Cabz: Good 4x12 or Killer 2x12?

[frigid midget]

The way I see it, my opions, for roughly the same price:

- 2x12 thick plywood birch cabinet. Nothing too boutique or custom, I'm thinking Orange or equivalent...

- 4x12 cab, old Marshall 1960, less thick/heavy birch plywood boards...

If the speakers were the same, and the weight too, what would you do, and wy? One takes up less space in my living room and car, the other projects twice as much air...

So in other words...With the same speakers, does the superior build quality of a heavy ass high end 2x12 cab make up for having half as many speakers as an 80s Marshall 1960??

[BoatRich]

Id rather have a 412 9 times out of 10. You can always turn down, can't make a 212 louder

[frigid midget]

Id rather have a 412 9 times out of 10. You can always turn down, can't make a 212 louder

That makes sense I guess. But how often will a lack of volume come down to a pair of speakers?

So in this case (my particular case ), lets assume your amp has plenty of headroom, and volume/power won't ever be an issue...?

[Boxbie]

A 412 looks 10x better on stage !

[tremolo3]

2x12 are sexier.
4x12 are pure rawk.

[PeteeBee]

I have an orange 212 and love it. i normally turn it sideways. Only qualm is that big amp heads don't fit on it sideways, and with it horizontal I don't hear myself quite as well because the speakers are at ankle height. Looking to down the road replace my big peavey musician with something smaller but still lots of watts, the. I can always have it vertical and always be happy.

[Adamadamadam]

A properly ported/scienced 2x12 should be about as loud as a 4x12, but

4x12 are pure rawk.

Ceteris paribus, I'd probably go with the option that moves the most air.

[rfurtkamp]

I'd probably go with a 4x12 if transporting and storing it wasn't an issue.

Only advantage of the 2x12 normally is weight, and you're cutting that out!

[frigid midget]

The thing is, storage/transport IS a thing for me. Would't even call it an issue, butbif by any chance an Orange 2x12 sounds BETTER than my Marshall cab (Which as far as 4x12 cabs go isnt even THAT heavy)...I would consider replacing it

One other thing holding me back, its been mensioned here already...
The typical 2x12 dimensions would mean I'd project everything at my knees, and my amp's controls woulndt be at eye height anymore, I'd have to fucking squat to tweak the eq or whatever

Marshall used to have a regular square sized 2x12 cab with the speakers placed diagonal. It was a little smaller/lighter/cheaper than a 1960, but still big enough to fit most heads on. Too bad theres no/few cabs like that :s

[rfurtkamp]

I accept cabs as they are, a light fullsize is nothing to sneeze at if it sounds good.

I had a lightweight 1x15 cab for my old Bassman that was absolutely killer, but I wasn't gigging places of that size and moving across the country, so...

For a 2x12 I'd probably just end up using an amp stand, which kills resting the head on it as well.

[Muff_Diver]

Ive never heard a 2x12 sound better than a 4x12 with the same speakers.

[John Matrix]

4x12's are easier to hear on stage unless you can always rely on having nice monitors. Also, I find a 4x12 with casters way less of a pain in the ass to load in than a 2x12.

[D.o.S.]

The 1960's are decent cabs for the money, too.

[frigid midget]

Also, I find a 4x12 with casters way less of a pain in the ass to load in than a 2x12.

Casters. Dind't think of that, real good point...

[frigid midget]

The 1960's are decent cabs for the money, too.

Aren't the current ones made in China though? As in partical board, chinese Celestions,...?
Don't even remember where I read that, but I kinda based my decision on that to buy me an old jcm 800 cab. Ok, that and the fact it was cheap and has the brown front speaker cloth...

Also, slightly off topic...Anyone else tip there marshall cab on its side, so it makes contact with the floor?