Splawn 4x12 vs. Others for Hard Rock

[Junk Yard Dog]

I'm looking at used 4x12s. Gonna sell my Friedman; just not jiving with it. The Bogner ST has always haunted me as it was tight and punchier than the Friedman, with good cut and bloom.

Enter Splawn. There's one for sale locally with Creamback 65's. What's the go with Splawn cabs.

I also hear good things about Mesa Traditional 4x12's.

I play a Friedman JJ100 hard rock/early metal style.

Cheers.

 

[the4thlast1]

Cool topic. I think I can be of help since I have owned all the cabs you mentioned. I also did not like the Friedman cab I had, It sounded a bit small to me... I had three other 4x12s to compare and liked all three more. Two of those cabs that I still have are the Mesa Traditional and the Splawn. The Mesa has V30s and Ive actually had more than one Splawn cab over the years as I like them a lot , I have tried a lot of different speakers in them including v30s and greenbacks.

I like both cabs for different reasons and I don't think one is better than the other. So in comparison the Mesa is a bit warmer , darker and sweeter on the highs than the Splawn, its also bit more forward in the midrange. The Splawn has a tighter lowend , the Traditional Mesa is not loose though don't get me wrong because that its more a trait of the recto cabs. So back to the Spawn it also has a bit more overall clarity and open top end, in general the Spawn cab could possibly cut a little better depending on what speakers are in it. They are both great sounding cabs , Ive also had Diezel , Bogner, ENGL and a few others to compare.

I also want to revisit the Bogner cab because I sold mine quickly , The speakers had been replaced by the previous owner and Im not sure but something seemed a little off but I did like the big and open sound it had , it had a certain rawness to it I liked. Surprisingly I also owned the Friedman JJ amp and I think the Splawn would sound great with it, I had regular greenbacks in my splawn for a while which works very well in that cab so the Creambacks also prob sound great in there. How much are they asking for the Spawn cab if you don't mind me asking ?

 

[WizardSouth-JP]

Orange 4x12 with V30 or a mix of V30 and Creambacks.

 

[311splawndude]

I'm gonna go with the4thlast1 as that is a pretty good comparison. I think he has a bunch of comparison vids on youtube if it is the same guy.

I also have a Recto Trad 4x12 and a Splawn but my Splawn is a 2x12 and has Small Blocks. Therefore it is not really apples to apples. The Slant Trad def makes the mids more present and of course the fact that they are V30s. Splawns don't like V30's so I never run my Quick Rod into the Trad 4x12 but often (sometimes) run the Rectoverb into the Splawn 2x12. I would have to say the Small Blocks are going to be pretty close to those Creamback 65s but I'm not an expert in that comparison. Also, to get the Splawn 2x12 up off the floor and closer to my chest I put it on locker box.

All that said, I'd have to go with the Splawn 4x12 if I were you. I'd say the Splawn cabs are going to be slightly better quality than the Mesa (but not by a huge margin). The tolex on my Splawn is blast proof where the 'leather?' tolex of the Mesa cab seem more prone to tears and nics etc. That and Mesa Trad cabs (and Vintage 30s) are pretty damn easy find almost anywhere - whereas the Splawn cabs are a bit more rare. Therefore I think the resale on a Splawn cab will hold over better over time. That and Creambacks are so sexy and might fit better with hard rock/early metal?

Hope that helps a bit.

 

[sluice]

Cool topic. I think I can be of help since I have owned all the cabs you mentioned. I also did not like the Friedman cab I had, It sounded a bit small to me... I had three other 4x12s to compare and liked all three more. Two of those cabs that I still have are the Mesa Traditional and the Splawn. The Mesa has V30s and Ive actually had more than one Splawn cab over the years as I like them a lot , I have tried a lot of different speakers in them including v30s and greenbacks.

I like both cabs for different reasons and I don't think one is better than the other. So in comparison the Mesa is a bit warmer , darker and sweeter on the highs than the Splawn, its also bit more forward in the midrange. The Splawn has a tighter lowend , the Traditional Mesa is not loose though don't get me wrong because that its more a trait of the recto cabs. So back to the Spawn it also has a bit more overall clarity and open top end, in general the Spawn cab could possibly cut a little better depending on what speakers are in it. They are both great sounding cabs , Ive also had Diezel , Bogner, ENGL and a few others to compare.

I also want to revisit the Bogner cab because I sold mine quickly , The speakers had been replaced by the previous owner and Im not sure but something seemed a little off but I did like the big and open sound it had , it had a certain rawness to it I liked. Surprisingly I also owned the Friedman JJ amp and I think the Splawn would sound great with it, I had regular greenbacks in my splawn for a while which works very well in that cab so the Creambacks also prob sound great in there. How much are they asking for the Spawn cab if you don't mind me asking ?

Regarding the Friedman cab, do you think you didn't like it because of the speaker co figuration or the cab construction as a whole?

 

[the4thlast1]

Cool topic. I think I can be of help since I have owned all the cabs you mentioned. I also did not like the Friedman cab I had, It sounded a bit small to me... I had three other 4x12s to compare and liked all three more. Two of those cabs that I still have are the Mesa Traditional and the Splawn. The Mesa has V30s and Ive actually had more than one Splawn cab over the years as I like them a lot , I have tried a lot of different speakers in them including v30s and greenbacks.

I like both cabs for different reasons and I don't think one is better than the other. So in comparison the Mesa is a bit warmer , darker and sweeter on the highs than the Splawn, its also bit more forward in the midrange. The Splawn has a tighter lowend , the Traditional Mesa is not loose though don't get me wrong because that its more a trait of the recto cabs. So back to the Spawn it also has a bit more overall clarity and open top end, in general the Spawn cab could possibly cut a little better depending on what speakers are in it. They are both great sounding cabs , Ive also had Diezel , Bogner, ENGL and a few others to compare.

I also want to revisit the Bogner cab because I sold mine quickly , The speakers had been replaced by the previous owner and Im not sure but something seemed a little off but I did like the big and open sound it had , it had a certain rawness to it I liked. Surprisingly I also owned the Friedman JJ amp and I think the Splawn would sound great with it, I had regular greenbacks in my splawn for a while which works very well in that cab so the Creambacks also prob sound great in there. How much are they asking for the Spawn cab if you don't mind me asking ?

Regarding the Friedman cab, do you think you didn't like it because of the speaker co figuration or the cab construction as a whole?

I suspect its the cab but I cant be sure....Its the only time I know of that Ive tried a cab with greenbacks on top and v30s on bottom. It just didnt have the full sound of my other cabs.

 

[Junk Yard Dog]

I think the Friedman 4x12 cab is more "vintage" with perfect cut and an "aliveness" some other 4x12's don't quite have as much of. To me, having the lower powered GB's isn't my thing; they don't have the bass I want.

I could just swap speakers, but I'd prefer to try a different design. I always loved the Bogner 4x12's, which I agree with Dave F., they are 'dryer', but they have a bigger bottom end and I play hard rock with a modern vibe/sound.

I'm not saying the Friedman 4x12 isn't great, it's just not exactly what I'm looking for.

Now, the Friedman 2x12, is the nest 2x12 I've ever had, and I've had most of the big names (Splawn, Diezel, Bogner OS, Port City, Marshall, etc.). That cab has a huge sound!

 

[D-Rock]

Mesa Trad 412 makes every amp you play through it sound better...

 

[Detroit1973]

I have only played through 1 Splawn Cab that belonged to a Friend of Mine. It had ZERO Bloom, it was too tight if that makes sense. We later took the speakers out and loaded them into my Marshall 1960BHW & then into his Oversized Recto Cab & Determined that we just did not like Splawn Cabs. 2 of the Best Cabs i have ever heard were a Traditional Boogie Cab from the Late 90's-Early 00's & a Bogner Cab with V30's from the Mid 00's.

Also Derek B from Rock Solid Amps used to have a Bogner Cab with Green Backs that just crushed every other cab he owned.

 

[skullfxr]

I can add on some aspects, but I have never owned a Friedman or bogner anything.

I really like my Splawn Smallblock loaded 2x12". It is a really tight cab. Not overly bass, but not lacking detrimentally. Lots of punch to it. It's better built than my mesa cabs, feels more solid. Construction is top notch.

I have an avatar 4x12" cab that I like a lot, it's not as well built but the EVH celestion mix with greenbacks is a killer combination, my big splawns murder through that cab. I like that combination a ton.

I would consider mojotone. I have a 2x12" and think that it is just right. Better than the Smallblock loaded splawn cab for everything other than quality of construction and its better with the big heads.

I would consider swapping speakers. I am a big Weber fan, he (RIP Ted but now whoever is running the show) have a lot of great in-between speakers that cross the lines of different speakers without any of the downfalls. I own so many of his speakers I cannot recall what is in what cab. His cabinets are garbage though tbh.

I prefer mesa OS to Orange (both 4x12"s). I actually sold the orange. Orange are well built and the tolex is tough AF compared to the Mesa.

Are you gigging? Or just home?

 

[Junk Yard Dog]

Thanks for the feedback, dudes.

I’m mostly playing live on some bigger stages where the sound guy isn’t bug eyed when I wheel the 4x12 on stage. My Friedman 2x12 does an amazing job on these stages on its own: my favorite 2x12 ever.

I’m gonna consider the Mesa Trad 4x12 as well. I do want some bloom with the punch.

Keep the feedback coming!

 

[japetus]

Thanks for the feedback, dudes.

I’m mostly playing live on some bigger stages where the sound guy isn’t bug eyed when I wheel the 4x12 on stage. My Friedman 2x12 does an amazing job on these stages on its own: my favorite 2x12 ever.

I’m gonna consider the Mesa Trad 4x12 as well. I do want some bloom with the punch.

Keep the feedback coming!

If your Friedman 2x12 does an amazing job, sometimes going to a 4x12 isn't always going to be better. A good 2x12 onstage is pretty damn underrated if you ask me.

 

[Junk Yard Dog]

Thanks for the feedback, dudes.

I’m mostly playing live on some bigger stages where the sound guy isn’t bug eyed when I wheel the 4x12 on stage. My Friedman 2x12 does an amazing job on these stages on its own: my favorite 2x12 ever.

I’m gonna consider the Mesa Trad 4x12 as well. I do want some bloom with the punch.

Keep the feedback coming!

If your Friedman 2x12 does an amazing job, sometimes going to a 4x12 isn't always going to be better. A good 2x12 onstage is pretty damn underrated if you ask me.

Agree. Hence, not in a hurry to grab one. But the Bogner 4x12 ST I’ve played does take things to another level. It was an early 00’s. Great cab.

 

[Junk Yard Dog]

Well, the guy won’t let anyone try the cab before buying,/8 I’m out.

However, there’s an Uberkab and Fryette D4x12 I can try. Not sure how great either would be with my amps, but I know they are good cabs. I hear the D4x12 is picky with amps.

 

[PSGuitar]

Bump,

For some reason, Mesa cabs always sound sort of flat or dead, lacking the life of a Marshall cab or Splawn cab.
You would be just as good finding a JCM800 or 900 cab from the 80s or 90s, or early 2000s. More lively and warmer than a Mesa cab.

Splawn cabs sound pretty amazing to me. Tight, warm, smooth with great cut. I use Celestion in them.
Love Bogner and Stone Age cabs too.

 

[hammered]

I noticed this is an old thread but I'll chime in . I loved my Splawn 4x12 but sold it last year due to living conditions , things just weren't practical to justify keeping it. To my surprise though it never sounded that great with Greenback type speakers in it , there was always this mid honk that I couldn't dial out. I ended up putting Creamback H75s on the bottom and in a last ditch effort I put G12T75s up top and that was the ticket . The G12T75 mellowed out the mid range and added some nice cutting highs