2x12 or 4x10... that's the question

[Red Rover]

get both, cant go wrong.

If I had the money I just might

 

[Munjibunga]

Thanks everyone... I'm seeing lots of love for the 2x12. I'd of course go to my local shop and try as many as I can before hand. As for adding a 2x10 to the 1x15 I already have. I've thought of that but I just don't want to have to lug that around all the time.

Thanks again.

Love notwithstanding, you shouldn't buy either until you've played through several of both types. If hauling is not a problem, I'd go with the 410 any day. In general, they have better overall frequency response and bottom end than most 212s. That said, as one who has never been fond of 12s, I can say that a couple Aguilar GS112s sound pretty amazing, so I imagine their 212 is all that. I personally would avoid their DB series because the emphasize the mid-range and aren't robust on the bottom end. Also, Bergantino would be a good brand to consider.

Interestingly, I had a Peavey 115 Combo in the late '70s, and had the same experience with it. Cruddy, muffy tone. Stupidly, I bought another one in 1994 when I started a country band, thinking Peavey surely would have improved the sound in all those years. They didn't. When I switched over to my Eden WT-300 and D410XLT (both of which I still have), that was the end of my relationship with anything but 10s (until the Aguilar AG500-112C I bought).

I now believe high-quality 12s can sound good. I still hate 15s, but ubone's Bergantino HT-115s have me waffling a little.

 

[pd1134]

I think either would do the job, but it's difficult to beat a 212 as a stand alone cab. Great combination of size, weight, volume, tone.
I recently picked up a Mesa PH212 that's the best sounding cab I've played through in 40years of playing. YMMV.

Dan

That cab, the mesa PH212, was the first 2x12 i ever got to actually play in person and now I'm stuck eating ramen noodles trying to save up money to buy one (although I'm thinkin avatar for the $ and I hear they sound amazing so...). But yeah, I've had a Mesa 2x10-1x15 setup, 2 8x10 set up, and 8x10 and 4x10 setup; but I've never been more excited to get a 12ver stack goin, maybe 4 12's, maybe even 8 12's......

 

[grunz7]

So much talk about 12" cabs ... back in the day I sold my 4x12" - not because the box sounded bad, it was actually a great box BUT only as long as my guitarist played his 4X10, as soon as he brought his 4x12" marshall box it was over ...

But well, that was 20 years ago and I guess the cabs changed quite a bit. Just to throw that in throw, not only stile but also frequencies within a band setting should be considered.

 

[Mystic Michael]

So much talk about 12" cabs ... back in the day I sold my 4x12" - not because the box sounded bad, it was actually a great box BUT only as long as my guitarist played his 4X10, as soon as he brought his 4x12" marshall box it was over ...

But well, that was 20 years ago and I guess the cabs changed quite a bit.

Ya got that right. Twelve-inch woofers these days are nothing like they were 20 years ago. It's a new day...

MM

 

[jerry]

If Jim Bergantino made a AE212, I would have bought that over the AE410 I bought a few years back. I loved his HT212, but getting old put a stop to my 90lb cab days.

 

[rust_preacher]

I have a Monster Green Aguilar DB212 and all I can say I only crave for one more of the same goodness to get the full steam out of my LMII amp (If I ever need it). The adjustable horn is a definite bonus as well in these cabs.

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

This wildly depends on the brand.

I have a Epifani NYC 4x10 and a Aguilar GS2x12 -- both are fine cabs, but they do sound different (and sure cost different!!!)

The 4x10 gives *huge* lows - like crazy huge but very flat (perhaps a bit scooped), where the 2x12 has a decidely mid-bump in comparison. It doesn't put out as much air - but it handles a medium sized gig just fine.

Does that help?

 

[62Start]

My preferences:

2 stacked 4x12
stacked 4x12 over a 15
2 stacked 4x10
4x12
4x10
nothing less

I started with a 2x12, tried two 2x12s, tried a 2x12 with a 15, tried a 2x12 with an 18, tried a 4x12 aloone, then stacked 4x12s. I did all of those before any 4x10s were used much for bass.

The stacked 4x12s were the first time I was completely happy with my sound at a gig. A 4x12 over a 15 is close, as are stacked 4x10s.

When I want to go light (weight wise) for a small room, its a 4x10 extended low Ampeg cab.

 

[Laklandlover]

I play thru a GK 2/12 and 1/12 NEO and love them together or separate. I play Gospel, Jazz, and R&B. They are just plain SMOOMTH

 

[Medford Bassman]

I am a 2x12 fan as I own a Genz Benz NEOX 212T. Damn loud.

Funny enough, lately I've been using my NEOX 112T for gigs as a monitor and going through FOH.