2 2x12s or 1 4x12

[SonicBlue]

Hi All,

Hope you are having a great Holiday. So I got an awesome IOU for the holidays. A 2x12 to match my favorite 2x12 to run stereo or a 4x12. This will not be for gigs-this is for my man cave/home office type space. I use tube amps and a tube pre only but they do have effects loops. I am willing to buy a tube power amp but I will not be running modellers no problems with it but I have some nice stuff that I love that I want to play. I am not a big effects user but I do love reverb and use delay occasionally and like late 70s early 80s chorus.

If I go the 4x12 route-I would get a B cab like a 1960BX Marshall or Friedman 4x12.

 

[eggpl@nt]

Personally, I’d go with a 4x12. I think they sound better - bigger and a little less honky/boxy. If you see any value in a stereo field or in stereo effects, then maybe 2x12 is better in that case.

 

[Shask]

Personally, I’d go with a 4x12. I think they sound better - bigger and a little less honky/boxy. If you see any value in a stereo field or in stereo effects, then maybe 2x12 is better in that case.

Yeah, I have been using 212s in stereo the last few years and recently moved up to 2 412s in stereo.

I do think the 412s sound better. Bigger with more depth, but having 2 cabs would be important if stereo effects is important, if you use a lot of stereo chorus and delays and such.

 

[Sleezy E]

You can do wet/dry with 2 cabs too

 

[gearJunkie]

My 6960B cab (and 1960B cabs) support mono and stereo.

 

[DrewJD82]

Without worrying about gigging I;d go with stereo 2x12's. My EVH 2x12 is more fun to play at lower volumes than my 1960A, due to the depth of that cab. I didn't even think about a 4x12 until I started playing in a band again, I've been using 2x12's at home for like 15 years.

 

[GuitarBilly74]

If you already have a 2x12, get a 4x12. If you get a modern 4x12 cab, it will likely have stereo inputs.

Besides, you can run a 4x12 and a 2x12 together, as long as they're the same impedance.

What impedance is your 2x12? If it's 8ohms, look into a Mesa 4x12, they're 8ohms mono with an option of 4/4ohms stereo.

That way, you can run the 4x12 mono, 4x12 stereo, 2x12 mono and 4x12/2x12 stereo. That will give you the most options.

 

[HotRats]

Even if a 4x12 usually sounds "better" and bigger I'd go for two 2x12.

Two 2x12 can be placed vertically and spread apart giving you a better soundstage.

If you plan to stack the 2x12 there's no reason to choose them over a 4x12 unless you really prefer the tighter 2x12 sound.

All that said, in my experience 2x12s are a great choice at home.

 

[MirrorProfiles]

4x12’s all day long

 

[laxu]

I'd go for 2x12 and run them in stereo or wet/dry with two amps.

 

[sleewell]

One of each

 

[Chocol8]

The extra low end from a 4x12 is from the speakers coupling while close together. Assuming internal dimensions per speaker are the same or close, you can get the same thing with 2x 2x12’s right next to each other.

But…you can also move them apart for stereo separation, or stack them into a mini line array. Much more versatile.

 

[EOengineer]

You haven’t heard tone until you’ve heard an 8x12 sawed in half.

 

[bikescene]

I think a 4x12 cab is a different enough experience to try. I was using 1x12s and 2x12s for a few years until I made the jump to 4x12s this year.

The difference in projection of a 4x12 was noticeable. In the room, the extra low end was what I was chasing with my 2x12s for heavier tones. The extra projection of speakers closer to ear level was a nice change as well. With more cab sizes, I let each specialize for specific tones instead of trying to do everything with a certain cab.

 

[SonicBlue]

If you already have a 2x12, get a 4x12. If you get a modern 4x12 cab, it will likely have stereo inputs.

Besides, you can run a 4x12 and a 2x12 together, as long as they're the same impedance.

What impedance is your 2x12? If it's 8ohms, look into a Mesa 4x12, they're 8ohms mono with an option of 4/4ohms stereo.

That way, you can run the 4x12 mono, 4x12 stereo, 2x12 mono and 4x12/2x12 stereo. That will give you the most options.

Current cab is a diagonal 2x12 so it is a big cab and 8 ohms. I do have a Two Notes reload II so I can work with different impedance. I think the 4x12 could run stereo with this 2x12 without missing much. The fight really is stereo vs running an A/B box and then having my Twin Sister and Jose each on their own cab in a 3 channel set up....Decisions.....

 

[GuitarBilly74]

The fight really is stereo vs running an A/B box and then having my Twin Sister and Jose each on their own cab in a 3 channel set up....Decisions.....

Why is that a fight? These are not mutually exclusive. Get the 4x12 and the A/B box and run these scenarios on different occasions, depending on what you are trying to achieve.
I've ran mono, stereo, multi-amp rigs etc. .. as long as you have the right pieces, it's usually just a matter of moving a few cables around.

 

[SonicBlue]

Why is that a fight? These are not mutually exclusive. Get the 4x12 and the A/B box and run these scenarios on different occasions, depending on what you are trying to achieve.
I've ran mono, stereo, multi-amp rigs etc. .. as long as you have the right pieces, it's usually just a matter of moving a few cables around.

Yup 4x12 it is....First 4x12 ever for me. Can't wait.