Looking for a new cab. This time I'm serious.

[groph]

First things first, I just did a search and had a browse through the responses. I also lurk this forum all the time.

I've been threatening to get a new cab for a long time now, but I can't make my mind up over whether or not I want a 2x12 or a 4x12.

My current situation is as follows. I can't bring myself to form a band which would play shows, but I really want to. A friend of mine is thinking about selling his drums because he feels he's stagnating in the band he's in, and I'll never get around to making a band with him. I'd honestly probably cry if he did that. I guess the point I'm making here is that I can't justify a 4x12. Just too damn big for a rig that will just be sitting in my living room downstairs hardly ever being played.

Still, I can't see myself selling off all my gear because it's not being used. I look at it as something of an investment, and I'll surely end up in some kind of a band in the future. I can't see that not happening.

Getting back on track, I'm kind of leaning towards a 2x12 now. I figure that I'll most likely be the only guitarist in the bands I'm in, and if I ever need 4x12's, I can just get another 2x12 and stick it at the other end of the stage. Plus, 2x12's just look awesome with a head, and even more awesome stacked on top of each other. I can also get a better quality 2x12 with the same money I'd be spending on a mediocre 4x12. I'd PREFER to go new as it's a more reliable source, and used cabs tend to be quite used.

I play death metal almost exclusively. I don't give a hoot about cleans or mid-gain tones. I like full mids and I like scooped mids, depends on the context they're being used in. I don't really need a million different tones, just a small arsenal of great high gain tones. I don't play leads either. I certainly like a low-mid heavy tone with a bit of a sear in the highs but nothing scratchy of course. I don't really care for super upper-mid heavy tones. Although, I do like the mid hump of Vintage 30's. I don't need really really tight bass, but I don't want flub. Basically, I don't want any bad extremes, but I don't want total smoothness either. "Controlled ugliness" is what I go for.

I use a Randall RM100 head, a Jackson DKMGT and a BC Rich Platinum Warlock. I tune anywhere between B standard and D standard with the occasional Drop A. I'm not looking for any kind of low F# djentiness, nor am I looking for a super-articulate tech death tone. I want something kind of dirty sounding. I don't want something sterile. My price bracket would be around $500 CAD.

Any recommendations for a nice 2x12? I don't really like the looks of any of the Avatar cabs. I know tone is more important but I want to be satisfied with the appearance of my rig as well. Are Vaders really all they're cracked up to be?

 

[StefanWest]

I've done research until I'm blue in the balls...

I'm saving up for the Port City Amps 4x12 Oversized.

It's a closed back, but it has a horizontal port on the bottom.
They look good too.

I'm ordering one empty and putting Hellatone 60's in it.

I've looked at every cab out there, but haven't played through them all.

Look into them. they're about $600

 

[drenzium]

Vader definitely can do death metal, i would say they specialize in it ;p
Orange and Mesa can easily pull it off too, i vote orange.

 

[Rick]

I've been threatening to get a new cab for a long time now

This cracked me up.

"You watch, I'll fucking do it!"

 

[Larrikin666]

You should just get a custom built Texas Dragon. Kevin will do pretty much any dimensions and speakers you'd like. I'd pick one up if I didn't already have 8 cabs.

 

[budda]

1. why won't you start a band with the drummer?
2. if your rig isn't leaving your living room for now.. why NOT get a 412? you don't have to move it!
3. Try a Volt Cab (winnipeg), Saxon cabs in ontario

I tried a Bogner oversize 212 with a Peters and PRS/LP.. probably outside of your budget used perhaps, but damn, that cab sounded phenomenal. It was also almost as big as my 412 and went into the back of a freakin' sports coupe

 

[budda]

1. why won't you start a band with the drummer?
2. if your rig isn't leaving your living room for now.. why NOT get a 412? you don't have to move it!
3. Try a Volt Cab (winnipeg), Saxon cabs in ontario

I tried a Bogner oversize 212 with a Peters and PRS/LP.. probably outside of your budget used perhaps, but damn, that cab sounded phenomenal. It was also almost as big as my 412 and went into the back of a freakin' sports coupe

 

[groph]

1. why won't you start a band with the drummer?
2. if your rig isn't leaving your living room for now.. why NOT get a 412? you don't have to move it!
3. Try a Volt Cab (winnipeg), Saxon cabs in ontario

I tried a Bogner oversize 212 with a Peters and PRS/LP.. probably outside of your budget used perhaps, but damn, that cab sounded phenomenal. It was also almost as big as my 412 and went into the back of a freakin' sports coupe

1. Cause I'm laaaaaazy. I really should, we both want to but we're both equally unmotivated and useless. I really really should.

2. Good point, but I'd rather avoid the terror of moving a 4x12 especially if you have limited car space which pretty much everybody with a car does. I would get two 2x12's because I think that looks cooler than a 4x12 and I can spread them around the stage if I wanted, and it'd still be easier to move than one giant 4x12. I know people do it ALL THE TIME and it's not THAT hard, but you know that everybody you see hauling a 4x12 is thinking "fuckfuckwhydidinotgeta2x12fuckthisfuckingthingisfuckedwhyisntmygirlfriendmovingthisfuckingfuckedgoddamnfuckingcab" as they grunt and stumble towards their cars.

Still, if I can find a good deal on a good enough 4x12 I wouldn't not consider it.

3. Ok. (is currently googling volt cabs)

 

[groph]

Vader definitely can do death metal, i would say they specialize in it ;p
Orange and Mesa can easily pull it off too, i vote orange.

The only thing I'm worried about with the Vader is the speakers sounding too clean, making me lose some percieved gain, or less saturation or whatever. I don't really care for a super dry tone. I like having the option of having a dry tone, but not without the option of having lots of saturation.

I bet a Mesa 2x12 would be sufficiently boss, but they're something like $700 new around here. Orange would only be more.

 

[Customisbetter]

 

[PirateMetalTroy]

The only thing I'm worried about with the Vader is the speakers sounding too clean, making me lose some percieved gain, or less saturation or whatever. I don't really care for a super dry tone. I like having the option of having a dry tone, but not without the option of having lots of saturation.

I bet a Mesa 2x12 would be sufficiently boss, but they're something like $700 new around here. Orange would only be more.

Honestly, I'm really starting to dig my texas dragon. It's loosing it's hissy shrillness (I assume this is the speakers breaking in) Since you're in canada, you can expect the same sort of costs that I had.

After build, speakers, shipping and customs (which I assume were added in with the fedex shipping, because I didn't have to pay any extra when the cab arrived) my cab cost $420. Not to mention Kevin is a stand up dude. I'm probably gonna order another one of these once I offload some of my gear that I won't be needing anymore.

Don't forget that he'll do custom colors, dimensions, any eminence speakers you want (some might be an upcharge, but he has a list of stock ones that don't cost extra). He even does a little bit of oddball stuff like custom handle placement, or even extra handles.

http://www.sevenstring.org/forum/ge...bout-damn-time-i-posted-this.html#post1992328

My "New Cab Day" thread. There's a video in there too, but the audio quality is pretty lame.

 

[CentaurPorn]

Honestly, I'm really starting to dig my texas dragon. It's loosing it's hissy shrillness (I assume this is the speakers breaking in) Since you're in canada, you can expect the same sort of costs that I had.

After build, speakers, shipping and customs (which I assume were added in with the fedex shipping, because I didn't have to pay any extra when the cab arrived) my cab cost $420. Not to mention Kevin is a stand up dude. I'm probably gonna order another one of these once I offload some of my gear that I won't be needing anymore.

Don't forget that he'll do custom colors, dimensions, any eminence speakers you want (some might be an upcharge, but he has a list of stock ones that don't cost extra). He even does a little bit of oddball stuff like custom handle placement, or even extra handles.

http://www.sevenstring.org/forum/ge...bout-damn-time-i-posted-this.html#post1992328

My "New Cab Day" thread. There's a video in there too, but the audio quality is pretty lame.

I would expect a letter in the mail from FedEx with the brokerage fees etc. That is exactly why I don't like dealing with them. I hate surprises. I usually got it a few weeks to a month later.

 

[budda]

1. Cause I'm laaaaaazy. I really should, we both want to but we're both equally unmotivated and useless. I really really should.

2. Good point, but I'd rather avoid the terror of moving a 4x12 especially if you have limited car space which pretty much everybody with a car does. I would get two 2x12's because I think that looks cooler than a 4x12 and I can spread them around the stage if I wanted, and it'd still be easier to move than one giant 4x12. I know people do it ALL THE TIME and it's not THAT hard, but you know that everybody you see hauling a 4x12 is thinking "fuckfuckwhydidinotgeta2x12fuckthisfuckingthingisfuckedwhyisntmygirlfriendmovingthisfuckingfuckedgoddamnfuckingcab" as they grunt and stumble towards their cars.

Still, if I can find a good deal on a good enough 4x12 I wouldn't not consider it.

3. Ok. (is currently googling volt cabs)

1. fuck your excuses, call/facebook/email/IM the drummer by monday. I will ask you if you did. You are jamming with that drummer

2. Actually, I have no problems with moving my 412 (we call it.. casters! yes! Brilliant, I know ) - its 100lbs but I move it so infrequently that the weight doesn't matter. That and I'm not JJ, so I can actually lift the thing

3.

 

[groph]

1. fuck your excuses, call/facebook/email/IM the drummer by monday. I will ask you if you did. You are jamming with that drummer

2. Actually, I have no problems with moving my 412 (we call it.. casters! yes! Brilliant, I know ) - its 100lbs but I move it so infrequently that the weight doesn't matter. That and I'm not JJ, so I can actually lift the thing

3.

1. He lives around the corner. We've been trying to do stuff for years. He's probably quitting the band he's in now which kind of sucks but he doesn't like the direction it's going in. His drums are god knows where Its a matter of just doing it. We're all theory and no action. We have every reason in the world to start something. We even have a wicked vocalist who lives 5 minutes away and has the free time on weekends to jam. At the ABSOLUTE LEAST I need to write some stuff this summer.
2. Casters are an absolute must have if I get a 4x12. I can lift one too, but I'd just rather not. I'm not totally against a 4x12 though. Getting them up stairs is a pain and they take up a lot of room in a car.
3. I didn't find the site
4. I can count to four.

And to PirateMetalTroy, I shot Kevin off an email asking some questions. He looks like he has a reasonable business going on there. Maybe some kind of ported 2x12 cab like the G-Flex would be nice. Apparently those keep up with and defeat most 4x12s, and from what I gather he could make a similar cab.

 

[noob_pwn]

Get a 4x12. They seem to sound bigger and fuller and they really aren't all that bad to move around. To improve low end depth most 2x12's are about 3/4 the size of a 4x12 anyway so the size difference isn't really as much as you would expect, both are still "big" objects. When you start jamming if you have an angled 4x12 you will get better sound dispersion and will be able to hear yourself better than a 2x12 blowing air at your ankles.

 

[G_3_3_k_]

If you want the tits, get a Mills Acoustics 212. Otherwise Vader, Basson, Mesa, Orange or a Boutique cab.

 

[groph]

Alright. I emailed Kevin of Texas Dragon and he responded.

He's saying that for my needs, the Governor or Texas Heat will fit the bill. He's also saying that shipping to Canada will be over $100.

I'm looking for a low-middy, super dirty, grindy tone with the growl of a Vintage 30. Apparently the Governor is similar to a V30 but with better low end, which is pretty much what I want. The nasaly growl that V30's have is the most important part of the tone but I don't want sandpapery highs and weak lows. I'd like the highs to be fairly subdued, if I want more I can re-EQ the amp. I like a bit of "fizz" (like the Recto kind of tone, or The Acacia Strain's The Dead Walk - sick tone) but I don't want the speaker adding a bunch more that I can't get rid of. I actually really like the tone on The Dead Walk, so let's use that as a reference.

I might go for a 4x12, who knows. What do you guys think? What Eminence speaker out there would do me well if I decide to go with a Texas Dragon?

 

[budda]

voltage cabs, my bad: http://steamcomusic.com/catalog/voltage-guitar-cabinets

Also, call the drummer NOW. Just fucking do it. Walk over to the phone, dial the number, speak to the guy. No more excuses.

 

[groph]

I hang out with him on a regular basis, including tonight. It's pretty sad that we haven't done anything especially now that we're "good enough to make a band" now.

 

[budda]

never too shitty to start a band homeslice

get on that. Now. I told you I'd bug you. you're hanging out with him, so set up a jam for this week.