7 cubic feet 4x12 closed box with broken fane in it.

[arnoggeddon]

Hello everybody,

So my box doesn't work anymore.
I really would like bring it back to life but I really don't know how to choose the replacing speakers.
If it's possible I would like not to port it. Could you tell me if only there's a right choice and, if there isnot, what will happen if I load the box with unaccurate speakers? Will I broke them? Will it have a real bad sound?

I 'll drive them with a british typed all tube 100W head, or an Acoustic transistor french clone 2x150W (originally matching with this box) or a Gallien-Krueger 2001 RB III.

Weight is not a problem. If it's lightweight, it's all bonus.

As you may noticed, I'm french, so my english is a little "frenglish". I apologize for this.

[Phil Starr]

The good news is that if this is a closed box then it is a lot less critical and you can probably get away with a wide range of speakers. There are definitely good and bad choices and the matching will affect your sound but only at the bottom end. You won't damage your speakers by mismatching them.

Basically each speaker needs to be matched with a certain volume of air. If the volume of air is too big and heavy then the bass will be weak and will tail off gradually from quite high up. If the box is small then this raises the resonant frequency and the bass will be boosted around this frequency and then cut off quite quickly. Somewhere in between is the ideal match where the frequency response is flat down to as low as that speaker will go and then there is a gradual and predictable cut out. Many designs for musical instruments exploit the bass hump of a small cab to make the cab sound bassier which gives a nice thump to the bass.

If you want a recommendation for this cab then you need to tell us a little more. Do you want to replace all the speakers or just the broken one? What sort of sound do you want? What is your budget?

A 4x12 for bass is unusual, are you sure it is a bass cab?

Bon chance!

[arnoggeddon]

You're right, I forgot some informations.

This cab was made in circa 1974 and was more an "all purpose" one than exclusively a bass cab. It was loaded with 4 vintage 1972 50W speakers. One of them is dead, another almost, and the two ones left seem to be in perfect working condition. But I don't think I'll keep them in. I prefer replace the whole set to avoid mismatch.
The box isn't divided in chambers. It is 31.25"x31.25"x16".

About me now, I'm a regular 4string player, sometimes D dropped with powerful passive G&L basses. Often overdiven, POGged, whawhazed, and more when desired.
I play "pop/rock", fingerstyle or with pick, with in each case a strong attack.

Uncle Lemmy, John Wetton (Crimson era), Cliff Burton, Chris Squire, Paul D'Amour, Justin Chancellor, Duff Mc Kagan, JP Jones, Jannick Top or Inge Johansson are some of my "Heroes". And why not Bootsy, Claypool and Flea...
As you probably understood, I'm more an old school sound type guy. I need a strong bass sound that "pushes" and cut through the mix, not over, if you see what I mean...
At last, I really dislike Tweeters.

Thank for reading until here.

[Mr. Foxen]

You can probably do better with a whole new cab. Personally, I'd stick Vintage 30s in it and run it high passed with another cab for the lows.

[arnoggeddon]

I already thought do this, but the cab is huge and I would like run it as a stand alone as long as I haven't got no tour bus to store all this gear.
My two EV15L loaded Boogie boxes would certainly do the job, under the 4x12.
And I imagine the faces of the other musicians...

And I'mnot John Entwhistle.

[arnoggeddon]

Does anyone knows which speakers are in a cab like the Marshall VBC412 or Trace Elliot V Type 1248?
I think these are closed boxes and work fine with bass guitar.

[Phil Starr]

The Fane sovereign 12-200 would match your cab and give you an old school thump. The Eminence beta's would also work OK and have a bit of midrange hump which might help them cut through the mix. If you want a gorgeous sound then try the Beyma SM212 bur these will set you back £300 for four. I have two and they really sound good with bass.