Need help picking a cabinet!!

[The_Nihilist16]

So this is kinda a long story. I recently started a metal band hanging somewhere in between Doom, Stoner and Post Metal/Rock. I play on a 7 string tuned to ADGCEAD. I read all these horror stories online about blowing my speaker in this low tuning, while some say don’t sweat it. So I asked the local guitar shop and Marshall customer support about this and they both said it shouldn’t be a problem for my speaker. I use a Marshall valvestate VS100 combo (1x12 goldback).
 

So I tried it a few rehearsals and besides it sounding like shit (probably because of the low frequenty in combination with the open back) it also doesn’t sound healthy. It seems it puts to much load on the speaker. It loses volume and sustain on the low string and loses fundament. It doesn’t with lower volume and higher tuned guitars at high volume.

 

So I am thinking of buying a closed back 4x12 cabinet that combines with the 4ohm of my amp.
However I don’t want to be spending a lot of money and still risk blowing my speakers.

I wan’t to be able to make peoples head explode without blowing my speakers.
Would these options be strong enough to take the load without blowing my speakers:

 

– 4x12 Celestion V30 (about 280 watt I think) cabinet (Harley Benton)

– Marshall 1960A 4x12 (300 watt)

 

Or can you recommend me other options?

Side notes that I already know:

 

– I know the 55hz of the low A is in the bass frequency area (I don’t care)

– I know guitar speakers are somewhere around 70-5000hz (It doesn’t have to project the 55hz, it just has to be able to take the load without breaking something).

– I know I can boost my mids/highs but that isn’t what I’m looking for

– I know it is problably gonna sound muddy (ever heard of Stoner metal?)

– I know the best option for this low tuning is a Mesa Boogie oversized 4x12 or a custom Avatar cab however they are hard to come by in the Netherlands and don’t really have a Doom/Stoner sound.
 

[Dad3353]

It depends a great deal on the volume you're playing at. I can easily understand a 1x12 combo not sounding ideal, so the 4x12 option seems to be better suited to that spectrum. If you're playing so loud as to risk damaging either of the cabs you've listed, you're in a stadium with FOH support, so tone it down some. In any 'normal' clubs, bars or theatres, that amp with a 4x12 will easily fill the venue, even in those frequency ranges. I would, however, un-hook the combo speaker when playing with the 4x12; you will definetly not want it active at the same time as the 4x12. If the amp needs 4 Ohms, get an extension cab at 4 Ohms and switch out the combo speaker.
I won't say much about the choice between the two listed, but the Mesa would be one heck of a step up, even second-hand, if you can get one from somewhere in Europe. Good luck with the project (but I suspect you'll be far too loud for my old cloth ears...). 

Edit: Our Eldest recommends the Harley Benson as better value for money, and well up to the task, and a bargain at its present price, compared to the 1960A. 

Edited July 2, 2022 by Dad3353

[The_Nihilist16]

1 hour ago, Dad3353 said:

It depends a great deal on the volume you're playing at. I can easily understand a 1x12 combo not sounding ideal, so the 4x12 option seems to be better suited to that spectrum. If you're playing so loud as to risk damaging either of the cabs you've listed, you're in a stadium with FOH support, so tone it down some. In any 'normal' clubs, bars or theatres, that amp with a 4x12 will easily fill the venue, even in those frequency ranges. I would, however, un-hook the combo speaker when playing with the 4x12; you will definetly not want it active at the same time as the 4x12. If the amp needs 4 Ohms, get an extension cab at 4 Ohms and switch out the combo speaker.
I won't say much about the choice between the two listed, but the Mesa would be one heck of a step up, even second-hand, if you can get one from somewhere in Europe. Good luck with the project (but I suspect you'll be far too loud for my old cloth ears...). 

Edit: Our Eldest recommends the Harley Benson as better value for money, and well up to the task, and a bargain at its present price, compared to the 1960A. 

@Dad3353 thanks for the reply! I actually don't play that loud, I think the volume knob on my Marshall is just over a quarter (at around 10 on a clock) and I never used it past halfway. 
However my little 1x12 just sounds like he can't really take it well with the low A string. So the Harley Benton won't get to much load on the speakers with these low frequencies you think? Because I really don't want to break anything. Thank you again!! 

[Dad3353]

5 minutes ago, The_Nihilist16 said:

@Dad3353 thanks for the reply! I actually don't play that loud, I think the volume knob on my Marshall is just over a quarter (at around 10 on a clock) and I never used it past halfway. 
However my little 1x12 just sounds like he can't really take it well with the low A string. So the Harley Benton won't get to much load on the speakers with these low frequencies you think? Because I really don't want to break anything. Thank you again!! 

 

If you're not playing the amp 'flat out', the HB will do the job nicely. Remember to use the 4 Ohm setting, and switch out the combo speaker when using the cab. To break a 4x12, one has to be playing really, really loud. 'Back then', the tone was obtained by maxing the valve amps, over-driving the output valves. As this was so darned loud (for everyone, including the guitarist...), the trick was to have the cab in another room, or, as we did, laying the cab face down on carpet. This allowed the amp to 'sing' without breaking the windows (still darned loud, though..!). With solid-state valve-sound amps, this extreme volume is not needed, and there are now plenty of pedals to tone-shape without cranking to max. Ear-plugs are still a Good Idea, though..! 

[The_Nihilist16]

 

41 minutes ago, Dad3353 said:

 

If you're not playing the amp 'flat out', the HB will do the job nicely. Remember to use the 4 Ohm setting, and switch out the combo speaker when using the cab. To break a 4x12, one has to be playing really, really loud. 'Back then', the tone was obtained by maxing the valve amps, over-driving the output valves. As this was so darned loud (for everyone, including the guitarist...), the trick was to have the cab in another room, or, as we did, laying the cab face down on carpet. This allowed the amp to 'sing' without breaking the windows (still darned loud, though..!). With solid-state valve-sound amps, this extreme volume is not needed, and there are now plenty of pedals to tone-shape without cranking to max. Ear-plugs are still a Good Idea, though..! 

Ok, I will do that. Thank you very much for all the advise, you really helped me out there!!