Closed back vs. open back

[aron]

I finally tried it with my 2X12 Celestion greenback cab. Frankly I expected a different tone, but what I didn't expect was the loss of dynamic range. Without something to "push against" the speakers just didn't have the same punch and dynamic range of the closed back. I tried to like it, but I ended putting the back on.

I think it might have been better if I didn't already have "spatial" enhancements going on.

[gez]

There was a tribute to John Peel on the radio the other week (UK DJ who pioneered new music) and he described the tone control he had on his record player as a kid.  It was a mechanical shutter that came down over the speaker, giving it a muffled sound...the first low-pass filter! 

Perhaps a pair of hinges on the back plus with an adjustable pole to prop it open would help you fine tune your sound?! 

[Doug_H]

My Firefly sounds kind of thin with an open back. I think that little amp needs all the help it can get from the speaker cab. OTOH, my Octal Fatness sounds better with the open back. It sounds real "big" and more ambient. I guess it depends on the amp.

Doug

[Stevo]

I think with a closed back you get a real tight feeling tone and seems a better responce in picking tone.. sounds good with a crate setup tube 20 watt and two 12's closed back ...nice sustain and drive...Now my Mesa open 3/4 I guess has a different airy sound which gives it a wider tone to speak!! Fills the room more up with sound...You really dont want that sometimes you want the sound to be in one direction, which a closed back will do. I like the closed back in the way the speakers are controlled in a way by sound tightness holding the speakers from just swinging in an open back...I think I am just not really making sense so I will quit.......

[aron]

One of the best tones I had was with a small Mesa Boogie cab w/ a Matchless Vintage 30. I just liked it.

OTOH, the compressed feeling of the open back could be used to advantage depending on the amp.

[Stevo]

My f-30 Mesa is definitly a really... mean really nice sounding amp great feedbacks with it...and the tone is killer..has its own overdrive so i have another setup to use my overdrive pedal and the closed back..got to try out the pedals you know.  but I do like the closed back I play with a crate 20watt tube 2 12's in an Earcandy cab real nice company that makes cabs for tube amps..custom built..

[aron]

I think I like the closed back because I do use reverb and delay. If I didn't use it as much, I might like the open back option a little more.

[waldo041]

i may be wrong but speakers are all different, in that they need to be tuned to a cab; meaning long throw  for open cabs and short throw for closed backs.  you probably tried pushing the amp harder to produce the sound that you had with it closed and to no avail. the greenbacks are good for a closed cab there voice coil is 1 3/4" and produce a shorter throw. the closed cab helps with the frequency response it makes it fuller, less compressed. if you had a spare set of jbl e120 or d's with 4" inch voice coil(long throw) with a better frequency response and the means to throw it, you might enjoy the open back more.  just my 2 cents

peace,
waldo

[bwanasonic]

I think I like the closed back because I do use reverb and delay. If I didn't use it as much, I might like the open back option a little more.

I don't think there is any connection between using ambient effects and open/closed cabs. I use a ton of reverb and delay and only use open back combos. I recently saw Bill Frisell, and he uses Deluxe Reverbs as well as all sorts of reverb and delay effects. I think what is more a factor is what the cab was designed for. Just taking the back off a closed cab is not the same as using a cab designed as an open back.

Kerry M

[aron]

Just taking the back off a closed cab is not the same as using a cab designed as an open back.

Probably true. In my case, my cab is a "convertible" so it's made to go either way. What I was commenting on is that for me, now that I know the difference in feel between the open and closed, I prefer the dynamic range of the closed but of course I have played tons of amps with open backs that were fine.

[bwanasonic]

but of course I have played tons of amps with open backs that were fine.

Sorry, I got the misguided impression you were wondering what open backed cabs sound like

Kerry M

[aron]

No, actually I think I've probably played more open back than closed, but I never gave it much thought as to how different a speaker might "feel" in the same cab if you open the back.