The 5 Best 2×12 Guitar Cabinets For Metal

Looking For The Best 2×12 Guitar Cabinet For Metal?

Here’s a look at our favorites, including our top pick the – Marshall MX Series MX212 Cabinet

#1 Best 2×12 Guitar Cabinet For Metal

Having the right guitar cabinet for your rig is crucial to getting the best metal tone. We’ve included some open back cabinets and some closed back cabinets on our list, depending on which tone you prefer.

Closed back cabinets will produce a tighter bass response, as well as tightening up most mid frequencies. Open backed cabinets will give a roomier more standard sound that you’re probably most used to hearing.

Most of the common guitar combo amps are open backed, and it’s because they have a room filling quality that’s open and natural. Depending on the type of music you’re playing you’ll want to figure out what type of cabinet works best for you.

What Are The Best 2×12 Guitar Cabinets For Metal?

#1 Marshall MX Series MX212 160 Watt Guitar Amplifier Speaker Cabinet

#2 VOX V212C Custom Cabinet 2×12 Open-Back 16-Ohm Extension Cabinet

#3 Hughes & Kettner TubeMeister 212 180-watt 2×12″ Extension Cabinet

#4 Orange PPC212-OB 2×12″ 120W Open Back Extension Cabinet 16-ohm

#5 Fender Super-Sonic 60 2×12 Extension Cabinet – Blonde

But in our opinion it’s not a huge deal, we have open backed and closed back cabinets around that we love equally. What’s most important is that you purchase a cabinet that can handle the high gain output that is required for metal, and that’s why we’ve compiled the top 5 metal 2×12 guitar cabinets.

Marshall MX Series MX212 160 Watt Guitar Amplifier Speaker Cabinet

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You really can’t go wrong with a Marshall cabinet, and the Marshall MX Series MX212 is no exception. We’ve tried pretty much every Marshall cabinet at this point, the 4×12, the 1×12, and the consensus is that the 2×12 is the best hands down.

This is an 8 ohm cabinet with Celestine speakers capable of putting out a total of 160 watts. Celestine’s are used in most Marshall cabinets and they’re excellent speakers for dialing in your own sound because they accurately reproduce your guitar’s sound.

In other words, they don’t change your guitar tone at all so you still have full control over your sound which is what we love about Marshall cabinets.

VOX V212C Custom Cabinet 2×12 Open-Back 16-Ohm Extension Cabinet + Cables

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If you’ve ever played a Vox you know that these amps can get you a one of a kind British sound. The VOX V212C cabinet is a great way to add that British tone to your already existing amp head.

With the Vox semi open back cabinet you can mix your American style amp head with a British voiced cabinet for a truly creamy combination of tone. There’s honestly nothing like a Vox, and once you play through one you’ll understand what we mean.

The 16 ohm Vox V212C loves high gain guitar and any song you play through this cabinet becomes warm and buttery thanks to the Celestion G12M Greenback speakers.

Hughes & Kettner TubeMeister 212 180-watt 2×12″ Extension Cabinet

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Hughes & Kettner don’t get as much love as some of the bigger amp companies out there, but that doesn’t mean they don’t make some amazing products. The Hughes & Kettner TubeMeister 212 Cabinet is one cabinet that you have to hear to believe.

Most guitarists love this amp because it’s really light for gigging, but you can still get that huge sound which you’ll undoubtedly need for metal.

The Hughes & Kettner cabinet uses a close back design but it utilizes three vent holes throughout its body for greater bass response. Most 2×12 rock cabinets, like the Marshall, are fully sealed for a very tight sound so the vented holes are an interesting touch that a lot of guitarists love.

Orange PPC212-OB 2×12″ 120W Open Back Extension Cabinet 16-ohm

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Besides looking awesome, the Orange PPC212-OB 2×12 is a go to cabinet for most punk rock & heavy metal groups. The Orange PPC212 uses two Celestion Vintage 30’s which are great for metal because Vintage 30’s pair well with high gain.

According to a lot of users, the Orange PPC212 is an open back cabinet that manages to retain the tight response of a traditional closed back cabinet. So you’re essentially getting the advantages of a closed back and open back cabinet simultaneously.

Honestly, this Orange cab just looks fantastic, and it doesn’t hurt that it sounds even better than it looks.

Fender Super-Sonic 60 2×12 Extension Cabinet – Blonde

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The Fender Super-Sonic cabinet feels solid and vintage, two of our favorite things. The cabinet is closed back and constructed from baltic birch. Inside there are two Vintage 30 speakers from Celestion.

Don’t let the term ‘vintage’ fool you, these speakers can handle modern metal. In fact, the Vintage 30’s provide a warm tube amp like response. The V30’s love gain, it’s like they were made for extreme distortion.

Also, because the cabinet is oversized, you get a huge sound from this 2×12 cabinet.

Takeaways

All of the guitar cabinets on our list sound amazing for metal. No matter which cabinet you choose you’re going to be able to dial in a massive metal tone with rich sustained gain. Our personal favorite is either the Marshall or the Fender because they’re so affordable and reliable, plus we love the retro look of the Fender.

Nicky Babineaux

I started Music Store Central with one simple goal, to help answer all the questions that I know other musicians have. I wanted to make buying new instruments and gear for your passion completely effortless.