Greenback loaded 4x12 worth it?

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bennyslo

bennyslo

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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
 
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.
 
bennyslo said:
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
Click to expand...

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.
 
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
 
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.
 
Yes.
1) 4x12 greenbacks are only slightly louder than 2x12s (I use 2 Greenbacks and 2 EVH Backs)
2) You will want 4x12 lol. Greenbacks are rated at 25 watts apiece. A vintage-style Marshall goes anywhere from 1.3 to 1.8x the rated wattage. Not really an issue if you're not cranking it, but why risk it?
 
Greenbacks sound wonderful, generally speaking. I miss having Greenbacks, but I go back and forth between them and V30s.

I always felt like Greenbacks track just slightly behind compared to a V30s.
 
I have a Marshall 1960B that sounds freaking great with 16 Ohm Greenbacks in it. Love that cab.
A couple weeks ago I removed some early-to-mid 2000's UK V30's from an old Rivera 412 I have and replaced them with Greenbacks.
Now I have 2 great sounding Greenback cabs. Winning.

I will lug a 412 cab around until the day I die. There is no substitute in my book.
 
Welcome to Rig-Talk Ben :yes:

I guess I will go against the grain a bit and just say that there are some benefits to a 212 if you a gigging obviously. But that depends on things like will you be rolling it on casters on smooth floors with minimal steps and no help, etc.? I don't gig, but if I did and had to load in to all kinds of different places, I would definitely be looking at a 212. My Splawn 212 cab is loaded with Small Blocks which are based on a higher powered Greenback and it is louder than my Mesa 412 all else being equal. It also sits up off the floor so it is more inline with my 412.

That said, my Mesa 412 w V30s does sound full and absolutely amazing. Wider, fuller, more 3D, etc. Frankly, better all around for my madison square basement.
 
TheGreatGreen said:
What 4x12 are you looking at? They’re not all created equally.

But yeah if you’re set on Greenbacks, definitely go 4x12.
Click to expand...
I have been or had been looking at the following 4x12's:
- a tatty 1972 marshall 1960 cab with rola g12m (unfortunately for me it just got sold) - £800
- a 2nd hand EVH 5153 cab (on white and again, it's a bit grubby)
- and a currently unloaded 1969 marshall 4x12, fairly decent condition (my preference would be to buy this as I would prefer to load it with some modern greenbacks - only issue is they currently want too much money and are located no where near me)

Thanks everyone for the feedback, much appreciated. I will keep you all posted on which 4x12 I end up buying Will probably wait a little to see what shows up locally.
 
I have a Friedman 4x12 cab with the UK GB Reissues and it is killer!!!
 
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