4x12 or 2-2x12 cabinets

[duke of earl]

I have always played combos but need some speaker surface area to handle my hand built 50 watt amp so I am considering a head/cabinet setup. Does a 4x12 cab sound better/worse than a couple of 2x12 cabs?

[PRR]

Do the two 2x12. Stacked is same-as 4x12, but you don't always need THAT much speaker.

[duke of earl]

I like the idea of 2 cabinets for portability. I have never A/B'd both against each other and didn't know if there are any pro's or con's.

[Ed_Chambley]

I changed from 4 x 12's to 2 x 12's.  Many reasons.  I get JDesigns to build 2 x 12's.  It is cheaper to mix and match speakers, easier to carry, cheaper to have cabinets made from different materials Pine vs Birch.  Open and closed back or like 2 of my cabs have a door to make open or closed.  Since this has given me so many more options, I do not have 2 of the same cabinet speaker configurations so I don't know about better.  I also have 2 x 10's which is cool as well.  I can carry a 2 x 10's and a 2 x 12's with my 5f4 head which has a Marshall voiced input and play anything.  I mainly use Weber 12's blue dogs and Silver Alnico, but I also have a couple of celestion gold 10's in a 2 10's.  I gave up on the 4 x 12's when I found myself installing stereo switchplates to run different speaker configurations.  They take up too much room and resale is not very good on them.  Seems the wall of 4 x 12's left with the 80's.

Just my 2¢, but l I love 2 speaker configurations.

[duke of earl]

Great feedback. I am building a 4x12 first with 2 Weber California Alnico's and 2 Weber Legacy 12's. The next build will be a 2x12 with Weber Thames Ceramic 12's. The 4x12 will probably be for practice and the 2x12 will be for gigging.

[Ritchie200]

Hey Duke,

Ed hit the nail on the head.  Take it from someone who used to haul around 4, 4x12 cabs - the 2x12 is the way to go.  You can throw a 2x12 in the back seat of your car and go.  One person can haul a 2x12 up a flight of stairs.  Although I would never play an open backed cab, you can mix and match to your taste.  You can also throw a 15 in a 2x12 sized cab too.  They will also keep the sound pressure below your ears.  And hey, 4, 2x12 cabs looks pretty impressive on a backline too!

Jim

[duke of earl]

I guess it's unanimous-2x12's it is! Thanks for the feedback.