I've only used my 4x12 to record a few times. When I'm not recording directly to the computer (because I'm lazy and it's just a hobby) I record with an old 4x10 bass cab that some friend of my father's built back in the early 80's. Looks horrid, but sounds great for guitar. Doesn't sound so great for bass.

2x12 will be more than enough to record with, as long as you get the tone you want.

infamousdolan wrote:
2x12 will be more than enough to record with, as long as you get the tone you want.

Thanks
I wonder if it really makes a difference?
You know those Roland 2 x 12's w/ the silver speakers, those cabinets have only two 12's and they sound fantastic.

A lot of the time, the main difference between choosing to record a 2x12 and a 4x12 is that most 4x12's are closed back and many 2x12's are open back cabinets. Open back cabinets are often used for classic clean or overdriven sounds and closed cabs are used for heavier, more "focused" sounds. There are, of course, many exceptions to this rule but in general open back cabs have a somewhat "wider," ambient, open type sound (think figure 8 pattern) where closed back cabs are a more "focused," tighter pattern type of sound (think cardioid pattern). Okay that was a goofy explanation but there ya go. Often engineers may decide to mic the front AND back of an open cab where a closed back cab may be miked with one or more mics in the front only. Again, there are a LOT of exceptions to these examples but that's the basic theory behind these choices.

example:
1. Heavy Marshall half stack sound or Mesa dual rectifier- CLOSED CAB
2. Clean or Bluesy Fender tone- OPEN back cab

: )

mckay

On that note, the main cab(s) i use for my guitars in the studio is a pair of custom 1x12's with closed backs and Celestion Vintage 30 speakers in them. They're small and easy to move around (and spread across the room) but sound m-m-meaty when they need ta ;-)
I love open back cabs as well and 4x12's sure can move a lot of rich, thick air for room mics.