Avatar traditional 2x12 vs. Contemporary, Any Users?

[skoora]

Anyone try both cabinets? How did they compare. In the market for a 2x12 and either one of these looks good for the price. Just want a balanced tone. Don't want a cab that over emphasizes the lows.

 

[Spaceboy]

I've had a couple Avatar 4x12s, contemporary and vintage. They're solid, small cabinets with great speaker selection... didn't really have the thud I wanted back then, so I sold 'em for Mesas, if that tells ya anything about the lowend.

 

[skoora]

Would you say the Avatar's had as much low end as a regular Marshall cab? Was there any stand out difference, sonically, between the trad and the contemp?

 

[Spaceboy]

I couldn't say, I've played but never owned a Marshall cabinet. I haven't had a traditional, so I can't speak on it. The vintage cabinet was loaded with a cross of Vintage 30s and T75s and didn't have much boom at all compared to Mesa and Orange. The contemporary seemed a tad larger and was loaded with K100s and Vintage 30s, which definitely had more boom to it, which might be the K100s. It's kind of hard to compare, it's been a handful of years since I had them.

The guys at Avatar are very helpful and ship lightning fast too. The cabs are cheap but have terrible resale value compared to more well-known companies. It took me ages to sell the cabs I had.

 

[racerevlon]

I have an Avatar Vintage with Splawn Small Blocks on board and it kills. Not sure why people are saying the cabs are lacking. Speaker choice?

 

[Blitzie]

I have a 2x12 contemporary and a 2x12 traditional. It's all about speakers selection with these guys. My traditional has a Hellatone 30 and a Hellatone 60 in it. I'm not a huge fan of those speakers but they're pretty good. The cab itself doesn't have a lot of "thump" but I feel like it could be improved greatly with new speakers.

My contemporary has tons of low end. But, again, it is all about speaker combinations. I have a Man-O-War and a Gov'nor in it and it sounds ENORMOUS. It also has to do with my KT88 loaded Splawn...that thing has a ton of bass on tap. I prefer the look of the contemporary and I feel like that cab is tighter.

That being said, Avatar doesn't make the "tightest" cabs on the market. You can definitely find a better used cab for the $500 you'd spend on a 4x12 Avatar cab. I would take your head around and try as many different cabs as possible.

 

[Badronald]

I just recently sold my Avatar Traditional 2x12. Didn't like it at all.

 

[skoora]

I just recently sold my Avatar Traditional 2x12. Didn't like it at all.

What didn't you like about it?

 

[Badronald]

I just recently sold my Avatar Traditional 2x12. Didn't like it at all.

What didn't you like about it?

Like others mentioned it didn't push enough low end for me. Sounded pretty bright. Even my singer (who plays guitar) looked at it and frowned.

I'm really used to my Hermida ported 2x12 with Vintage 30's. It has big low end and sounds huge. Everything else I play has a tough time competing with it.

 

[skoora]

I want to get a 2x12 that I can throw a blue (alnico) and a Jensen/Weber (alnico or ceramic) in to go with my 4x12 with the usual Celestion suspects in it. The price on the Avatar's is definitely nicer than others but maybe it's not worth it.

 

[chadprsman]

I have the vintage 2x12(like oversized bogner) and it sounds great! I can adjust the amp's tone controls for low end.