Straight 4x12 vs Slant 4x12

[Lightning]

Pros and cons

 

[Racerxrated]

If you play out, slant all the way. Easier to hear myself and no need for any monitor coverage. Straight cabs will sound thicker, more lows, but are more directional.
All are personal preference. I have a few of each.

 

[gibsonash]

Slant , easy to ear on stage and home

 

[cardinal]

I prefer slant. Straight is more directional and sounds way different up close than backed away. You can dial in a straight standing next to it (and the amp) and think you sound fine but people further back are getting their face pealed off by a ton of treble.

 

[angelspade]

Slant for me

 

[Mike Oxhuge]

I prefer straight. I dial in my tones from a distance and I find my tone to be more consistent with my particular cab which is a Schecter USA 1960 B clone. Had an old 80's 1960 B next to it and they sounded almost identical. Just love how crushing palm mutes are through these cabs.

 

[thegame]

Never once had a problem hearing myself well with straight cabs.

 

[Nigel]

Slant until you make it.

 

[mentoneman]

my uberkab st was probably my favorite sounding cab

i would sometimes turn the cab sideways and sit it on the XL sound enhancer as a kick back stand so the whole 4x12 was slanted back up at me.

but my current mahalo and boogie slant cabs don’t suck!

 

[Exo-metal]

True, FourT6and2 has these cabs and they are exceptional. My vintage marshall cabs aren't bad either. I like my new marshall handwired cab too.

 

[glpg80]

Straight.

Slant has a forward mid character to them. Not a bad thing but not my preference for high gain.

 

[Shask]

I prefer straight. I think they sound more full and chunky. I find slants to sound brighter and less full.

However, I dont play out, so I dont care about the "spreading out to fill the room" issues. As long as the cabs sound good right where I sit, I am good.

 

[NinjaRaf]

After comparing straight and slant Mesa traditional cabs, I vastly prefer the sound of a straight cab. The slant was significantly brighter. I was surprised at how different they sounded under a mic.

 

[SgtThump]

Straight for the tone. I agree with others that you can hear a slant cab on stage better if you’re standing close to it. But I still prefer straight. Beefier tone.

 

[stephen sawall]

Doesn't matter. The differences are not enough to care. The individual cab sounding better or not is a much bigger factor. Too much resonance it doesn't stay focused and tight. Not enough resonance sounds dead. Theoretically there is less cancelation in a slant cab. In practice it doesn't seem important.

 

[Lightning]

I notice at a home practice with my straight 4x12 cabinet I bending down to hear the full sound coming out of the speakers

 

[metalmm785]

I have both, but I like straight cabs more, especially if the cab is not oversized.

 

[Lightning]

I’m planing to get the Soldano 4x12 cabinet I’m deciding on the slant or the straight

 

[Greazygeo]

Slant all the way. Straights are only good if you have three or four full stacks side by side.

 

[fusedbrain]

If you play out, slant all the way. Easier to hear myself and no need for any monitor coverage. Straight cabs will sound thicker, more lows, but are more directional.
All are personal preference. I have a few of each.

This ^^^
They both have their pros and cons.
Whatever works for the situation.