Why do cabinets cost so much?

genocommand · Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 6:34 am Post subject: Why do cabinets cost so much?

I recently purchased a JCM 900 and have been looking for a cabinet to go with it. I see some that are around 300 dollars, while there are some that are around 800. I don't want to make a mistake. Why do the 1960 series cost more than the cabs that go to the digital amps. I've heard its the wood and speaker load. Is that all? Should I buy a cheap cab? Or should I wait and get a good one?

pizza8guy888 · Little Hamster Joined: 17 Jun 2005 Posts: 77 Location: NJ

Well althought some of the expensive cabinets do sound very nice and are loved by many, I believe many are overpriced and you are paying because of the name and the demand by many t have it. On the other hand I feel some of the cheaper cabs don;t always sound to great because companies cut costs by putting poor quality speakers in them. My opinion and suggestion is to check out www.avatarspeakers.com They make all their own cabinets that are very good quality and they can customize by putting speakers that match your playing style. You can read many great reviews on the net about Avatar. Good luck.

Goes_To_Eleven · Hamster Joined: 07 Oct 2005 Posts: 87 Location: CT, USA

The cheaper cabs that go with Marshall's digital amps are made from cheaper components (MDF board instead of plywood) and use cheaper, lower-quality speakers. They have a reputation of not holding up well over time.

The JCM900 cabs are great, sturdy cabs that sound wonderful. I've owned my 1960A & B stack since about 1994, and have never had a single problem with them. They're loaded with Celestion GT12-75 speakers, with a cab rating of 300 watts total, and are great for heavier music. You get a big, tight mid punch with them.

I also own a 1960AX cab loaded with 25-watt Greenbacks that sounds great as well. It breaks up quicker than the 300-watt cabs, and the distortion is smoother. The AX/BX cabs tend to run more expensive than the 1960 A&B models, which you can find all over Ebay for $300-$400. Find one of those and don't waste your money on the MG cabs.

genocommand · Posted: Mon Sep 25, 2006 12:12 pm Post subject: cabinet

is that right now. I really only care about sound, and if it really sounds different I won't go with the MG series.

Goes_To_Eleven · Hamster Joined: 07 Oct 2005 Posts: 87 Location: CT, USA

The MG 4x12 cabs are actually smaller than the 1960 cabs, so that will make a difference in tone. They also tend to get flabby on the bass side and generally mushy with unwanted distortion when you turn the volume up past 3 or so. I'd imagine the frequency response is lower than better Celestion speakers, as that's usually the case with any low-end speaker. You won't get the highs & lows of a better cab.

I guess they're made of particle board and not MDF, which actually makes them even less of a bargain. If you drop a particle board cab, best of luck with it staying together. Given that the MG412 costs $280 new, I'd recommend you scour Ebay for a 1960 cab since they can be had for $300-400. You'll be much happier spending a bit more as you'll be getting a superior cabinet in tone, quality, and construction. Don't waste your money on an MG cab.

gnappi · Tadpole Joined: 13 Aug 2006 Posts: 18

bitingsound · Sea Monkey Joined: 26 Feb 2007 Posts: 10

Never sacrifice good quality for money. It's better tosave up for a good set than not become satisfied with a cheap one. Look through online catalogs. You may find great deals there.

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anrokz · Newbie Alert Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Posts: 1

what does the JCM 800 1960 have ? greenbacks?

BoutiqueMusic · Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2007 12:20 pm Post subject:

I can tell you from experience that the cost of the wood is negligible. You spend all of your money in labor. Those big companies can build them a lot cheaper because they do so many at once. However, they tend to also skimp on the little touches.

My cabinets are all hand-tolexed. I don't use plastic or metal corners so the tolex is cut in by hand to finish them. I also have mono-stereo switching on my 4x12s just like everybody else. In order to be competitive, I just have to lower my margins. It's not preferred, but in the long run my reputation and name recognition are helped.

I am coming out with a commercially competitive line of cabinets soon and they will have things like metal corners and a number of colors and grill cloth options as standard.