Cabinet Help

[VicariousVIRUS]

Hey guys, I just got a Quick Rod.

I play a lot of TOOL, prog/ math rock.
I have a OS Mesa slant 4x12.
Definitely not meshing with the QR.

Can you help me find a cabinet that will really make the QR scream like it needs to? I feel like it's dry and sterile through the Mesa.

I want tighter lowend, warmer treble, and snarly mids.
I'm not sure if I want a 2x12 or a 4x12. How big are the splawn 4x12's in size compared to the OS mesa cabinet.

Thanks so much, any other companys cabs I should look at?
What about speakers?

[splatter]

mesa makes great cabs . Its not so much the cab as the speakers . I imagine the mesa either has v30s or black shadow speakers in it .The QR doesn't really fit with either . I would recommend small blocks or greenbacks .There are others that sound good as well . This topic has been discussed ALOT on here so if you run a search you should be able to find all you need to know .

[shreder75]

I had a mesa OS cab too...never dug it...I think oversized anything is going to sound loose and boomy regardless of what speakers you have...

the splawn cabs are gonna be smaller for sure...like a mesa traditional sized cab...

I think if you're playing tool you may want to stay away from the greenbacks cause they'll get farty..they may also not be tight enough for your 'math' rock because of all the palm muted fast picking..

[DonaldDemon]

Once again…SB25’s are the cure. Get them from Scott or get a new cab and you will see why everyone recommends them. I still think you should have got a Pro Mod for Tool though.

I have both the 4x12 and 2x12 and I think the 2x12 holds up great. The only advantage to the 4x12 is a little more low end thump but the 2x12 cab dish it out plenty.

[VicariousVIRUS]

Thanks a lot guys. Are the SB25's really that insane? I did a lot of forum searching and I really couldn't find the awnsers I was looking for. Sorry =[

What's so much better about the Pro Mod, I may hit it up in the future, seeing how much cash I've been making at work.

I'm really wanting a smaller cab, the OS recto kills my back, but it's so hard to not get a 4x12. Could you throw me some pros and cons of both since you have them donald? Thanks a lot.

I totally agree Shred75!! I really regret getting the OS cab, it's pretty flubby.

The pro mod just has KT88's? Does that really change the tone that much to the point where I'd actually justify buying a Pro mod?? I love el34's but haven't tried 77s or 88s

[speedemon]

The answer to what you want in your post is easy, a splawn 2x12 with small blocks. I understand you want to keep fooling with what you have, but my friends splawn 4x12 sounds beefier than anything we throw up against it. I run a small and big block in a 2x12 combo with an open back at 50w, and its the wall of sound everyone dreams about. A splawn cab will project WAY more low end than that! The harsh lesson in life is that Mesa gear does not get you Marshall type tones, sorry! That classic brit tone from your favorite records is a Marshall with the "greenback" speaker; a QR and small blocks is Scott's take on that whole deal.

What I don't get is, how you ended up with a Quickrod when when it appears you are doing mostly Recto music? (no, not being sarcastic!)

Yes, the power tube type does have impact on the tonal quality of the amp! EL34/KT77(known as Marshall) and 6L6/5881(known as Fender/Mesa/Engl) and 6550/KT88 (hi fi/bass amps) are very different in headroom and tone response. I had a Marshall 2203 w/6550s, yes, it rattles the walls like the sub on your tv system.

And I am like you, I had a JVM and I liked it once I put in the Winged C EL34s, but I was relieved of it last year by some visitors of the parking lot at my job. I got a Quickrod
back in April and have been nothing but pleased with it. The biggest improvement it has seen is switching from Celestions to Small Blocks. The best part is now when we play at the Whiskey in Hollywood, the soundman cranks me in the PA, after 20 years of silence on videos of concerts I played.

good luck, and don't fear unloading the V30s!

[VicariousVIRUS]

@speeddemon.

Awesome thanks a lot man. If the splawn 4x12 is the beefiest you've heard, how does the 2x12 compare.

I love the el34 Marshall sound, I was planning on running the JVM with the VH4 in stereo. Using the JVM as the mids and treble, and the Diezel as the low mid grind. This to me is my dream setup. I went to guitar center, saw they had a quickrod. Plugged it in, played one note, and traded all my gear for it. The JVM sounded GREAT through my mesa cab, which is why I had it in the first place. I HATE RECTOS!! I'm starting to not like this cab too.

What about bass responce? Will the SB's fart out because their wattage is so low?
Thanks so much for all the help. The QR does the mid range bite EXACTLY how I dreamed it would, this amp is perfect for my style. I'm now very curious to explore other splawn amps aswell.

[DonaldDemon]

Dec 2, 2010 20:38:36 GMT -5 VicariousVIRUS said:

Thanks a lot guys. Are the SB25's really that insane? I did a lot of forum searching and I really couldn't find the awnsers I was looking for. Sorry =[

What's so much better about the Pro Mod, I may hit it up in the future, seeing how much cash I've been making at work.

I'm really wanting a smaller cab, the OS recto kills my back, but it's so hard to not get a 4x12. Could you throw me some pros and cons of both since you have them donald? Thanks a lot.

I totally agree Shred75!! I really regret getting the OS cab, it's pretty flubby.

The pro mod just has KT88's? Does that really change the tone that much to the point where I'd actually justify buying a Pro mod?? I love el34's but haven't tried 77s or 88s

The KT88's give it a more modern sound with more low mids. It's an easy mod to your quick rod if you should ever decide to try it out. You just need to change out the bias resistor.

I pretty much stated the pros and cons of the 2x12 vs 4x12. Obviously the 2x12 is lighter and easier to move around. The sound is very comparable. The only thing I don't like about a 2x12 is that the sound is aimed at your knees. You can remedy that by propping it up on a chair but not every place has one available and I'm not carrying anymore crap with me, lol.

I wouldn't say the SB2's are insanely better but they just feel "right", like the amp was meant to played through them.

[DonaldDemon]

Dec 2, 2010 22:25:56 GMT -5 VicariousVIRUS said:

@speeddemon.

Awesome thanks a lot man. If the splawn 4x12 is the beefiest you've heard, how does the 2x12 compare.

I love the el34 Marshall sound, I was planning on running the JVM with the VH4 in stereo. Using the JVM as the mids and treble, and the Diezel as the low mid grind. This to me is my dream setup. I went to guitar center, saw they had a quickrod. Plugged it in, played one note, and traded all my gear for it. The JVM sounded GREAT through my mesa cab, which is why I had it in the first place. I HATE RECTOS!! I'm starting to not like this cab too.

What about bass responce? Will the SB's fart out because their wattage is so low?
Thanks so much for all the help. The QR does the mid range bite EXACTLY how I dreamed it would, this amp is perfect for my style. I'm now very curious to explore other splawn amps aswell.

AFter reading this than maybe the QR is better for you since the Diezel covers the low mids.

Seriously, unload that Mesa cab and you will understand. I had one, I know. I also had a Rivera cab and the very coveted Bogner 4x12. I was reluctant to unload the Bogner (with V30's too) for the first 3 years of owning my Splawn amp because that cab has always killed every cab I played through and are known for their massive tone. I finally gave in after the SB's came available and don't regret one second of selling the Bogner. Splawn makes a superior cab IMO. The SB25s do not fart out at all. Not to mention I sold the Bogner cab for more than the brand new Splawn cab cost!

[VicariousVIRUS]

Awesome, thanks so much!! The smallblocks are definitely better than the vintage 30's though??
Because those definitely don't mesh with the QR

[DonaldDemon]

Dec 2, 2010 22:58:27 GMT -5 VicariousVIRUS said:

Awesome, thanks so much!! The smallblocks are definitely better than the vintage 30's though??
Because those definitely don't mesh with the QR

No problem. V30's are awesome speakers...with the right amp. With Splawns, not so much.

[VicariousVIRUS]

Sick!!!!! Thanks so much for all the help. I truely appreciate you PRO's sharing your knowledge with a newbie to splawn!! Really means a lot, thanks everyone of you!

[DonaldDemon]

Only thing I’m a pro at is being a slacker, lol. Good luck on the tone hunt and welcome to amp bliss. Record some Tool riffs on that beast too!

[speedemon]

It's all good. This is a Botherhood, not a BB! ; - )

[VicariousVIRUS]

Hell yeah, I will definitely be recording some stuff here really soon. My poor puppy just had leg surgery for the 4th time. Were suppost to keep her calm, I don't want to crank the amp at home just yet, but In a week or so, I'll get some legit recordings.

We are most definitely a brotherhood!!

I just got the 20th Anniversary digitech whammy aswell, I don't know if I like it that much. I may take it back to Guitar center, get my 275$ back, and get a 2x12 with small blocks. Or an eventide Timefactor.

Could anyone explain to me the benifit of having two different speakers in one enclosure, I'm familiar with the patterns, like the x. But I'm wondering sonically what is the point of matching speakers, and do they stand out when they are in a cab? Like is there a seperation in the sound of each speaker, or does it mesh better then I'm imagining it? Thanks