Looking for 2x12 small cabinet

[Fusion1]

Smaller the better. I think I have it narrowed down to a Mesa, Randall, Vader or Carvin 2x12. I prefer a smaller footprint and especially shorter than the taller 2x12s like the Orange and Avatar types. Any other cabs I may have overlooked? I might even consider a Carvin SX 2x12 amp as the amp itself is the same size of their 2x12 cabinet which is compact. I could remove the amp section if it sucks and just put in a 1 space EQ or something and from the used prices I could get a Carvin SX200/SX300 for cheaper than buying a new Carvin 212 cabinet by itself.

 

[mrpinter]

Re: Looking for 2x12 small cabinet

Hermida Audio makes small, lightweight speaker cabinets. Hermida Audio.

 

[Fusion1]

Re: Looking for 2x12 small cabinet

Thanks but not digging the speaker layout and it is on the taller end at 19" as most of the cabs I mentioned are 18" or less. Also price is pretty steep at $275 before shipping with no speakers plus not digging the no-grill look either. Thanks for trying though.

 

[Fusion1]

Re: Looking for 2x12 small cabinet

* Carvin GS212: 17.5"H x 26"W x 10.25"D - $219 new

* Carvin SX200/300: 17.5"H x 26"W x 10.25"D - $269 new

* Carvin V212: 17.5"H x 26"W x 10.25"D - $299 new

* Laney Cub Cab: 18.43"H x 26.97"W x 9.25"D - $199 new

* Mesa Stilletto: : 15.25"H x 26.75"W x 12.75"D - $300 to $400ish used

* Randall RT series: 14.2"H x 29.5"W x 18.5"D - $299 new

* Vader 2x12: 18"H x 30"W x 14"D - $300 to $400ish used

On the higher end for a new cabinet the most I'd spend for a loaded cab (but not likely unless they are great but doubt it since nobody talks about them) is the:

* Laney GS212IE: 14"H x 28.15"W x 17.9"D - $329 new

 

[Fusion1]

Re: Looking for 2x12 small cabinet

Leaning towards the Randall for sheer metal look and bonus points for having casters with no extra charge AND one of the shortest of all the cabinets. 2nd choice is one of the Carvin options and either one of these are still less than a new Avatar cabinet and MUCH smaller. I did want to state I am looking for best bang for buck as well.

 

[everdrone]

Re: Looking for 2x12 small cabinet

you seem to be into the metal look

I would rule out the open back cabs then; you wont get bass response that you need for hard rock/metal. thats not good cause that laney $200 cab looks pretty sweet and weighs only 30 pounds!! that would be nice to carry, but then again a fender pro junior weighs less than that if your going for weight and not hard rock tone.

I have an Orange 2x12 closed back that weighs 61 lbs. its a pain to carry but easier than a 4x12. casters dont help for the stairs etc. 2x12s from orange are cool cause you can tilt em sideways and the head still fits on top, and no casters, so the bass response is better since the speakers meld into the floor for better bass response.



heavier is generally better sounding, what head do you have? the speakers and cab and head need to match well.

 

[Fusion1]

Re: Looking for 2x12 small cabinet

I had one of those cheap Crate V-series 2x12 cabs stolen and it sounded fine even with the crap speakers once they were broken in. Till now I haven't looked for a replacement 2x12. If it had been a smaller cabinet it may not have gotten stolen since I wouldn't have minded to take it back and forth from rehearsals, but it was a PITA to schlep around, so I just left it at the bass player's place and his roomate or his roomate's buddy stole it.

I've used my Polytone Mega Brain head through it, my variety of low watt tube amps and my main practice amp my Pignose G40V. I use other heads for metal Line 6 Spider III HD150, Peavey XXL but for metal I'd want one of my 4x12s. The Carvin V212 is closed or a removable panel for an open back sound. Also would mention that Jetcity 2x12 as it is either open or closed back with removable panel and it is cheap at $199? but it is tall and bulky, same with the cheap $199 Bugera 2x12 kind of bulky, and I'm not down with that if I have to take it to and from whenever I am playing.

 

[Fusion1]

Re: Looking for 2x12 small cabinet

I do dig the metal look even though this band I am in isn't playing metal. I could see me using my Pignose G40V sitting sideways on that Randall RT cabinet and seeing people's confused looks. Better yet the Randall 2x12 on the side as a verticle 2x12 and the Pignose on top. Then again I could see using my new Bogner Alchemist head sitting on that Randall as well.

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: Looking for 2x12 small cabinet

I use a Mesa 212 V30 Maverick combo, and I like to sit it on a Mesa 212 Horizontal Recto. Nice little portable half-stack. Closed-back Recto adds some nice projection and thump to the bottom end of the Maverick. They are spendy, but I think Mesa does some of the best cabinetry in the biz. They keep their value well. If you find an older Fender Bassman or Bandmaster small 212, they are very good too.

Good luck!

Bill

 

[mwalluk]

Re: Looking for 2x12 small cabinet

avatarspeakers.com



I personally like the Cravin

 

[Uk Ant]

Re: Looking for 2x12 small cabinet

i think the Marshall 1936 is the short 2x12 in their range. Might not be what your after and may be a bit pricy in the states

 

[Fusion1]

Re: Looking for 2x12 small cabinet

mwalluk, have you played through a Carvin or just like what you'd seen/read about?

boogiebill, thanks for that info on the Mesas. If I could find one local for sale for cheap I'd be on it, but I never see them for sale that often near me but on craigslist in other cities out of state for they turn up now and then usually fairly cheap.

 

[Fusion1]

Re: Looking for 2x12 small cabinet

i think the Marshall 1936 is the short 2x12 in their range. Might not be what your after and may be a bit pricy in the states

Actually I just looked it up and it seems like one of the largest 2x12s I've come across.

23.62"H x 29.53"W x 12.20"D

They actually advertise the 1936 cabinet as being one of the few that fit full size heads which means it's at least as wide as a 4x12. Basically it is one of the tallest and widest 2x12s I've seen and is the exact opposite of what I am looking for.

 

[everdrone]

Re: Looking for 2x12 small cabinet

you have alot of guitar heads! I see the bogner alchemist cab weighs 25.75"W x 26"H x 10.25"D
58 lb.

the Celestion G12H are gonna match well with the head. Id prolly do that and deal with it.

with my search I was about to get the mesa 2x12 rectifier cab at one point, it sounds really good when I played it with my jcm900 of all things. it weighs a ton. I bought new. Im glad I got my orange 2x12 cause I returned the first one since there was all this buzz, likely from a loose screw somewhere; glad I did not have to trouble shoot on that one!

 

[Fusion1]

Re: Looking for 2x12 small cabinet

I';m more about convenience these days. I still have my 4x12s but not in a metal band now so they sit in storage. I actually have more heads than that haha. I have an Ampeg SS150H and a Fender M-80 Pro as well.

That Bogner cab wouldn't even fit in my car so that's a no go besides it looks like a beast and now wanting to lug that around. In qmy quest for a 2x12 SMALLER IS BETTER!

 

[alteredbeast]

Re: Looking for 2x12 small cabinet

that randall does look pretty tough.

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: Looking for 2x12 small cabinet

St. Genesius just got a Forte that almost made me piano my pants

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: Looking for 2x12 small cabinet

It won't fit your height criteria, but if you you can find an older Mesa 212 Half-Back they are wonderful--best 212 ever made, IMO. They are a vertical 212 with a metal grill; and not that much smaller than the Mesa 412 Half-Back--which is a very small 412. Top of the cab is open-back, and usually fitted with a Celestion/Mesa Black Shadow C90. You'll sometimes see them with a C90 (rarely), or the Eminence/BlackShadow MS-12 (a JBL Clone), or the highly-regarded EVM in the bottom (BEST!). The bottom of the cab is closed back AND, it is Theile-ported for maximum low-end response. They just work really great on a small stage. The open top gives you the "air" and spaciousness of an open-back--like a combo; while bottom part of the cab provides the low-end grunt and projection of a 412. I have one with the C90/MS-12 combination. It will fit in the trunk of my girlfriend's 1999 Accord Coupe. The stage footprint is about the same as a Fender Twin Reverb combo--just a little narrower and a little deeper. They came with pop-out wheels, and I usually pop them out at the gig to connect the cab to the floor for better bass response. And the other thing I like about it is that it puts the amp head at a readable level, so I'm not bending over and trying to read the knobs in the dark...a win-win for my old eyes and my aching back!

Mesa does make a new version of this cab--the Vertical Recto 212; with a totally closed-back and Celestion V30s (same speakers as the Horizontal Recto 212).

If you like Mesa, and the idea of an open and closed back cab in one--they do offer the Road King cabs. The Road King amp has the ability to set each channel to use different power levels, different tube types and SS or tube rectification--and assign each channel to one of two different speakers. Very handy if you want both open back and closed back sounds.

The Mesa cabs are very well-built, and use top-grade plywood. If you are doing any kind of gigging, or even merely transporting you cab, I would STRONGLY recommend that you avoid particleboard and MDF construction.

Good luck!

Bill

 

[drew_half_empty]

Re: Looking for 2x12 small cabinet

Another option, if you're gonna spend like $300 on a cab, would just be to save.. probably less than $100 more and buy a hot rod deluxe or somethin to run in stereo with the piggy. Or sell the pignose and use that amp plus the cab money to buy a bigger amp

 

[brunogio]

Re: Looking for 2x12 small cabinet

I was gonna suggest that Alchemist cab as well. Music 123 has them new at $399. If you get the Randall, get brand name speakers not the Randall specials. I don't know why I say that other than that would be my personal preference.

If you can find a Mesa, I'd say go with it. I just picked up a 1x12 partial open back that is very cool and a breeze to carry. They make a vertical 2x12 as well but it's big.

My experience with the Marshal 1936 was bad, but the 1922 with Greenbacks is awesome.

There are B-52s, Jet City and Blackstar stuff that seems OK as well. I have no experience with any of them other than I window shopped them recently. Vox might also be a possibility.