1x12 Recommendations - Ported? Oversized?

Meeotch

Meeotch

Well-known member
As much as I dislike 1x12's, I am needing some small/portable cab(s) for travel, possibly a pair stacked or separated for a stereo rig. I have tried a number of different 1x12's in the past, and after much disappointment I gave up and have been carting around 4x12's for years. Totally worth it IMO, but I am now facing a space issue and have no choice but to downsize.

I've never felt the need for a ported 4x12 or 2x12, but I think there is a decent argument with porting a 1x12 to keep it from sounding so small and boxy. Lots of people like the Bogner Cube, and it looks like Friedman and Suhr make versions of this as well. BUT, since I usually run an EQ in the loop anyways, I'd prefer to boost lows as necessary instead of relying on a port that might cause unwanted smearing of the low end. Any help is appreciated!

I will say - I've tried the EVM12L and can't seem to bond with it, but might consider a Thiele cab with a different speaker.
 
Suhr is my favorite, by far. Bogner's design is basically a copied CAA/CAE that Suhr originally designed but with some foam on the back panel. Suhr has since tweaked his latest cab ports a bit to apparently work with more speakers. Couple threads on TGP about it. I run a mix of one V30 and one Creamback (75w). Sounds p tits IMO.

Obligator "nothing will ever sound like a 4x12".
 
If you can find an oversized Mesa 3/4 back cab, they are the biggest sounding 1x12 cab I’ve ever heard. For reference I currently have sets of 3/4 back, 1x12 Lonestars, 1x12 Recto cubes and 1x12 Thieles as well as EVH 1x12’s.
 
Having owned a pair of Boogie Thiele Ported 1x12s and a pair of Bogner Ported 1x12s, I gotta' say, I wish I had my Boogie Thieles back. Those were absolutely killer. The Boogie Thieles were the late 80s EVM loaded versions and they slayed. The Bogners were much newer V30 loaded, and while they sounded fine, they never had that tight Gut-Punch that the Mesa EVM Thieles had. Maybe it was the EV speakers? Maybe it was the Thiele design port? Anyway, they killed and I wish I had them back.
 
Keep in mind my only experience is with Boogie cabs, but I've had them all. A main question here is what you're playing. If it's hard rock or metal that needs a tight low end, IMO you're not going to be happy with anything but a sealed cab. In that case the cube-shaped Mesa Recto 112 cabs are the most neutral sounding ones they make.

If you're playing stuff that sounds fine with an open cab, then the Thieles are pretty cool.
 
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Thanks for all the input! I should have clarified that I play mainly hard rock, metal, and ambient clean tones. I realize at the end of the day I'll just need to experiment, but it's hard to know where to begin. Honestly it may come down to what I can find locally as I'm not too keen on buying new.

Those Mojotone cabs look pretty nice, and it would be cool to have a convertible back to experiment with. There's also an oversized Bogner 1x12 somewhat close that I may track down - again it is ported but that might be a good thing. The Recto 1x12 seems like a good option too.
 
Meeotch said:
Thanks for all the input! I should have clarified that I play mainly hard rock, metal, and ambient clean tones. I realize at the end of the day I'll just need to experiment, but it's hard to know where to begin. Honestly it may come down to what I can find locally as I'm not too keen on buying new.

Those Mojotone cabs look pretty nice, and it would be cool to have a convertible back to experiment with. There's also an oversized Bogner 1x12 somewhat close that I may track down - again it is ported but that might be a good thing. The Recto 1x12 seems like a good option too.
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I've got a V-Boutique 2x12 Cube, and it's tiny but sounds huge with Zinky Eminence. It's Zinky badged and came with my Velvet 50. If size is most important, one of those 1x12 V-Cubes with a Mesa 8 ohm V30 will mic up great and give you sealed and open options with maximum portability under $500 total.

Any other V30 cab won't have a Mesa unless you get one of theirs, and that is THE V30 SOUND unless you get an 80's Celestion V30. They were wrong by 1991.

If you want ported, and prefer front load, the Rivera TAC-112 is killer. The whole inside has jute so it's smooth and big sounding.
 
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I play with two Bogner Cubes (Celestion Alnico 90 / Scumback J75 16ohms) and it is my favourite setup and most of the time I prefer it before 4x12 Bogner for my hardrock band. Lightweight, stackable and even singer could help You with one :)
Had a tons of 1x12...oversized usually has big but woofy bottom, ported are tighter in bass department and clearer. Frontloaded as Engl or VHT are more agressive but also tighter.
Mesa 3/4 openback with C90 sound good neutral cab. I didn't like recto 1x12 at all, nasally as hell. EVM Thiele is good too but it is more suited for clean/light crunch sounds in 1x12.
 

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GJgo said:
If you're playing stuff that sounds fine with an open cab, then the Thieles are pretty cool.
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Hmmm... that was not my experience at all. I did not think the Thiele 1x12 sounded anything at all like a tradition 'Open-Back' cabinet. Instead, it sounded more like a 4x12 than some 4x12s I have played through. The Thiele port pushes all the air out the front of the cab and accentuates and tightens low end where a traditional 'Open Back' cabinet seems to let enough air out the back, that the cab loses that tight low end punch. Again, maybe the EVM was a big factor in this equation(?)

I will say, I had ToneStar build me a Thiele ported 2x12 that is simply the best sounding cabinet I have ever played through. Over the years, it has housed a pair of 90 watt Creambacks, a 55hz and a 75hz Heritage 30, and is now loaded with a Creamback M65 and a Marshall Branded UK V30. It has as much low end punch as any 4x12 I have ever owned.
 
PDC said:
Hmmm... that was not my experience at all. I did not think the Thiele 1x12 sounded anything at all like a tradition 'Open-Back' cabinet. Instead, it sounded more like a 4x12 than some 4x12s I have played through. The Thiele port pushes all the air out the front of the cab and accentuates and tightens low end where a traditional 'Open Back' cabinet seems to let enough air out the back, that the cab loses that tight low end punch. Again, maybe the EVM was a big factor in this equation(?)
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Deep diving a little I agree that the Mesa front ported cabs (thiele & widebody) don't sound like an open back, however they are still a rock cab - not a metal cab. There is more low end push from the porting but it's a loose low end, not tight like with a sealed cab. Kind of like the difference between a Recto straight in vs. boosted. Ish.

On a similar note the half back cabs are great rock cabs, but not metal cabs. IMO it's best to get the right tool for the job. Or, have both on hand! If a guy lived somewhere that he had to play quiet and wanted all the options I'd go with these:
- a wide chassis open back 1x12 with an Alnico
- a Thiele 1x12
- a cube shaped recto 1x12 w/ V30
 
Those KSR 1x12's are huge. Looks like the V-Boutique 2x12 Cube is even an inch narrower. I'd have to think the 2x12 would sound bigger, but perhaps 2 12 inch speakers crammed into an enclosure could sound just as boxy?
 
I had really good dumb luck with a sealed 1x12. It performed way better than I expected as a 4x12 replacement. Even with a seven string.

It is 22"x17"x9.5". For a cooler more square look I would go around 17"x16"x10"

That KSR is very nicely built!
 
Meeotch said:
Those KSR 1x12's are huge. Looks like the V-Boutique 2x12 Cube is even an inch narrower. I'd have to think the 2x12 would sound bigger, but perhaps 2 12 inch speakers crammed into an enclosure could sound just as boxy?
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Zinky stuffs them with Dacron/polyfil etc. Sounds killer with standard tuning.
 
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