Unusual guitar cabs or speaker combos

  • Thread starter Thread starter MadAsAHatter
  • Start date Start date
MadAsAHatter

MadAsAHatter

Well-known member
At some point I’ll be able to move my gear into a larger room which gives me some space for a couple more cabs. I really like the 212/115 cab I built and it’s the main one I play through. This has me thinking about other atypical cabs outside of the standard 412.

I may do a 215 cab and will 100% definite make a monster 415 cab.
Some other ideas are a 210/212 or 210/215. I know there’s the Butterslax cab that’s 212/215.
The other part is I don’t really don’t know where I would start with speakers when combining different sizes. What sized to combine, which speakers to use, which ones on top and bottom; or x pattern, etc?

Right now I’m looking for some ideas. What unusual cabs or speaker combos have you played through that surprisingly sounded well? Any unconventional configuration(s) you think would be interesting and would have a good chance at sounding good?
 
I like 15's so I'm with you there. I played a 4x10" cab that was surprisingly tight and punchy as heck. I think a 2x10 and 2x15 would be very interesting. My only concern would be the faster response of the 10's if that makes sense.....
 
"Detuned" cabs if you haven't tried that yet. Basically running a cab only half-loaded. So a 4x12 becomes a 2x12 with two giant "ports" on the front, 2x12 becomes a 1x12, etc. Use closed-back cabs. The "ideal" detuned cabs are apparently even bigger than this, with baffle area equal to 3x the number of drivers you're actually using. See this video for example:



So if you wanted to get into cabinetry you could try making a big oversized 1x12 in the detuned style if you like the effect when using a regular 2x12 as a detuned 1x12.

Another thing to try would be "Mitchel Donuts", which are basically just donuts made out of the right type of foam placed in front of the speakers. Knocks down directionality a good bit, sound field around the cab evens out a lot in my experience. The physical principle behind them is that they make the highs behave like they're coming from a point source and thus don't constructively interfere with each other to create the laser beam of death. They do this by blocking some treble though, so you might need to adjust the EQ a little.

Also try spacing out your cabs. My favorite arrangement so far is one cab each side of the "stage" with a third positioned like a monitor pointed at my face, all running off the same mono signal. Gives a new meaning to "surround sound".

If you get an impedance matching transformer, it'll give you some freedom to mix and match various cabs in various ways that you wouldn't otherwise too. E.g., I've been using one to drive a 2.66 Ohm total load from three 8 Ohm speakers in parallel or 2 Ohms from four 8 Ohm speakers in parallel. Personally I seem to like paralleled-wired speakers more than the other networks.

Finally, a speaker combo I liked was a Marshall Vintage and a Sheffield 1290 together in a detuned 2x12 (half-loaded 4x12). Friend said it reminded them of the Cream farewell concert tone.
 
Last edited:
I've always thought something like 110/112/115 in a pyramid-esque shape would be cool with each speaker kind of leaning towards it own range and maybe the 15 in it's own ported section of the cab? Probably some combination of series/parallel and/or both 8 and 16 ohm speakers.
Here's my MS paint interpretation baffle/gutshot:

Aliens built my cab.jpg

Completely practical use of space, if you ask me.
 
NowYou'rePlayingWithPower said:
I've always thought something like 110/112/115 in a pyramid-esque shape would be cool with each speaker kind of leaning towards it own range and maybe the 15 in it's own ported section of the cab? Probably some combination of series/parallel and/or both 8 and 16 ohm speakers.
Here's my MS paint interpretation baffle/gutshot:

View attachment 328518
Completely practical use of space, if you ask me.
Click to expand...
Interesting idea. I wouldn't know where to begin to in design so it would sound good. Probably one of those go for broke/trial & error things and hope for the best. Though It does reminds me of those triangle cabs 3rd Power made. I think they used 3 12" speakers.

1722518736039.png
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top