Ported Cabinet experiences

[moltenmetalburn]

For the last three years or so I have been playing a Port city 2x12 OS cabinet.

Previous to that I had a Mesa 4x12 for about ten years or so.

My original plan was to get a more portable cabinet to add to my collection though after A/Bing the two the Mesa was sent packing. The Port city at the time sounded even bigger than the Mesa and also seemed more responsive.

Recently I was at the studio experimenting with cabinets and decided to try a few again. I played through the mesa, a marshall and some fender extensions.

ALL of them seemed like crap in comparison and not necessarily the tone but the congested feel and non responsiveness of the cabs, as if the sealed cabinet was choking all the life out of the speaker.

(full xmax travel is very important it seems! )

After three years ported I dont think i can ever go back to fully sealed! anyone else have similar experiences?

 

[Badronald]

I use a Hermida custom ported 2x12 with Vintage 30's. It's compact with offset speakers. It is too small for my JCM800 head to sit on so I either also use my Avatar traditional cab under the head along with the Hermida of just turn the head on it's side when I don't want to carry the additional cab.
I agree with your comments. I love the ported sound and I don't think I could just go back to a regular cab. It really sounds big and full. Not in a sorta suedo low end thing that modern amps give, just a real natural low end push.
People see the head at gigs and wonder what I'm playing through and why the tone is so big. It's that little cab.

 

[sebby123]

Love my port city 4x12 and agree with everything you posted above, what speakers do you have in your btw?

 

[MARK1970]

I agree also. I have a Port City OS 2x12. I have V30s, but looking to try Scumbacks. I have heard H75 and M75s sound good in a 2x12.

 

[moltenmetalburn]

Love my port city 4x12 and agree with everything you posted above, what speakers do you have in your btw?

I am currently using Tonetubby 40/40 Ceramic hempcones in mine with my Diezel Einstein.

 

[moltenmetalburn]

I agree also. I have a Port City OS 2x12. I have V30s, but looking to try Scumbacks. I have heard H75 and M75s sound good in a 2x12.

Same here. I have been looking at the Scumback XH75 LDHC to try mixing with my TT.

Cant say there is anything I dislike about my TT's though, its just the disease.

 

[NinjaRaf]

I really need to try a port city. I have a buzzbomb, and I think its on par with a lot of 412 cabs...definitely like it better than my vader 212, but the difference in low end response, and response in general, isnt huge...I mostly just prefer the speakers in the buzzbomb.

 

[thegame]

Only tried one ported cab & detested it. A Genz Benz 2x12 with I guess stock speakers. The mids/highs sounded like cardboard and the low end, while there was plenty of it, sounded like an unfocused rumble that was separated from the mids/highs. I'm sure there are better ported designs out there, but that turned me off big time.

I have read many comments on TGP that porting gives a bigger, but looser low end.

 

[moltenmetalburn]

I really need to try a port city.

Agreed!

 

[moltenmetalburn]

Only tried one ported cab & detested it. A Genz Benz 2x12 with I guess stock speakers. The mids/highs sounded like cardboard and the low end, while there was plenty of it, sounded like an unfocused rumble that was separated from the mids/highs. I'm sure there are better ported designs out there, but that turned me off big time.

I have read many comments on TGP that porting gives a bigger, but looser low end.

i totally agree that the low end is a little looser.

I found that was when A/Bing with the same settings. The port enhances the bass frequencies ( makes them louder) so I find i need to back off on the bass on the amp a little more with the ported cabinet but trust me the sound is not thin at all.

I play tight high gain modern metal so if the bass was absent or no tight enough I wouldn't continue using it.

Also the type of porting comes into play,the circular type ports enhance certain frequencies. the detuned ported designs like the port city just allow everything coming off of the back of the speaker to exit the cab and obviously the speakers have full xmax.

 

[Primakurtz]

I use a Hermida custom ported 2x12 with Vintage 30's. It's compact with offset speakers. It is too small for my JCM800 head to sit on so I either also use my Avatar traditional cab under the head along with the Hermida of just turn the head on it's side when I don't want to carry the additional cab.g[/img]

I use the same Hermida ported cab - love it! Sounds huge, with a pair of Swamp Thangs. I'll have to try V30's. I usually throw a Hermida open-back 2 X 12" on top, with WGS speakers - one Veteran, one ET65.

That said, I still love my Marshall 4 X 12". Different, but useful.

Regarding the Genz-Benz: my buddy has one, and subbed a V30 for one of the stock Emis - sounds great now.

 

[moltenmetalburn]

I use a Hermida custom ported 2x12 with Vintage 30's. It's compact with offset speakers. It is too small for my JCM800 head to sit on so I either also use my Avatar traditional cab under the head along with the Hermida of just turn the head on it's side when I don't want to carry the additional cab.g[/img]

I use the same Hermida ported cab - love it! Sounds huge, with a pair of Swamp Thangs. ...

I bet it does! I had a swamp thing in the port city with a wizard for a while, that swamp thing is unbreakable!

 

[Devilinside]

I've got a OS port city 4x12 and it has definitely been my fav even over the ubercab! Mine has a huge spread but is still tighter than a nats ass!

 

[Primakurtz]

I just scored a Genz-Benz G-Flex 2 X 12". I hated the stock speakers, so I swapped in one Swamp Thang and one V30. Damn...

 

[Rev]

Love my port city 4x12 and agree with everything you posted above, what speakers do you have in your btw?

I thought you were dumping that 4x12? Change of heart?

 

[sebby123]

Love my port city 4x12 and agree with everything you posted above, what speakers do you have in your btw?

I thought you were dumping that 4x12? Change of heart?

I did but not because had a change of heart, My band broke up and just went to a home studio setup with the axe-fx and im very happy, If i ever need a 4x12 or even a 2x12 port city will have my buisness again ive never played a 4x12 i loved more then the port city cabs

 

[Dimebag11]

I'd be interested in trying one of those cabs Hard to find used I imagine?

 

[Shark Diver]

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I have read many comments on TGP that porting gives a bigger, but looser low end.

A lot of that would also be What Speakers are in the cab. I use EVMs in Thiele cabs and i would never describe the low end as loose.

On stage a 4x12 definitely has a different vibe, but mic'd I much prefer the Thiele. And I use 2 so it sounds great on stage as well.

IMO

 

[JakeAC5253]

From what I can imagine (never used a ported cab for guitar playing) the portedness allows the cab to be removed from the equation more and allows the speaker voice to shine through. Grossly simplified of course, I realize it goes much deeper than that. The Recto cab is one of those design where the wood enclosure really plays an active role in the tone. I'd also be curious to find out if there wasn't 'more bass' as much as there was 'less mid-accentuation'

 

[hunter]

I have a 70s Marshall 4x12, a Bogner 4x12 and a Heritage ported 2x12.

I prefer the Heritage at lower volumes, but the 4x12s excel at higher volumes IMO. Haven't tried a Port City yet.