So is there really any point to having a 4x12 anymore?

[D-Rock]

I think a big issue with 2x12's is that they are mostly only made with a depth of 12'
My 2x12 is 14' deep like a regular 4x12 is. That extra 2 inches really makes a difference. The resulting sound is bigger and deeper.
It also doesn't get congested or overwhelmed since it can handle, and put out, all the freq's with ease at high volumes.

 

[Anonymous]

Yes. In fact I require three 4x12 cabs at all times to adequately provide coverage in my spare bedroom...

Steve

 

[glpg80]

Nothing sounds like a good 4x12. Why?

Phase relationship and speaker coupling.

four speakers in one enclosure is fed the signal from your amp. The speakers working as one and attenuates some frequency's and amplifi others. This is why the 4x12 sounds so rich,complex, 3D and thick.

As you go down in size like 2x12 there is less phase interaction so the sound is more Direct.

1x12 cabs sound great for clean stuff but for high gain they really sound to isolated for my ears.

Pretty much spot on.

 

[LukeCurd]

Nothing sounds like a good 4x12. Why?

Phase relationship and speaker coupling.

four speakers in one enclosure is fed the signal from your amp. The speakers working as one and attenuates some frequency's and amplifi others. This is why the 4x12 sounds so rich,complex, 3D and thick.

As you go down in size like 2x12 there is less phase interaction so the sound is more Direct.

1x12 cabs sound great for clean stuff but for high gain they really sound to isolated for my ears.

Pretty much spot on.

Thanks Brotha! We finally connected!

 

[racerevlon]

Don't get me wrong... I love my 4x12's (currently have 10--5 full stacks) and rehearse with a full stack: Splawn 4x12 with Small Blocks on top and Marshall 1960BV on the bottom. HUGE sound with my Splawn Nitro or Jet City JCA100H or JCA100HDM. (Or anything else, really...).

But as has been noted, the convenience factor when gigging is non-trivial. On the other side of that coin is the authority even just a half stack carries with it, let alone a full stack. And you can always turn down, right? (BLASPHEMY!!!!)

 

[some dude]

One of the worst sounding gigs I've been to in a long time was a bar gig where the band wasn't elevated and the band's PA only carried vocals. The audience was about a foot or two in front of the lead singer.

The bassist had a full stack but the guitarist only had a Marshal 2x12 combo standing on a stool. The guitar was way too loud and piercing in the front row but you could barely hear him 5 feet further back since all his sound was absorbed by the first two rows. If he'd had a fullstack the top two speakers would've projected to the back of the room... particularly if the top cab was angled.

There is a valid argument that the band would've been better off with a better PA... but it probably would've cost more to rent than they got paid for the gig. On the other hand, it was a pretty small bar and every instrument could be heard fine except for the guitar so blaming the PA only goes so far.

 

[Heritage Softail]

Yes. In fact I require three 4x12 cabs at all times to adequately provide coverage in my spare bedroom...

Steve

I only need one 4x12, must have a smaller guest bedroom.

 

[blackba]

They're not practical. We've gathered this. I haven't gigged in ages, but I love my 4x12s, and it's odd - I wish I didn't for the very reason mentioned in here. They're heavy, impractical, etc. etc. etc. And hey, costly to keep around.

That said? They move the air; they've got a wicked low end; the "call and response" with my axe, amp and cab is simply better with 4 speakers than 2; for jams, they hold their own - and this makes a difference - as hey, everyone can hear where everyone is in the room.

Ya, not practical for home/studio/jam use, but again, they're an oldschool staple, you know?

I think 412s are actually ideal for home, studio, or jam use. Keep a 412 at a practice space, you get the ton of a 412 and don't have to move it. When i was playing with bands, we would actually practice louder than we gigged, thus 412s were great for that. I use my only 412 at home and its great. Still sounds better than a 212, regardless of volume. For recording I mic 2 speakers too. Now for live playing, I have used 212s for years, just easier to move, especially when you have to deal with stairs.

Actually, I am thinking of picking up a 2nd 412, evh 412, just cause. Always felt like I missed out on greenbacks mainly playing 212.

 

[JTyson]

yes, they sound better

 

[screamindemon]

yes, they sound better

 

[Shark Diver]

Eh, I've been gigging 1x12 thieles for years. I like them better than 4x12s. But I've dialed my sound to that. I usually use 2 thieles and that gives me 500 watts with the EVM 12L and EVM BL. More low end than a 4x12 with GBs or V30s.

I think rolling a 4x12 to a gig would actually be easier than carrying the 1x12s,

I run a direct feed to FoH always for a better front mix too. And since I use rack amps I don't need the 4x12 as a stand. I'm not sure I'll ever use a 4x12 again - even though I have 3.

 

['63-Strat]

They def sound better, anyone trying to say otherwise is just trying to justify their smaller cab IMO. That said, I don't find moving a 2X12 cab or combo easier than moving a 4X12, I find it harder. The 4X12 I can put my head and rack case on and push the whole thing while carrying two guitar cases without bending over in one trip. I can't do that with a 2X12. A 2X12 on casters you have to bend over in an awkward way, or flat out carry it. Stairs suck with any gear, but that is one area where 4X12s obviously are harder. Now, you can certainly get a hand cart to make moving a 2X12 easier but at that point you may as well use the hand cart to move the 4X12 on those nice big inflatable tires, SUPER easy to move 4X12s then!

 

[Spaceboy]

Most to all gigs you play are going to be fully miked and even if they aren't, a 2x12 is always going to do the job well enough.

I find it weird that people online keep saying this. I guess it could be because I'm involved in more 'fringe' music (various punk, hardcore, some metal), but the venues I play at are rarely capable of miking an amp. It's very common for shows, even for more popular bands to be held in basements, houses, awful bars, etc. If you only play shows at sizable venues with proper PAs, then sure, get a 30w combo or modeler and save all the strain. But, it's not feasible for everyone, and 2x12s don't put out the same sound as 4x12s. I personally prefer 2x12s, but I use two and stack them for most gigs. When you're facing down another 100w amplifier and a bass player's 8x10, those extra two speakers make a huge difference. Plus, it just plain feels so good to play loud! You can get the same measurable volume with a 2x12, but it doesn't fill the room and vibe the same way as four speaker. If you play more relaxed music where the guitars aren't going to be loud and proud, then a 4x12 is likely unnecessary weight. But, there's still plenty of reason to have a 4x12 in the 21st century, it all depends on the application and situation.

 

[5150clone]

I like the idea of the 2x12 replacing my 4x12 but it never does. That being said. Ive never tried the evh 2x12.

 

[Shark Diver]

They def sound better, anyone trying to say otherwise is just trying to justify their smaller cab IMO.

Wow, didn't know I needed to justify using 1x12s

 

[rlord1974]

You're such an amateur, David.

 

['63-Strat]

They def sound better, anyone trying to say otherwise is just trying to justify their smaller cab IMO.

Wow, didn't know I needed to justify using 1x12s

My bad, didn't really intend it that way but I see why it comes across like that. I did say IMO But are you really saying you prefer the sound of your 1X12 over a 4X12 by the same manufacturer with the same speakers? I like open back cabs too for certain things for example, so of course it comes down to the right cab for a given tone/style. But like I said before (and this is only my opinion) but: if we're talking purely about the sound most are talking about, likely a marshall or mesa type (or other variant) overdriven tone into a 4X12 cab, the 4X12 is simply going to sound better than a 2X12 or 1X12 cab with the same speakers. More speaker surface area is going to sound bigger and more complex even when at the same volume. And yeah 2 4X12s at the same volume sounds better than one IMO too but even if I could fit 2 4X12s in my car that would be a lot more effort to do.

Example say we're talking about a marshall w lp into a 1X12, 2X12 or 4X12 2 4X12s with the same speakers, I think most would probably say damn 2 4X12s sounds great. Necessary? Absolutely not, but sounds best? Likely but of course that's only IMO.

 

[MYLILSS]

Yes. In fact I require three 4x12 cabs at all times to adequately provide coverage in my spare bedroom...

Steve

 

[moltenmetalburn]

No, I'll never use them again as they sound worse than a vertical 2x12 , less comb filterig and better dispersion horizontally across the stage and into the audiences ears right where you want it. Horizontal gets to the ceiling and my feet, not desirable. I fn love science.

2x12 ' s do not have less bass than 4x12's. A 2x12 will have a more linear frequency response, less of a phase shift in the lows which means the lows won't arrive as late relative to the mids and highs than compared to a 412 where the low end is delayed so much that the intelligence of everything below 100Hz can leave you to think that a 2x12 has less bass. That's not really the case a 2x12 just has tighter bass because its not perceived as late as a 4x12 hence that is why it is more linear.

 

[stephen sawall]

It's about voicing and nothing else for me.

I use a pair most of the time regardless of the dB's I am using .... TV on up. Nothing like a wall of sound. I have 1x12 and 2x12 cabs here and I like them also .... but they get used a lot less.