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Author
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Topic: Why open back cabinets?
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David Doggett
Member From: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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posted 23 December 2003 08:27 AM
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Why do guitar combos always come with open back cabinets. What's better for extension speakers or for separate cabinets to use with a head? Since closed back and reflex cabinets sound louder, have better low end, and help protect speakers, what is the point of open back cabinets? |
Dave Van Allen
Member From: Doylestown, PA , US , Earth
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posted 23 December 2003 08:34 AM
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Well, my guess, originally it was for ventilation in tube amp combo's. |
Herb Steiner
Member From: Cedar Valley, Travis County TX
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posted 23 December 2003 08:44 AM
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Like Dave implied, dispersal of heat.------------------
Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association
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Eric West
Member From: Portland, Oregon, USA
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posted 23 December 2003 08:56 AM
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I happened to have closed up the back of my Session 500 at one time for a "complaining drummer" and though I ventilated the front of the cabinet, I found that the volume was cut down by about half. I reopened it.I know indeed it is for heat dispersal as well, but I'd guess more for sound projection properties. It's not just "willy nilly", and I'd certainly find ( and nowadays one can) a site that has cabinet geometry and dynamics information.  EJL |
C Dixon
Member From: Duluth, GA USA
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posted 23 December 2003 10:18 AM
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heat is probably correct.However in speaker enclosure design there are volumes written; and ONE of the designs is referred to as "open back". Each design of speaker enclosures have pros and cons. And NO system is realy "THE best". There is nothing on earth more subjective than sound perception. What one enjoys another dislikes. Whether amplifier manufacturers considered the various design theories on speaker enclusures; or they simply took the easiest route; I am not sure. But again I agree the real answer is probably heat dissapation rather than sound considerations UNTIL amps like The Fender Showman came into being. carl |
Bill Llewellyn
Member From: San Jose, CA
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posted 23 December 2003 10:34 AM
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I thought it was so I could stuff cables inside.... ------------------
Bill, steelin' since '99 | Steel page | My music | Steelers' birthdays | Over 50? |
Gene Jones
Member From: Oklahoma City, OK USA
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posted 23 December 2003 10:43 AM
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I'm with ;you Bill....cables and a volume control!.... and of course, so the drummer could hear me play! www.genejones,com |
Matt Steindl
Member From: New Orleans, LA, USA
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posted 23 December 2003 10:59 AM
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The open back is also a great place to put a 2nd mike while recording. This little trick can make a thin sounding track become huge. Just watch out for phase issues.------------------
Mattman in "The Big Sleazy"-:
S-10 Dekley, Suitcase Fender Rhodes, B-bender Les Paul
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Bobby Lee
Sysop From: Cloverdale, North California, USA
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posted 23 December 2003 03:11 PM
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If there's a wall a few feet behind you, your amp will sound bigger. I once put my open-backed speaker cabinets in front of a round concrete pillar. Great dispersion!------------------
 Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs, Open Hearts
Sierra Session 12 (E9), Williams 400X (Emaj9, D6), Sierra Olympic 12 (C6add9),
Sierra Laptop 8 (E6add9), Fender Stringmaster (E13, A6),
Roland Handsonic, Line 6 Variax |
Len Amaral
Member From: Rehoboth,MA 02769
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posted 23 December 2003 03:24 PM
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I use a pair of Walker cabs with 1201-4 speakers. One cab is closed back and the other is open back. I have used pairs of closed back and open back but I prefer one of each. |
Donny Hinson
Member From: Balto., Md. U.S.A.
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posted 23 December 2003 03:25 PM
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Open back combo amps are popular due to their low cost and portability. They're relatively compact and light weight. They sacrifice efficiency, but have the advantage of giving a very "open", or lively sound. Closed-back speaker systems (often referred to as "ported", or bass-reflex designs) are far more efficient, and offer better low-end response, but require additional interior volume (size) to keep from being "peaky" or soggy sounding. Since they focus and project the sound in a more directional manner, they're not as forgiving as open-back enclosures where placement is concerned. |
jolynyk
Member From: Prince Albert Sask. Canada
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posted 25 December 2003 06:49 PM
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This may be one for Mike Brown to answer,or any one else, but with a Nashville 400, I could put my 400 on a chair & tilt it back so that I could hear my fiddle better, as I plug both steel & fiddle into the same amp.. the 400 had an extra board across the back, so that when you tilt it, the board would rest on the back of the chair, providing support for the amp... I now have an open back Nashville 1000, & it's impossible to tilt this amp back without the back of the chair going into the amp... Consequently I use a 2X2 under the front part of the amp to tilt it... My question is can I install another board across the back of the amp or enclose the back of the amp without sacrificing quality of sound??? |
Nicholas Dedring
Member From: Brooklyn, New York, USA
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posted 25 December 2003 07:08 PM
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From what I've heard, for bass cabinets you use ported or closed cabinets because it cuts down on excursion in the speaker, and thus reduces the chance that it'll blow out. Excursion is the actual amount of forward and backward movement of the cone; with bass frequencies, the speaker moves forcefully enough that without the damping of a closed back cabinet, it will tear itself over and over again over enough time. |
John Bechtel
Member From: Nashville, Tennessee,U.S.A.
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posted 25 December 2003 10:12 PM
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I use a Peavey Classic 50/212, which has an open-back cabinet, however; I mount my amp on a E–LG Sound-Enhancer, which directs all of the sound to the front and increases the efficiency of the speakers at the same time, and therefore; also increases the volume. “BJ”------------------
“Big John” Bechtel
http://community.webtv.net/KeoniNui/BigJohnBechtels
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David Deratany
Member From: Cape Cod Massachusetts
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posted 27 December 2003 05:50 AM
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FWIW, I had Gerry Walker make me a pair of cabs, matching those he uses, for use with 12" Altec 417s. We discussed at length open-back vs. closed and ported.His cabinet design software addressed the 417 specifically and indicated an 8" open back. I don't know what the considerations the software based that on, though, but I would like to think is was more than a coin toss  . They do sound good. |
David L. Donald
Member From: Koh Samui Island, Thailand
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posted 27 December 2003 12:51 PM
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Yes originally heat dispursion.
But they have held on because they also have an interesting sound. And also work well with walls as b0b said. |
Brad Sarno
Member From: St. Louis, MO USA
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posted 27 December 2003 04:31 PM
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I got the impression that the old open back Fenders, tweed era, were meant to go in front of the player. The controls are read from behind the open cabinet. Maybe they thought an amp should face the crowd and the player should stand behind it. Hmmm? The open cabinet seems to disperse the sound in a wider pattern so that the whole band can hear it better. It also diffuses the low frequencies and makes the midrange more present. I had a closed back guitar cabinet and after I cut the back open it really came to life. I think bass cabinets are another story. Brad Sarno
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Jody Carver
Member From: The Knight Of Fender Tweed~ Dodger Blue Forever
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posted 27 December 2003 10:17 PM
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I had a closed back guitar cabinet and after I cut the back open it really came to life.
Quote Brad. [This message was edited by Jody Carver on 28 December 2003 at 06:50 AM.] |
John Russell
Member From: Austin, Texas
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posted 30 December 2003 07:50 PM
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I had an open-back cabinet and closed it up, increasing the volume considerably and enhancing the tone. Go figure! I wasn't very scientific about volume, shape, etc. I did add two round ports with long tubes that run almost to the back. It's separate from the piggy back head. Very easy to carry around and the tone is great. |
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