Front loaded or Rear loaded 4x12?

[ke2]

I had a FL Soldano 2x12 with the 50 watt Emi speakers they use.
I tried putting in an EVM 12 L and a 150 watt Black Shadow (Emi built them for Mesa).

That cab had as much punch and low end as most 4x12s.

 

[mmorse]

I've never really understood all this FL/RL stuff. What difference should it make whether a speaker is mounted to the front or the rear of a baffle? Seems to me the internal volume, materials/thicknesses used to construct the cab would have a far bigger influence on the overall tone of a cab than whether the speaker was mounted on the front or back of the baffle. Perhaps someone can explain it to me.

 

[thegame]

My feeling is if an amp "needs" to go through a front loaded cab to get a tight response, and if that cannot be achieved through a good rear loaded cab, its not a tight amp.

 

[Little B]

My 4x12 cabs are front loaded..My 2x12s are rear loaded...The fronts are definitely tighter,more in your face..( no air escapes out of the back )..The rear loads are a little more forgiving, looser( but in a nice way)...great for vintage amps.....