1 x 12 cab recommendation

[jab]

I'm selling one of my 2 x 12 Roadster cabs and want something more portable for home/small gig use. Doesn't even need to be big enough to put a head on it, I can put a large head somewhere near the cab or use a Vox Nightrain or Transatlantic sized head on top.

What do you recommend as a small 1 x 12 cab for classic rock? A thiele type of enclosure, closed back, half open back, etc.? What kind of speaker? It's crossed my mind just to build a cab and put a speaker in it and call it good (and then I start thinking ported? open? closed?).

Thanks for the input.

 

[ifailedshapes]

I use a Mesa 3/4-Back 1x12", but it's not a little cab. Have you looked at Avatar cabs?

 

[CHATTERBOX]

I had a nice 112 Recto cab with the V30 in it. Sounded great and light weight. Problem is the width as it was perfect for my Mark IV short combo. I'm assuming you'll put the amp on top. That being said, excellent cab!

I'm selling my 2 x 12 Roadster cab and want something more portable for home/small gig use. I'll keep my other Roadster cab for bigger gigs too.

What do you recommend as a small 1 x 12 cab for classic rock? A thiele type of enclosure, closed back, half open back, etc.? What kind of speaker? It's crossed my mind just to build a cab and put a speaker in it and call it good (and then I start thinking ported? open? closed?).

Thanks for the input.

 

[markwayne]

I'm going through the reverse. I scaled down decades ago from 4-12 to 2-12 and then to the smallest 1-12s I could find. What I discovered is that there is a point at which a cabinet is just too small. If the baffle is too small the cabinet will sound boxy if it's open-back (due to phase cancellation) and, without clever porting and serious depth and/or sound absorption, will sound nasally and strained as a closed back. That's just my opinion of course.

I've settled on the Mesa, wide-body cabs as the smallest possible 1-12 that works at any kind of live band volume.

 

[J.J]

I agree with the cab size. I have both a narrow Express 1x12 cab and the wide (23") Express cab. They are both open back and the small cab sounds fine by itself. Compared to the big cab, sounds boxy and small. I don't think it projects as well either.

For small gigs I am happy with my 23" 1x12, but at higher volumes power compression and cone cry both set in. I am using the C90 speaker as I find it more versatile as I need to have good clean through to high gain.

If I was just doing classic rock I would use a V30 as I like them better for low to medium gain over drive tones. I am looking at adding a Stiletto 1x12 or 2x12 with V30 or a 3/4 back box. The Stiletto cabs are closed back and sound very punchy.

 

[dodger916]

I'm selling one of my 2 x 12 Roadster cabs and want something more portable for home/small gig use. Doesn't even need to be big enough to put a head on it, I can put a large head somewhere near the cab or use a Vox Nightrain or Transatlantic sized head on top.

What do you recommend as a small 1 x 12 cab for classic rock? A thiele type of enclosure, closed back, half open back, etc.? What kind of speaker? It's crossed my mind just to build a cab and put a speaker in it and call it good (and then I start thinking ported? open? closed?).

Thanks for the input.

I hear you about the portability issue, which is why I now run a Mark IV head (sold the combo) and two 1x12 cabs: a Mesa 1x12 half-back (loaded with an MS-12) on top of an EVM-loaded Thiele. This rig is a relative breeze to haul around and sounds great at rehearsal volumes; not overpowering at all. At gig volumes it's pure bliss. While I find the C-90/EVM to be very complimentary, the MS-12/EVM sounds better to me.

 

[babow2]

I have a similar dual 1x12 rig but with a twist.
Using widebody 1x12 cabs-
Open back with a Tone Tubby Alnico hemp cone
Closed back ported with OEM EVM-12L (totally Thiele-esque)

Man, the combination of the gorgeous Tone Tubby Alnico vibe on top of the powerful ported EVM is awesome- Mark V, Hearbreaker and TA-30 all sound great through it.