4x12 Cabinet Choice Help

[Wizard of Ozz]

Mesa Traditional 4x12 with V30s should sound killer with the 5150 II.

Every mesa cab I have ever played was way too dark to my ears. I'm not sure if it's the cloth they use or what - just seems muffled

I agree. It’s the proprietary 8 Ohm speakers and special sauce they put on them.

Marshall 4x12s can be had for $300 to $350 if your are patient.

 

[glpg80]

Even the vintage ones?

I'm partial to the old basket weave and plastic corner-less designs of the older marshall cabs. Not that there is anything wrong with current ones, but it's a personal preference.

I've considered Bogner cabinets but the resale on a worn/scuffed Bogner cabinet is atrocious. Am I not wrong here or is that something others have experienced?

 

[Racerxrated]

Even the vintage ones?

I'm partial to the old basket weave and plastic corner-less designs of the older marshall cabs. Not that there is anything wrong with current ones, but it's a personal preference.

I've considered Bogner cabinets but the resale on a worn/scuffed Bogner cabinet is atrocious. Am I not wrong here or is that something others have experienced?

My 74 has plastic corners, so you'll have to go pretty old to get a Marshall cab without. Definitely not cheap unless you luck out.

 

[Wizard of Ozz]

Even the vintage ones?

I'm partial to the old basket weave and plastic corner-less designs of the older marshall cabs. Not that there is anything wrong with current ones, but it's a personal preference.

I've considered Bogner cabinets but the resale on a worn/scuffed Bogner cabinet is atrocious. Am I not wrong here or is that something others have experienced?

If the seller doesn’t know what they have... and just want to get rid of the “big speaker box sitting in the garage forever”. See it all the time. Patience.

 

[MetalHeadMike]

EVH 412 cabs are pretty stellar

 

[glpg80]

My 74 has plastic corners, so you'll have to go pretty old to get a Marshall cab without. Definitely not cheap unless you luck out.

I'm hoping the 1960BX reissues aren't too insanely expensive unloaded.

 

[glpg80]

EVH 412 cabs are pretty stellar

The cabs are great but I'd have to sell the speakers. Trying to minimize shipping and selling as much as possible.

 

[JerEvil]

Man I crap you negative, check out V-Boutique cabs. The owner Conrad has built for Bogner, Diezel, Friedman, 65 Amps, etc. he makes killer stuff and prices are pretty darn good if you have speakers. I have his Euro 212 and Micro Cab. Built incredibly well. He builds the Henning cabs and head shells as well.

https://vboutiqueusa.com

 

[sg guy]

-ill bet Marshall will sell you that new unloaded BX cab for the same price as a loaded one.. The BX cab is just a 1960 cab... Like all Marshall cabs except the TV CABS

-I'd have one built to whatever spec you want and be done with it.. "MOST" of the custom cab builders will do this for you..

--Built like back in the day--3/4"-(or 7/8")- Baltic birch, 13 ply, cabinet grade everything! EVERYTHING!! back panel & especially the baffle... 100% of the cab made of this... EVERYTHING!!
-finger joints-
-(30"x30"x16")-(min.
I'd go bigger)- straight cab
-corner bracing & thou you don't need it center braced-(2×4)-
-flush mount handles and casters-(removeable)-

 

[MetalHeadMike]

EVH 412 cabs are pretty stellar

The cabs are great but I'd have to sell the speakers. Trying to minimize shipping and selling as much as possible.

Yeah, not so great if you don't like Heritage Greenbacks then. For me those speakers rock; can't get enough of em.

 

[glpg80]

-ill bet Marshall will sell you that new unloaded BX cab for the same price as a loaded one.. The BX cab is just a 1960 cab... Like all Marshall cabs except the TV CABS

-I'd have one built to whatever spec you want and be done with it.. "MOST" of the custom cab builders will do this for you..

--Built like back in the day--3/4"-(or 7/8")- Baltic birch, 13 ply, cabinet grade everything! EVERYTHING!! back panel & especially the baffle... 100% of the cab made of this... EVERYTHING!!
-finger joints-
-(30"x30"x16")-(min.
I'd go bigger)- straight cab
-corner bracing & thou you don't need it center braced-(2×4)-
-flush mount handles and casters-(removeable)-

Splawn did me well and that's why I'm considering two of them again. I only sold the ones I had because I needed the money to make it through my last semester of graduate school. He had two custom made splawn cabinets built to order in 4 weeks time and even let me stop by the shop to chat for a few hours when I picked them up. He'd definitely get my business again.

The only reason I'm looking around is to see if I can get a basketweave cabinet cheaper than going full custom. If I can't, then splawn it is.

I did some looking and I've decided I'm not going to be able to find mint 5150 cabinets this day in age like the ones I had before. It's just not going to happen on the used market. I also like the sheffield speakers in them, so for now they would work. Alas, marshall or splawn it is.

 

[barnesjd]

I have wanted a Bogner cab for a long time. I am in the market but the only one I see is a great deal at $500 but it is in Texas. I am in Ohio. I have not seen anything pop up locally.

Yeah I’m in striking distance of Nashville and Atlanta where I found all but one. Typically once I see one posted, it’ll sit for weeks and weeks until I can’t stand it any longer.

 

[barnesjd]

Mesa Traditional 4x12 with V30s should sound killer with the 5150 II.

Every mesa cab I have ever played was way too dark to my ears. I'm not sure if it's the cloth they use or what - just seems muffled

I agree. It’s the proprietary 8 Ohm speakers and special sauce they put on them.

Interesting. I have two Mesa 16 ohm V30s X’d with two G12T75s. That cab is not dark to me at all, and I’m hoping to soon get two more of the V30s. Hopefully they’ll sound solid.

 

[barnesjd]

Even the vintage ones?

I'm partial to the old basket weave and plastic corner-less designs of the older marshall cabs. Not that there is anything wrong with current ones, but it's a personal preference.

I've considered Bogner cabinets but the resale on a worn/scuffed Bogner cabinet is atrocious. Am I not wrong here or is that something others have experienced?

My 74 has plastic corners, so you'll have to go pretty old to get a Marshall cab without. Definitely not cheap unless you luck out.

Yeah you can probably afford three or four Splawn cabs for the price of a vintage Marshall without plastic corners unless you luck out with a seller who doesn’t know what they’re selling.

 

[thiswaythatway]

Keep your eyes on Craiglist. Great deals can be had as most guys don't want to ship 4x12's. I grabbed my Mesa Recto 4x12 for $250, and a Marshall JCM800 cab loaded with 65's for like $200.

 

[barnesjd]

Keep your eyes on Craiglist. Great deals can be had as most guys don't want to ship 4x12's. I grabbed my Mesa Recto 4x12 for $250, and a Marshall JCM800 cab loaded with 65's for like $200.

You make me sick.

 

[glpg80]

Keep your eyes on Craiglist. Great deals can be had as most guys don't want to ship 4x12's. I grabbed my Mesa Recto 4x12 for $250, and a Marshall JCM800 cab loaded with 65's for like $200.

You make me sick.

 

[glpg80]

Keep your eyes on Craiglist. Great deals can be had as most guys don't want to ship 4x12's. I grabbed my Mesa Recto 4x12 for $250, and a Marshall JCM800 cab loaded with 65's for like $200.

I highly doubt I'll find a late 60's or early 70's marshall cab without plastic corners and basketweave grill cloth for $250. Last one I saw at the vintage guitar show just a few weeks ago was going for $7000

I'll talk to Scott again and see what a quote would be for what I'm looking for. If the marshall BX series cabinets come back with an outrageous quote for unloaded backline cabs that I can stuff whatever speakers I'd like, then Scott will probably be the next best thing. I'd go 5150 cabinets and keep the speakers in storage because I actually don't mind them. However, finding mint 5150 cabinets these days is a lot harder than it was 15 years ago. I'd go avatar, but they've increased their prices over the last 4 years and it's not a price saving option like it once was - I'd rather go splawn in that price range. I've decided that 5150 III cabinets aren't an option because I'd have to sell off the speakers (not a fan) even though the cabinets are great. And JCM 800 or 900 cabinets aren't something I'd like to invest in for the same reason as the 5150 III cabinets.

Seems like I'd have to get really lucky on craigslist, order marshall reissue cabs, or go custom.

Thanks for all of the help dudes, it really clarifies a lot

 

[barnesjd]

Yeah dude. I think you just need to go with Splawn. You were very happy with both the product and service the first time. Unless you legit just don’t have the cash, it’s probscly worth the peace of mind to get the gear that you know resonates with you.