Why might someone not prefer a 412?

[barnesjd]

I own 3 412 cabs and a 112 which I literally never use. I sold the speaker and I've not missed it once. I had an Orange PPC212 and only kept it a few months. I just love 412s and I feel like anything less is a compromise. However, I see a lot of guys proudly rocking 212s and 112s. I'm not sure if I'm just visually-biased or if I really prefer 412s. The best reasons I can think of for preferring smaller cabs is cost, portability, and perhaps volume (meaning that you can drive the amp harder while producing less volume with fewer speakers). Why do some of you guys prefer 212s or 112s?

 

[chunktone]

I own 3 412 cabs and a 112 which I literally never use. I sold the speaker and I've not missed it once. I had an Orange PPC212 and only kept it a few months. I just love 412s and I feel like anything less is a compromise. However, I see a lot of guys proudly rocking 212s and 112s. I'm not sure if I'm just visually-biased or if I really prefer 412s. The best reasons I can think of for preferring smaller cabs is cost, portability, and perhaps volume (meaning that you can drive the amp harder while producing less volume with fewer speakers). Why do some of you guys prefer 212s or 112s?

Because they're wrong!

 

[jsp]

My 2x12 has all the volume, thickness, depth, punch, etc, that I could ever need and then some, but for half the size and weight of a 4x12, so it's kind of a no-brainer for me.

 

[Mr. Willy]

For me it's all about portability. Sure, 4x12's sound better but after loading them in and out, in and out, you get tired of it after awhile.

 

[Sierra Voodoo]

My 2x12 has all the volume, thickness, depth, punch, etc, that I could ever need and then some, but for half the size and weight of a 4x12, so it's kind of a no-brainer for me.

+1......my Orange PPC212 sounds huge with my rig!

 

[Shawn Lutz]

I have (5) 4x12's. I have always been a 4x12 guy since I bought my first 1/2 stack in the early 80's, regardless of volume levels, live gigs or playing at home. I prefer 1/2 stacks

I do have one 1x12 cab, it is a Mesa 3/4 back ported widebody that I pair with a DC-5 combo, so it is a stacked 2x12 and the thing does sound much bigger than it really is.

A lot of people just hate carting them around and if your gigging in clubs that mic one 12 in speaker and control overall volume form the board it almost is moot point...I'd still cart a coupe 4x12's if I had stage space

 

[rcm78]

Because one might not want to lug a 4X12 around anymore...

My old Mesa Halfbacks were HEAVY!!! A 2X12 with wheels and I'm good nowadays!!!

 

[iplayloudly]

I used to feel the same, but nowadays I just carry around a Marshall Class 5 1x10" combo. I never play anywhere that doesn't use a PA, so what's the point of anything bigger? Some will argue that a 412 just "sounds bigger" even at lower volumes, which may be true, but when you close-mic it right up to the speaker, IMO you lose most coloration the cab adds to the sound anyway. Heck even if I were playing huge stadium arenas I could still get by with a small combo just fine.

Having said that, I do have a DSL 50 head and a 2x12 Avatar cab that I use on occasion, but usually its just the Class 5.

 

[timeroo]

Weight, convenience etc

 

[thegame]

Here's an inexpensive accessory that makes lugging 4x12s around a breeze :

 

[blackba]

Because one might not want to lug a 4X12 around anymore...

My old Mesa Halfbacks were HEAVY!!! A 2X12 with wheels and I'm good nowadays!!!

The only 412 I own is a mesa halfback 412 and man is that thing a beast. It sounds great, but is not an easy move.

I seem to settle on 212's as I get more spread than a typical 112 and I find them much easier to move around. Also with a 412 or 2 412's you have the perceived volume issue. Meaning that if you show up to a bar with a 412 or two, many sound people and bar owners will assume you are louder than if you show up with a 112 combo. Sad but often true.

 

[legend71]

I gig about 45-50 shows a year. I usally use my 2x12 and even it is heavy. I stuck wheels on it so that helps. I recently used a 1x12 combo for a gig with serious volume restrictions and frankly the sound sucked for me. I like the half stack feel and overall girth. My head and cab are still pretty heavy, but I think a 4x12 would put me over the top and it also won't really fit in my jeep very well. I play with a pretty loud drummer too and my soundman is not as great at mixing as I would him to be so I like to have the ammo to boost my sound up if needed ha.

 

[sytharnia1560]

I have never liked the big bottom end I hear with 4x12's... I run 4 1x12 cabs (2 closed back and 2 open) either as a stereo or wet/dry X pattern set up. Works great and you don't get that big fat bottom end, but a nice balanced bottom.....mind you it is more of a pain lugging them around than one cab and you need way more cables

 

[stdio]

4x12 won't fit in a mustang

 

[barnesjd]

Here's an inexpensive accessory that makes lugging 4x12s around a breeze :

I agree with this 100%. Being able to deadlift over 200% of my body weight helps tremendously.

Of course, I expected a lot of people to cite portability as the main problem. I never thought about the point regarding mic'ing a single speaker kinda makes the 412 moot. But I have to wonder if that's not entirely true. There's air behind it that all four are mucking around with.

 

[barnesjd]

BTW, portability is certainly NOT a problem for me... For starters I don't have time for a band at the moment with 4 young children. Secondly, I own an F150 and an Excursion. I've gots the room!

 

[thegame]

I never thought about the point regarding mic'ing a single speaker kinda makes the 412 moot. But I have to wonder if that's not entirely true. There's air behind it that all four are mucking around with.

If it was only the relative lack of bass in 2x12 and 1x12 cabs that makes most people think they don't sound as good as 4x12s, things would be easier. But more speakers = more phase interaction (frequency peaks and notches) between them (even using the same type) = a more complex tone, especially in the midrange. Its simple physics and not debatable. What is subjective is which one sounds best to you.

 

[barnesjd]

If it was only the relative lack of bass in 2x12 and 1x12 cabs that makes most people think they don't sound as good as 4x12s, things would be easier. But more speakers = more phase interaction (frequency peaks and notches) between them (even using the same type) = a more complex tone, especially in the midrange. Its simple physics and not debatable. What is subjective is which one sounds best to you.

Actually, you're wrong. It's among them... more phase interaction among them.



But seriously, that's what I suspected. This tells me that a mic'd speaker in a 412 just ain't gonna sound the same as a mic'd speaker isolated in a 112.

 

[jsp]

Here's an inexpensive accessory that makes lugging 4x12s around a breeze :

Not lugging around extra weight for no benefit, and not being able to are two different things

 

[Drew]

BTW, portability is certainly NOT a problem for me... For starters I don't have time for a band at the moment with 4 young children. Secondly, I own an F150 and an Excursion. I've gots the room!

I was going to ask how often you are gigging and getting home at 2 or 3am and have to pull a 4x12 out of the vehicle? Or are you loading in and out of a venue with stairs and narrow hallways and nobody is helping you carry the cab? Or playing gigs as a sideman to a pop singer where the sound of a roaring Marshall halfstack is not needed/wanted? Or playing on a small stage in a relatively quiet venue where a 4x12 looks and sounds really out of place? It's all about the right gear for the gig.