When did the "oversized" 1/2 stack guitar speaker cabinet become popular?

Techy Beccy

Techy Beccy

New member
Just looking into speaker cabs and interested in the 'oversized' style cab. Just wondering when these first came about? I'm guessing orange amps? They seem to have that oversized look?
The reason I'm thinking about this besides the sound factor, is that they seem kinda modern looking too?
Does anyone have experience with these cabs and what are they like to lug around?
Any thoughts?
 
i used to be in a band that used 2 orange rockerverb 100 full stacks...those 4x12s sounded incredible but were a fucking nightmare to load in/out. we rented marshall 4x12 in europe once and they were like half the weight with wheels! well worth the tone difference on our backs!
 
superpete said:
i used to be in a band that used 2 orange rockerverb 100 full stacks...those 4x12s sounded incredible but were a ****ing nightmare to load in/out. we rented marshall 4x12 in europe once and they were like half the weight with wheels! well worth the tone difference on our backs!
Click to expand...

So you would go the Marshall over the Orange given the option?
 
Ampeg had a tall 4x12 (called the B-42X) whenever the Jupiter came out. Late ‘60s, I think. The head was kind of a proto-V-2. The cab size is in between a normal “square” 4x12 and an SVT cab. It has a small rectangular port between each vertical pair of speakers. It’s sized about like an SVT 6x10 cab today (but a little wider and shallower). I am fortunate enough to own one, with the original metal dust capped speakers. Wish I had the matching Jupiter!

Ampeg had a reputation for making grossly overbuilt equipment that was relatively heavy. But the B-42X is actually very reasonably weighted. The cab is built as toughly as the other Ampegs of that era, but the speakers are quite light:

I also have an Ampeg cab of the same era and dimensions, but with two 15s. Bass cab, matching the B-25B amp. THAT one is a damned beast. Heavy as hell for its relatively small size.
 
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Are Orange 412s really bigger than a 1960b? They look about the same to me,,,,,,I think it's more the weight of four v30 vs four t75, and the Orange might be thicker heavier lumber like a Mesa 412 (of either size, they have both OS and traditional-size and the weight difference isn't much at all)

More internal space seems to take away some mid-punch and add sonic spread, but that effect diminishes as you create more internal pressure (if you have an amp with some power).
 
Techy Beccy said:
Just looking into speaker cabs and interested in the 'oversized' style cab. Just wondering when these first came about? I'm guessing orange amps? They seem to have that oversized look?
The reason I'm thinking about this besides the sound factor, is that they seem kinda modern looking too?
Does anyone have experience with these cabs and what are they like to lug around?
Any thoughts?
Click to expand...

It's been very popular now for at least 15 years (at least).

I think, it might have started with the after-market booteek brands.
Brands like Avatar, Emperor, Port City <3 Electric USA, Stone Age, DNA, Zilla, Dynamo, Ear Candy, BuzzBomb and, and, and . . .

I think, the 1st major brand to see the potential of oversized cabs, especially, 2X12's was, Randall, Mesa, Genz Benz (i have their ported 2X12 g-flex) & Bogner.
 
My ported 2X12 Genz Benz ''out perform'' my 2X12 Orange cab, with projection, precieved size/fullness (sound more like a 4X12 than the Orange ever will), mush more focused low punch & zero shill top end.

Genz Benz 2x12 ported.jpeg
 
SirJackdeFuzz II said:
My ported 2X12 Genz Benz ''out perform'' my 2X12 Orange cab, with projection, precieved size/fullness (sound more like a 4X12 than the Orange ever will), mush more focused low punch & zero shill top end.

Click to expand...

Those are badass cabinets.

I used to have an oversized Avatar 2x12. It was the Vintage S&P style. Great cabinet and was surprisingly easy to move around even with 2 Celestion Classic Lead 80's in it.
 
ItsaBass said:
Ampeg had a tall 4x12 (called the B-42X) whenever the Jupiter came out. Late ‘60s, I think. The head was kind of a proto-V-2. The cab size is in between a normal “square” 4x12 and an SVT cab. It has a small rectangular port between each vertical pair of speakers. It’s sized about like an SVT 6x10 cab today (but a little wider and shallower). I am fortunate enough to own one, with the original metal dust capped speakers. Wish I had the matching Jupiter!

Ampeg had a reputation for making grossly overbuilt equipment that was relatively heavy. But the B-42X is actually very reasonably weighted. The cab is built as toughly as the other Ampegs of that era, but the speakers are quite light:

I also have an Ampeg cab of the same era and dimensions, but with two 15s. Bass cab, matching the B-25B amp. THAT one is a damned beast. Heavy as hell for its relatively small size.
Click to expand...

Got any photo of these amps and cabs - very curious!
 
dave74 said:
Are Orange 412s really bigger than a 1960b? They look about the same to me,,,,,,I think it's more the weight of four v30 vs four t75, and the Orange might be thicker heavier lumber like a Mesa 412 (of either size, they have both OS and traditional-size and the weight difference isn't much at all)

More internal space seems to take away some mid-punch and add sonic spread, but that effect diminishes as you create more internal pressure (if you have an amp with some power).
Click to expand...

Yeah, I'm not sure but from what I've seen most of the stuff made in China is pretty crappy - but having said that they seem lighter in weight and still sound good.. I've seen some of those Orange 1x12 cabs and they are like cardboard inside.. I have a crappy Vox cab like that too. On the plus side I didn't pay much more that what the speaker would cost to buy on it's own!
Me and my brother inherited our Dad's interest in speakers.. and some of the stuff from the 70's seemed quite crappy at the time - but they always sounded fairly decent/good. I'm not talking about top of the range audiophile speakers. Just your pioneers, technics, ect

I've been considering getting cabinet custom made! The thing is they are a little bit expensive and they're made from pine from what I remember - so heavy and solid! I got a pedal board madeby the guy that makes the cabs, and its like a piece of furniture! I dont gig, but it's not something I'd like to carry much!
 
ErikH said:
Those are badass cabinets.

I used to have an oversized Avatar 2x12. It was the Vintage S&P style. Great cabinet and was surprisingly easy to move around even with 2 Celestion Classic Lead 80's in it.
Click to expand...

I think Ive seen those Avatar cabs and liked them... I will look them up again!
I haven't seen these in the picture! They're ugly as hell!
Where did you get it and how much was it!? - Its a guitar cab not bass cab right?
 
I think Mesa might have started it...I remember the oversized cabs in their catalogs from the early 90s, at least. They made them with diamondplate, too, so they weren't exactly light.
 
Techy Beccy said:
I think Ive seen those Avatar cabs and liked them... I will look them up again!
I haven't seen these in the picture! They're ugly as hell!
Where did you get it and how much was it!? - Its a guitar cab not bass cab right?
Click to expand...

I got it straight from Avatar Speakers. They are direct sell. Mine was a scratch and dent purchase so it was cheaper than the normal price and honestly can't remember what I paid. It was quite a while ago. I've seen Bogner cabinets with the same design.
 
I'd go with a Mesa 2x12 Rectifier Cab. If you're worried about size and weight, they make a new compact model as well. The standard sized 2x12's are priced exactly the same new as an Orange 2x12, but a much better cab in my opinion. Orange sounds too dark for my liking. Also, my Mesa has V30's made in England where my buddies Orange came loaded with Chinese made V30's

Also,I bought a Crate 4x12 slant cab for $75 and put 2 Eminence Swamp Thangs and 2 Eminence Texas Heat's in an X pattern, and it sounds KILLER and the cab is solid as a tank. I'll hold onto it as long as I can lift it
 
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