Grateful Dead Music Forum

When your using JBL E-120s

Just curious.

My cab is a closed back

-Walt B

Open back. I don't need extra bass, especially if there is a bass player.

My 2x12 cab I could turn into an open back, but right nows its a close back. Just curious when chasing the Jerry tone if id be better off with open back.


-Walt B

I've not before encountered people using closed back cabs for Jerry tone - at least not in a trad-style Jerry rig - but viewing any overall rig as a system, the changes in tone moving from open to closed back in the cab could potentially be compensated for elsewhere in the rig.

Interestingly, before posting the above, I searched for a pic of the Wall of Sound from the rear. I couldn't find anything. Then it occurred to me I've never even seen such a pic. Have you?

I have a pair of K120s in open back 1 x 12 cabs. And my old Pro Reverb loaded with D120s is also open back.

Bill, tgo

Jon S. wrote: ↑Fri Apr 01, 2022 7:17 am Interestingly, before posting the above, I searched for a pic of the Wall of Sound from the rear. I couldn't find anything. Then it occurred to me I've never even seen such a pic. Have you?

No but the cabs in the WoS and Jerry's monitoring cabs have been pictured and sold at auction etc. and I don't recall any of them having a closed back. Mostly they were partially open, just like the cabs Hard Truckers are still selling. I would think if the real deal had a closed back, the HT guys would have known that and would be building them closed back today. They do make a ported 2x15 bass cab, but nothing closed back.

Chocol8 wrote: ↑Fri Apr 01, 2022 10:05 am

Jon S. wrote: ↑Fri Apr 01, 2022 7:17 am Interestingly, before posting the above, I searched for a pic of the Wall of Sound from the rear. I couldn't find anything. Then it occurred to me I've never even seen such a pic. Have you?

No but the cabs in the WoS and Jerry's monitoring cabs have been pictured and sold at auction etc. and I don't recall any of them having a closed back. Mostly they were partially open, just like the cabs Hard Truckers are still selling. I would think if the real deal had a closed back, the HT guys would have known that and would be building them closed back today. They do make a ported 2x15 bass cab, but nothing closed back.

https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction ... -weirs-cab

https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction ... rcias-cabs

Gr8fulCadi wrote: ↑Fri Apr 01, 2022 11:54 am

Chocol8 wrote: ↑Fri Apr 01, 2022 10:05 am

Jon S. wrote: ↑Fri Apr 01, 2022 7:17 am Interestingly, before posting the above, I searched for a pic of the Wall of Sound from the rear. I couldn't find anything. Then it occurred to me I've never even seen such a pic. Have you?

No but the cabs in the WoS and Jerry's monitoring cabs have been pictured and sold at auction etc. and I don't recall any of them having a closed back. Mostly they were partially open, just like the cabs Hard Truckers are still selling. I would think if the real deal had a closed back, the HT guys would have known that and would be building them closed back today. They do make a ported 2x15 bass cab, but nothing closed back.

https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction ... -weirs-cab

https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction ... rcias-cabs

I think this one is the really interesting one, very deep.
https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction ... er-cabinet

I think im gonna take the back off my 2x12 and take 4 inches off. That make it open in the back without having to do much at all. But what is the reason yall like open back cabs ? Too much bass having a close back ?

-Walt B

I prefer an open back, especially for Jerry stuff.

I had a Bag End 2x12 cab that was closed, actually ported originally but ended up hacking at it making it an open back. Liked it better that way.

I have nothing to back this up with, so could be entirely wrong. But I always figured the dead’s use of open backed cabs was at least as much about convenience and maintenance as it was about tone. Jerry blew speakers on stage all the time. I always figured the wide open cabs facilitated quick swaps. Probably shed a lot of weight off of an insanely heavy stage set up too.
But I’m just making this up

I thought most of the HT and Alembic cabs the Dead used were front loading.

Bill, tgo

shit. of course they were. serves me right for thinking out loud ;P

All of Jerry's cabs were fully or partially open. In the Wall of Sound the vast majority of cabs were closed EXCEPT Jerry's which were all open.

Aha ! There it is. Ok cool ! Thanks guys. Im gonna mod my cab. Ill post some pictures when Im done

-Walt B