Greenback loaded 4x12 worth it?

[bennyslo]

Greetings, I am new to the forum , long time lurker. Currently debating whether to buy a greenback loaded 4x12 for home use (occasional gigs). Mostly because I specifically want that greenback sound and the wattage handling is better


Currently looking specifically at greenback loaded cabs to match with my modded Marshall JMP 50 and my Soldano - either a 70's loaded Marshall or even an old unloaded 60's cab that I could put in some G12EVH's.

Just wondering if the tone difference between a 2x12 would be worth it and also interested if anyone knows how much louder a 4x12 is in comparison. Would appreciate anyone's thoughts/experiences with this. Thanks, Ben

 

[Devin]

Mais yeah

4x12 > 2x12 always

 

[Rackman]

In general a 4x12 is only very slightly louder than a 2x12 with the same speakers when driven at the same wattage. So same amp settings but the appropriate output transformer tap. You will end up dissipating 2x as much power per speaker from 1/2 as many speakers. Efficiency drops as power goes up, so there's a slight volume difference but usually not much. The louder you operate, the bigger the difference will be.

I think greenbacks benefit a lot from being in a 4x12. In a 2x12 with a high powered amp the breakup would be severe at the top of the volume knob.

 

[ChurchHill]

Greetings, I am new to the forum , long time lurker. Currently debating whether to buy a greenback loaded 4x12 for home use (occasional gigs). Mostly because I specifically want that greenback sound and the wattage handling is better


Currently looking specifically at greenback loaded cabs to match with my modded Marshall JMP 50 and my Soldano - either a 70's loaded Marshall or even an old unloaded 60's cab that I could put in some G12EVH's.

Just wondering if the tone difference between a 2x12 would be worth it and also interested if anyone knows how much louder a 4x12 is in comparison. Would appreciate anyone's thoughts/experiences with this. Thanks, Ben

Welcome to RT!

4x12 is absolutely worth it! Not much louder (+/- 3dB, barely noticable), but they just sound bigger. I always like 2x12s better than 1x12s until I could afford my first 4x12 and I never looked back. Well, maybe not quite true, I still have some 2x12s, but I always prefer 4x12s and more than one if possible.

To me, GBs sound better in 4x12s. Anything less and they sound thinner and brighter, but in a 4x12, especially with a JMP, just perfect. Helps the Soldanos sound more classic, where they're a bit more modern with a V30. I picked up a '76 1960 with original Blackbacks a year or so ago and that was the missing piece for my JMP. Sounded great before, sounds perfect now.

 

[griff10672]

I've got a Marshall 4 x 12 with Eddie Backs in it ...... my favorite cab !!

you'll move more air with a 4 x 12 ........ moving air is the fun of it ..... for me anyway

 

[cardinal]

Volume will be about the same. IME a 2x12 will have more bite/clarity (scooped) while a 4x12 will be thicker in the midrange and warmer with a bit more thump. Both will sound good.

 

[Alpha Stryke]

yep -

 

[FourT6and2]

Absolutely worth it, even for lower volume home use. I wouldn't write off new UK-made Greenbacks either. They sound amazing. I've got a quad in a Bogner 4x12 and they rock.

 

[Navigator]

Go for it. I don't think anything else sounds as satifying as a 4x12 (Marshall for me). I used an oversized 1x12 for a long time (with an Aiken 18-watt JMP style head) and it was/is a great cab, and sounds great recorded. But when I moved into a bigger place I picked up a 70s Marshall 4x12. I have recent Greenback reissues in it (2 UK, 1 Chinese, 1 EVH) and it sounds great.

I probably crank it louder than the 1x12 once in a while, but even at the lower volumes it sounds great. And the GBs are generally less sensitive than the G12H30 I have in the 1x12, so there's that. But if you like the Greenback 4x12 sound, I don't think there's anything else quite like it. And I'm running a JMP50 (with attenuator and PPIMV) a lot of the time.

Good luck with whatever you go for.

 

[Beyond Black]

What you really need is two 4x12’s.