2x12 users combos and cabs question

[Snake Hips]

on stage do you have any problem hearing yourself, I am thinking of making the switch from 4x12 to a 2x12  but still very unsure, anyone who plays bassment shows or unmic have trouble?? I was looking at avatar which I have posted about and also LOPO cabinets which make a diagonal 2x12.

[dug]

I play with a 2x12. What amp are you using?
I can hear myself fine all the time.

[mixtery]

I have two amps right now.  JCM 800 with 4x12 cab and a Tremoverb 2x12.  The Tremoverb is just sick loud but the Marshall has that sound.  Also the Tremo is open back cabinet so it spreads sound all over where as the 4x12 is closed back.  Try putting your amp up higher or tilting back so it hits your back and head.

[øøøøøøø]

There are many strategies to hear yourself.

if a 4x12 allows you to hear yourself better, it's probably not so much that there are more speakers but that two of them are up off the ground closer to your ears.

Do you use an anvil case to transport your amp?  if so, put the cab on top of the case lid as a makeshift "amp stand."  Problem solved.

If not, you can try any combination of these five things:

1) Turn the cab vertically, so that one of the speakers is off the ground and closer to your head
2) Tilt/lean the cab back on something, so the speakers are pointing at your ears and not your ankles
3) Place the cab on something else, like a milk crate or chair.  Easier to do with smaller cabs but a 2x12 would work. 
4) Place the cab far enough back so that the sound can reach your ears instead of blowing by your ankles
5) See if you can ask the sound engineer for more of your own amp in your cue mix, if using reinforcement. 

That should take care of it. 

[ohm-men]

I agree with the above.

I played both, 4x12 is more massive, even if you tilt the 2x12. I find on stage an close back 2x12 works better then an open back (in reference of hearing yourself)
I use a Tremolux with a 2x12" cab now, since I don't gig anymore. But before I had the same amp with a 4x12 Std Marshall JCM 900 angled cab. It sounded "massive", Really very good.
Even though it used the celestion GT-75, it still produced the Fender sparkle (I was in an instro surf band, so the "fender" sound was all for me). If I ever were to gig a lot again, That kind of cab is the first I buy...Bad for the back, but even in the open air you can hear yourself without any problem. Bit of an overkill in a club, but on larger stages and in open air, nothing beats the 4x12" imo....

But, in my expirience, most PA guys don't mix well on the stage....Which is understandable, then don't know you, don't know your music, don't know your playing style etc, so they do what they can. I just had better results in hearing myself with a 4x12. If you have you own stage mixer, then it's a different story alltoghether....But it's very anoying not tho hear yourself when playing on a stage....

[cestlamort]

There are many strategies to hear yourself.

if a 4x12 allows you to hear yourself better, it's probably not so much that there are more speakers but that two of them are up off the ground closer to your ears.

Do you use an anvil case to transport your amp?  if so, put the cab on top of the case lid as a makeshift "amp stand."  Problem solved.

If not, you can try any combination of these five things:

1) Turn the cab vertically, so that one of the speakers is off the ground and closer to your head
2) Tilt/lean the cab back on something, so the speakers are pointing at your ears and not your ankles
3) Place the cab on something else, like a milk crate or chair.  Easier to do with smaller cabs but a 2x12 would work. 
4) Place the cab far enough back so that the sound can reach your ears instead of blowing by your ankles
5) See if you can ask the sound engineer for more of your own amp in your cue mix, if using reinforcement. 

That should take care of it. 

+1 to all.  (#5 is the most difficult).

basically, point it where your ears are going to be.

Or:

If you wear flares/bellbottoms, check to see that they are not flapping.  You want the sound at your head. 

[dug]

Turn your amp all the way up.

If you can't hear yourself its cause you're dead.

[Papajerry]

I don't have any problem.  I have a vintage 2X12 sano and a homade amp stand i made out of a metal folding chair.