Question about running 2 2X12s in a 4X12 - too long to fit in title

Naps

New member
I'm running my amp through a 4X12 cab, but I'm only using two of the speakers. I have the other two in there to keep the closed back sound. My question is this: The other guitarist in my band has a crappy amp and my bassest has a JCM 800 head. Since I only run 2 speakers in the 4X12 cab for my amp, could I wire up the remaing two and have him run his amp through them. Well, I know it is possible, but I'm wondering if having two separate signals in the same 4X12 would cause some funky stuff to happen. For instance, if one of us is riffing or soloing and the other is playing rhythm would the vibrations, magnatic fields of the speaker magnets, or anything else effect the other person's speakers? I'm kind of worried that the different frequencies, vibrations, ect when playing loud would cause the speaker cones to go crazy.

I know this is a weird question, but can anyone help me on this?

He's working his way to buying a cab, but short the funds right now so I'm trying to help out, but I sure don't want to end up with some f'd gear. Thanks in advance.
 
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Re: Question about running 2 2X12s in a 4X12 - too long to fit in title

Is this one of the stereo cabs?

From what I recall, the stereo 4x12 cabs are seperated inside, so they can act as 2 independent cabs.

But, running 2 signals sharing the same air space, you'd probably be dealing with some serious phase cancellation issues or something of the like...
 
Re: Question about running 2 2X12s in a 4X12 - too long to fit in title

The Golden Boy said:
Is this one of the stereo cabs?

From what I recall, the stereo 4x12 cabs are seperated inside, so they can act as 2 independent cabs.

No, I wired the cab myself. right now I have two speakers wired in parallel in the top two spots. The bottom two are not hooked up. What I would do is put in a new jack and wire the bottom two speakers up to it and he would use those. So, It would be kind of like two seperate 2X12's, except in the same inclosure. I'd be running in the top two speakers and he'd be running in the bottom two.

Sorry, I realize this is a kind of unique option for running two differnet amps, expecially when it's a different guitarist in each.
 
Re: Question about running 2 2X12s in a 4X12 - too long to fit in title

Naps said:
Sorry, I realize this is a kind of unique option for running two differnet amps, expecially when it's a different guitarist in each.
It's not unique in that you'd be running two seperate signals to 2 sets of 2 speakers. Marshall, among others, has had stereo cabs, there's a switch on the input jack to the cab- that splits the cab into 2 2x12s.
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The idea being if you're running a stereo chorus or something, you're getting the stereo effect out of one cab, and can be miced seperately.

The big difference is that the two "halves" are split into their own seperate air space inside the enclosure.
 
Re: Question about running 2 2X12s in a 4X12 - too long to fit in title

dont do it sounds horrible, if you must, only at low volumes

noise cancelation man; not good, it will stress the speakers; if you had a mixer and a pa then fine, otherwise no
 
Re: Question about running 2 2X12s in a 4X12 - too long to fit in title

Take a nice thick piece of birch plywood and seperate the speakers from the inside.
 
Re: Question about running 2 2X12s in a 4X12 - too long to fit in title

^thats your chance for it to work try that first if you must
 
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