Front loaded or Rear loaded 4x12?

[mboogman]

I have an old peavey 4x12 cab that just sits in my gear room, collecting dust. Right now, it's set up as a front loaded cab, but I was thinking about cutting the back panel off (replacing it of course) and turning it into a rear loaded cab. Back in the day, this cab sounded pretty good with my old Trem-O-Verb head, but since high school, it's just been sitting. I would also be replacing the speakers at the same time, from 2 x (nasty) peavey scorpions, and 2 x Mesa Boogie Black Shadows, to something maybe a little lower powered, like a Mojotone AV12C (trying to be inexpensive here). Again, just trying to use what I have, and tinker a little bit.

 

[jaybird]

Why not try it -sounds like you've nothing to lose. I have only played a few front loaded cabs, and much prefer rear loaded.

If you don't like the way it sounds you could always just get an Avatar or some other cab unloaded and put the new speakers in there.

 

[Rob Tahan]

Ive always like Rear loaded..

 

[ibanez4life SZ!]

Another Rear Loaded fan here.

 

[mboogman]

I expect rear loaded cabs tend to be tighter. Front loaded cabs????? Can anyone clue me in on the general differences between the two?

Thanks

 

[155]

I hate front loads seems like no low end...

 

[Bob Savage]

Depends on the amp, depends on the cab, depends on the speakers, depends on your ears...

I'd leave it as-is. Front/Rear loaded designs are different enough that if you don't like it front loaded you should probably just sell it and buy what you want.

 

[Bob Savage]

I hate front loads seems like no low end...

Never heard that one before. It is possible you're confusing a lack of boomy response to no low end?

 

[Jay Strange]

For blues, classic rock some metal RL
For all out heavy stuff definately FL

 

[mboogman]

I think I might just go with it as is (FL) and if I don't like it, I can always put on my carpenter hat, grab my circular saw, and go to town! It's a cheap cabinet anyway, so it's not like I would be loosing anything really.

 

[jkdsteve]

Only front loaded cab I had was the ENGL XL Pro...v30s..to say it was punchy, bright and in your face .. well it could be an understatement...every other cab I've had or still have is rear loaded.

 

[killertone]

I hate front loads seems like no low end...

Weird. Have not had that experience. VHT/Fryette Fatbottom cabs are FL and have tremendous low end that is extremely tight.

 

[nbarts]

I hate front loads seems like no low end...

That's exactly why most or all of the bass cabinets are front loaded.

I still don't know why they are not incorporating ported front loaded design into guitar cabinets. I've always wondered what it would sound like.

 

[Strat+Marshall]

I really don't care for front loaded cabs. I have a soldano and have owned a VHT, the soldano is OK but the VHT was one of the worst sounding high end cabs I have ever heard. The VHT I had was very thin, shrill and harsh sounding, it was loaded with greenbacks but I don't care for their standard speakers either.

I still don't know why they are not incorporating ported front loaded design into guitar cabinets. I've always wondered what it would sound like.

I am pretty sure sound city did that back in the 70s. I have one of their early ported rear loaded cabs and they switched to front load shortly after it was made.

Check about halfway down the page.

http://www.soundcitysite.com/sc_webpage ... age_12.htm

 

[RJF]

I expect rear loaded cabs tend to be tighter. Front loaded cabs????? Can anyone clue me in on the general differences between the two?

Thanks

Front loaded cabs are tighter and brighter and rear loaded are boomier and darker. I much prefer front loaded cabs.

 

[Empire Prod]

I like it in the rear....Oh wait...Ummmmmm...never mind

 

[nbarts]

I really don't care for front loaded cabs.

I can see why looking at your avatar.

 

[Strat+Marshall]

I really don't care for front loaded cabs.

I can see why looking at your avatar.

Yeah, most of my cabs are marshall. I have a bedrock, a soldano (only front loaded), and 2 old sound city cabs that are pretty cool. All the rest are marshalls.

 

[blackba]

I generally prefer rear loaded cabs. I will say that my front loaded mesa halfback metal grill 412 which is front loaded, sounds great. Plenty of bass, although my guess is that it would have more bass if it was rear loaded.

 

[drjenkins]

Both of my VHT cabs (FB & Del.) sound great to me and they're front loaded. But just as Bob said, different ears hear different things. Good luck!