Are the cheap Marshall MX 4X12 cabinet any good?

[Alan0354]

I have my Bassman up, I ran it through the JCM900 Dual Reverb combo as the speaker cabinet. It still has the Celestion G12H-100( suspect to be defective). It really sounded bad. I am going to change to another speaker as the cone of the G12H-100 is very loose, nothing like the G12T-75 or any other 12" speaker I have.

I have been looking at the Marshall closed back MX cabinet because they are quite cheap. How's the cabinet, are they same quality as the more expansive ones like the Plexi cabinets? I used to have the Plexi triple stack. I opened the cabinet, it was nothing fancy inside, no sound insulating material, wood was just plywood, one of them even used particle board. It was not that thick, definitely not like my BF Vibrolux cabinet at the time.

What kind of speaker the MX cabinet uses? Are they any good?

I have been very resisting in even consider a new cabinet because my room is just the library, it's small. My big boss has not been happy with the stuffs in already, if I get a big cabinet, my big boss might give me an instant job review and it ain't going to be good. But I cannot use the Pro Reverb as cabinet forever.

[gui_tarzan]

I've run several through my MX cabinet and I wouldn't say it sounds bad, but nothing like my 60's Jensen. The MX series is cheap for a reason. I only bought it because I got a steal of a deal on it.

[Alan0354]

Thanks, I just wonder if I change to better speakers, will it be as good as the expensive cabinet. It's really a two part question, if the cabinet ( without speaker) is good, then it has potential. But if the cabinet is inferior, then it's not worth considering.

[gui_tarzan]

No, the cabinet is actually not built very well. I put two Vox speakers in mine just because and I can't believe how flimsy and cheaply that cabinet was built. Save your pennies for a real 2x12 cab.

[loudthud]

The efficiency of the speakers is not very good. Noticably lower than the early 80's cab I have. The tone is not bad but there is no low frequency slam on power cords. There is no front to back bracing in the corners and with the big radius on the outside, there can't be much holding the corners together. It wouldn't surprise me to see the whole thing fold up if it got dropped.

[Alan0354]

The efficiency of the speakers is not very good. Noticably lower than the early 80's cab I have. The tone is not bad but there is no low frequency slam on power cords. There is no front to back bracing in the corners and with the big radius on the outside, there can't be much holding the corners together. It wouldn't surprise me to see the whole thing fold up if it got dropped.

Ha ha, I am cheap and I can do wood work. Corner bracing is a piece of cake. Even if I have to brace the middle of the board that hold the speakers, it's doable. I got all the construction tools. As long as I don't have to do cosmetic work, I am all good.

[gui_tarzan]

That may be true but if I remember correctly it's particle board, not solid wood. I'll probably keep the cabinet unless I find some young metal head that wants it just because it's a good cabinet to leave in one spot and plug stuff into it.

[Alan0354]

That may be true but if I remember correctly it's particle board, not solid wood. I'll probably keep the cabinet unless I find some young metal head that wants it just because it's a good cabinet to leave in one spot and plug stuff into it.

I can tell you one of the cabinet of my original 74 Plexi 100W triple stack used particle board also. That was bought brand new in 1974. Actually that was the first time I ever saw particle board at the time. I can also tell you that the wood/particle board of the 1960A and B ( I think that's the model number) were not thick, I think it's 5/8"( definitely thinner than 3/4"). My first impression when I open those cabinet was, man that looks cheap. I had a BF Fender Vibrolux, the wood was sure thicker than the Marshall. It did not have any insulation inside like Fender. Don't quote me, I think there is a piece of like 2X2 from the front speaker board to the back board to stiffen the box. I don't remember anything about the corner bracing. It was quite cheap looking.

Ha ha, Marshall make the front looks like very thick wood by doubling the trim......just like granite counter top that they using only 3/4" thick, then they double up at the edge to make the country top look thick and expensive. It's all cosmetic.

My JCM900 Dual reverb has quite thin wood too. I can definitely hear the boxyness sound. I wonder does it help if I put in the brace.

[Leo_Gnardo]

I think there is a piece of like 2X2 from the front speaker board to the back board to stiffen the box.

You're remembering correctly. Marshall puts in a 2x2 brace front to back, to try and prevent the back cover from flexing back and forth with cab pressure. But the back still flexes anyway and slaps against this post under hi volume low frequencies = that famous Marshall "slap." Their marketing department took out full page color ads (!) touting this feature about 20 years ago. Go figure. I put a screw thru the back into that post, can do without the "famous Marshall slap" which brings on the owner's question "What's wrong with my speaker, is it broken?" And some people just remove the post.

Can't say I've seen such a support post in any other 4x12.

[J M Fahey]

I make a 4x12" Bass cabinet, and there the support post is indispensable.
But I also glue a 4" x 4" piece of plywood to its back end, cover it with 1/4" spongy rubber (much denser than foam, think EVA) and screw the back panel to it.

"Marshall thump" type sounds are horrible when playing Bass.

In smaller 2 x 12" cabinets I glue/screw a 3" wide reinforcing rib to the back, in diagonal.

Effectiveness is easy to check, when knocking on the middle of the back it goes from thump without to a dry much weaker knock with it.

[Alan0354]

I am glad you guys agree on the Marshall cabinet. I swear the Fender cabinets I opened look a whole lot better back in the days. I remember clearly the Tremolux I opened was filled with insulation AND there was a brace right in the middle towards the back side. Fender always use thicker wood, at least 3/4". Even my cheap Rock Pro (SE112?) 1X12 cabinet is thicker and feel studier.


One more question:

The more I look at the room and think about my big boss, I have second thoughts about buying this big cabinet, not because of the $$, I don't think I can get pass my big boss on this one. It is going to stick out like a sour thumb in the room.

Do you think I can improve the sound of the JCM900 Dual Reverb combo by putting corner brace and brace from the side wall to the speaker board? The main thing is the boxiness sound. If I can make it less boxy, I think I can live with it. The wood is only 5/8", they expect it does not vibrate?

[g1]

For me, you can't get the proper Marshall sound from a combo (open back). If you want the Marshall sound, get a closed back cab.
In the same way you can't quite get the vintage Fender sound from a closed back.
You can try all kinds of tricks with the combo, but without making it closed back, it will never quite get there.

[Alan0354]

For me, you can't get the proper Marshall sound from a combo (open back). If you want the Marshall sound, get a closed back cab.
In the same way you can't quite get the vintage Fender sound from a closed back.
You can try all kinds of tricks with the combo, but without making it closed back, it will never quite get there.

I agree, I just afraid my big boss don't!!!. Now it's just a question making the best out of it if it is possible. This is a very small cabinet as seen in these pictures:






As you can see, the inside of the combo is not braced. You think I can get rid of the boxyness and improve the sound if I put corner brace and brace from the side wall the the speaker board?

[g1]

How about:
build a little box for the chassis
close up the speaker cab.

[Alan0354]

How about:
build a little box for the chassis
close up the speaker cab.

Ha ha, I can build one that is sturdy, but it's going to look ugly. I do wood work.....more construction type, I have absolutely no finesse!!!! Like Clint Eastwood said.....Man got to know his limits!!!!

I really want to re-Tolex my treasured Pro Reverb. I just don't even dare to.