Vertical 2x12 - Port City! *Update*

[drewiv]

So, I ordered a couple Scumbacks (BM75-65W) from Jim to put in my Mesa 2x12. After much consideration, I've decided that I don't want to dismantle that cab because it seems to work really well with a lot of my modules in my Egnater MOD50 and a couple other amps. I want to order a vertical 2x12 and I'm considering a Port City 2x12 OS. It wide enough to accommodate my 50W amps and even the CCV (24-3/4"), tall enough to put the controls of the amp at a decent height (30"), I've heard many people speak highly of Port City and the price doesn't seem too high ($575 unloaded). Would anyone recommend a different Vertical 2x12? Would anyone recommend NOT getting a Vertical 2x12 and sticking with a horizontal?

Here's a link to the Port City
http://portcityamps.com/products/cabine ... -cabinets/

UPDATE: I received the cab and speakers. FINALLY, got them loaded and jammed through a CCV (which I talked to Jim @ Scumbacks as the primary amp for this cab). It's sheer awesomeness! That is all. Thanks to hthomas, Dan Klein, Jim Seavall and the forum for your input. Great cab and speakers.

 

[tripstan]

I'd go with the Port they make great cabs. Engl also makes a pretty sweet vert 2x12 worth checking out. I use a 2x12 Diezel FL turned vert and I really dig it. In a club/live setting I personally don't like horizontal 2x12's unless I stack it on a case or something. It needs to be at least 18" off the ground for me.

 

[blackba]

I have only had a few vertical 212's (not port city) and I always preferred the horizontal 212's. I often run the horizontal 212's on their sides, so don't overlook just doing that....

 

[jerrydyer]

see if you can get hthomas a PM.. He works for them.. Daniel is pretty cool and prob available for calls etc.

 

[richedie]

Port City rocks! I played a friends and loved it.

 

[drewiv]

see if you can get hthomas a PM.. He works for them.. Daniel is pretty cool and prob available for calls etc.

No kidding. I bought a MOD50 from him, so we have some kind of rapport with one another. Thanks, Jerry.

 

[drewiv]

Vertical 212 cabs always sound weird, stick to horizontal. I went through some vert cabs and all sounded terrible compared to horrizontal.
I found my Port City too mushy and bassy, unbalanced.
Try a diagonal cab by Moho or Stage Craft.

This is what I was wondering, I've never used a vertical 2x12 in my life. They seem interesting and useful though. I will look into Moho and Stage Craft...

 

[richedie]

Love Port City cabs!

 

[drewiv]

I'd go with the Port they make great cabs. Engl also makes a pretty sweet vert 2x12 worth checking out. I use a 2x12 Diezel FL turned vert and I really dig it. In a club/live setting I personally don't like horizontal 2x12's unless I stack it on a case or something. It needs to be at least 18" off the ground for me.

I feel this way too. I don't care for the volume at my feet. And if you use an angled speaker cradle, it's awesome for getting the right tone to your ears, but you can't set your head on the cab. I have thought of making an angled amp cradle with a spot to set your amp underneath, but then you're bending down to mess with the amp controls...

 

[mindseye]

I get good results with a vert Mesa 2X12 loaded with a V30 and a K100 with my VH4, I have to dial the bass back a hair and the cab has to have the wheels off and be siting on the ground or it does sound a little weird.

Just picked up a EVH 50w 5150iii and I actual love the vert cab with it.
YMMV

 

[Gainzilla]

I didnt even know that they made Vert 2x12's... very cool. Daniel is an awesome dude and makes great stuff...

Re: vert 2x12's sounding weird, I used a Mesa Vert 2x12 for years and it sounded awesome, matter of fact Id prefer a vertical over a horizontal all day...

 

[blackba]

Vertical 212 cabs always sound weird, stick to horizontal. I went through some vert cabs and all sounded terrible compared to horrizontal.
I found my Port City too mushy and bassy, unbalanced.
Try a diagonal cab by Moho or Stage Craft.

The ones I have had were the mesa metal drill veritical 212 with 2 MC90's, sounded okay, but I preferred the Metal grill 412 and the Marshall 1936 212 copy with 2 CL80's.

I also have a Marshall 2556AV with 2 ET65's, before the speakers were in there, they were in the 1936 copy and again I preferred the 1936 212 cab, the 2556AV does sound good, I just prefer the horizontal cabs

My buddy just got a port city 112 and loves it. I hope he lets me try it out.

 

[Junk Yard Dog]

I've had a Port City OS Wave 2x12, Splawn 2x12, and Bogner OS 2x12 semi-open back.

I now have these two cabs and I'm never looking back. I'm a vertical convert.

 

[moltenmetalburn]

Def go forte vertical, I've had both and the forte is far less directional than the port city stuff.

Vert cabs sound better in a 2x12 format." 2x12s simply beams treble more than a 1x12. A 1x12 will begin to exhibit beaming tendencies at around 1350 Hz. A 2x12 will begin at around 550-600Hz, and you'll hear that if you've got the cabinet oriented horizontally. IOW, you'll have much narrower dispersion of the highs with the cabinet horizontal than you will if it's up on end and being used vertically. Used vertically, a 2x12 will exhibit horizontal dispersion almost like a 1x12."

 

[apophis]

Ill sell you an unloaded earcandy buzzbomb that can be used either vertical or horizontal...pm me if interested

 

[blackba]

I've had a Port City OS Wave 2x12, Splawn 2x12, and Bogner OS 2x12 semi-open back.

I now have these two cabs and I'm never looking back. I'm a vertical convert.

The Dr.Z cab just looks like a horizontal cab turned on its side, which is something I do often, but it doesn't change that the cab was meant to be run horizontal.

That is why I am in favor of horizontal cabs, you can run them vertical when you want or horizontal. Since maybe you want your head to fit better on the cab. Typically I don't see people running a vertical 212 horizontal, so you are kind of trapped into on orientation.

 

[drewiv]

After talking with Daniel @ Port City, and 'hthomas' here on the forum who works for Port City, I decided to go ahead and order it - seems like exactly what I'm looking for. I appreciate all the input I've received. It's set to ship out tomorrow, so hopefully I'm loading up some Scumbacks this weekend.

 

[hthomas]

hope you love your cab man! they sound like no other cab!

 

[Junk Yard Dog]

I've had a Port City OS Wave 2x12, Splawn 2x12, and Bogner OS 2x12 semi-open back.

I now have these two cabs and I'm never looking back. I'm a vertical convert.

The Dr.Z cab just looks like a horizontal cab turned on its side, which is something I do often, but it doesn't change that the cab was meant to be run horizontal.

That is why I am in favor of horizontal cabs, you can run them vertical when you want or horizontal. Since maybe you want your head to fit better on the cab. Typically I don't see people running a vertical 212 horizontal, so you are kind of trapped into on orientation.

I'm going to say you're wrong on this one. Here are the deminions of the Z cab: VERTICAL is 32" H x 20" W x 11" D. Have you ever seen a horizontal cab at 20"H x 32" W?? No. This cab was custom made for a Dr. Z28 head and it was sold as a vertical. It may not appear to be so in the picture, but it's NOT a horizontal cab. And believe, I ran it horizontal and there was no comparison: vertical sounded 50 x's better.

Just saying.

Buy the way, this Dr. Z cab was better than the Bogner OS 2x12 closed and semi-open back cabinets I compared them to, side-by-side, same amp settings and and all. Even the guys at Guitar Center could not believe how much better this Z cab filled the room and handled deep bass. Whoever made this cab did it right; it has serious mojo. I got lucky. Traded my Splawn 2x12 for it.

Back to the OP, congrats on the Port City!

 

[blackba]

I've had a Port City OS Wave 2x12, Splawn 2x12, and Bogner OS 2x12 semi-open back.

I now have these two cabs and I'm never looking back. I'm a vertical convert.

The Dr.Z cab just looks like a horizontal cab turned on its side, which is something I do often, but it doesn't change that the cab was meant to be run horizontal.

That is why I am in favor of horizontal cabs, you can run them vertical when you want or horizontal. Since maybe you want your head to fit better on the cab. Typically I don't see people running a vertical 212 horizontal, so you are kind of trapped into on orientation.

I'm going to say you're wrong on this one. Here are the deminions of the Z cab: VERTICAL is 32" H x 20" W x 11" D. Have you ever seen a horizontal cab at 20"H x 32" W?? No. This cab was custom made for a Dr. Z28 head and it was sold as a vertical. It may not appear to be so in the picture, but it's NOT a horizontal cab. And believe, I ran it horizontal and there was no comparison: vertical sounded 50 x's better.

Just saying.

Buy the way, this Dr. Z cab was better than the Bogner OS 2x12 closed and semi-open back cabinets I compared them to, side-by-side, same amp settings and and all. Even the guys at Guitar Center could not believe how much better this Z cab filled the room and handled deep bass. Whoever made this cab did it right; it has serious mojo. I got lucky. Traded my Splawn 2x12 for it.

Back to the OP, congrats on the Port City!

I have been wrong before and will be wrong again. Just going by what I see and comparing it to a cab I have. I have a horrizontal cab about those dimensions, my early 60's Fender Bandmaster cab. check out this current bandmaster cab, pretty close to the dimensions of the Dr. Z. https://www.musiciansfriend.com/amplifie ... er-cabinet

Sounds like a great cab, but still just looks like a horizontal cab turned on its side to me. After looking at some Dr. Z cabs it looks like their Zbest 212 cab is designed to run horizontal or vertical, I think that is the case with your cab. Sounds like a great cab, I will have to check out Dr. Z cabs when I get a chance. http://www.drzamps.com/products/z_best.html

Here is how I run my Bandmaster cab.