Odd problem, sweeter tone from 1 x 12 partial back vs 4 x 12

  • Thread starter Thread starter Kapo_Polenton
  • Start date Start date
Kapo_Polenton

Kapo_Polenton

Well-known member
Ok, what's the deal here guys? My 2204 combo with the partial open back and weber legacy is really sounding a lot better than my 4 x 12 which now was 2 weber legacies and 2 greenbacks. Down at speaker level it sounds fuller, softer and more filled out in the mids, and not as harsh. Bass is still plenty tight as well.

The 4 x 12 sounds thinned in the highs and harsher. I know the open back accounts for part of this but with two legacies in the 4 x 12, should i not be closer in tone? Is there some phase issues going on there? I know people will say check the wiring but i am pretty confident that i wired i the right way. The cab is a vintage oversized avatar. Maybe the fat that there is more room for the speakers to push air within the cab is causing some issues? Maybe i need to stuff the back alla Bogner with some batting to help out with things. Wouldn't mind hearing from you guys who have had variety in cabs. My solution is to ditch a 4 x 12 and just put the two legacies in a 2 x 12 but i wanted to hear people's opinions first.
 
first thing i would do, before people start chiming in to spend more money, check your phasing of your 4x12
it's easy to do with a 9 volt battery and a speaker cable plugged into your cab.

my troubleshooting flowchart in my brain says start with the simple, obvious stuff.

my open back sounds fulller, but not bigger. my 4x12 have the standard 4x12 roar.


are you running the 1x12 and the 4x12 together, or are you comparing separately?
 
Running completely separately but using the same amps through both to compare the response and sound. How do i check the phasing in the way you described? What am I looking for?
 
I'd check your phase as well. I have always preferred open back cabs though even for high gain. If the phase is fine then take the back off the 4x12 and see what you think.
 
Phase Check; take a 9v battery touch the + side to to the tip of your speaker cable and the - side to the sleeve of connector. All speakers should move out when you make contact. If they all move in that is fine as well BUT if 1 or several move in different directions then you have got a wiring issue...
 
mixn4him":1f5y0n1t said:
Phase Check; take a 9v battery touch the + side to to the tip of your speaker cable and the - side to the sleeve of connector. All speakers should move out when you make contact. If they all move in that is fine as well BUT if 1 or several move in different directions then you have got a wiring issue...
Click to expand...

this

you dont even have to open your cab to do it. just use a flashlight to see the speakers through the grill.

i had one cabinet out of phase for years...and always thought it should be louder and didnt sound right...but had no clue.


another thing to check, it sounds weird, but, make sure you have continuity with a multi meter from tip/tip and sleeve/sleeve on your speaker cables. if you dont, that will reverse phasing too.

i wired mine so all my speakers move "out" when i hit em with the battery test. i always wondered if wiring them for "out" or "in" would make a tonal difference, but, at that point, i just gave up as i had no way to test...1 cab was already popping the speakers out, so i just wired the other to match it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top