Tips for Shopping for Cabs

[Kam]

So, I sold off a load of junk and I'll be ordering a new amp within the next week or two. I'm 99% sure it's going to be a Tubemeister 18, but I'm going to do a little more shopping around first to be certain.

The problem is that I've never had a head+cab setup before, so I'll need to get a new cab too. Since I've never had a cab before, I have no idea what I'm really looking for.

Now, I can look around at guitars on the web all day and get a good feel for them by looking at the specs. With cabs, on the other hand, I have no idea what kind of specs I'm looking for. What kind of size, materials, brands, closed/open back, etc.

Basically, I'm looking for a good 1x12" for modern hard rock, post-rock, punk sort of playing. I play clean about 50% of the time, so I don't want something that's aimed entirely at dirty tones either.

I'm also on a strict budget, so a good bang for buck ratio is important.

Anyone have any suggestions for good 1x12s that can be had on a budget? Or any tips that will help me find what I need on my own? I'm just not even really sure what I'm looking at, half the time.

Any help is appreciated.

EDIT: Oh, before anyone mentions it, I've been looking locally for a used cab for ages and there's absolutely nothing. There's three WTB ads for them on the local gear site that haven't had a hit in months. Also, most of the people on Ebay aren't happy about shipping cabs, especially to Northern Ireland. I'll definitely keep checking out the used market, but it's looking likely that I'll have to buy new.

 

[Kam]

Re: Tips for Shopping for Cabs

Here's a few that I've been looking at...

http://www.thomann.de/gb/palmer_pcab112rex.htm

http://www.thomann.de/gb/traynor_darkhorse_112_cab.htm

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/400315893106?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/120969765285?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/270932551449?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

The Palmer seems like a good deal because it comes with a Cannabis Rex speaker installed, even though it's one fot he cheapest ones there. Apparently the cabs are made in China and the speakers are fitted in Germany, where a quality inspection takes place. I've never seen their products before, so I have no idea what kind of quality I could expect.

The Montage seems like a good deal but, by the time I buy a speaker for it, it ends up just as expensive as the others. Once again, I don't know what kind of quality I can expect at that price range.

The Traynor seems cool. It comes with a Greenback and it's made in Canada, but it's also a bit smaller than the others. Would this make it sound a bit more boxy?

The Orange really interested me, originally. It's at the top end of what I can afford to spend, but I was going to stretch to it because Orange cabs have a (well-deserved) reputation for being seriously badass. However, I looked up some reviews on this particular one and they're not very impressive. It's Chinese made and a lot of people have been saying that the quality just isn't there for the price.

 

[Jay 77]

Re: Tips for Shopping for Cabs

Buy the most expensive one out there, obviously. If it's not boutique and unheard-of, it's crap. Has this forum taught you nothing?

In all seriousness, the Orange cabs are quite good regardless of where they're made (I've been gigging mine since last year - bought it used - and it's been nothing but perfect). The Traynors seemed nice in the store but I can't speak to their real-world reliability. If they're like most current Traynor products they'll do the job with flying colours.

Good luck with the search!

 

[xxxplorer]

Re: Tips for Shopping for Cabs

I think Zilla is on your side of the pond and they get really great reviews. Orange as mentioned are great. If you can find a used Earcandy cab, I really like those, along with a thiele cab (pretty easy to make).

For hard rock I'd look into something either ported or rear ported if you're going with a 1x12. They project well to me. I use Earcandy cabs (bought one used and will never recomend buying from Tim direct) and I really like mine. They handle my wide range of needs... from clean strange funky ambient chillness to all out evil metal, and they are portable and easy to carry and use on stages.

As far as speakers, I like vintage 30s a bunch, but speakers are like pickups, easily swapped and all. Swamp Thangs are cool too as well as if you like a wide clean speaker the Delta pro 12a. That thing will handle a 100 watt marshall plexi cranked and not sweat.

 

[Kam]

Re: Tips for Shopping for Cabs

Thanks for the advice, lads.

I was disappointed by the reviews of the Orange. I was all set to get one, but a little googling turned up mostly negative experiences. Tales of it sounding small and boxy, with shoddy construction and so on. As far as I know, the 112 is the only Orange cab that isn't made in England. Obviously it's the internet and you can't believe everything, but it was still pretty off-putting, especially as their other cabs are so well regarded. I'll be near a decent shop tomorrow, so I'll try to drop in and see if they have one in stock for me to check out.

Jay, is it the 112 you're using, or one of the bigger models?

Xxxplorer: Yeah, Zilla are made in England. Killer cabs by all accounts, but a little out of my price range at the minute. I'm still kicking myself for not grabbing one of their loaded 2x12s that popped up locally a while back for £150. A deal like that doesn't tend to come around twice, but I was satisfied with my combo amps at the time. :smack:

Earcandy seem cool, but I've never actually seen one over here.

 

[Jay 77]

Re: Tips for Shopping for Cabs

Thanks for the advice, lads.


Jay, is it the 112 you're using?

Yessir, it is. I've used it at small bar gigs, as well as an auditorium and everything in between. No problems with the sound or build. I like it.

 

[xxxplorer]

Re: Tips for Shopping for Cabs

The only thing I do know of Orange that may be off puting is as massive as they sound, they can be very laser like and don't spread as well. I've only played the 2x12 and the 4x12. I have heard they have changed some construction and claim that it makes no difference in sound, but I can't say if that's true or even which style of construction I played. They just sounded good to me!

Old Randall cabs are pretty cool too... and sleepers, but I don't know if many if any have made it over there. Here they are almost a dime a dozen. I'm looking at an older 2x12 with the Celestion G-12 65s for $100 at the moment. Many people here disregard them because of the fuzzy ugly carpet material... which I happen to like hehe!

 

[Chris of Arabia]

Re: Tips for Shopping for Cabs

How about a Cornford cab? IIRC, their combo cabs were on the larger side to let them breathe a little. I can't imagine they don't do something similar with their speaker cabs. I doubt' they'd be any more expensive than an Orange either.

 

[Kam]

Re: Tips for Shopping for Cabs

Old Randall cabs are pretty cool too... and sleepers, but I don't know if many if any have made it over there. Here they are almost a dime a dozen. I'm looking at an older 2x12 with the Celestion G-12 65s for $100 at the moment. Many people here disregard them because of the fuzzy ugly carpet material... which I happen to like hehe!

Yeah, I forgot about those guys. I've seen some of their newer stuff around, but I haven't seen any older stuff in a long time. I'll keep an eye out for those, too. Thanks.

How about a Cornford cab? IIRC, their combo cabs were on the larger side to let them breathe a little. I can't imagine they don't do something similar with their speaker cabs. I doubt' they'd be any more expensive than an Orange either.

Cornford stuff seems like great quality, but it's a little on the pricey side. For the price of the Cornford, I could get a custom made loaded Zilla and have a little change left over.

Thanks for mentioning them, though. I totally forgot about those guys.

 

[Kam]

Re: Tips for Shopping for Cabs

Yessir, it is. I've used it at small bar gigs, as well as an auditorium and everything in between. No problems with the sound or build. I like it.

That's really good to know. Thanks, dude. :beerchug:

 

[SlyFoxx]

Re: Tips for Shopping for Cabs

If you're looking for 1x12 because of the portability I'd seriously look into the new Blackstar ht 408. It's a 4x8 cab but 18" square so it's about the size of a 1x12 cab but with almost twice the speaker surface area.

 

[Kam]

Re: Tips for Shopping for Cabs

That's an interesting idea. Saving space is quite important, as the house I'm moving into at the end of the month has a fairly small bedroom. However, I was mostly looking into a 1x12" because I do most of my playing at home and volume will be a factor. Plus I've always used 12" speakers, so I kinda defaulted to those. Also because I figured that if I get tired of the speaker, a wide variety of 12s are pretty easy to find.

What kind of tonal difference would there be between a 1x12" and a 4x8"?

 

[SlyFoxx]

Re: Tips for Shopping for Cabs

Tonal difference could be anything and yes...good luck finding a ton of 8 inch guitar speakers. But 8's will most certainly have more punch as a lighter cone will respond quicker. I don't have any first hand experience with the blackstar but if I was shopping for another cab I would track one down as the idea is very intriguing to me.

 

[d1dsj]

Re: Tips for Shopping for Cabs

Zilla or Roadkill cabs mate, both would more than suffice. You can get them with removable back sections so as to be semi open or closed back. Ref Cornford cabs, yes they sound good but they are made of pine and tend to dent quite easily!

 

[Kam]

Re: Tips for Shopping for Cabs

Hey, Roadkill are very reasonably priced!

Have you used them before, dude?

 

[King IzzO)))]

Re: Tips for Shopping for Cabs

I'd be looking for used Orange/Marshall/Engl/H&K/other Euro stuff on ebay UK.

If you could find one the Mesa 1x12 convertibles with the EV are awesome, so is the theile Mesa, but that would be even harder to locate in EU I would think.

 

[Kam]

Re: Tips for Shopping for Cabs

Yeah, Mesa stuff is hard to find over here and it keeps one hell of a resale price. There are very few good deals on Mesas, even used. In my experience, anyway.

I did just miss out on a Marshall 112 with a Man O War in it for £80 earlier. Really good price, but I don't know if it was one of their decent cabs or not.

 

[Kam]

Re: Tips for Shopping for Cabs

Would a 2x12" be overkill for playing at home?

 

[jcthejester13]

Re: Tips for Shopping for Cabs

Buy a combo.

 

[d1dsj]

Re: Tips for Shopping for Cabs

I haven't used a Roadkill but heard good things ref build quality etc. I have a Marshall 1912, very boxy sounding, shoddy build quality and made of MDF. You could get an older Marshall 1936 model 2 x 12 for a decent price, and they are made from ply.