Good 1x12 Cab?

[FourT6and2]

Filling an entire 4x12 isn't a cost effective way of demoing speakers. I figure I'd grab a solid, affordable 1x12 so I can try various speakers and see what I like before committing to a full quad. Needs to be closed back. I don't know what's up with the market but I'm seeing 1x12 cabs that are almost as expensive as 4x12s, some are even more... like $1300+. Makes no sense to me. I can get a used Bogner or Mesa 4x12 for $800. I figured a 1x12 would be around $300?

 

[FourT6and2]

Ok, the cheapest cab I can find, new or used, is a PRS Archon 1x12 for $379 with free shipping. No way am I paying $600 - $700 for a 1x12 though. If the (used) Friedman is that much better than the others, I might grab that one. Not sure if a 1x12 would benefit form a port or not, considering my goal isn't to use the cab for actual playing, just to demo speakers to see if I like them for a 4x12?

PRS Archon: $379
PRS MT: $450
Friedman: $560 (used) or $700 (new)
Hiwatt: (front ported) $475
WEM: (same as Hiwatt) $440
EVH 5150 III: $470
Mesa Rectifier "23": $600
Suhr: $640
Soldano: $700

 

[andrewd]

Harley Benton makes an "economical" 1x12 Thiele cab based on the EVM design. There's option to get an unloaded one so you can put your fav speaker in it... Or an EVM12L

 

[FourT6and2]

Harley Benton makes an "economical" 1x12 Thiele cab based on the EVM design. There's option to get an unloaded one so you can put your fav speaker in it... Or an EVM12L

Those look cool, but they're open back.

 

[DanTravis62]

I have a convertible (open, partial, closed) cornford 1x12 with an EV12L i'm selling but its obviously more expensive than something like the PRS

 

[7704A]

Those look cool, but they're open back.

Not this one: https://www.thomannmusic.com/harley_benton_g112plus_thiele_unloaded.htm

Not sure if a 1x12 would benefit form a port or not, considering my goal isn't to use the cab for actual playing, just to demo speakers to see if I like them for a 4x12?

I'd think a ported cab would help you get a better idea of how the speaker will translate to a 4x12 since everyone seems to think the Thiele's get close to a 4x12's low-end. However, I've never compared them myself.

 

[FourT6and2]

Not this one: https://www.thomannmusic.com/harley_benton_g112plus_thiele_unloaded.htm

That's a Thiele cab... I'm staying away from cabs tuned for a specific speaker because I'll be swapping speakers constantly...

I'd think a ported cab would help you get a better idea of how the speaker will translate to a 4x12 since everyone seems to think the Thiele's get close to a 4x12's low-end. However, I've never compared them myself.

Yeah, hard to say

 

[sandman]

https://www.avatarspeakers.com/product-page/g112-convertable

 

[andrewd]

Hughes & Kettner 1x12 are priced very well in the used market.

But yeah, I guess it's more demand for 1x12 as it's easier to fit most dwellings, and also easier to lug around.

Here in Tokyo, used Bogner Cube 1x12 costs more than any 4x12, 90% of the time.

 

[glpg80]

In a 4x12 the speakers are going to see much more internal volume than what a 1x12 can naturally produce on its own. I feel the 1x12 will favor a higher resonance frequency that’s unrealistic compared to a 4x12. For your purpose it would make more sense to have partially closed or ported which would give a more realistic comparison of a 4x12 for volumetric efficiency.

 

[FourT6and2]

In a 4x12 the speakers are going to see much more internal volume than what a 1x12 can naturally produce on its own. I feel the 1x12 will favor a higher resonance frequency that’s unrealistic compared to a 4x12. For your purpose it would make more sense to have partially closed or ported which would give a more realistic comparison of a 4x12 for volumetric efficiency.

Interesting. So either go with the largest internal volume 1x12 I can find or a ported one? The ported ones are Hiwatt/WEM (port on rear), Suhr has a front-loaded cap with dual ports on the front, Mojotone has a small port on the front and both small and oversized 1x`2, and Zilla. Mojotone and Hiwatt are the cheaper ones. The others are all like $600.

 

[glpg80]

Interesting. So either go with the largest internal volume 1x12 I can find or a ported one? The ported ones are Hiwatt/WEM (port on rear), Suhr has a front-loaded cap with dual ports on the front, Mojotone has a small port on the front and both small and oversized 1x`2, and Zilla. Mojotone and Hiwatt are the cheaper ones. The others are all like $600.

I’d prefer a port on the rear. I don’t want to hear the port itself, just the speaker. For resale the Hiwatt seems to be the best based on your assessment but that’s my personal opinion.

 

[Eazy-ESP]

Interesting. So either go with the largest internal volume 1x12 I can find or a ported one? The ported ones are Hiwatt/WEM (port on rear), Suhr has a front-loaded cap with dual ports on the front, Mojotone has a small port on the front and both small and oversized 1x`2, and Zilla. Mojotone and Hiwatt are the cheaper ones. The others are all like $600.

I had a Suhr 1x12. Great cab.

 

[JimAnsell2]

you can get boogie 1x12's for 350-400 used still. i just got a boogie widebody thiele at Music Go Round for 400 a month ago.

 

[napalmdeath]

Ok, the cheapest cab I can find, new or used, is a PRS Archon 1x12 for $379 with free shipping. No way am I paying $600 - $700 for a 1x12 though. If the (used) Friedman is that much better than the others, I might grab that one. Not sure if a 1x12 would benefit form a port or not, considering my goal isn't to use the cab for actual playing, just to demo speakers to see if I like them for a 4x12?

PRS Archon: $379
PRS MT: $450
Friedman: $560 (used) or $700 (new)
Hiwatt: (front ported) $475
WEM: (same as Hiwatt) $440
EVH 5150 III: $470
Mesa Rectifier "23": $600
Suhr: $640
Soldano: $700

Friedman 1x12 Creamback 65 closed back $400. Got 2 in mint condition. For sale...

 

[stephen sawall]

Orange 1x12

I have 2 of them. I see them under $300 used often.

Yes it has less bass than a 4x12. But the closed 1x 12 cab reacts and feels more like a 4x12 closed back in the bass. For me the more compressed feel of a speaker in a closed cab is more important than the extended looser bass, breathy feel of a open cab. I have a few of each. Speakers behavior is just very different in a closed cab. Regardless if it is s 1, 2 or 4x12

I feel certain speakers just work better in a open cab. Like the Celestion CL- 80 and Eminence AR-75.

 

[Findthetone1]

Mojotone Canyon 1x12.

 

[Rackman]

In terms of demoing speakers, a TL806 (EVM's "open spec" cab design for the EVM12L) or a Mesa Thiele which is very similar to the TL806 would be the only thing I would consider. They're just more like a 4x12 than the alternatives.

 

[mesaboogieE34L]

KSR 1x12 sounds great.

Under $500

 

[2dor]

ENGL have a cool front-loaded 1x12 cab (model's called E112VB); it's a ported cab.

Sounds pretty good at moderate volumes & it's easy to swap speakers after you unscrew the front grill.