to play a show with a sprained back/torn muscles in your arms.
F) Make sure you can afford it (duh)

Obviously pick something with the impedance option(s) that your amp has.

 

[Lake Placid Blues]

Re: How to choose a guitar cab

From a pure tone perspective most find a 4x12 sounds the best for a wide variety of styles. However, it may not be the best for all situations. For example, I played in a band that the drummer asked me to play through my open back combo so he could hear me better. In the same band we ran the harmonica player through a closed back cab to prevent feed back through his mic. With the more directional projecting closed back cab he could stand to the side and not fight the feedback.

The are two types of cabs beyond just open and closed back to consider as well: Front ported and rear ported. The reason a closed back cab has more fundamental tone and less lively harmonics is because the closed back stops the sound waves from the back of the speaker from coming around and interacting with sound waves from the front. The speaker's cone is also supported by air pressure inside the closed back cab, which limits it excursion, making the sound tighter for bass notes and more articulate overall. With a well designed ported cab the sound wave from the back of the speaker is allowed to mix in phase with the sound from the front, and there remains some air pressure support for the speaker cones.

One of the best ported cabs available used to be the THD 2x12 (I'm not sure if they are still built?). It used a slot port in the rear and had about the same tone, projection, bass response, and articulation as a good 4x12. But it fit into the trunk of your car and one person could carry it. It also had some of the sound dispersion of a open back cab going on.

If your a modern metal player, down tune, play 7 string, or play with a lot of bass thump, you just about must use a closed back cab, however.

Speakers may sound very different from one cab to another. For example, 25 watt greenbacks don't sound all that loose in a closed back cab. In an open back cab you most likely should use heavy magnet speakers, such as the Vintage 30, to get a more articulate bass response.

As for closed back 2x12s they can be just about as heavy and unwieldy as a 4x12. The Marshall model 1936 is 2/3 the size of a Marshall 4x12. But smaller 2x12s might not have as good of sound. For example, Marshall used to make a smaller 2x12 for combo amps that many found to not sound as good. (The problem turned out to be the large amount volume inside the cab displaced by the carrying handles on each side though. Without the handles it sounded okay.)

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: How to choose a guitar cab

Look for ease of portability. I want comfy handles and casters if it's more than 40 lbs. Doesn't matter how good it sounds if you hurt yourself trying to get your stuff to the gig. Also, figure out what you really need. A 4x12 is overkill for an awful lot of situations. I usually use a 1x12 combo with a 1x12 speaker extension and it's a very flexible, easy to port around combination.

 

[IMENATOR]

Re: How to choose a guitar cab

Try getting a convertible cab, there are some that can go from cloes back to open or semi-open just using a screw driver at the back panel. Some are sealed and the back cannot be as no screws are there but the speaker can be swapped by removing the front grill. There are all kind of woods and prices, people claim mdf is pretty bad but not sure if they mean tonewise or they mean it is not built to last, there is also pine and plywood which they say voidless is the best but goes more expensive. You also want to check if the speaker impedance will match your amp and some cabs allow for link with another speaker which may or may not be useful for you.

 

[IMENATOR]

Re: How to choose a guitar cab

Plug your amp into them and pick the one you think sounds the best.

Amusing the speaker has already break in which many vendors say will bring the speaker to its expected tone.

 

[Scott_F]

Re: How to choose a guitar cab

I buy a lot of heads cabs and combos from Mojo. Their work is outstanding. I've never had a complaint.

 

[philthis]

Re: How to choose a guitar cab

I like Mojo too.

 

[Red_Label]

Re: How to choose a guitar cab

IMO, the material used in the construction doesn't make an appreciable difference in the sound as long as the cab is 'tight' with no loose joints to vibrate. Pressed boards can however affect longevity. With rough handling and moisture, they can more easily deteriorate, and come apart. If the cab is going to stay at home and not be subjected to the rigors of repeated movement as with gigging, and if it is kept in a very dry environment, it matters little. Otherwise, handle with care or get a good plywood cab.

I prefer to buy empty cabinets and then install the speakers of my choice, unless a cab I like comes already with my preferred speaker(s).

Not sure if I agree with this. I've had/played a LOT of different 2x12 and 4x12 cabs. Despite most being loaded with V30s... the Bogner, Friedman, and Splawn cabs sounded better than the Marshall, Line 6, and other branded cabs. And it wasn't a case of brand snobbery causing my hearing to change. They really DID sound better to my ears. I dunno if it's wood type, construction, or whatever that makes the difference... but there is a difference that's more than cosmetics.