4x12 sounds boomy

[unconventional]

Just got a lopo signature series 4x12. Awesome work those guys do. Anyhow, I don't know if it's just that I'm used to a 2x12 but the thing sounds boomy.

Here's what I got and what I did
WGS
2 Veteran 30's
4 British Leads

I wired them so the top 2 go to one jack @ 4ohms and the bottom 2 go to another jack @ 4ohms.

Now when I play the V30's up top they sound kind of harsh if you will, sort of breaky I guess? They sound good with the 6 string, but not the 7 string xiphos.

However when I use the bottom 2 speakers as well (british leads) the whole cab gets boomy.

So, as an experiment, I put the british leads up top, threw in some Celestion 12T-100's in the bottom. I'm again, liking the top, but when I use all 4, same thing. Boomy.

Any ideas?

Perhaps throw the v30's in the bottom?

I'm more of a midrange / highs type of guy. I don't like a ton of bass and the boomy thing is pissing me off.

What do you think?
So, celestion 12T100's up top = good with only 2 out of 4 speakers in cab running

British leads up top = good with only 2 out of 4 speakers in cab running.

However, as mentioned, no matter what speaker in bottom = boom boom.

Any ideas appreciated.

 

[Soulinsane]

Adding foam to the inside walls will tighten up the bass. It killed the boomy sound in my 4x12 and made controlling bass reponce much easier.

 

[SacredGroove]

-Foam will help, as posted above.

-Try to get the cabinet up off the floor by 8" or so. The floor creates a channel for the sound pressure to concentrate and travel longer without dissipation. Carpet or rug can help, as well, whether the cabinet on the floor or raised up.

-Since you wired the cabinet, top and bottom, you could help the boom by adjusting the density going to the bottom speakers.

BTW, I hear/read nothing but great things about the Warehouse Vet 30's and I'm itching to check them out.

 

[unconventional]

Looks like you have a baffle separating the top and bottom of the cab is that right? I don't have that.

Is that just a matteress pad type of thing? Where do you find that foam ****?

Thanks, Kevin

 

[NCdan]

This is just one of the pitfalls of most closed back 4x12 cabinets: the speakers have too much room behind them, giving a "natural reverb" to the sound. Changing speakers may help the boominess, but it won't make it stop. Putting foam on the inside is a good idea to attenuate the boominess; using an active EQ to suck out the subs and attenuate the lows before the signal hits the speakers helps as well. Personally, the only practical use I find for a 4X12 cabinet is for band practice and for looks on stage. I use a miced 1x12 for all recording and live applications, but then again, I don't have a cool image to keep up .

 

[unconventional]

Well today I tired 4 British leads in there. Problem Solved. I wish I had tried the X pattern with the V30's and the BL's together but I'm so burnt out from swapping and rewiring I don't know if I'll bother.

 

[Soulinsane]

Looks like you have a baffle separating the top and bottom of the cab is that right? I don't have that.

Is that just a matteress pad type of thing? Where do you find that foam s*&t?

Thanks, Kevin

Yeah, its basically two 2x12 cabs in a 4x12 shell. Its a Randall XLT cab. The form is a single bed mattress pad I bought for $10. Its not pretty like other expensive acoustic foams but no one sees it. It really cleared the tone up but mostly in the bass response.