Hey Avatar cab users... high overtones ??

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Kapo_Polenton

Kapo_Polenton

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I keep hearing from people who use Mesa's or Bogners that I should "get a real cab" when i come across threads on them on various forums. I personally have a "vintage" 4 x 12. Solid cab, and I like the tone. What I don't like however, is the seeming piercing highs or frequencies that I seem to get. It seems to be harsh highs or beaming harmonic highs. I still think the 2 RI greenies are doing this (it is isn't the Super V's) but i don't know if they are the offending party or if it is the design of the cab that just doesn't disperse highs well. I really notice it when i hit the high E string and pop some crazy bends or tasty licks... anyone else finding this too or is this common to a lot of cabs ? I should have gone Marshall so many yrs ago but i liked the idea of choosing my own speakers at the time and having a cab built to "vintage" specs. I've been spending most of my cash on amps and guitars and selling them over the yrs but have never really dug that deep into cabs. As the grass always seems greener on the other side, I'd like to hear what you guys have experienced with Marshalls, EVH's, Randall, Mesa, whatever cabs. :student:
 
Never had this problem with my Avatar cab. When I put a pair of Mesa Vintage 30s in a cross with a pair of Anniversary H30s, mine was too bass heavy and boomy. I switched them out with some Chinese Vintage 30s, and it tamed the bass, but made the cab a bit more fizzy. I'd suggest switching some speakers out and see what makes a difference. They are great cabs.

Another cheap trick you can try is putting duct tape directly in front of the center of the speakers on the grill cloth. See if that helps dispurse the highs a little bit. It's like the poor man's Beam Blockers. That way you can experiment without buying anything.
 
i have both a mesa 4x12 recto cab and an avatar 4x12 (with two v-30s and two g12t-75s in a X pattern) and i can say without a doubt the the avatar cab has WAY more high-end hiss than the mesa (which has a much beefier, bottom-heavy tone that i prefer). i never operate the avatar alone as the type of high-gain metal i tend to play though it would be way too punishing on the ears. but combined with the mesa as a full-stack, it achieves a nice blended tone with plenty of low-end punch and a touch of high-end sparkle.

also, on the topic of avatar cabs themselves, while dave was a super nice guy to deal with, my cab arrived improperly wired so that the speakers were out of phase with each other which created a hollow, stereo-vortex kind of sound. simply opening it up and connecting the wires the correct way helped, but still, for a custom cab company that prides itself on handmaking its products, you'd think this glaringly obvious problem would have been caught before it was shipped; especially if it was operationally tested.
 
Are you sure the greenbacks are broken in?

Your cab is 30"W x 29.5"H x 14"D. You might compare those dimensions to a bogner or Mesa. And consider adding some bracing to the inside of the cab.
 
Yeah greenbacks have been in there for 4+ years and played at good volume almost daily.Where can i find more info about bracing?
 
I agree, get a real cab. Avatar is not the way to go. you can get a used mesa cab on Cl for the price of a new avatar, and is sounds way better.
 
A really easy way to brace a cab is to cut the ends off a 2X4, 2x6, or 2x8 with a circular saw set at 45 degrees. The resulting wedges make great corner braces. You can clamp and glue them in, or use finishing nails. I prefer both. It's important to use some decent wood, so see if you can find a hardwood board. It's best to shave the ends off the board first before making your wedge cut, so that all your sides are smooth. It makes contact and adhesion easier. Lumber tends to have rather rough and coarse factory ends.

Also, if your cab doesn't have a front-to-back center block brace, that would be something to consider as well.

Of course a used Mesa is a great way to go, but that's dry advice for a guy who already has the Avatar. No one is going to take an Avatar in trade for a Mesa, and he'll lose money selling the avatar to buy the Mesa. But it's his call.
 
Those mesa 2 x 12's are so small though sheesh! I was actually thinking of an EVH 2 x 12 cab but not sure if they are heritage G12H30's or the anniversary which in my experience start off bright and take a while to break in. I sold a few of those off a while back..

Good info on the bracing.. you are right as well, these Avatars have brutal resale value and that is one of the knocks against any of these budget "custom" cab builders. Logo on the front still does mean something..
 
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