Tell me about closed back 2x12 cabs.

[Top-L]

I've been rocking a Laney IRT60h for the past decade(?), and I've been using it with an old 4x12 Peavey cab.

It never leaves the house. In fact, it never leaves the basement. Kinda difficult to set it up anywhere else. And frankly, I wouldn't be too excited to roll a Peavey cab to a band practice/ rehersal / gig. Even though I know it gets the job done.

I have always wanted the matching Laney cab, but they don't sell them in the states. Recently learned that Thomann sells the 2x12 with Laney HH 1280 speakers, shipped to the USA for about 350. Its a plywood cab, so there is that.

From youtube videos I've watched, the Laney HH seems to sound like a knock off Celestion 75, which is fine by me.

It occured to me that I can pretty easily move a 2x12 up a flight of stairs, where same isn't true of the 4x12. This means I could actually take my rig out the house to jam with. And I have been wondering if the matching cab will evoke some magic when played with the head it was designed for?

Those of you who have owned/played 2x12 cab, is it a compromise, or does it get the job done every bit as well as a 4x12? (Like when playing with amateur drummers)

 

[Securb]

I have a Marshal MX212 which is one of my best-sounding cabinets. I did replace the speakers with Eminence Wheelhouse speakers but that was about power handling not the tone of the cab. 2x12 is more than enough for any modern gig.

 

[Aceman]

I have one as well (Marshall MX212). I really like it. Stock speakers.

 

[Der Oberherr]

I have a Laney IRT60h with matching 2x12 cab. Had the stock speakers in for a few years, and was fine with them. Top end was a bit shrill though IMO, but otherwise the sound was perfectly useable, especially when playing rhythm. Recently replaced them with a creamback and a redback, and found some improvement. The sound out of the 2x12 is very focussed straight forwards, I find the sound can vary significantly depending on my position (left/right, standing/sitting in front of cab. I only play at home, so can't comment on gigging or anything. Also, I've never owned a 4x12.

 

[Cynical]

I
I have always wanted the matching Laney cab

You really don't. The Laney HH drivers are extremely thin and tinny, even compared to a T-75 (the T-75 is scooped, but has a big low end to back that treble up; the HH doesn't have that low end), which is doubly bad with that particular amp (I have an Ironheart 60 watt head, and "thick" is definitely not a word I'd use to describe it). If you're looking for a 2x12, the Mesa Recto 2x12 is where it's at, but it's not going to be easy to carry up a flight of stairs, either.

 

[DonP]

Tell me about closed back 2x12 cabs.

They sell fast. There were 2 Marshall 1966B cabs. One in good shape for $300, one a little ripped up for $250. They both sold before I could get there.

 

[Cynical]

Be advised that these cabs have Mesa Vintage 30’s made to Mesa’s specs by Celestion in England. I honestly don’t know how different they are from other Vintage 30’s these days, but the Mesa version is the one I have used and like. Somebody else here will know more about that than I do.

Mesa has three different V30 voicings. The "normal" one is the brightest of the three, with the famous upper mid spike; the Mesa one is in the middle, with the mid-spike tamed a bit; and the Marshall one is darkest overall, but does have the mid spike.

 

[eclecticsynergy]

I switched from 4x12 cabs to 2x12s (Marshall 1936 cabs) back in the 90s. Great sounding and much more portable.

2x12s in general don't give quite as much thump as a 4x12. Still, in a band context you'd be hard put to notice it.
Not familiar with Laney's house brand speakers but I assume they'd be well-matched to the voice of their amps.

British type speakers - Celestions especially, IME - tend to be pretty beamy.
I learned long ago never to face a Marshall cab directly towards the soundman, even at a distance.

If you are playing mostly in smaller spaces, "beam blockers" diffusers can help.
They mount between the baffle and speaker, and scatter the sound more evenly for smaller spaces.

In the old days, some used to put gaffer's tape on the grill cloth over their center domes.
A few would even face their cabinet backwards for diffusion and reduced treble, but that's a pretty extreme measure.

 

[PFDarkside]

I’ve got two 2x12” cabs.
Do they sound like 4x12” cabs? No.
Can I carry them easily? Yes.
Do I ever feel like I absolutely need the 4x12”? No.

One has Creambacks, one is the Splawn Eminence setup, I’d love a Mesa 2x12” with V30s too.

 

[Top-L]

I liked everyone's response! Thanks for the advice and confirmation that 2x12 is where it's at.

 

[Top-L]

You really don't. The Laney HH drivers are extremely thin and tinny, even compared to a T-75 (the T-75 is scooped, but has a big low end to back that treble up; the HH doesn't have that low end), which is doubly bad with that particular amp (I have an Ironheart 60 watt head, and "thick" is definitely not a word I'd use to describe it). If you're looking for a 2x12, the Mesa Recto 2x12 is where it's at, but it's not going to be easy to carry up a flight of stairs, either.

In this speaker comparison, I felt that the Laney speaker stood up very well, and many of the commenters did, as well.

https://youtu.be/nTUqV2isKTE

I believe your assessment of the sound you heard, but are you sure it wasn't because it was in a smaller 2x12 as opposed to a Mesa oversized, or 4x12? Honestly I've never heard a 75 watt celestion that wasn't in a 4x12, so I'm not sure if the thump comes from the cab or the speaker.

All that said, I like the idea of a matching cabinet, and I could alwasy speaker swap.

 

[Top-L]

If I was really bargain hunting, I could get the Harley Benton with two V30s for even le$$. But I haven't liked V30s in the past.

 

[Cynical]

Did you mean to type Celestion?

Yes.

 

[Demanic]

Lol. Mesa lists the weight of that cab at 61 lbs. That is enough to make me notice that I’m not carrying my Tone Master Twin Reverb (33 lbs.). It is still significantly lighter than the omnipresent 1960A modern 4x12, which Marshall’s website specs at 80.5 pounds.

80.5? Is that it? I think that my Carvin 4x12 weights more than that.

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[dave74]

Even the mesa oversize 412 isn't that bad going up the stairs, but going down is a real pain. 212 is like butter, but I have the older version with no casters and 70w mesaV30, so it's maybe a few pounds lighter. Really if you have do stairs alone much then I like the big 212s with side handles like the marshall or avatar. Going down the stairs alone is cake with good side handles.

 

[Demanic]

I hate the stairs...

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[Demanic]

I’m only in my forties, and my knees aren’t quite as fond of stairs as they used to be.

Used to do moving jobs to third floor walk ups.

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[Demanic]

I'm doing more than ever.

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[Demanic]

I'm doing more of the things that I never realized were fun.

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[solspirit]

Don't get me started. . .

Too late, sorry. I don't know if it's the weather or what lately. . The past two days I've been having a really hard time getting around. I reminded myself of some 70 yo guy named Mr Adams that I used to cut grass for as a kid, the guy's hips and knees were shot and he barely hobbled around with two canes. He could tell some war stories though.
Anyway that's been me for the last two days, hobbling with two canes.