4x8" Speaker Cabinet...Anyone?

telecaster1981 · March 22nd, 2008, 09:45 PM

Just curious to know if anyone has any experience with 4x8" speaker cabinets. Reason I ask is I'm planning on building an extension cabinet for one of my Princeton Reverbs and I want a speaker configuration that will get me approximately the same 'acreage' as a 15", but with better breakup. I plan on using 4 Weber Signature 8's. Any thoughts are appreciated!

Ben

Scott S · March 23rd, 2008, 12:17 AM

I say do it, and post sound clips! Oh, and since it's 4 speakers, you should make a slant cab.

- Scott

TexGoneNW · March 23rd, 2008, 12:28 AM

Take a look at the amp build in the most recent Vintage Guitar.

It's 4x8"

telecaster1981 · March 23rd, 2008, 12:27 PM

Quote:

I say do it, and post sound clips! Oh, and since it's 4 speakers, you should make a slant cab.

Oh, yeah...it's gonna be a slant cab! I've always wanted a Marshall half-stack, so this will be a mini-stack...with a Fender motor! I'm still debating if I want to convert my SFPR to a head or leave it the way it is...or perhaps I could cram 2-8's in the stock combo cabinet? Or 4-6's...hmmm...

bluesfordan · March 23rd, 2008, 12:41 PM

i hope you by convert your PR, you mean to make a new head box for it, and not cut up the old cab.

Is your 4x8 going to be closed back or open back? I personally would go open back, and I bet it would sound killer. Let us know.

anybody got a link to that 4x8 amp build?

telecaster1981 · March 23rd, 2008, 12:55 PM

Quote:

i hope you by convert your PR, you mean to make a new head box for it, and not cut up the old cab.

Um, yeah, I won't be cutting up any original cab. I just want to have new enclosure so I don't have to worry about messing up the original on the road. In fact, I'm thinking about converting my BFPR to a head as well as my SFPR and making extension cabinets in various formats to fit the sound I need for a particular gig. Then, I can have stereo PR's!

Scott S · March 23rd, 2008, 01:38 PM

Awesome. I'm building a 2x10 upright slant cab for my other amp. It'll be cool in a "Spinal Tap" way.

InstituteOfNoise · March 23rd, 2008, 01:43 PM

I recently aquired a protoype 4x8 cab from a name amp company with a slightly slanted front panel section. It's unloaded at this time, but thought some alnico 8's would be very cool in it.

telecaster1981 · March 23rd, 2008, 01:54 PM

It will certainly be a 'cool' project, but I'm still not sure if it will be a practical project! I'm not really sure what kind of tonal characteristics I'll be getting with 4-8's. Will it sound tight and warm like a downsized 4x10 cabinet or will it sound nasal-ish and boxy like 4 Champs? I'm still undecided on if I'm going with closed back or open back. Seems like I'd get a more focused bass response out of a closed back, but that's just speculation on my part as I've played mainly combo amps most of my life and don't have much experience with extension cabinets!

Trimmed&Burnin · March 23rd, 2008, 01:56 PM

I've build a quite few harp amps with a 4x8 configuartion. For harp amps I used two Weber 8A125-0's and two 8F125-0's. These were before the 8A150's that weber started making and work beautifully for harp or guitar if you want early breakup. I'd like to try the 8A or F150's that Weber is making now for guitar. I think a 4x8 cab used with a Prinecton would be sweet.

telecaster1981 · March 23rd, 2008, 08:58 PM

Ok, guys...Next Question!

Do I want ceramic or alnico magnets? I mainly play Blues and Country so I'd prefer that the speakers don't totally break up into oblivion, but a smooth, warm break-up would be nice. I currently have a 12" Jensen out of a 50's Hammond Organ in my BFPR and it sounds great. I presume it's an Alnico magnet??? It's just about perfect for blues as far as break-up goes, but it wouldn't hurt if it was a shade tighter for my country gigs. The speaker in my SFPR is a stock 10" ceramic and it sounds nice as well, but I'm still on the fence! Any ideas in this area???

11 Gauge · March 24th, 2008, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by telecaster1981

Do I want ceramic or alnico magnets?

The beauty of having more than one speaker is that you can mix them up.

I'd personally do a pair of each - I tend to put the ceramics on the bottom and the alnicos on the top, especially in a slant cab. JMO.

marshman · March 24th, 2008, 09:18 AM

A 4x8 tweed covered mini-bassman with Princeton or 5E3 guts would be pretty cool...but I think I'd rather have the same in a 1x15...

hmmmm--same cabinet, 2 different baffles, 2 different chassis...mix and match depending on the gig!

telel6s · March 24th, 2008, 11:36 AM

Just a couple years ago Vox made a 4x8 cabinet to go along with its Pathfinder 15R head. I never played one but they looked kind of cool in he stores.

Search TDPRI and some other boards and you'll probably find some threads about it.

BradKM · March 24th, 2008, 12:47 PM

Sam Ash sells a Hartke half-stack that features a 4x8 cab.

They previously sold the same rig under the "Guitar Research" label.

I've tried those cabs with a few different heads and they sound pretty good. I'm sure one loaded with quality speakers would be even better.

Tele295 · March 24th, 2008, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by telel6s

Just a couple years ago Vox made a 4x8 cabinet to go along with its Pathfinder 15R head. I never played one but they looked kind of cool in he stores.

I did play one of the Vox 4x8 rigs, and it sounded pretty darn good!

March 22nd, 2008, 09:45 PM	#1 (permalink)
telecaster1981 TDPRI Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: smithton, missouri Age: 26 Posts: 30	4x8" Speaker Cabinet...Anyone? Just curious to know if anyone has any experience with 4x8" speaker cabinets. Reason I ask is I'm planning on building an extension cabinet for one of my Princeton Reverbs and I want a speaker configuration that will get me approximately the same 'acreage' as a 15", but with better breakup. I plan on using 4 Weber Signature 8's. Any thoughts are appreciated! Ben

March 23rd, 2008, 01:43 PM	#8 (permalink)
InstituteOfNoise Tele-Holic Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 651	I recently aquired a protoype 4x8 cab from a name amp company with a slightly slanted front panel section. It's unloaded at this time, but thought some alnico 8's would be very cool in it. __________________ Chime... http://www.myspace.com/TheBandChime Clip Vault... http://www.myspace.com/andyztunes Institute of Noise Productions... http://www.myspace.com/instituteofnoise Home of the L.A. Line 6 Users Group... http://www.instituteofnoise.com

March 23rd, 2008, 01:56 PM	#10 (permalink)
Trimmed&Burnin Tele-Holic Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bellingham Wa Age: 54 Posts: 807	I've build a quite few harp amps with a 4x8 configuartion. For harp amps I used two Weber 8A125-0's and two 8F125-0's. These were before the 8A150's that weber started making and work beautifully for harp or guitar if you want early breakup. I'd like to try the 8A or F150's that Weber is making now for guitar. I think a 4x8 cab used with a Prinecton would be sweet. __________________ Keep your lamp Trimmed And Burnin Shannon,

March 24th, 2008, 11:36 AM	#14 (permalink)
telel6s Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 1,148 80 Photos	Just a couple years ago Vox made a 4x8 cabinet to go along with its Pathfinder 15R head. I never played one but they looked kind of cool in he stores. Search TDPRI and some other boards and you'll probably find some threads about it. __________________ Mama always said, "A little tone is good for the soul."

March 24th, 2008, 12:47 PM	#15 (permalink)
BradKM Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 401	Sam Ash sells a Hartke half-stack that features a 4x8 cab. They previously sold the same rig under the "Guitar Research" label. I've tried those cabs with a few different heads and they sound pretty good. I'm sure one loaded with quality speakers would be even better. __________________ "Go Team Venture!"

March 23rd, 2008, 12:17 AM	#2 (permalink)
Scott S Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: SW CR IA US NA PE Age: 28 Posts: 1,394	I say do it, and post sound clips! Oh, and since it's 4 speakers, you should make a slant cab. - Scott

March 23rd, 2008, 12:28 AM	#3 (permalink)
TexGoneNW Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Victoria, TX Age: 50 Posts: 907 4 Photos	Take a look at the amp build in the most recent Vintage Guitar. It's 4x8"

March 23rd, 2008, 12:41 PM	#5 (permalink)
bluesfordan Tele-Meister Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 450	i hope you by convert your PR, you mean to make a new head box for it, and not cut up the old cab. Is your 4x8 going to be closed back or open back? I personally would go open back, and I bet it would sound killer. Let us know. anybody got a link to that 4x8 amp build?

March 23rd, 2008, 01:38 PM	#7 (permalink)
Scott S Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: SW CR IA US NA PE Age: 28 Posts: 1,394	Awesome. I'm building a 2x10 upright slant cab for my other amp. It'll be cool in a "Spinal Tap" way.

March 23rd, 2008, 01:54 PM	#9 (permalink)
telecaster1981 TDPRI Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: smithton, missouri Age: 26 Posts: 30	It will certainly be a 'cool' project, but I'm still not sure if it will be a practical project! I'm not really sure what kind of tonal characteristics I'll be getting with 4-8's. Will it sound tight and warm like a downsized 4x10 cabinet or will it sound nasal-ish and boxy like 4 Champs? I'm still undecided on if I'm going with closed back or open back. Seems like I'd get a more focused bass response out of a closed back, but that's just speculation on my part as I've played mainly combo amps most of my life and don't have much experience with extension cabinets!

March 23rd, 2008, 08:58 PM	#11 (permalink)
telecaster1981 TDPRI Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: smithton, missouri Age: 26 Posts: 30	Ok, guys...Next Question! Do I want ceramic or alnico magnets? I mainly play Blues and Country so I'd prefer that the speakers don't totally break up into oblivion, but a smooth, warm break-up would be nice. I currently have a 12" Jensen out of a 50's Hammond Organ in my BFPR and it sounds great. I presume it's an Alnico magnet??? It's just about perfect for blues as far as break-up goes, but it wouldn't hurt if it was a shade tighter for my country gigs. The speaker in my SFPR is a stock 10" ceramic and it sounds nice as well, but I'm still on the fence! Any ideas in this area???

March 24th, 2008, 09:18 AM	#13 (permalink)
marshman Tele-Holic Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: SE PA Posts: 644	A 4x8 tweed covered mini-bassman with Princeton or 5E3 guts would be pretty cool...but I think I'd rather have the same in a 1x15... hmmmm--same cabinet, 2 different baffles, 2 different chassis...mix and match depending on the gig!