Mills Acostic Afterburner or Kerry Wright cabs?

[Shark Diver]

Which and why? I'm really on the fence about which one to order. Both are $$$ so I need to choose wisely.

 

[King Guitar]

I have a Mills Acoustics cabinet and it sounds awesome!

 

[Shark Diver]

I have a Mills Acoustics cabinet and it sounds awesome!

I'm thinking about the EVM Black Labels, just really don't know what they'll sound like. What speakers are in yours?

 

[fearhk213]

I have a Kerry Wright cab, never played a Mills though. The KW is easily the best sounding cab I've played, but I imagine it sounds very different from the Mills Afterburner. If you want the best sounding Marshall style cab with probably the best fit & finish of any cab, get the KW. His quality of work is something to behold. If you want a more modern sounding cab go Mills. I'll give you a better tonal description of the KW later today, I have to go to work now.

 

[King Guitar]

I have a Mills Acoustics cabinet and it sounds awesome!

I'm thinking about the EVM Black Labels, just really don't know what they'll sound like. What speakers are in yours?

Vintage 30's

 

[Digital Jams]

I have a Mills Acoustics Classic 412 with V30's and a Stoneage 412 with Greenbacks, each do their own thing. I think the Wright cabs are pretty high priced, I wouldn't think they would be much different from any other Marshall based 412? I spoke to a guy once who had a Wright 412 and he said his EVH 412 sounded better until he put the speakers from his EVH cab in the Wright cab, I don't think there is anything special happening with the cab except for precise build quality, it will be better than a Mojo but I doubt it can be much better than a Stoneage. John at Stoneage makes a kick ass sounding Marshall cab and Mills makes his own design which kicks ass as well, however, they are both very different from each other. The Mills is more in your face, tight, modern. The Stoneage is pure vintage tone, depends on what you want. I have been wanting to try some different speakers in my Mills but I'm not sure if I want to tinker.

Hey Lama, how about a little something for the effort!?!?!

 

[Digital Jams]

Hey Lama, how about a little something for the effort!?!?!

there won't be any money, but when you die, on your deathbed, you will receive total consciousness.

So I have that going for myself.

 

[fearhk213]

Here's my $.02 on the Wright cab. I'll compare it with my main cab before it, a Diezel RL 4x12, since I was able to yank out speakers & compare them with the same exact ones. For all intents and purposes the Diezel is a great cab. The KW just sounds alot better to my ears. For one, it's less directional. It has a pretty big sweet spot. The cab is very present without being harsh. That whole removing a blanket off my cab applies here. Also, the cab has a very nice woody, mid range chunk too it. That was the difference that instantly stood out to me. One thing I really like is when I turn up the bass on the amp, it's actually adding bass not just extra woof. No weird, hyped frequencies with this cab. I have a more useable range with the eq's on my amps. The cab is also tight, but it breathes so it's not sterile at all. Just a very natural sounding cab that really projects your amps tone.

Again the quality and overall fit and finish is awesome. He can do period correct tolex and can do an amazing job aging the grill. Really looks cool, if that's your thing. Great guy to work with. Very laid back to talk to, but extremely on point and professional throughout the build process. I'm not saying there aren't other top dog Marshall-style cab builders. Stoneage was mentioned and they look like they're worth looking into. I've just never heard or seen one up close. I'm just saying when you consider both the tone, quality, and fit & finish you'd be hardpressed to find an equal to the KW for a Marshall-style cab, but I doubt you'll find better.

So between the Mills and the KW, I guess it depends on what you want out of your cab purchase. Everything I've heard about the Mills leads me to believe it's a totally different beast. Heck, I want one bad. Between that and my Kerry Wright I can't imagine ever needing another 4x12.

 

[fuzzyguitars]

i have both a kerry wright and the afterburner mills cab.

both are loaded with celestion g12k 100's.


they are totally different beasts.

i dont think i have ever seen another cab that was better put together and finished than the kerry wright cab, and that includes the mills acoustics. The mills is great and I have no complaints, but kerry cab is artisan quality.

as for sound, the both sound very very different.

the kerry cab is a more traditional sound, even with the k100s, sounds more midrange, and great bloom, really holds up to volume well.


the mills cab sound is unlike any other cabs that i have owned. more hi fi- just sounds huge. makes any amp sound bigger. kinda like going from a 50 to a 100 watt head.

i like em both.

I use the mills cab with my diezel herbert, and the egnater mod 100 with the kerry cab.

 

[fuzzyguitars]

Here's my $.02 on the Wright cab. I'll compare it with my main cab before it, a Diezel RL 4x12, since I was able to yank out speakers & compare them with the same exact ones. For all intents and purposes the Diezel is a great cab. The KW just sounds alot better to my ears. For one, it's less directional. It has a pretty big sweet spot. The cab is very present without being harsh. That whole removing a blanket off my cab applies here. Also, the cab has a very nice woody, mid range chunk too it. That was the difference that instantly stood out to me. One thing I really like is when I turn up the bass on the amp, it's actually adding bass not just extra woof. No weird, hyped frequencies with this cab. I have a more useable range with the eq's on my amps. The cab is also tight, but it breathes so it's not sterile at all. Just a very natural sounding cab that really projects your amps tone.

Again the quality and overall fit and finish is awesome. He can do period correct tolex and can do an amazing job aging the grill. Really looks cool, if that's your thing. Great guy to work with. Very laid back to talk to, but extremely on point and professional throughout the build process. I'm not saying there aren't other top dog Marshall-style cab builders. Stoneage was mentioned and they look like they're worth looking into. I've just never heard or seen one up close. I'm just saying when you consider both the tone, quality, and fit & finish you'd be hardpressed to find an equal to the KW for a Marshall-style cab, but I doubt you'll find better.

So between the Mills and the KW, I guess it depends on what you want out of your cab purchase. Everything I've heard about the Mills leads me to believe it's a totally different beast. Heck, I want one bad. Between that and my Kerry Wright I can't imagine ever needing another 4x12.

Nice review from someone who actually has a Wright cab, thanks. What would be really interesting is having another cab just like the Wright one though, the Diesel is just not the same, neither is the Mills. Whether it be Mojo, Stoneage, etc., I would like to know how it compares to another Marshall 412 style build, they are all basically made after the '68 412.

i also have the mojo cab.

very good cab as well

sounds great, cant do a direct comparison , as i have mine loaded with heritage g12m. but sounded just as good as my friends real 69 4x12 with g12h30s.

 

[thegame]

To throw Bogner cabs in for a moment; an often overlooked reason why Bogners are NOT the same as Marshall 1960 style cabs is that they have a fixed baffle (I think, could be wrong). Marshall has a floating baffle, basically secured by screws to the inside rim of the frame. Fixed baffle is dadoed in or some other kind of cut out wood joint, resulting in no gap whatsoever between the baffle and inside walls of the cab. Big effect on tone.

Fixed baffle = less air leakage, tighter response, more modern

Floating baffle = looser, warmer. More give or sag.

Of course the difference described above is assuming all else is equal & is not an unbreakable rule !

Again I could be wrong on some stuff, but I've had alot of cabs over the years & I've peaked inside them all.

 

[Shark Diver]

Thanks guys. So, I guess I have to decide whether I want a vintage or modern sounding cab. Tried a cab with some old greenbacks yesterday and it had a great low mid thing I loved, but was a little loose. Not really into V30s.

Man, I wish I could A/B the Wright and Mills cabs.

 

[fearhk213]

Thanks guys. So, I guess I have to decide whether I want a vintage or modern sounding cab. Tried a cab with some old greenbacks yesterday and it had a great low mid thing I loved, but was a little loose. Not really into V30s.

Man, I wish I could A/B the Wright and Mills cabs.

What about 65's? I've always heard there like greenbacks, but have more output and can handle more without getting as flubby.

 

[thegame]

Thanks guys. So, I guess I have to decide whether I want a vintage or modern sounding cab. Tried a cab with some old greenbacks yesterday and it had a great low mid thing I loved, but was a little loose. Not really into V30s.

Man, I wish I could A/B the Wright and Mills cabs.

What about 65's? I've always heard there like greenbacks, but have more output and can handle more without getting as flubby.

Yup, thats what they are. My favorite speaker.