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.