Is there more to a good sounding cab than just the speakers it contains?

[fingerace]

I used the words "good sounding" to eliminate the durability factor...

So what do you guys think?

As long as it's a solid construction, does it matter if the cab is made of plywood or solid wood or whatever?

What's your personal experience with cabs?

Thank you

Andreas

 

[astrozombie]

Re: Is there more to a good sounding cab than just the speakers it contains?

well, i have noticed better sounding cabs tend to be heavier.

i dont know if this is because of the speakers, or added mass (cabinet is bigger)

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: Is there more to a good sounding cab than just the speakers it contains?

There is so much more to cabinets than just the speakers. Wood makes a huge impact on how the cabinet resonates (as does the construction). Pine is a soft wood, so it absorbs the highs a little bit and makes it a bit warmer. Birch is a much heavier wood so it gets a more powerful, punchier, more direct sound. Open back cabinets have a different sound (more widespread dispersion) than closed back (more focused and more punchy) as well.

 

[fingerace]

Re: Is there more to a good sounding cab than just the speakers it contains?

There is so much more to cabinets than just the speakers. Wood makes a huge impact on how the cabinet resonates (as does the construction). Pine is a soft wood, so it absorbs the highs a little bit and makes it a bit warmer. Birch is a much heavier wood so it gets a more powerful, punchier, more direct sound. Open back cabinets have a different sound (more widespread dispersion) than closed back (more focused and more punchy) as well.

Thanks for the info Chris. I knew about the open/closed back properties (also narrow or wide cabs), but haven't heard of different wood properties.

The part that I can't understand is how can the type of wood affect the sound. The sound is supposed to come out of the speakers... Do we have to consider that the cab vibrates as well?

 

[astrozombie]

Re: Is there more to a good sounding cab than just the speakers it contains?

I think so. Peavey amps have a "resonance" feature, which means the sound resonates in the cab, "producing more bass".

 

[Pecan]

Re: Is there more to a good sounding cab than just the speakers it contains?

Defiantly. If you ask me orange cabs sound good because of the birch and the speakers.

 

[Binnerscot]

Re: Is there more to a good sounding cab than just the speakers it contains?

I think so. Peavey amps have a "resonance" feature, which means the sound resonates in the cab, "producing more bass".

The knob is on the amp, not the cab. It adjusts the damping of the power amp itself.

Cab design has far more impact than the woods used, most are birch of some sort because makes a durable cabinet. Not many are solid wood, they are usually some sort of ply - this resists warping and is far less expensive than trying to find boards the size of what would be needed for the backs and baffles. The speakers will determine the tone of the cab (if the sizes are the same, the wood will have little impact).

 

[fingerace]

Re: Is there more to a good sounding cab than just the speakers it contains?

Now there are two different opinions....

What I am asking is whether I should spend more money to buy an expensive cab , instead of a cheaper one with the same speakers.

I am not refering to overpriced cabs becasue of the brand name on them...

 

[Zerberus]

Re: Is there more to a good sounding cab than just the speakers it contains?

Now there are two different opinions....

What I am asking is whether I should spend more money to buy an expensive cab , instead of a cheaper one with the same speakers.....

Neither. You should take your amp with you and test a few, and buy the one that sounds best

 

[fingerace]

Re: Is there more to a good sounding cab than just the speakers it contains?

I always try to test as many things as I can... I hate to moan about it again, but I really can't find what I want here...

 

[drpietrzak]

Re: Is there more to a good sounding cab than just the speakers it contains?

I used the words "good sounding" to eliminate the durability factor...

So what do you guys think?

As long as it's a solid construction, does it matter if the cab is made of plywood or solid wood or whatever?

What's your personal experience with cabs?

Thank you

Andreas

Yes, materials count. I have built several and the cab materiasl change the voice. For example, http://drpietrzak.com//music/west1.jpg .

This is a home build white blonde cab with a Cannibis Rex in it. It is 1/2" solid pine, with a 1/2 in solid pine sound board. It was made to match my white blonde tele ( http://drpietrzak.com/music/teles.JPG ). It is semi-open back. The dimentions are very similar to a Fender 1x12. The pine make the cab brighter than the ply, or MDS constructed cabs I have used the same dimentions and construction.

 

[doveman]

Re: Is there more to a good sounding cab than just the speakers it contains?

If it's a sealed or open back cabinet, I think it's just about the speakers. Birch plywood is great. I actually built my own 1x12 sealed cabinet. If it's a ported cabinet there is just a bit of "cabinet design" that's important.

So: I would not spend a lot of money on a cabinet if there was a cheaper well built cabinet available. Spend your money on the speakers.

 

[drpietrzak]

Re: Is there more to a good sounding cab than just the speakers it contains?

Neither. You should take your amp with you and test a few, and buy the one that sounds best

I would second this, if that is the question. But if you are asking if the materials (wood) counts, you bet. At least soild wood to ply. I do not know about various types of solid woods compared to one another.

 

[fingerace]

Re: Is there more to a good sounding cab than just the speakers it contains?

Allright I think I understand what to look for now... Thanks for the replies guys! I ll try to get away with a ply cab, but with a good design if I can.

Zerb (or anyone), do you know of any european on line shops that sell empty cabs. I asked Pierre before and he only knew www.tubeampdoctor.com

 

[drpietrzak]

Re: Is there more to a good sounding cab than just the speakers it contains?

If it's a sealed or open back cabinet, I think it's just about the speakers. Birch plywood is great. I actually built my own 1x12 sealed cabinet. If it's a ported cabinet there is just a bit of "cabinet design" that's important.

So: I would not spend a lot of money on a cabinet if there was a cheaper well built cabinet available. Spend your money on the speakers.

If it is ply to ply, I agree. If it is ply to solid I do not here. The solid wood will sound quite different.

 

[doveman]

Re: Is there more to a good sounding cab than just the speakers it contains?

I've been in that argument before ... for me I can't tell the difference ... so I won't spend the money. But if you can here it, to each his own.

 

[aleclee]

Re: Is there more to a good sounding cab than just the speakers it contains?

The part that I can't understand is how can the type of wood affect the sound. The sound is supposed to come out of the speakers... Do we have to consider that the cab vibrates as well?

This is pretty similar to assuming that all of a guitar's tone come from the pickups.

Neither. You should take your amp with you and test a few, and buy the one that sounds best

True, whether you're talking about cabs, amps, guitar, fx, or pretty much any other gear.

 

[doveman]

Re: Is there more to a good sounding cab than just the speakers it contains?

This is pretty similar to assuming that all of a guitar's tone come from the pickups.

I know these are all opinions and not arguments to be won or lost. Big difference in those two issues. My opinion is on guitars (70%wood, 30% pickups & wiring) on cabinets (75% speakers, 20% design, 5% cabinet wood). Or at least those neigborhoods anyway. I'm a big believer in wood in the guitar as important ... not so much for cabinets. But everyone hears what they hear and that's cool.

Over on the Tele forum there is a raging argument about there being in perceived difference in a Tele that's not plugged in. I for one always test any guitar unplugged first ... their up to like 5000 reads on that post. Anyway, the wood for me is a big deal ... in the guitar.

:13:

 

[drpietrzak]

Re: Is there more to a good sounding cab than just the speakers it contains?

I've been in that argument before ... for me I can't tell the difference ... so I won't spend the money. But if you can here it, to each his own.

I know it is not just me, the reason the pine cabs for the bassman are popular is becasue others feel it changes how they sound. The same is true of a cab.

 

[doveman]

Re: Is there more to a good sounding cab than just the speakers it contains?

I know it is not just me, the reason the pine cabs for the bassman are popular is becasue others feel it changes how they sound. The same is true of a cab.

It may be true ... I just can't tell it. That's just an opinion. It's just the one I give when asked for an opinion. If it works for others ... they feel they hear a difference ... that's OK. It's all good.