Conundrum... need cabinet advice. Help me find a best of all worlds.

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Milerky2

Milerky2

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So.. here is my issue.

I do not play out as much as I used to. I do, however, plan on doing a fair amount of home recording soon.

I am pretty much a luddite when it comes to guitar tone. While I have VERY successfully gotten fantastic tones in the past from units such as the Helix, I just REALLY like pushing air.

The issue is... I do have some space considerations. I also want to be able to record, but at the same time... not wake the dead. The only Cabinet I have is a Carvin 4x12. Big.. Bold.. Punchy.. and LOUD.

I am looking for advice.

I have 3 amps, two of which are heads, the other is a combo.

Mesa Single Rectifier Solo (tweaked and restored by Volition Amps)

1967 Fender Bassman (restored by Volition Amps)

Egnater Tourmaster 4212 Combo.

Taking the Tourmaster out of the equation...

What type of 1x12 or 2x12 would you all recommend for these?

I really want a Tourmaster 2x12.. because they have the removable back panels so you can tailor whether you want open or closed back... but I am having the hardest time finding someone who will ship...

But looking at other alternatives, am I asking too much of a 1x12 recording cabinet with the Fender?

REALLY do not want to rely completely on the whole IR thing... a Torpedo would be awesome... but out of my price range right now.

The 4x12 HAS to go... but I just do not know what is out there right now... been out of the market for about 10 years.

Thoughts?
 
I personally find the Mesa closed back " wide " 1X12 .....a perfect 1 x12 ..... it can fill a room .... punch ... and not kill everyone doing it ...

I have a 90 watt Alnico Creamback in it ...... it's probably my favorite over all cab ...
 
I don't know how handy you are with building things, but this is how I'd go at it in your situation. First I'd build a shell for the tourmaster to convert it to a head. Then I'd convert the the rest of the combo to a dedicated 212 cab with removable back panel and load it with some Weber Gray Wolfs or Gray Wolf/Silver Wolf.

Not being handy I may look at ordering something from Zilla Cabs and load it with speakers of choice.
 
Why not a matching tilt back piggyback 2x12 Fender cab to match your bassman? That'd be a killer rig right there, and almost like a combo to deal with moving around. With the right speakers that's a good cab.

I have a general dislike for the majority of 1x12s.
 
Speakers are a rabbit hole. So many. You kinda need to just make a decision and stick with it unless your pockets are fat.
A nice 212 records nice and sounds almost as big as a 412.
 
I’d get an Orange PPC212. A pretty big sounding 2x12. They come with V30’s, so I’d swap one with a greenback so you have the option. Also, or additionally, you could get an open back style 2x12 and have a Jensen in there for the Fender and maybe something else cool like a Celestion alnico blue.
 
I’ve got two Mojotone Canyon 1X2s . Sometimes I’ll use just one or both together. I play pretty loud in the house and they sound killer with Creamback H75s thru either my Splawns or the Blackstar Amp 1 in the pic with the Soldano SLO pedal . Really fat beefy tones
EDE82D24-8410-4405-86C5-0A0D74B1AEF7.jpeg
 
i've been flirting with the idea of one of the Mesa Thiel cabs. Big sound for the size, etc.
 
Just keep your 4x12.

The 1x12 and 2x12 are really not that much smaller if you look at the measurements. The 4x12 is going to sound better at any volume.

I have 1x12 and 2x12 cabs. The 4x12 cabs sound better at low volumes.

Just work on getting a usable sound at low volumes. It's really not that difficult. A bit more gain and bass at lower volume is usually all you need to do.
 
I had a gflex 2x12 and it was killer. It sounded like a 4x12…I always play at low volume so it was fine for that. Never had a 1x12 so no comment from me there. I would say keep your cab and get one of those cab load recording things….sorry…I’m not up on recording lingo. I’m sure someone makes an affordable unit, or find something used.
 
I haven't tried these, but Harley Benton has low cost 1x12, 2x12 and 4x12 cabs, some are loaded with V30s, others with greenbacks, or a combination of both. check the impedance and power handling to be sure.

For a little more money, look at Mesa cabs, usually have V30s @ 8 ohms.
 
I bought a 112 for recording way back. Probably not the best but It sounded like shit.. It was thin and bright.. It did not pass the test. If you think something sounds good, then it will translate to a Mic.. A 212 will record quieter that a 412.
 
I’ll disagree with some here. I have a 1960AX with greenbacks and a 1960A with a mix of EVH/ET-65’s. Both my 1x12’s sound better at low volume.

Bogner Cube with Jensen Nighthawk
Mojo Canyon “wide” with a Vintage 30
 
I’ll disagree with some here. I have a 1960AX with greenbacks and a 1960A with a mix of EVH/ET-65’s. Both my 1x12’s sound better at low volume.

Bogner Cube with Jensen Nighthawk
Mojo Canyon “wide” with a Vintage 30
I don't disagree with you. We all hear very different things. Not to mention subjective taste.

I think a lot of people including myself made the mistake of try to make a 1x12 or 2x12 sound like a 4x12. Truth is each of these cabs have a flavor. I try to get the most out of what it does best. That means trusting your ears. Using the right tool for the job.
I'm a strong believer in being familiar with the gear is more important than having "better" gear.
 
If you are going to be serious about recording you are going to eventually want a way to run IRs through your DAW but in the meantime mic placement can be an incredible "tone shaping" tool.

I agree w/SS--keep the 4x12. A guitar player should always have at least one 4x12--I tell my wife I need at least 10 lol
 
Why does the 4x12 have to go? Probably sounds great at low volumes :cool:

If recording is your goal, I'd keep the cabinet and get a good load box instead (the Suhr one without IRs isn't too much on the used market) and a decent interface. IRs are cheap and are going to give way more flexibility for recording.
 
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