Off Topic 4x12 too directional, best compromise???

[Hendog]

I was wondering what cabs you guys use.

I have a love/hate with 4x12's. Huge sound but way too directional. I have to crank the thing to hear it and then I melt peoples faces off.

Maybe a patially open back 2x12 like the one from Avatar???

 

[guitfiddle]

4 X 12 with old (pre-Rola or Rola) greenbacks has been the best I've found so far. It kinda sucks because I move my own gear and they aren't easy to handle by oneself, but I've been living with them because I can't find anything else that sounds as good. Interested to hear what others say in this thread though, because I haven't tried everything that's out there.

 

[beej]

Most 4x12s are pretty directional. Some have the speakers at different angles which helps.

Open backs are much less so. But you get a lot of volume out the back, can sometimes overwhelm the drummer

Ported cabs or partially open backs are a great compromise, somewhere between the two.

These days I'm most happy with my ported 2x12 and ported 1x12. Plus they're way lighter and more portable.

 

[GHWelles]

I was wondering what cabs you guys use.

I have a love/hate with 4x12's. Huge sound but way too directional. I have to crank the thing to hear it and then I melt peoples faces off.

Maybe a patially open back 2x12 like the one from Avatar???

I have the Avatar partial open back with a Vintage 30 and a G12H30 - Very nice and excellent price.

Beam blockers might help too.

 

[jamminjim]

I"m also thinking beam blockers.

 

[GHWelles]

You can make your own Beam Blockers:

Beam Blockers- yea or nay? - Page 6 - The Gear Page

 

[Lou]

If you have a slant 4x12, then use the Steve Morse trick and lay it down on its side.

 

[Hendog]

If you have a slant 4x12, then use the Steve Morse trick and lay it down on its side.

How does this make it any less directional?

 

[shredderbetter]

check out the genz benz g-flex they are 4X12's but are mounted off axis a few degrees AND ported so they sound HUGE! Not just a staight board of wood!



G-Flex | GENZ BENZ

 

[Lou]

How does this make it any less directional?

Well the angle in a 4x12 projects the sound upwards. If you turn it on its side (and run 2 like steve does) you will have a wider dispersion of the sound left to right, not straight out and up.

Also, you may want to try dialing in some mids. When you crank your amp the bass and treble become exaggerated and your sound can disappear in a band.