is there something i'm missing about this guitar cab?

ekwatts · Post by **ekwatts** » Fri May 17, 2013 9:35 am

Although it's a 2x12 it's not really that big. You should be okay. I find it isn't necessarily the weight but the shape and number of handles on an amp that make the difference. My Zilla 2x12 cab is huge, has two gigantic magnets in it and feels like burning in my arms and back when I try to lift it on my own. Can't really be done except for short trips, ie, adjusting facing rather than carrying it in/out of a building or something.

What would help immeasurably is having another handle on the top of the cab. Slap one in and I bet you'd be able to shift it all over the place in short hops. But also, the other suggestions in this thread are absolutely sound; castors or a trolley would be magic and two things I've been meaning to get around two for ages.

Johno · Post by **Johno** » Fri May 17, 2013 12:00 pm

I also have a Zilla 2x12 V30's, doesn't weigh any more than my old Valvestate 80w 1x2.

George · Post by **George** » Fri May 17, 2013 12:24 pm

welp, just ordered one from thomann!

should arrive next week. investing in one of those trolleys too

and a mustang v head huzzah.

ekwatts · Post by **ekwatts** » Fri May 17, 2013 1:24 pm

You've made a terrible mistaaaaaaaaake.

ekwatts · Post by **ekwatts** » Fri May 17, 2013 1:24 pm

Nah, seriously, well done.

George · Post by **George** » Fri May 17, 2013 1:58 pm

wait wait wait

am i looking at an ohm mismatch here?

cabinet: http://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_g212_vintage.htm

120watts/8ohm, 2x 60watts/16ohm, mono/stereo (switchable)

head: 150 Watts (2 x 75) Stereo. back panel says both speakers are 8ohm each.

► Show Spoiler

heeeeelp!

johnnyseven · Post by **johnnyseven** » Fri May 17, 2013 2:10 pm

It seems as though both speakers in the cab are 16 ohm, making a total 8 ohm load if both used in mono. It also seems as though each of the speaker outputs is 8 ohm. I would think that using one speaker outout into the mono input on the cab would be fine, both would be at 8 ohm. The manual should tell you what's what though.

However, the amp has 8 ohm minimum written by each output - so running it into a 16 ohm cab would work. If the amp outputs in stereo you could run one output into each speaker. (I hope I haven't got this round the wrong way)

johnnyseven · Post by **johnnyseven** » Fri May 17, 2013 2:19 pm

I might be wrong. The manual says it should be connected to the Mustand 412 (which has 4 16 ohm speaker and is 8 ohm per side) or 2 x 8 ohm cabs. However the 8 ohm min would lead me to think that you could connect it to 2 16 ohm cabs or just use 1 input into an 8 ohm cab. I see why you are confused!

George · Post by **George** » Fri May 17, 2013 3:00 pm

yeah it's really confusing actually. sounds like it should be okay, the only thing you should be doing is putting into something less than 8ohms. but this apparently takes away "oomph" whatever that is

i might email fender direct or something.

Johno · Post by **Johno** » Fri May 17, 2013 3:28 pm

You can rewire the speakers in series or parallel so you can have either run it as a 8 or a 16ohm cab.

Gabriel · Post by **Gabriel** » Fri May 17, 2013 3:38 pm

Can't you just run one of the speaker outs 8ohm into the 8ohm input, giving you 75 watts at 8 ohms.

Post by **Doog** » Fri May 17, 2013 3:52 pm

The impedance would be fine (each speaker is 16 ohm, each poweramp output needs at least 8 ohms; just be sure to run it in stereo, one power amp output per speaker).

That said, your speakers are 60w, and your poweramp outputs are both 75w. It won't blow the speakers at lower volumes, but it's best not to take any risks at band volumes.

You can ONLY use that amp/cab config 100% safely by running ONE poweramp output (goodbye stereo FX!) into the cab in mono, like Gabe said. This will give you a combined 8 ohm speaker load with a rating of 120w, easily matching the amps single poweramp output of 75w and 8ohms.

George · Post by **George** » Fri May 17, 2013 4:12 pm

thanks everyone. i'm not too worried about the stereo fx, and i don't think i'd ever be in a position to be playing loudly enough for the wattage difference to be a problem. in any case 75W will no doubt be plenty loud.

that said, i could just bung the speakers on ebay and buy new ones with the right wattage and ohms. eminence are pretty well priced.

louis · Post by **louis** » Mon May 20, 2013 1:34 am

To be honest with you the stereo effects are pretty fucking awesome, and project well through the mustang speakers at least. I'd recommend trying to get a cab to that will work, but I found it harder than you'd think to find a 2x12 that matched up and ended up getting the mustang 4x12 as it was cheaper and better value.

Failing that the head does really well if you're just fucking about through headphones as the headphone jack is its emulated output. Get a decent tone (clean or dirty), bang on stereo delay, level to max, time to minimum, decay to minimum and separation to maximum, it sounds BIG.

George · Post by **George** » Mon May 20, 2013 7:34 am

thanks for the tip on the stereo delay, that sounds sweet

i'll still be trying out the stereo with the two original speakers at 16 ohms at bedroom levels to check it out. in the long run i think i'll just swap out the speakers. eminence speakers can be had for around Â£50 so selling on the vintage 30s shouldn't be too much of a problem. i just can't be bothered with a big arse 412.

George · Post by **George** » Mon May 20, 2013 9:16 am

louis you've twisted my arm with this stereo malarky. looking at new speakers right now and will put money down today. should all arrive at the same time. vintage 30s should sell for roughly the same price on the bay and be no more expensive overall.

George · Post by **George** » Mon May 20, 2013 10:28 am

sorry to harangue you all, but generally speaking will a closed back cab sound darker than open back? i think that might lead my decision.

i'm looking at the eminence legend 1218 and 1258

main difference is the 1218 is 150w and more bass but clearer / 1258 is 75w and with more top end and slightly more coloured in a "vintage" sort of way

ekwatts · Post by **ekwatts** » Mon May 20, 2013 10:46 am

I have no idea.

I bought an Eminence Wizard and a Swamp Thang and they're very nice. I have them wired up to separate outs so I can pick one or both and the difference is really noticable. The Swamp is rated at 150 watts on its own while the Wizard is 75. Not sure whether this makes a difference if you wire them up together but it looks like you wouldn't be with that Mustang head.

Post by **Doog** » Mon May 20, 2013 10:48 am

George wrote:sorry to harangue you all, but generally speaking will a closed back cab sound darker than open back? i think that might lead my decision.

I wouldn't say it's 'darker' but you get a more resonant and focused low-end.

louis · Post by **louis** » Mon May 20, 2013 10:52 am

I can only speak for the sounds and settings that I use, but although the Mustang v can do low end quite well, you'll probably wan't a speaker that will thicken up your sound as some settings can sound quite shrill at times in comparison to a nice valve amp. I've got past this myself by tinkering with the eq, cab settings, sag etc for hours, but it would make it easier on yourself to get something a bit chunkier for the cab.