2x12 vs 4x12

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I’ve not yet used my current 212 with my band, I have a 412 at the jam space. I suspect that I will be more than content with the 212 when gigging. We practice way louder than we gig, so I like having the extra stoutness, but I doubt I will miss that on a stage.
 
4x12's are great.

However in some cases I like the horizontal Mesa Recto 2x12 cab better than the Recto 4x12 though. Mic'd up, I think sounds just a bit wider, where the 4x12 has a more prominent bump.



What I'm saying is that "4x12 = better" isn't always true in every situation, even for heavy stuff.
 
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turtlefingers said:
My Bogner replica is the only 2x12 I have had which came close to my Marshall TV and Mesa OS 4x12.
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Where did you get the replica? I was thinking of building myself one of those but can‘t find any plans.
 
JimAnsell said:
its the sad truth. no cab or IR touches a real, good, 4x12 in the room with you. i wish it wasn't true, but it is.
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Touches it for what? What is the context of your application? Yes, in the room the 412 will sound fuller- although some 212s come very close. In the mix? You're going to mic a single speaker.

I switched to using IRs last year for live shows. What I noticed was that my live tone became very consistent regardless of what venue we were playing. I still get compliments on my tone. So this year I decided to pickup a 212. Why haul the extra weight?

In my 30 plus years of playing, I have come to one conclusion... The tone chasing that we as guitarists do is only for us. No one in the audience can tell the difference between a Marshall, Splawn, Bogner or Friedman. They only care that it sounds good and you are playing a song that they dig.
 
That OS Horizontal 2x12 with the ‘Marshall’ Vintage speakers is a beast. I bought a ToneStar OS Horizontal 2x12 with the Thiele Port running horizontally along the bottom of the cab. It is loaded with a pair of Heritage 30s: 1 55 hz and 1 75 hz. That cab will hold ground against any 4x12, and I flat love 4x12s.
 
SFW said:
Touches it for what? What is the context of your application? Yes, in the room the 412 will sound fuller- although some 212s come very close. In the mix? You're going to mic a single speaker.

I switched to using IRs last year for live shows. What I noticed was that my live tone became very consistent regardless of what venue we were playing. I still get compliments on my tone. So this year I decided to pickup a 212. Why haul the extra weight?

In my 30 plus years of playing, I have come to one conclusion... The tone chasing that we as guitarists do is only for us. No one in the audience can tell the difference between a Marshall, Splawn, Bogner or Friedman. They only care that it sounds good and you are playing a song that they dig.
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In 2005 miT from 311 ran four Diamond 4x12’s that were not broken in on tour. I was up front and my ears rang for two days. Break ‘em in ftw!
 
PDC said:
That OS Horizontal 2x12 with the ‘Marshall’ Vintage speakers is a beast. I bought a ToneStar OS Horizontal 2x12 with the Thiele Port running horizontally along the bottom of the cab. It is loaded with a pair of Heritage 30s: 1 55 hz and 1 75 hz. That cab will hold ground against any 4x12, and I flat love 4x12s.
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Aminals as Leaders used those Port City detuned 2x12’s and sounded massive. I had a detuned 4x12 (top two speakers loaded, bottom two removed) when I opened for them in 2014. Detuned/ported cabs can be awesome. Still prefer my Mesa OS 4x12 though. It’s just on all the albums in my head.

At the end of the day, so-to-speak, we want a result of joy/enthusiasm/exhilaration when playing. Whatever form gets you there (cabs/IR’s in this case) is right.
 
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I had the 1936v and just sold it a few weeks ago. Damn it's a nice 2x12 and those Marshall g12 are almost perfect in my book. I sold it and I'm selling my KSR 2x12 for a KSR 4x12. I really hope I don't regret it. Unfortunately I'm low on space so getting a 4x12 will actually save me some room.

I hope I don't regret it.
 
I have a Jetcity 212 vert I bought new for like $300.. 'A very well built and great sounding Cab. I put Fanes in it for another $300, so I'm $600 all in and it's lighter than the Amp I'm playing thru..

I'd love a new Fryette Cab bit I don't have $1600 to spend right now..
 
midnightlaundry said:
I have a Jetcity 212 vert I bought new for like $300.. 'A very well built and great sounding Cab. I put Fanes in it for another $300, so I'm $600 all in and it's lighter than the Amp I'm playing thru..

I'd love a new Fryette Cab bit I don't have $1600 to spend right now..
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I got a FB for like five bills a few years back. You want one broken in anyway; Eminence speakers take much longer than Celestions to open up IME.
 
DanTravis62 said:
Everyone thinks their best 2x12 can totally hang with everyone elses 4x12 but the vast majority of the time, that simply isn't the case.

2x12s can sound great, but they can't sound like the best 4x12s.
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The Zinky compact 212 gets real close. Ask @SBlue ! We had my Mesa, a RAD old Marshall and the EVH. Lil’ zinkster brought the size and scope and fits in a small backseat no problemo.

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Nigel said:
The Zinky compact 212 gets real close. Ask @SBlue ! We had my Mesa, a RAD old Marshall and the EVH. Lil’ zinkster brought the size and scope and fits in a small backseat no problemo.

View attachment 82910
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I've heard good things about the zinky.

I've also played a bogner OS extensively, that was very close.

In general though, no, the average Harley Benton, boogie OS, or orange 2x12, etc (which is most people's frame of reference) simply doesn't fill out a big room like a 4x12, have the thump of a 4x12, or the complexity of a 4x12.

Now, if it's getting miced and you have great sound support? Not as important at all, as normally you're only micing one speaker.

But if I have that kind of sound support I'm busting out the w/d/w anyways.
 
DanTravis62 said:
Everyone thinks their best 2x12 can totally hang with everyone elses 4x12 but the vast majority of the time, that simply isn't the case.

2x12s can sound great, but they can't sound like the best 4x12s.
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Most of the time, I do read comments about a 2x12 sounding like or similar to a 4x12.

But I'm talking about now appreciating the difference between them. My Tremoverb just sounds better to me with the 2x12 because the cab is not as thick in the mid and low range. And even my other amps have more bite and chug on the low B and F# strings. But I do prefer the warmer/fatter 4x12 for most other things.
 
cardinal said:
Most of the time, I do read comments about a 2x12 sounding like or similar to a 4x12.

But I'm talking about now appreciating the difference between them. My Tremoverb just sounds better to me with the 2x12 because the cab is not as thick in the mid and low range. And even my other amps have more bite and chug on the low B and F# strings. But I do prefer the warmer/fatter 4x12 for most other things.
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Yes, they are definitely different, in general.

Sometimes you need the 2x12 sound, sometimes you need the 4x12 sound.
 
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