BlinkTwice
New member
I picked up a used Randall 2x12 with greenbacks in it a while ago and it sounds killer.
Keebz
New member
I've owned several 2x12's and an Emperor 2x12 is the best I've played through.
Mine easily competes with any 4x12! I currently have Emi V12's in it but I'd like to get some Jensen Electric Lightning loaded up!!
Mine easily competes with any 4x12! I currently have Emi V12's in it but I'd like to get some Jensen Electric Lightning loaded up!!
RaceU4her
Well-known member
this thing smokes most 4x12s. i bought a randall 4x12 after getting this thinking it would be even better but its just not the same, the 2x12 just has a certain punch and low end the 4x12s and other 2x12s ive played dont have. i cant figure out why this style of cab isnt more popular than it is
BlinkTwice
New member
RaceU4her":23ij4k0h said:
this thing smokes most 4x12s. i bought a randall 4x12 after getting this thinking it would be even better but its just not the same, the 2x12 just has a certain punch and low end the 4x12s and other 2x12s ive played dont have. i cant figure out why this style of cab isnt more popular than it is
Do any companies make something like that now?
Vrad
Active member
My favorite 2x12 is a 4x12...
But if you have to have a 2x12, I had an old THD 2x12 with CL80's that was sweet. Also, Splawn makes a killer little 2x12.
But if you have to have a 2x12, I had an old THD 2x12 with CL80's that was sweet. Also, Splawn makes a killer little 2x12.
fek
Well-known member
I really like my TM2X12. Sounds great, versatile with the 1/3 open back option and stereo/mono inputs, along with sweet removable casters. My only gripe is that there are a ton of screws to remove to get the back off to swap speakers.
FastRedPonyCar
Active member
My thoughts:
I used to own a buzzbomb and it's very very tight, powerful and focused but has very little spread to the sound. not "3D" sounding and it's really loud and clean on stage if you're in front of it but when you move to the side, it vanishes.
I still own one of the old standard open back avatar 212's and it's an ok cab I guess. nice low end, decently filling but nothign special other than being dirt cheap. I like it better than the legacy 212 and mesa standard 212.
I think another amazing 212 is the standard bogner "shiva" 212 open back. Easily one of the loudest, biggest baddest sounding cabs I've ever plugged into and I know it's a good cab because it can make V30's sound good
Our old guitarist used to have the OS 212 bogner and the low end was farty and messy when pushed to stage volume using my nitro. It simply couldn't cope with that degree of low end.
To it's credit, the ubercab 412 couldn't deal with it either...
The best sounding 212 I've ever plugged into though has to be the port city cabs. Their OS version keeps it's shit together when pushed hard and has a big full stage presence. The price is also outstanding.
The 2 cabs I still want to try are the mills 212 and the red star 212's. Mills are built a few hours south and I was planning a trip over to see them a few weeks ago but something came up and couldn't make it.
One thing I will say though is that generally, unless you're after something very specific with the sound, a well designed/built cab can make even the worst speakers sound good.
I used to own a buzzbomb and it's very very tight, powerful and focused but has very little spread to the sound. not "3D" sounding and it's really loud and clean on stage if you're in front of it but when you move to the side, it vanishes.
I still own one of the old standard open back avatar 212's and it's an ok cab I guess. nice low end, decently filling but nothign special other than being dirt cheap. I like it better than the legacy 212 and mesa standard 212.
I think another amazing 212 is the standard bogner "shiva" 212 open back. Easily one of the loudest, biggest baddest sounding cabs I've ever plugged into and I know it's a good cab because it can make V30's sound good
Our old guitarist used to have the OS 212 bogner and the low end was farty and messy when pushed to stage volume using my nitro. It simply couldn't cope with that degree of low end.
To it's credit, the ubercab 412 couldn't deal with it either...
The best sounding 212 I've ever plugged into though has to be the port city cabs. Their OS version keeps it's shit together when pushed hard and has a big full stage presence. The price is also outstanding.
The 2 cabs I still want to try are the mills 212 and the red star 212's. Mills are built a few hours south and I was planning a trip over to see them a few weeks ago but something came up and couldn't make it.
One thing I will say though is that generally, unless you're after something very specific with the sound, a well designed/built cab can make even the worst speakers sound good.
primerib
Member
Mesa recto 2x12. it's perfect
jessebondrocks
New member
I have an avatar classic and it came with v30's. it was ok... and then i switched to gb's and 
guitarslinger
New member
Emperor Vertical with EV Ceramic SRO's.
G
Gooseman
New member
troublehead":14g6zh5c said:I've owned a ton of 2x12's. I'm talking Splawn, Bogner, VHT FB, Orange, Engl Pro, Avatar Contemporary, Genz Benz, Ear Candy and so on. I'm being totally honest when I say my cheap Egnater TM212 sounds better than all of them. I hate Classic Lead 80's, so I have a Hellatone 60L and GT75 in there right now. I like this a bit better than the V30/G12H30 mix.
Here's some of my beefs with the "hyped" 2x12's around here. And this is based on actual experience and not web talk. This is all my opinion and I also have thrown some cabs in together due to their close similarities:
Bogner OS 212, Mojo Bluesbreaker OS, and Avatar Vintage - all great for cleans and mid-gain, but really "hollow" and loose sounding............no punch under heavy gain and flubby low end.
Genz Benz G-Flex and Ear Candy Buzzbomb- pretty cool for awhile just because its so different sounding............but you soon notice how hi-fi it sounds and has no real "character". Bass is really boomy and sounds "fake" for lack of a better word.. Pretty cool for jamming around the house though.
Orange PPC212 and Avatar Contemporary - identical sound IMO, great for for loud volumes, awesome low end handling, rolled off highs. The problem is when you use these at low to moderate volumes..........they DO NOT breathe/resonate at all unless really cranked. At low volumes you end up with a dead/thuddy sound. Really noticeable when you A/B it against something else at the same volumes with same speakers. Would be my choice for gigging if I were playing chugga chugga
Splawn Regular 212- Similar to the Orange and Avatar Contemporary, but more manageable at lower volumes.
VHT/Fryette FB - I hate the P50's, but pretty cool cab if you don't mind extremely focused directional sound.
Engl Pro 212- No complaints here. Awesome cab all around but pricey. I really wish I would have kept mine. Really punchy and balanced EQ-wise even with the spikey V30's.
Egnater TM212 - Nice punchy sound at ANY volume. Ability to go 3/4 back for different flavors. No corner cutting despite cheap price and outside US construction.
A very affordable sleeper is the Lopoline "Signature" cab. I actually preferred this cab to my Splawn 212. I sold it and want another one
I had the opposite experience with the Avatar Contemporary cabinet. Mine was quite a bit quieter and dead sounding than my PPC212. My bandmates even noticed the difference, which didn't change regardless of the volume. It was a disappointing truth to say the least.
T
tom_h
New member
I am extremely happy with my Bogner 2x12.
some dude
Active member
Recto 2x12.
Probably not for everyone, but it works really well for me.
Probably not for everyone, but it works really well for me.
crankyrayhanky
Well-known member
Not a lot of experience with 2x12s but I have a vertical Mesa that delivers what I need
Probably important to note music genre, as different cabs probably give differing results. Mesa is obvious- rock/metal
Probably important to note music genre, as different cabs probably give differing results. Mesa is obvious- rock/metal
G
Gooseman
New member
Surprised to see Mesa's 212 get so much love. I've heard such bad things about them over the years. Even a Mesa online guy told me that the Recto 212 is a great cab, but can put some people off by its upper midrange honk it produces. I've never tried one, nor really understand what an upper midrange honk is, but he did say there are a lot of people who love them. He also stated that Mesa's Celestion Vintage 30s are still produced the same as past Vintage 30s, and that their new batch of V-30s did not sound as rich in the upper-mids.
I suddenly have interest in trying one of these 212 cabs out now -- I live the fact that they have casters on them.
I suddenly have interest in trying one of these 212 cabs out now -- I live the fact that they have casters on them.
sinfish
New member
I have been using a pair of old ADA 2x12 splitstack slant cabs. I like them allot more than the Genz Benz 2x12 I had. That was garbage IMHO. I also have a ported Ear Candy cab. It sounds pretty good but I still like the ADA's better. they have Celestion G12s-50s in them.
Mark Day
Active member
Just got my CAA 2x12" with V30's and I love it. Liked the Orange and Mesa 2x12"s but this CAA kicks all kinds of ass!
Mark
Mark
billm408
New member
Really like the Bogner OS 2x12. Pulled the V30's and loaded Scumback M75's and it's great!
FWIW... the OS 2x12 is only about 6" shorter than a standard 4x12.
FWIW... the OS 2x12 is only about 6" shorter than a standard 4x12.
some dude
Active member
Gooseman":28rxz2ci said:
Ever since nu-metal people have loved to hate anything with the name "Recto" attached to it. I'm sure there's some legitimate dislike... as in they tried it and they honestly didn't like it, but I feel there's a lot of institutionalized hate... as in people who hate them simply because other people hate them.
Anyway, my personal opinion is that the majority of guitarists (remembering that the vast majority of guitarists don't gig) tend to judge a cab based on how it sounds a few feet in front of them. You know, at the store, in the bedroom... stuff like that. If you listen to a Recto cab (2x12 or 4x12) up close it sounds extremely scooped and very boomy. But, if you back off 20 or 40 feet they actually have a really great midrange and most of the boom you hear up close dissipates. I like them because they have a fairly detailed midrange yet don't have a strong emphasis on the pick attack. They also mic up extremely well due to the way the emphasise/de-emphasis certain frequencies.... I sometimes think Mesa designed it while listening to it through an SM57.
D-Rock
Well-known member
I prefer my oversized Randall 2x12.
With V30's it sounded boxy and congested. I was surprised myself, but the V30's were breaking up too much at high volumes and the lows were sounding like mush. Not clear or focused at all.
I pulled them out and now have two 75 watt WGS Retro 30's in it.
These speakers are much more articulate and stay together much better at high volumes. Tight lowend, cutting yet smooth top end and an even amount of mids. They kinda remind me of a mix between T75's and V30's in one speaker. Perfect for high gain.
With V30's it sounded boxy and congested. I was surprised myself, but the V30's were breaking up too much at high volumes and the lows were sounding like mush. Not clear or focused at all.
I pulled them out and now have two 75 watt WGS Retro 30's in it.
These speakers are much more articulate and stay together much better at high volumes. Tight lowend, cutting yet smooth top end and an even amount of mids. They kinda remind me of a mix between T75's and V30's in one speaker. Perfect for high gain.