What is the Best 2×12 Guitar Cabinet for Death Metal?
Death metal guitar tone relies on a powerful, brutal high-gain distortion sound. To achieve this, having the right guitar cabinet is crucial. For death metal guitarists, a 2×12 guitar cabinet offers an ideal balance of portability, power and tone shaping options. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the key factors in choosing the best 2×12 guitar cabinet for death metal and review the top cabinets on the market.
What to Look For in a 2×12 Guitar Cabinet for Death Metal
Speaker Size and Power Handling
12-inch speakers are the standard for metal guitar cabs. Their large size allows them to move more air and generate louder volume compared to 10-inch or smaller speakers. Look for speakers rated for at least 100 watts power handling. Popular speaker options include Celestion Vintage 30s, Eminence Swamp Thangs and Electrovoice EVHs.
Closed-Back vs Open-Back Design
Closed-back cabs offer more focused low end and gain before feedback. This helps tighten up the bottom end. Open-back cabs provide more resonance and ambience. For faster, tighter metal rhythm tones, closed-back designs are usually preferred.
Number and Configuration of Speakers
Having two speakers allows you to blend different tones, like pairing a British voiced speaker with an American one. Angled cabs project your tone forwards towards the audience. Straight cabs give a wider spread of sound.
Quality Components and Construction
Look for rugged cabinet construction from boards like plywood or MDF covered in textured vinyl or tolex. Quality metal corners protect from drops. Heavy-duty metal grille cloths prevent punctures. Look for strong handles and quality jacks and switches.
Brand Reputation and Reviews
Stick to reputable cab brands known for building great metal gear like Marshall, Mesa/Boogie, Orange and others. Check reviews and demos to hear if the cab delivers the aggressive distortion you need.
Top 5 Best 2×12 Guitar Cabinets for Death Metal
1. Orange PPC212OB Vertical 2×12 Guitar Speaker Cabinet
Orange cabs are a favorite of metal players for their distinctive midrange bark and chunky lows. The PPC212OB packs a pair of Orange’s flagship V30 speakers rated for 60 watts each. The closed-back design focuses the low end for tight rhythms. An angled baffle projects your tones for stage monitoring. It nails that classic Orange aggressive British distortion tone perfect for death metal.
2. Mesa/Boogie Rectifier Standard Slant 2×12 Guitar Speaker Cabinet
Trusted by metal acts like Metallica, this Mesa cab delivers Boogie’s signature high gain tone. It contains two Celestion Vintage 30s, beloved by rock and metal players. The slanted design allows for better monitoring. Reinforced corners and textured vinyl covering make it road-tough. From searing leads to tight chugging, this cab covers all the sonic ground death metal requires.
3. Marshall 1960AV Angled 2×12 Guitar Speaker Cabinet
Marshall is synonymous with the distorted rock and metal tone. The 1960AV packs two 12-inch Celestion Seventy 80 speakers specially voiced for heavy rock. The angled design projects your tone forward live. It also looks fantastic under stage lighting with Marshall’s iconic script logo.
4. EVH 5150III 2×12 Guitar Speaker Cabinet
Designed by legendary metal tonehound Eddie Van Halen, the EVH 5150III 2×12 ensures you have the tools for demonic death metal distortion. It contains two custom-designed 12-inch Eminence speakers with specially tuned voicing to complement EVH amps. The all-birch ply construction gives resonant response. It also looks sinister dressed in all-black covering.
5. Blackstar HTV-212 Vintage 2×12 Vertical Guitar Speaker Cabinet
Blackstar’s Vintage 2×12 cab provides a killer blend of British and American tones thanks to its mix of G12K-100 and Vintage 30 speakers. Birch ply construction gives it a lively response. The closed back design delivers tight low end. Blackstar’s ISF control lets you dial in your perfect level of American vs British voicing too. It’s a versatile cab tuned for high-gain genres.
Choosing the Right 2×12 Guitar Cabinet for Your Needs
When selecting a 2×12 guitar cabinet for death metal, consider how you want it to complement your amp and what tones you want to achieve. If you already have an amp you like, choose a cab with speakers that will enhance your amp’s gain channel. Research speaker options to pick ones that will give you the heavy distorted tones you need.
Think about your budget and how much you can spend on a quality cab built to handle high gain without issues. While you can cheap out on a cab, doing so could impact your tone and limit your output. Investing in a robust cab made by a trusted brand will ensure great performance for years.
Make sure the cab has the right features for stage use, like angled baffling for monitoring, strong construction for touring, and the connectivity options you need. Listen to demos and reviews to hear how the cab performs with heavy riffs and help inform your buying decision.
With the right 2×12 guitar cabinet designed for high gain metal styles, you’ll have the huge distorted sound needed to rattle venues and fans to the core when laying down pummeling death metal riffs and leads. Any of the highly rated cabs above will give you the thunderous tones perfect for extreme metal. Let your amp unleash its full potential and get the dedicated cab it deserves. Your tone will thank you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What speaker wattage should I look for in a 2×12 cab for death metal?
A: Look for speakers rated for at least 100 watts power handling. Popular options like Celestion V30s or Eminence Swamp Thangs can handle 120 watts or more. This ensures they won’t get damaged at high volumes.
Q: Should I get an open-back or closed-back 2×12 cab?
A: Closed-back cabs are usually better for tight death metal rhythm tones. They focus the low frequencies and limit resonance for a tighter sound.
Q: What speaker brands sound best for death metal?
A: Celestion and Eminence make some of the most popular speakers for high gain metal. Look for options like the Celestion Vintage 30 or Eminence Governor/Swamp Thang.
Q: How important is cab construction and durability?
A: Solid cab construction from plywood or MDF helps minimize unwanted resonance that could loosen your tone. Rugged materials ensure the cab lasts through heavy touring.
Q: Should I match my cab brand to my amp brand?
A: While not essential, matching your cab and amp brands can provide ideal tone shaping as they are designed to complement each other. But mixing brands works too.
