Straight vs. Slant Cabinet

[Jeff5]

I tried to search for this but couldn't find anything, mabye I just suck =).

I'm looking to buy a Mesa rectifier cab and can get a really good deal on a straight one. LOTS of topics out on the web about stratight vs. slant and opinions vary. (imagine that) I'm leaning towards getting the strait as many like it better and even so it appears there isn't a big difference. I'm interested in all of your thoughts because, well, I like our board best!

Thanks,
Jeff

 

[Soulcrusher_X]

Re: Straight vs. Slant Cabinet

Straight ones sound more powerful to me since all 4 speakers are firing in the same direction. The slanted cabs might be a touch brighter and its easier to hear yourself on stage if there are no monitors. If you mic up, I really dont find there is too much difference in tone though. If you csn get a good deal, then I say go for it.

 

[Bludave]

Re: Straight vs. Slant Cabinet

When I bought my Komet I borrowed a Peavey Straight 4 12. It had Shefeild 1290 speakers. Of course the amp sounded amazing. Then my buddy sold it so he asked me if I wouldn't mind switching with a straight cab, which I did. The straight didn't really sound that much different to me. well I wound up buying a Marshall 1960 AX (which has greenbacks in it) and the difference was evident. I don't think the shape or angle really affects the tone as much as speaker do. I personally like the look of the angled cabs but as I said I didn't notice much of a tonal change from one to the other.

 

[MetalManiac]

Re: Straight vs. Slant Cabinet

There is no either/or. Not for me. Got to have both! Full Stack City!
Best of both sounds together. The fat full bottom of the straight bottom and the cutting presence and top end of the angled top in unison.
The full stack needs to come back.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Straight vs. Slant Cabinet

I don't notice much of a difference in tone, just a difference in where the sound is pointed. As someone mentioned, angled cabs are easier to hear on stage IME, just like tilting back a combo amp, which some people do religiously. I also believe that they can help your sound spread out a bit more evenly. However, there really is not a huge difference, and I highly prefer the looks of straight cabs, so I will get them whenever possible.

The ideal multi speaker cabinet to my mind is a "plough-front" cab, with each speaker angled slightly outward.

 

[SteveAlysis]

Re: Straight vs. Slant Cabinet

I just PREFER the sound and look of straight cabs... Buy it if you can get a good deal!

 

[USAPatriot]

Re: Straight vs. Slant Cabinet

I never did get the point of slants. Yeah I see what the idea is behind it but unless you happen to be within one of the cones as the sound wave spreads out, the effect is going to be lost and it'll just scatter when it hits a flat surface. It seems like it might benefit the player more than the crowd. That's just my guess. -Rod-

 

[9unslin9er]

Re: Straight vs. Slant Cabinet

I like 4 speaker cabinets how I like my eyes, slanted.

 

[everdrone]

Re: Straight vs. Slant Cabinet

I would want slanted if I could hear it better. but I would not want my head to fall because of less space!

 

[Jeff5]

Re: Straight vs. Slant Cabinet

I pulled the trigger. $525 for a Mesa Recto cab (V30s) which looks like it's in pretty darn good shape is a really good deal. I'll pick it up next week. I've played through and old Carvin cab for years (longer than I'd like to say!) and I'm excited to get something new!

 

[King IzzO)))]

Re: Straight vs. Slant Cabinet

What about the old mesa cab with the EV's? Was it a halfback?

 

[Vengeance]

Re: Straight vs. Slant Cabinet

hmph,both. Full stack FTW!

 

[JOLLY]

Re: Straight vs. Slant Cabinet

Straight cabinets look cooler.

 

[Jeff5]

Re: Straight vs. Slant Cabinet

What about the old mesa cab with the EV's? Was it a halfback?

The guy never got back to me. I may try to contact him again. It was like $350, I could probably get him down further. That's such a steal that my wife might even let me do it if he pans out! But I've tried to contact him a couple of times and he's never gotten back to me. Craigslist, go figure.

Update, just tried to contact him again and his Craigslist ad is down. Ah well. Maybe I'll see it agian.

 

[metalmachine]

Re: Straight vs. Slant Cabinet

i have used straights for the last 6 years and have never had trouble hearing my self

 

[King IzzO)))]

Re: Straight vs. Slant Cabinet

Eh, that sucks, I hope he calls you back, that's a pretty good deal if it's in good shape. Mine was pretty beat and I think I got $450, and that was 98 or 99.

 

[SlyFoxx]

Re: Straight vs. Slant Cabinet

Jim Marshall made the slant cab for purely cosmetic reasons. But he didn't really want to admit it so when asked he said it was so you could hear the amp better at the back of the room. After that claim serendipitously, it seemed to him to be true.

 

[the toad]

Re: Straight vs. Slant Cabinet

Slant cabs collect more dust on the grillcloth...

Who can't hear a 4x12? Lol

Haha oops, just saw how old this post is, sorry

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Straight vs. Slant Cabinet

What about the old mesa cab with the EV's? Was it a halfback?

Well, since this thread was already zombified, and if you're still wondering, the Mesa Halfback did come with EVs and Black Shadows. Not sure which ones went where, though, as mine has Peavey Sheffields in it (bought the cab used).

The Halfback was a square/flat cab but the top half of the baffle is slanted, unlike the typical 1960A-type cab where the whole top half (cabinet and baffle) are slanted. Plenty of room for a head on it.

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: Straight vs. Slant Cabinet

Actually Mesa made them both ways, Some are traditional slant and straight cabs and some are the straight box with slant baffle type.

Half back referred to the fact that the bottom speakers were closed and the top were open. Mine came with a panel so you could convert it from half back to closed back. Its loaded with V30's and C90's.