experiences with insulation in 4x12?

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dstroud

dstroud

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so heres my dilemna, for about a year and a half Ive been recording my guitar using a jet city isocab with a warehouse vet 30. I recently micd up my 1960BX and noticed it sounded a bit “washed out” for lack of a better term compared to the isocab. the the isocab is totally insulated with foam to cut down sound coming out. Was wondering what putting insulation in the 4x12 might do. Any experiences with the difference it might make? TIA
 
I have done it and didnt like it. It seemed to deaden the cab and take the highs out of my sound.
 
dstroud said:
so heres my dilemna, for about a year and a half Ive been recording my guitar using a jet city isocab with a warehouse vet 30. I recently micd up my 1960BX and noticed it sounded a bit “washed out” for lack of a better term compared to the isocab. the the isocab is totally insulated with foam to cut down sound coming out. Was wondering what putting insulation in the 4x12 might do. Any experiences with the difference it might make? TIA
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Put 1-2" thick batting on the back board, or go to Michaels and get pillow stuffing and stuff the box. That will give you what you want. If it's too much, pull some out. Season to taste, basically.

Also: rip out the switch plate and rewire the cab with Marshall Sound Runner 10 Ga. wire like Bogner, and put a switch in like in the Aiken 4x12 diagram to go from Series/Parallel to Parallel/Series. That way you can have the modern Marshall wiring and the vintage, too, like Dave Friedman uses.

Lots of neat options! Experiment and HAVE FUN bro!

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If you stuff the bottom half of the cab, that will give you the insulated sound for the mic, and make the cab feel bigger, while keeping the upper two speakers lively for jamming with the non-stuffed reflections.
 
I put some 3/4 inch foam insulation on the back panel of my avatar cab and I think I prefer it this way... less phase shit going on so the midrange seems more full, plus it sounds more clear sounding. It's not as big of an affect as with the cotton shit, it's more subtle with this foam stuff.
 
dstroud said:
so heres my dilemna, for about a year and a half Ive been recording my guitar using a jet city isocab with a warehouse vet 30. I recently micd up my 1960BX and noticed it sounded a bit “washed out” for lack of a better term compared to the isocab. the the isocab is totally insulated with foam to cut down sound coming out. Was wondering what putting insulation in the 4x12 might do. Any experiences with the difference it might make? TIA
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Ya, I use that foam insulation. It sounds great to me. It deadens those reflections just a bit so there's less phase cancellations going on, so that seems to make it more full in the mids and clear at the same time.
 
Mark Cameron prefers insulation in his cabs. Not for tonal reasons, but it provides more warmth during colder seasons when his squatter locale is an empty 4x12 under a highway overpass
 
dstroud said:
so heres my dilemna, for about a year and a half Ive been recording my guitar using a jet city isocab with a warehouse vet 30. I recently micd up my 1960BX and noticed it sounded a bit “washed out” for lack of a better term compared to the isocab. the the isocab is totally insulated with foam to cut down sound coming out. Was wondering what putting insulation in the 4x12 might do. Any experiences with the difference it might make? TIA
Click to expand...
With what your describing I’d first try moving the cab to a different spot in the room. Even if you’re close miking there is still a possibility you’re getting some reflections coming through and washing out the tone. You can also make a tent out of some blankets and another mic stand to help a bit. Also, turn the cab on its side if you’re micing the bottom speaker.
 
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