Thoughts: Running a two head setup into one 4x12" cab?

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rlord1974

rlord1974

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I plan on using a two-amp set-up for a project I have launching this fall. It will include:

1 - a Matchless Independence head; and
2 - (likely) a Reeves Custom 30 MKII head (decision yet to be finalized)

For most shows, I hope to be able to use two 2x12" cabs, one for each head. I will kick the heads on and off as needed using a RJM Y-NOT (midi A/B/Y switcher). However, being realistic, I understand I might not have the stage real estate at all shows to be able to run two 2x12" cabs side-by-side (I don't want to stack them), so am wondering about this:

Has anyone ever run a two-head rig into a single 4x12" cab, such as a Marshall 1960 (e.g., head 1 into the left side; head 2 into the right side)? If so, were the results good or bad?

I'm concerned the results might not be great because the Marshall cab is just wide open inside (i.e., the two sides of the cabinet are not internally separated into two stand-alone 2x12" sections). This would potentially be problematic when only running 1 of the heads into 1 side of the Marshall, and the other side of the Marshall cab is getting no signal. I know Joe Bonamassa uses a 4x12" that is internally split into completely separate chambers/cabinets (i.e., the left two speakers are completely isolated and separate from the right two speakers) but, for the life of me, I can't remember the make of the cabinet he uses for this.

Any thoughts on, or experience with, this type of set-up would be appreciated.

:thumbsup:
 
I ran a setup like that for a year touring in 2000-2001, 68' Marshall 50w into the left side, Apollo 1 (Fender/Dumblish clean head) into the right side, the cab was a recto 4x12".
No problems whatsoever, and no chance of harming the cab. I used a passive a/b-box identical to those Eric Johnson use, wired so the amps never share ground, eliminating ground loops.
Totally killer setup. So go ahead! :)
 
rlord1974":1lqtnct4 said:
I know Joe Bonamassa uses a 4x12" that is internally split into completely separate chambers/cabinets (i.e., the left two speakers are completely isolated and separate from the right two speakers) but, for the life of me, I can't remember the make of the cabinet he uses for this.

Any thoughts on, or experience with, this type of set-up would be appreciated.

:thumbsup:

Joe is currently using some Marshall cabs (tall Hendrix type) loaded with EVs and no internal separation. He does have some Van Wheelden cabs that have the divider, but they haven't been used since last year.

You should have no hassles using your cabs this way.
 
I tried running an Electra Dyne and Dual Recto through separate sides in a Mesa 4x12. I didn't like the results. Both amps produce a lot of bottom end and it felt like the speakers were fighting each other. When I separated them back into separate cabs the clarity improved.
 
I tried to run 2 different heads into a 2x12 stereo, and thought it sounded like Butt. Just didn't work, something major was going wrong in the sound. phasing and whatever..
 
Rob,

You aren't going to hurt anything doing it that way. Sonically, running them as A or B, you can probably have decent results. Running the heads together, through a single cab, there could be some competition for the sonic space. However, if you get your Y-Not built to control the phasing for your Matchless, you should be OK from that perspective. If you couldn't control phasing issues with tube stages changing in the channel switcher, it would sound like ass. If you felt like doing some mods to a cab, setting up an internal baffle would be fairly easy though. Didn't Mesa make a cab for the Roadster that was this way?
 
Last year, before going all Axe-Fx, I was running a Fortin Cali JCM 800 50 watt and an Elmwood M-60 into a Marshall 1960 4x12 stereo cab.
The cab had V30's and Heritage 30's in an X pattern, so each amp had one of each. Sounded fricking HUGE !

Ran my guitar into a Lehle Little Dual and then to each amp. The Lehle isolates the outputs to get rid of any hum, and also has a phase
switch to take care of that as well...highly recommended .

RVM
 
I have an old 4 x 12 that I wired true stereo and used to run a dry head into one side and wet into the other. Sounded huge. If you want to switch between the two get a Radial Headbone VT.
 
Thanks for the responses folks!


mike hickey":268rtv8f said:
Joe is currently using some Marshall cabs (tall Hendrix type) loaded with EVs and no internal separation. He does have some Van Wheelden cabs that have the divider, but they haven't been used since last year.
Thanks, Mike. The cab(s) I was thinking of, Joe was using quite a few years ago. I'm totally out of touch with what he's using currently.


some dude":268rtv8f said:
I didn't like the results. Both amps produce a lot of bottom end and it felt like the speakers were fighting each other. When I separated them back into separate cabs the clarity improved.
This is what I was worried about - the potential for poor clarity. I thought that, if I was to run only one head into 2 of the 4 speakers in the 4x12" cab, the cab wouldn't sound "right", as it's voiced to be used with all four speakers pushing air at the same time.....

Thanks, some dude.


Audioholic":268rtv8f said:
I tried to run 2 different heads into a 2x12 stereo.....something major was going wrong in the sound. phasing and whatever..
Yes, phasing was a concern of mine as well.


steve_k":268rtv8f said:
.....if you get your Y-Not built to control the phasing for your Matchless, you should be OK from that perspective. If you couldn't control phasing issues with tube stages changing in the channel switcher, it would sound like ass.
Thanks, Steve. Yes, I will be getting the Y-NOT with the YB mod, which allows you to change the phase of one of the amps using midi commands.


RandyVanMartini":268rtv8f said:
Last year, I was running a Fortin Cali JCM 800 50 watt and an Elmwood M-60 into a Marshall 1960 4x12 stereo cab......Sounded fricking HUGE !
This is promising. :thumbsup:



Well, as mentioned in my OP, I hope to be able to use two 2x12" cabs most gigs, so the stereo 4x12" route will hopefully be for "emergencies" only.

Thanks again for the responses!
 
The cabinet Joe B used was a Caregory 5 tall 4x12 that was split vertically with a baffle for two separate 2x12's. Category 5 still sells these, check out there site for more info.
 
Just a thought, Joe is now running all but one head through Palmer speaker simulators live, that could be why he's now using the oversized Marshall without the internal baffle, as he don't have to worry about separation for micing.
And I'm sure his roadies are thankful for cabs that's at least a few pounds lighter. :D
 
rlord1974":2xihuucd said:
Well, as mentioned in my OP, I hope to be able to use two 2x12" cabs most gigs, so the stereo 4x12" route will hopefully be for "emergencies" only.

Thanks again for the responses!
I have never used (2)2x12's together, so forgive me if this is a dumb question, but what are the downsides of stacking 2x12's, or placing them on their sides, compared to using a 4x12 split in stereo?
 
I have run this type of set up many times and have never had any trouble with clarity or phasing issues. I used the Radial Switchbone and it has a very useful polarity switch. The cabs JB was using in the past were Budda's. I bought two of his awhile back that he traded to a GC for two Marshall 1960B cabs and he pleaded with me to sell the Budda's back to him.....which I did. He felt his Super Lead was going to blow the Marshalls during soundcheck. So, I basically owned his cabs for about 5 hours and never got to play through them......just a boring story for any insomniacs out there :aww:
 
Erock":3ofi0677 said:
rlord1974":3ofi0677 said:
Well, as mentioned in my OP, I hope to be able to use two 2x12" cabs most gigs, so the stereo 4x12" route will hopefully be for "emergencies" only.

Thanks again for the responses!
I have never used (2)2x12's together, so forgive me if this is a dumb question, but what are the downsides of stacking 2x12's, or placing them on their sides, compared to using a 4x12 split in stereo?

If I stack them, the two amp sounds won't be at the same ear level, which makes the rig much less rewarding to play.

As for placing them on their sides?.....No real downside, other than aesthetics. But, they would still take up more room than a single 4x12".
 
bwgintegra":ox36so7q said:
The cabinet Joe B used was a Caregory 5 tall 4x12 that was split vertically with a baffle for two separate 2x12's. Category 5 still sells these, check out there site for more info.

We have a winner, folks! The Category 5 Tall Straight was in fact the cab I was thinking about.....

http://www.category5amps.com/

:thumbsup:
 
rlord1974":j3fz1bw2 said:
Erock":j3fz1bw2 said:
rlord1974":j3fz1bw2 said:
Well, as mentioned in my OP, I hope to be able to use two 2x12" cabs most gigs, so the stereo 4x12" route will hopefully be for "emergencies" only.

Thanks again for the responses!
I have never used (2)2x12's together, so forgive me if this is a dumb question, but what are the downsides of stacking 2x12's, or placing them on their sides, compared to using a 4x12 split in stereo?

If I stack them, the two amp sounds won't be at the same ear level, which makes the rig much less rewarding to play.

As for placing them on their sides?.....No real downside, other than aesthetics. But, they would still take up more room than a single 4x12".
I see, makes sense. A friend of mine had 2 of the Splawn vertical 2x12, and it looked and sounded great, but they did take up a bit more room together than a 4x12.
 
Blix":245qbs60 said:
Just a thought, Joe is now running all but one head through Palmer speaker simulators live, that could be why he's now using the oversized Marshall without the internal baffle, as he don't have to worry about separation for micing.
And I'm sure his roadies are thankful for cabs that's at least a few pounds lighter. :D

All the amps go through the Palmers, but the Jubilee/2555 Marshall also has a microphone. The Marshall cabs were supposed to have the baffle, as well as regular Marshall handles. But when we received them last year there was no baffle, as well as silly leather strap handles :gethim:

I forgot about those Cat 5 cabs, as they are in storage presently.
 
mikehickey":wg446lik said:
Blix":wg446lik said:
Just a thought, Joe is now running all but one head through Palmer speaker simulators live, that could be why he's now using the oversized Marshall without the internal baffle, as he don't have to worry about separation for micing.
And I'm sure his roadies are thankful for cabs that's at least a few pounds lighter. :D

All the amps go through the Palmers, but the Jubilee/2555 Marshall also has a microphone. The Marshall cabs were supposed to have the baffle, as well as regular Marshall handles. But when we received them last year there was no baffle, as well as silly leather strap handles :gethim:

I forgot about those Cat 5 cabs, as they are in storage presently.

Ah cool, thanks for the info. I'm seriously considering picking up a couple of the PDI-09's for handling the wet part of my w/d/w rig....
 
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