2x12 Speaker Cabinet Impedance Questions

[BrownieD2W]

Greetings Boogie Boarders,

This may seem like a series of silly questions to some of you, but I want to get some other opinions to make sure I'm taking the best option.

Several months ago I built a 2x12 Cabinet using the 8 ohm C-90 from my Mark V combo, and a new 8 ohm V-30. I wired them parallel for a 4 ohm impedance. I'm starting to think this was not the best option and I'm left with some questions that I'm hoping you guys can weigh in on.

I have 2 problems I am hoping rewiring the cabinet to Series would solve, but I need you guys to tell me if I'm misunderstanding anything.

1) 2x12 Cabinet is currently wired parallel for a 4 Ohm impedance, That means I would NEVER have the option to run another cabinet with my Mark V or DC-5 as the impedance mismatch would be unsafe? (Short of buying a series box or something)

2) 2x12 Cabinet is sounding and feeling a bit stiff (especially with the DC-5) and I'm wondering if I rewired for a 16 ohm impedance would the sound/feel be less stiff? Sorry for lack of a better word, but stiff or rigidity is the best I can describe it.

The more I play through the 2x12 the more I am starting to hear and feel the stiffness of the cabinet and I am wondering if rewiring the 2x12 to Series for a 16 ohm impedance would solve any of that, while also freeing me up to use another cabinet with my amps? Don't get me wrong the cabinet sounds great when I've got my amps dialed correctly, but I still get this stiff feeling from the cabinet while playing that is very hard to dial out. I'll also put out the disclaimer that I was a cabinet virgin when I made this 2x12, I only had experience with Combo amps prior to the build so I was strictly trying to match the impedance the best I could when making it.

 

[OldTelecasterMan]

Your mismatch concerns are not really a problem. If you decide to get another cabinet you could simply get another 4 ohm cabinet and get a series box( it's an option). Or wire the cabinets in series for 16 ohm each and connect them together parallel for 8 ohms. I would suggest rewiring the cabinet you have to series and using the safe mismatch on the 8 ohm speaker output when you want one speaker. That way when you want 2 speakers you simply connect them together in parallel for 8 ohm. (someone correct me on my speaker ohm thoughts if I am not correct)

As for the tone of your speaker cabinet now, stiff as you say, it will mellow with use. I have no experience with changing the impedance to get a different tone. I don't know if it changes the tone for better since IMO the speaker just needs some break in. I don't know if my Msea cabinets actually changed all that much, they probably did, but when they were brand new to me they were a bit harsh. Now they are very warm and very pleasing at all volume levels. I did get lucky as I had an outdoor gig right after I bought my Mark V and cabinets (two 2x12 vertical) and was able to push them a bit for the 5 hour job. I just picked up a 2x12 Recto Compact cabinet and it sounded awesome right out of the box. I am currently waiting on a second one to arrive.

I had a DC-5 many years ago and it never quite warmed up to me. But I was very inexperienced with tube amps at the time and didn't really know what I wanted. I think it was all me being impatient and foolish. I would love to have that one back. I have some recordings where I used the DC-5 and it sounded really good.

 

[Nicklotsaguitars]

Recently, like a month ago. Rewired a 4x12 to 4ohm from 16ohm. Just so I could use it with my Marshalls and my Boogie.
No change whatsoever in the sound of the thing.

I just plain old don't like the C90. I'd be more inclined to blame that. It sounds too much like the G12-75 but with added harshness. For me to make an unbiased guess at what is causing the stiffness in your cab.

 

[OryCheyne]

This sounds like a good excuse for me to catch up with a friend who has a 212 EV Loaded box and compare it with the 212 MC90 box I recently acquired. Probably be a few weeks off but I will do this with my MkV or his SOB.
Personally I would avoid running any mismatched impedance.

 

[bandit2013]

I would wire the cab in series for 16 ohms. That is a safe mismatch for the 8 ohm jack. (per the manual anyway). You can combine that with another 8 ohm cabinet if you use the 16 ohms cabinet in the 8 ohm output jack and the 8 ohm cabinet in the 4 ohm output jack (also per the manual).

I have done this with the Mark V and Roadster using a 16ohm 412 and 8ohm 412 as described above, also did this with a 16ohm 412 and a single EVM12L that was in the Mark V combo at the time. It sounded good but I was after something else in tonal character and focused primarily on the Mark V combo only.

 

[BrownieD2W]

I just plain old don't like the C90. I'd be more inclined to blame that. It sounds too much like the G12-75 but with added harshness. For me to make an unbiased guess at what is causing the stiffness in your cab.

My friend has a Marshall 4x12 with G12-75's, I only played it for a few minutes but it honestly didn't sound much different than my 2x12, so I think you might be on to something in regards to the C-90. I think the added harshness you mention, paired with the somewhat rigid sound I have experienced with the C-90 on its own in the past, makes me think the C-90 is a little to harsh for me. Here's to hoping that V-30 breaking in will warm up the cabinet a bit, if not I'll go ahead and consider another speaker.

Cleans sound amazing with this cab, and it's really not until I get to my gainier tones that it takes on the stiff and harsh characteristics (for lack of a better word). The weird thing is, and maybe its just me changing from day to day, but I can often dial in these massive warm tones that can fill a room and yet it won't be harsh, and then other days my tone will sound boxy, stiff, and abrasive. Its like I'm always chasing away this buzz-killing-cabinet-gnome that randomly congests my speaker cabinet.

 

[Nicklotsaguitars]

Just saw that your cab is diagonal.
Have you tried flipping it over? So the speakers are the other way round. For instance the C90 on the bottom where it was on the top end of the cab before?
May work. In that you'll be putting the speakers in to positions where their characteristics affect your perception of frequencies. For instance the lower speaker operating more on your perception of the lower frequencies and the upper speaker the higher.
Worth a shot, I'd say.
If you prefer it, one particular way it's the work of minutes to swap speakers over.