Are 4x12 cabs really that good?

[James Freeman]

 

[MirrorProfiles]

They are, but there is also nothing to compare them to because 4x12’s are the only cabs that exist.

 

[Stone]

 

[dronerstone]

I'm a 2x12 open-back guy, tbh.

Closed 4x12 cabs usually sound too tight/directional/beamy (?) to my ears. That said, I don't own one, so maybe I've never tried a "good" 4x12.

 

[laxu]

Sure, if you are going to buy one, take it to home/studio/practice space, then leave it right there for the rest of your ownership. Pain in the ass to move due to weight and shape, take a good bit of space.

Every time I try a 4x12 it's always "yeah, sounds great once I cut out a lot of the lows with what the amp EQ could do"

I sometimes wonder what the guitar world would look like if 10" speakers had become the "standard" (aka popularized by famous artists). For example Mesas 4x10 open back cab is only 39 lbs vs 101 lbs for the Recto 4x12 Trad Straight.

 

[Orvillain]

In lieu of a decent question being posed in this thread, that doesn't already have an obvious answer, here is a list of chicken related name puns.

 

[laxu]

"Looking for a drummer for a chicken themed party band. Must be named Dave, must enjoy fried chicken. Must agree to being called Drumstick Dave in all circumstances."

 

[Life Eats Life]

They can be.
It’s all about the room size/acoustics and WHERE in the room the beast is located.
I asked myself your question and performed a series of faithfull tests.
With all cabinets-speakers, the sound & feel change dramatically as you turn the amp up and get more signal coming through until you
hit that sweet spot.

Well, there’s FOUR speakers to find that sweet spot now.
I do like the sound of a 4X12 at MFV’s
(Mouse Fart Volumes) but not that much more then a good 2X12 and then the same can be sorta’ said stepping down to a 1X12…down to an alarm clock IR.

I’m keeping a 4X12 forever this time, a 2X12, 4X12, 4X10 and I’m on the hunt for Red October for a nifty’ 1X12.
Finito’

 

[EOengineer]

You know how you can tell 4x12s are amazing? I bet every single gear hound here remembers the first time they played through one. That’s how.

That said, I’ve come around to appreciate what a single 12 can do in an oversized, sealed cab. It’s not all the meat you get with the larger cab, but it’s still a damn satisfying meal.

 

[FuzzyAce]

I like 10" speakers...

 

[eggpl@nt]

I like 10" speakers...

I want a 4x10. I have three 4x12s, three 2x12s, and two 1x12s; but I still want to find room in here for a 4x10.

 

[Achilles]

One of the best flicks ever!

"It's a fairytale town, isn't it? How's a fairytale town not somebody's fucking thing? How can all those canals and bridges and cobbled streets and those churches, all that beautiful fucking fairytale stuff, how can that not be somebody's fucking thing, eh?"

 

[FuzzyAce]

I want a 4x10. I have three 4x12s, three 2x12s, and two 1x12s; but I still want to find room in here for a 4x10.

Same, although I do have multiple 2x10 cabs loaded with Cannabis Rex 10s. I like the Greenback 10 too.

 

[jellodog]

The bass players get it.

 

[DrewJD82]

They’re glorious, but equally “This is awesome” as they are “This is fucking heavy and a pain in the ass”

My ideal stage rig will always include two 4x12’s side by side. I was spoiled all through high school, basements and parties, getting to crank the shit out of two 4x12’s and having a buddy whose goal was to be our roadie for life that’d carry them for me. Then when I got into real bands and started playing real gigs and had to carry my own shit, I dropped that 2nd 4x12 really fucking quick.

 

[Achilles]

When I was 16 my dad got me signed up to his credit union at work. Unbeknownst to him, they agreed to give me a loan without a co-signer. Music store I was giving lessons at had just gotten in a new JMP50 and matching angled 4 x 12. I think I had it all of 6 weeks and maybe played 2-3 parties before my dad found out and I had to return it. That's the only 4 x 12 I ever owned. Learned how to mic smaller cabs pretty early on and we always had a good PA so it wasn't worth the hassles of lugging one around. Dummy cabs are so much lighter!

 

[JiveTurkey]

4x12 = IYDKYDK

4x12 = IYKYK

 

[FuzzyAce]

An old friend of mine used to run a studio and he had a late 70's (i think) 4x12 Marshall basketweave. That thing would make any amp, even the crappiest solid-state sound righteous af. Very special cab.

 

[metropolis_4]

I know this will be a really unpopular opinion around here, but I’ll take a open back 1x12 over a 4x12 any day

 

[Achilles]

open back

Absolute must for a smaller room imo. Probably not the case for those using extended range guitars and/or drop tunings though.