Front loaded vs rear loaded speakers for Express.

[leadfootdriver]

4x12's only. What are you experiences?

[Reeltarded]

Ken liked Ampeg cabinets for a really good reason. They do the bass that the Express doesn't too. A thing I noticed. Almost like they were made for each other.

I only have Marshall cabs.

[Progear]

Completely agree with Reeltarted.. Ampeg is the way to go with some Scumback M75.

[BIG Dave]

Makes you think Ken voiced the Express for the V4 cab! Sometimes I wonder if Ken used Ampeg cabs simply because he had access to Ampeg cabs (being an Ampeg employee).

[redshark]

I have a V-4 and put the Weber 1225 with prerola doping, that speaker that people talked about in the metroamps and man, that was the ticket!! A guy I know brought 2 marshall cabs with real prerolas and my V-4 with the weber clones sounded as good!! yes, something magical about those cabs!!

[Mark]

Are there any plans around for those cabs?

They appear to be plentiful in the US but quite rare elsewhere.

[Plexified]

I can say I have owned a bunch and to stick with the cabs they are nothing you want to try to replicate. Beefy mo fos friends . They are a front mount cab as you cannot rear load them so to me a gasket would be nice . But where to find one . So you are at the mercy of precisely intalling mega valuble speakers without torquing or warping the frames . Big issue here l The rear mount Marshall is a feat of such interest . First the Volume and size are questionable compared to Fender. Did they just figure 36 inch doorframe , maybe 30 good . The joining of solid woods was really limited to around 15 inches with good wood , woo hoo . But go further and you see the thinner ply back was bowed a good degree with a properly shimmed sound poast in the center , be it a slanted 60 or a square one . The square is laser and the slut is holding more bass and throw with pleasant highs that you cannot hear because the express is filtered out . In a nice combo compliment the Weber blue with a p10R is bright and detailed and totally a beautiful compliment with a loaded v4 or a perfect 1960A . i have had killer 20's with basketweave hold a 12000 series 100 for a good hour at a time without heat issues or failures . That weave controls the cone excurscion because it got so tight over the years . The back plate of a ceramic Celestion sounds like shit when it gets slammed so its a control factor .

I run the 6ca7 Sylvanias because I like em and I got them early on for a song . The throw on the front mount is very close . so the player gets to hear of feel it . First row fughgettaboutit . I just would never want to warp the frame to the relation to the cone . Fmz . The acually thinner ply back does become concave 515O . The throw from the backwave screws with the front wave and makes your shins vrrribbbe . The insulation in the V$ takes that away from the exp . I was nuetral and lost in great tone and then was feeling my shins resonate and my midrange was coming out of the cabinet like an assasin of sorts . Very immediate and compelling interesting . I revisit it all the time but it is unique , intoxicating and the filtering from the 10's to the 4v12s from england . Really all smoothe mids with bite and grind but surely a nub on highs without being dull or inappropriate , just vintage mm good bb sum more please

[M Fowler]

Are those clone V4 cabs built like the original Ampeg cabs at Fliptop?

http://www.fliptops.net/catalog/p-10078 ... et-v4-4x12

[Plexified]

I would like to see gut shots , because they are so heavy and solid , were talking a two 6x2 ? cross brace that is so solid it weighs 25 lbs alone and is so void free , I would guess poplar ? but its all glued and so rigid when you knock on one its a very high pitched return . I would really like to see a gasket source , cork maybe , just to soften the frame torque when you tighten it to get a seal . Im dealing with pre rola 25s that are super nice and sound amazing . I just would hate to see a speaker get smoked and take down an amp . I have done it , seen it and its like watching a Les Paul fall of a guitar stand , yanked by a cord someone tripped over onstage and the head stock goes bbbbwwwwwwwwwwwwwooooooooowwwww . And is just broke off . Shit show . Now you have no axe , may as well be asked to play outside at a party with a generator running and a strange axe and go . Here a spare axe a shit load of eq stuff and repair man cometh certainly goes into play . But its a god awful labor of love if you intend to build a v4 for commercial acceptance . They weigh about 125 lbs with stock square frame cts speaks and the matching head is about the same . The power xfmr is so heavy alone , the otx is the same way . I fell in love with the amp and had 8 at one time with the v4 and a plexi in the center of the stack as an a/b /. Just sick . I was body building at the time and I would pick that shit up like it was wearing lipstick . But today I eat right and do cool stuff outdoors like mnt bkng and chasing hot girls wearing lipstick on a hike , but moving them recently as I am at high school weight was awful , handtruck and a helping hand needed . You have to really want that . I was really commented to it because I get a tight tone with an open back combo of 10's and although the highs are the trick to tame the thump was there . I use to mike the soundpostof my marshalls and the back panel too with glued on piezo mics during recording or fun times to experiment . But the days of the 4x12 are in need of scrutiny . I like a 4x12 1960a with the same options and the bottom two speaks removed . It takes off some weight and throws some cool mojo . I do , however love Kens take on a combo extension cab with the half bottom plate . Be it tens or twelves or combinations of it all . You can do fifteens alone or with a ten and even the ultimate V4 to me would be the one with a pair of Altec Lansing H1777 cones on the top and a pair of Pre rola 30s in the bottom . Plus the grill cloth frame can come off and what you grille it with is important too . The stock cloth is Fender like and blue/flashy , but you can put in basketweave if you like . I brew a pot of coffee and soak the grillecloth in it for vintage vibe . But its a tone test for sure . If they are building them , call em up , cause they know the deal on these cabs , they are a sight to see and hear . Not lug around though . The insulation tames the mids . Otherwise they jump out and mug you . It is a really cool thing to experience and hear though . David

[leadfootdriver]

I just tried a Mesa oversize 4x12 with my Express, and its just killer.

[Plexified]

awesome news ! the frequency filtering is what blows me away . I have to try the 2x10 combo with Weber VST p10r and blue pup with the full cab of pre rola 25s . The tens sitting on top of the cab would provide some added highs and unfiltered harmonix plus the already chewy bark and bite , the big thump I guess is something to look forward too . I just find plugging into the combo aires me out so much that when I go into the 4x12 I miss the highs . Or my hearing is so impaired its such goodness though ...

[leadfootdriver]

This is the answer. I can't believe I was going to sell this cab..


[IMG:576:1024]http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh26 ... 29129f.jpg[/img]

[rp]

This is the answer. I can't believe I was going to sell this cab..

Stock speakers? What are they, those Celestion/Mesa C-90s?

[leadfootdriver]

Vintage 30's in the oversize cab is pure win for the Express.

[rp]

Vintage 30's in the oversize cab is pure win for the Express.

That's easy and simple, good to know if I ever build one, especially to sell. Thanks.