Metropoulos Forum

Just wondered how many people here use a 1936 cab? I'm getting pretty good results with mine and two G12-65 speakers in it. Primarily run a Peavey JSX through it with a fair amount of gain, but it's also lovely and woody when I use it with my JMP heads. I think we all prefer the extra 'whhomphh' of a 4x12, but the gigging convenience of a 2x12 far outweighs that for me.

In actual fact my 2x12 with the G12-65 has more bottom end than my 4x12 with the G12C (Celestion G12M style speakers from the Vintage Modern cabs)!

For those who use 2x12s, does it affect your speaker choice compared to what you would use in a 4x12?

I've used the same 1936 cab for a long time. Mine came with Eminence speakers in it and I replaced them a couple of years ago. Even with a 50 watt amp (which cranked and boosted will put out at least 70) it's not real safe to run a pair 25watt Greenbacks or 30watt H-30's so I went with 60watt Vintage 30's from Avatar (their Hellatone 60's). Plenty of bottom and the right amount of breakup for me.

After the first couple of years loading 1936 cabs with Eminence speakers, Marshall put G12-75's in them. I can't imagine a pair of those being any good unless you run a 100watt head real loud.

I like to use one 1936 cab for very small venue pluged into a JMP 50 1987 small head or a 2203. It works great too with the dry/wet method setup, chaining two amps and of course two cabs.

According to my taste, 1936 cab gives a good resonance, sounds deep and woody. I've loaded into it a pair of G12M 25W/55Hz Blackbacks and the result is simply awesome. It's a very good alternative to 412, here is some pictures:

Did J wrote:I like to use one 1936 cab for very small venue pluged into a JMP 50 1987 small head or a 2203. It works great too with the dry/wet method setup, chaining two amps and of course two cabs.

According to my taste, 1936 cab gives a good resonance, sounds deep and woody. I've loaded into it a pair of G12M 25W/55Hz Blackbacks and the result is simply awesome. It's a very good alternative to 412, here is some pictures:

Marshall 1936-2x12Chequerboard - Small.JPG

Marshall 1936-2x12 G12M Rola Celestion 8ohms - Small.JPG

Is that a JCM800 1936 cab or an old Marshall 2045 cab?. I hear the JCM800 1936's are considered 'superior' to the later JCM900 version that I have. Something to do with the construction?

Certainly for pubs that I play in, the 2x12 is enough. It's tough sometimes as the other guitarist uses a 4x12, but other than a bit more 'Whoomph' from the cab, it's hard to justify the extra size of a 4x12 for small venues. The difference is even less noticable if you are the only guitarist in a band as there's no reference point for the listener to compare.

Yes it's an old 1936/JCM800 cab I have restored a bit, changed grille cloth and replaced the drivers, two 8 ohms wired in series. And yeah no matter since I'm guitarist/singer in a three pieces band. I have to tell that I was very impressed with this 1936 at the first time, this small cab sounds really good and not so much different world as 1960 cabs. It's definitively an important piece of my rig.

Did J wrote:Yes it's an old 1936/JCM800 cab I have replaced the drivers, two 8 ohms wired in series.

This makes the cab a 16ohm load?

Yep! two 8 ohms drivers wired in series give you 16 ohms load. I was certainely very lucky to find old Celestion's G12M 8 ohms, they seem to be very rare at this time.

Better off running @ 4ohms and para. If you lose a speaker in series, no load.

I do know that, but for many years I carry away my cabs and amps that's never happened to me. You right, on the road lots of things can happen. Sometimes output tubes are red plating I replace them, sometimes the guitars do not go very well, sometimes my fingers seem to be out of the story, sometimes my voice is completly harsh, but I never see my drivers out of order. Anyway, if this can happen to me... well I'll be f****d up