Help me improve my RK 2x12 cab!

[LesPaul70]

I'm posting this on the general modern era amps forum (rather than on the sub-forums) because I'm using the same cab (a Road King 2x12) with two different Mesa amps, a Mark V and a Dual Rectifier (Rev G). In my current bands, mostly for rock/metal tones. I've also got a Recto 4x12 cab, which is great for those sounds, but a lot harder to lug around and, in general, just plain overkill for most venues.

So, in general, I prefer to just take the RK 2x12 to a gig, rather than the Recto halfstack. But I'm slightly dissatisfied with its performance...

Two basic issues:

1) The high end of the C90. My ears simply can't take it. Cold, stinging, sterile, lifeless. Whatever I want to do with the cab, it seems that the C90 will have to go.

2) Not enough low end thump. Yeah, I know it's never going to sound like a Recto cab, but that's why I bought a RK 2x12 and not a Recto 2x12. But, especially in the band where I'm the only guitarist, I would like to hear somewhat bigger low end... The RK cab isn't bad here, it just isn't enough.

What are my options?
-Replace the C90 with something else? Another V30? While I love the sound of a V30 with Mesa amps, I fear that would make the cab too similar to my Recto cab. A G12K-100? That might give me the kind of treble sound I'm after, but will it give me a noticeable low end improvement (if I put it on the open back side)?
-Replace the V30 with something else? I hope not - I love the V30! (Unless of course I changed both speakers, first replace the V30 with something else, then replace the C90 with the V30?)
-In addition to speaker changes, add a detachable wood panel to the open-back side?

I keep telling myself I don't want to turn my RK cab into a Recto cab wannabe - is there any other way to achieve what I'm after?
Any ideas, suggestions?

 

[piggyboy]

why not just take one of the V30s out of the recto cab and see if you like it, that way you'll get to try it without spending cash.

 

[LesPaul70]

why not just take one of the V30s out of the recto cab and see if you like it, that way you'll get to try it without spending cash.

I've done that.
My observations:
- Yes, I liked the overall sound better than the C90/V30 combination. However...
- Problem: It started sounding too much like the Recto cab, also with all the bad that implies, namely lack of cohesion/focus, and a tendency to mud/buzz.
What I like in the C90 is that it tightens up the loose V30 sound very nicely. I just want to have highs that aren't so cold and stinging, and slightly more powerful low thump (I'm already working on the detachable back panel, to help with the latter).