Sometimes guitar players forget just how useful and toneful the lowly 1×12 speaker cabinet can be. 1×12 cabs don’t get the respect accorded to their larger 4×12, 4×10, and 2×12 counterparts and that’s a shame.
1×12 Guitar Cabinet Comparison Table
These days, those bigger cabs are all kinds of overkill for the rooms most of us set up in and a decent head through a cool 1×12 guitar cabinet will handle nearly every gig or studio situation in which we might find ourselves with no rental truck or back brace required. Plus, sound people get edgy when they see that big stuff coming into a smaller room and no one wants to be mixed with a bad attitude.
Today, we’re going to get a look at the five best 1×12 guitar cabinets for the money. Players have scads of choices in today’s market, of course, but these are the ones that really speak to us here at the home office. Let’s go make some noise!
Table of Contents
Orange PPC112C
The PPC112C comes loaded with a Celestion Vintage 30 12-inch speaker that handles 60-watts and runs at 16 ohms. This makes it compatible with a great many common guitar heads. The trademark orange covering is something you either love or hate but most people seem to dig it. This is a fine 1×12 guitar cabinet that’ll put some classic swagger into anyone’s backline.
PROS
- Outstanding sound in a small box!
- Classic Orange cosmetics!
- Celestion speaker!
CONS
- Bright orange isn’t for everybody.
SPECS
- Configuration: 1×12 Guitar Cabinet
- Speaker: one Celestion Vintage 30
- Output: 60 Watts RMS
- Impedance: 16 Ohms
- Dimensions: 18″H x 21-1/2″W x 11″D
- Weight: 36-1/2 lb.
- Larger internal volume
- Celestion vintage 30 speaker
- Classic orange styling
Fender Hot Rod Deluxe 112 80-Watt
Going further to add value, Fender includes both a speaker cable and a fitted slipcover with the HRD cabinet, which is a classy move. Plus, the cover will keep the tweed covering looking sharp for years to come. This cab is tough to pass up and should be taken seriously by anyone contemplating buying a 1×12 guitar cabinet.
PROS
- 80 watts at 8 ohms!
- Closed-back design for tight bass!
- Slipcover included!
CONS
- Tweed isn’t for everyone.
SPECS
- Configuration: 1×12 Guitar Cabinet
- Speaker: one Celestion G12P-80
- Power Handling: 80W
- Impedance: 8 ohms
- Mono/Stereo: Mono
- Cabinet Type: Straight
- Open/Closed Back: Closed
- Inputs: 1 x 1/4″
- Height: 18″
- Width: 23.5″
- Depth: 11″
- Weight: 41 lbs.
- Speaker cable and fitted cover included
- Package Weight: 40.7 pounds
- Package Dimensions: 64.77 L x 52.578 H x 31.496 W (centimeters)
Blackstar HT112OC MKII
The 1×12 cabinet operates at 16 ohms, which will not be an issue for most players and it is compact and light in weight. This is a Swiss Army Knife of a 1×12 guitar cabinet that will work for any player needing a portable rig that punches above its weight. The Blackstar is a solid pick on all levels and deserves a close look.
PROS
- Unique open/closed-back design!
- Compact and easy to move!
- Looks sharp in Basic Black!
CONS
- The Blackstar brand may not be familiar to some.
- No name-brand speaker.
SPECS
- Configuration: 1×12 Guitar Cabinet
- Speaker: one Blackbird 50 Speaker
- Power Handling: 50W
- Impedance: 16 ohms
- Mono/Stereo: Mono
- Cabinet Type: Slant
- Open/Closed Back: Switchable: Closed, Semi-open
- Inputs: 1 x 1/4″
- 1x12" Slanted Open/Closed-back Cabinet with Blackbird 50 Speaker
- 50-watt
Hughes & Kettner TubeMeister 112 Cab
The TubeMeister 1×12 cabinet is light and easy to load and is perfect for real-world gigging and studio work. Like all Hughes & Kettner products, it’s built well and will provide years of happy use. This is a cool piece that shouldn’t be overlooked.
PROS
- Big sound!
- Celestion Vintage 30!
- Closed-back bass reflex design!
CONS
- None.
SPECS
- Configuration: 1×12 Guitar Cabinet
- Speaker: one Celestion Vintage 30
- Power Handling: 60W
- Impedance: 16 ohms
- Mono/Stereo: Mono
- Cabinet Type: Straight
- Open/Closed Back: Closed
- Inputs: 1 x 1/4″
- Outputs: 1 x 1/4″ (Parallel)
- Height: 17.7″
- Width: 18.9″
- Depth: 11.2″
- Weight: 29.8 lbs.
- 1x12" Closed-back Speaker Cabinet
- 60-watt
- 16-ohm
EVH 5150 III 1×12″ 30-watt 1×12
The 5150 excels at the kind of focused tones Van Halen is known for but will work swimmingly for any type of playing. The slick Ivory covering is classy and bright, which is good for your image. Build quality is very high, as well, and it’s clearly made to go the distance. Anyone wanting to get their Eddie on will want to plug one of these in and blast. Lots of fun.
PROS
- All Eddie, all the time!
- Celestion G12H 30-watt Anniversary speaker!
- Ivory covering looks great!
CONS
- 30 watts may not be enough for some heads.
SPECS
- Configuration: 1×12 Guitar Cabinet
- Speaker: one Celestion G12H
- Power Handling: 30W
- Impedance: 16 ohms
- Mono/Stereo: Mono
- Cabinet Type: Straight
- Open/Closed Back: Closed
- Construction Material: Birch Plywood
- Height: 16.5″
- Width: 20″
- Depth: 12″
- Weight: 36 lbs
- 1x12" Closed-back Speaker Cabinet
- 30-watt
- 16-ohm
Last update on 2024-04-26 / Source: Amazon