Can you get a 4x12 sound out of a 212? Cabinet.

[Tawlks]

So.. can it be done? You hear about people saying there's a special sound to a 4x12 cabinet, and you also hear 2x12s being said to sound like a 212.

Will putting 2 212s ontop of eachother get you that 4x12 sound?

I'm curious because i own a Marshall 212 and a few of my friends have Peavey 5150/6505 heads and their rigs sound alot bigger, not louder, just bigger.

Discuss.

 

[spawnofthesith]

Well I had been running a 2x12 setup for about two years 'til earlier this week, I got a Mesa Stiletto 4x12. Couldn't of been happier doing so, like you said its a bigger sound, not a louder one. With both my vader 2x12 and the mesa, even more huge sounding! It fills a room a lot more, and projects more than just a 2x12 by itself can

 

[Tawlks]

Well I had been running a 2x12 setup for about two years 'til earlier this week, I got a Mesa Stiletto 4x12. Couldn't of been happier doing so, like you said its a bigger sound, not a louder one. With both my vader 2x12 and the mesa, even more huge sounding! It fills a room a lot more, and projects more than just a 2x12 by itself can

Ah cool, thanks for the info! Another problem I have is that even though my OS 212 (Marshall 1936) has the speakers angled up slightly I get the sound at my hips, not my upper body.

How does having two 212s sound copared to one 412? If you don't know it's cool. but for flexability reasons I'd rather be running two 2x12s than 1 412, I could have one move around alot and the other downstairs for gigs, or leave one at the practice space, most small cars won't fit three people with amps.

 

[Gainfreak]

The closest Ive ever gotten is by using a Ported 2x12 cab and even then it's not the same. Close and most definitely good enough for me but not exactly the same. If you don't want to lug a 4x12 around then Id definitely look into ported 2x12 cabs

 

[Digital Jams]

IMO no, best thing to do is what Gainfreak said and go ported. or add a tone of chorus and pitchshift to your signal

 

[thiswaythatway]

The only time you hear of a 2x12 sounding as good as 4x12 is when it's in a classified ad for a 2x12 being sold. Bogner claims their 2x12 matches a 4x12, well it doesn't. It's a fact of 2 more speakers, it sounds different no matter what.


However, some 2x12's sound great on their own and if you spend enough time playing only on a 2x12 you could be more than satisfied with the sound.

 

[Digital Jams]

The only time you hear of a 2x12 sounding as good as 4x12 is when it's in a classified ad for a 2x12 being sold. Bogner claims their 2x12 matches a 4x12, well it doesn't. It's a fact of 2 more speakers, it sounds different no matter what.


However, some 2x12's sound great on their own and if you spend enough time playing only on a 2x12 you could be more than satisfied with the sound.

I heard one certain "family" cab sounds like two Bogners or Diezels

 

[Tawlks]

Yeah, that's the kinda response I was expecting, is there anything to it or is just that they've got two more speakers?

I think I'm happy with my 212 sound, I may buy a Peavey 5150 cab for £100 and some WGS speaker and keep that for practices/gigs. Though there's always a 412 of someone elses to use at club gigs.

 

[NITROHOLIC]

go for a 6x12

 

[Tawlks]

I'd love too haha. Don't think I can afford a Mills though. Honestly, if I were going 412 I don't see why not, a small car can't fit a 412 but a big car can fit a 612. I still don't understand the need for 810 cabinets for bassists.

 

[NinjaRaf]

Ive never heard one, but a lot of people say the g-flex sounds like a 412. My buzzbomb gets pretty close to the avatar 412 I used to have. I havent played through an OS 412 at high volume though...so idk...could sound a lot bigger. I dont have any problems with my vader 212, and the band doesnt either, so thats what Im using with them...

 

[ke2]

I'd love too haha. Don't think I can afford a Mills though. Honestly, if I were going 412 I don't see why not, a small car can't fit a 412 but a big car can fit a 612. I still don't understand the need for 810 cabinets for bassists.

Same "problem" (I play bass as well)

The 8x10 is a little louder, but sounds so much bigger. And when you play bass, you want a big sound. Not necessarily lower in frequency, but oomphier. The bass is supposed to keep the low end going. I have a 4x10, and is it great in itself, but I`ve played 8x10 rigs at bigger shows, and damn the punch they have!

 

[racerevlon]

It's all about how much air you're moving, and the efficiency of your speakers.

Efficiency Example: a 1x12 rated @ 102 db will be louder than a 1x12 rated @ 96 db given the same input power.

Air Example: A 4 x 10 moves more air than a 2 x 12. Your friends' setups are sounding better because they're moving more air.

Of course, the quality of the speakers and construction of the cabinets and myriad other factors will play into the tone, but as far as sheer volume, if you want more volume, get more efficient speakers or move more air.

If you want to mess around with how "big" your sound is, hook up a BBE to your rig. Amazing how much bigger your sound gets when you remove some of the speaker phase cancellation.

"Learn your math kids, key to the universe."

---Christopher Walken as Gabriel, "The Prophecy"

Cheers,

 

[Audioholic]

I prefer 2 x12 's lately. a 4x12 will provide more coverage, but I thinks possible to get a great sound out of a good 2 x12. My ear candy cab has great spread and coverage, and good bottom without getting too muddy and bottom heavy like you can with a 4x12.

 

[Nigel]

My Zinky 2x12 stomped a Rivera K412T once. 4 in a box is different, period though. No replacing one.

 

[Badronald]

Nothing sounds like a 4x12. One 2x12 will never sound the same as a 4x12.


Hoooowwwevver...............Some gig's I run two 2x12's. One 2x12 on either side of the drummer. No 4x12 can sound that big! (Separation baby)!

Oh and one of my cabs is a ported 2x12. Definitely pumps out more low end than the standard 2x12.

 

[Tawlks]

I'd love too haha. Don't think I can afford a Mills though. Honestly, if I were going 412 I don't see why not, a small car can't fit a 412 but a big car can fit a 612. I still don't understand the need for 810 cabinets for bassists.

Same "problem" (I play bass as well)

The 8x10 is a little louder, but sounds so much bigger. And when you play bass, you want a big sound. Not necessarily lower in frequency, but oomphier. The bass is supposed to keep the low end going. I have a 4x10, and is it great in itself, but I`ve played 8x10 rigs at bigger shows, and damn the punch they have!

That is true. I always saw 810s as a bit of Overkill, I play bass, but not as seriously as guitar, need to invest in a better bass rig. Was going to then I decided I wanted a drumkit and bought that haha. GAS for ya.

 

[glassjaw7]

2 212's stacked sounds close to a 412 but still different somehow, probably because of the dimensions of the cabs. As stated above, 2 212's spread out sound HUGE!!!! You really can't beat that stereo separation. As far as a big sounding single 212, the best I've heard are the horizontal or vertical recto cabs, and the Bogner OS212.

 

[ConcreteVampire]

O

Nothing sounds like a 4x12. One 2x12 will never sound the same as a 4x12.


Hoooowwwevver...............Some gig's I run two 2x12's. One 2x12 on either side of the drummer. No 4x12 can sound that big! (Separation baby)!

Oh and one of my cabs is a ported 2x12. Definitely pumps out more low end than the standard 2x12.

This. Been running two 2x12's For years... just can't fit a 4x12 in any Mustang!

2's are more focused in dispersion, the 4's are just more of a wall of sound.( which with a bad speaker choice can mean a wall of shit!)

I run one closed back on the bottom, and half open on top. V30's. you can do fun shot like angle em out a bit on either direction. I like the focus and bass the bottom gives, with the openess and bloom out of the top. Can't get that sonic Sig out of a 4x12. And, bonus for the drummer, he gets to actually hear my guitar!

 

[JakeAC5253]

I disagree with the moving air statement. That assumes that you can get a 4x12 sound with 2 2x12's on top of one another. I think that the air space between the speakers of a 4x12 enclosure allows the air pressure within the cab to build up and then that works against the speakers excursion creating a buffer zone. I think that's why 1x12's and 2x12's sound tighter while a 4x12 sound bigger and deeper. Speakers fire backwards as well.