Help me Choose a 4x12 Cabinet.

[Gex]

Hey, Ive got a Peavey JSX head, and a Marshall JCM 800 series 1960B 4x12 with Celestion G12T-75's.

This cabinet is pretty nice, I think, Its the only cab Ive ever owned.

I *think* I want a new cabinet, but Im not sure what I want exactly.

I would like more midrange and better lows and highs. Is it just me, or do Celestions sound a bit thin?

Please, suggest a cab or speakers that I should look at to get a fatter, more midsy sound.

THANKS for any help!

[whatshisname]

I have two cabs(an old Laney, and a JCM900 from when they first came out) with the same speakers you're currently using, and while I don't hardly find them to be thin sounding, I still think I understand where you're coming from. They are a bit different sounding, and they'll only put out so much low end, before they start farting. Thank goodness I'm not a "bass on 10" kind of guy!

Maybe try some Vintage 30s in your Marshall? If you really want to buy a new cab, how about a matching Peavey 4x12?

[JTM45]

I'd go with the 'Celestion Vintage 30s' in your Marshall cab. IMO they're the best speaker money can buy.Don't be put off by the 'Vintage' name, they're just as good for Thrash as they are Blues etc etc.

Great Speakers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[red5]

What JTM45 said is pretty good advice.

I also jave 2 JCM 800 1960 cabs with the 75 watt Celestions in them. I am trying to sell my straight cabinet so I can put 4 Celestion Classic Leads into my angled cabinet (I don't even use the straight one anyway!). I have determind I like their sound much better then either the 75s or the vintage 30s!

[Gurj]

I have a Peavey XXX slant cab which I use with the XXX head. If you really wanna a new cab, I would definately try that one first. As the JSX is designed around the XXX, I would assume that you would be able to get the range you are after. I definately get a fat sound out my set up.

[Gex]

If I do anything, Im going to leave my 1960B alone, leave the G12T-75's in them. They are great for 80's metal (my love)

But I want something capable of a more versitle, sweeter sound. My Marshall is a bit harsh, which blends in well with a JCM 800 (next amp in line to get, and probably the last for a LONG time, I just need 2 full setups at 2 different locations.

I *briefly* tried the xxx cab with it a few days ago. It sounded kinda muddy, but maybe I should give it another try, I think im just too used to my TIGHT sounding celestions. Satch himself said a Namm interview video I saw, that he prefers the XXX cab over his old 1960A and 1960AV cabs. I didnt know if he was serious, or if he was just advertising for Peavey, or what he was saying.

Please, keep the suggestions coming.

BTW, at a pawn shop near me, there is a Marshall 1960(B) Classic, which I understand has Celestion Greenbacks in them. How are these?

[ritterd]

What ever you do, Get a bottom cab. The top 2 speakers aren't out of phase with the other 2 (due to the slanting) You keep definition and get better bottom end. Tis a Fact.

D

[ritterd]

Most Peavey 4x12 are Sheffield speakers (EMINENCE) I have reason to believe that even the 5150 Cabs and XXX Cabs are EMINENCE as well. 5150 Cabs are CLOSE to a Marshall..they tend to have a little more saturation. When Micing, We miked completly off the cone to get the sound of a slightly off cone Marshall 1960B cab. Through a PA system, I don't think anyone is really gonna notice. Thery're Reasonably priced too. I've seen used 5150 cabs float around for $300 in mint shape. The only reason people steer away from them is the 5150 tag and peavey tag (Why I don't know). I have a 5150 Head and Slant 4x12 and a JCM900MKIII 50watt and the Matchin 4x12 bottom cab. Tones are soooooo close...just bottom cab has more "UMPH" in it.

D

[Gresh]

The greenbacks are really going to darken the tone, it is a very mid heavy, compressed sort of sound. They sound great when pushed really really hard. For clean tones they don't do it for me at all and I love clean chimey tones so I won't go near them. I think the Vintage 30s are a great speaker, as was already mentioned. They really excell at just about everything.

the best advice I can give is to try many cabinets with your set up. I'd also suggest going with a straight cab if you like a fuller tone, I'm convinced they sound better.

I have a Bogner 4x12 with Vintage 30s and it just kills anything I've ever played through. It was wicked expensive though, so I guess it better sound good, right? I've never played my amp through a Cornford cab, but I've heard those sound amazing as well...but again, get out the checkbook.

The bogner is really exceptional. I also have a mesa recto 2x12 with the same speakers and there is no comparison at all. I like a very balanced tone that doesn't over-emphasize any particular frequency range and the Bogner feels like it does the best job to my ears. The marshalls that I've experienced tend to get spikey on the high end and a bit shrill in the upper mids, maybe sharp is the better adjective. The bogner is just alive, very rounded and balanced. Even compared to the mesa, where the mesa is more like a sip of whisky, the bogner is like Bailey's...smooth and big. Speakers also need to be broken in before they really start to smooth out for you, so take that into consideration.

[Gex]

Im 17, and my checkbook is about the size of the period at the end of this sentence.

The Bogner, from the way you've described it, sounds exactly like what I want. I just checked **** for used Bogner cabs -- $750....$850....$1000!

As for the speaker being broken in, im pretty sure they are VERY broken in if they are anything like the tolex! They just dont have a midrange. I think for my wallet's sake, I may have to go with an Avatar. Ive heard rave reviews about them.

EDIT: Haha. . .E|bay is blocked by the swear filter!

[Gresh]

Yeah, I warned you. The cornfords are even more due to them having to be shipped from England. At least the bogners are stateside, but they're 100lbs a pop. That's why I keep the trusty 2x12 laying around.

While I truly believe that cabinet selection is critical to your overall tone, I'm also a fan of not wasting your money. You might try some less risky avenues and experiment with putting a multi band eq in your effects loop or maybe try a sonic maximizer. There might just be a few frequencies you need to control, and if so you can handle that with a half decent eq for a few hundred bucks and save your cash. It's all trial and error. And this way if you err, then you just send the eq back for a refund and try something else.

[SpidaWeb]

I just purchased a Randall R412XLT and I can't say enough good things about it. Solid Construction, Celestion Vintage 30's, Mono/Stereo, removable casters, and Direct Line outs make it a very nice cabinet. It's a straight cab with a slight angle to the baffle.

I usually do not have good things to say about cab sims but, I was impressed by the mic eliminator outs. I can see running a mic and the mic eliminators to the FoH and mixing the two for some nice dynamics.

Anyway, these cabs seem to run 700 - 900 dollars and are worth it. I got a good deal on mine and have never been happier.

[red5]

Originally Posted by ritterd

What ever you do, Get a bottom cab. The top 2 speakers aren't out of phase with the other 2 (due to the slanting) You keep definition and get better bottom end. Tis a Fact.

D

He already has a straight one, I'd get an angled one so he has both. Plus he wants something warmer etc. so a slant makes more sense!

[red5]

Greenbacks and G12M75s are voiced almost identically, but Greenbacks are 25 watts so they will breakup much earlier.

Seriously I would replace your 75s with Vintage 30s or Classic Leads. It's the best of both worlds. I like the smooth tone and all the mids in the Classic Lead myself, but either should be a vast improvement.

The 75s are too harsh with the mids to get a really good 80s tone IMO.

[swatguitar85]

Yea, I'd say go with the Vintage 30s. I have a rectifier cab that sounds great. Check the Legacy cab though if you're looking for a bit less expensive. I'm pretty sure that it comes with Vintage 30s, could be wrong though.