Anybody compare Port City Wave and Tone Tools Fat Cat cabs?

[tjs]

Curious as to how they stack up.

[jamison162]

Anyone have opinions or tried both?

[jamison162]

Hmm, guess not. They are very similar I think. Well, I ordered a Fatcat 212 from Cas last night. Now the wait....can't wait to compare it to my Avatar Vintage 212 (Open Back).

[Dave]

I have a Port City Wave 2x12 and a Tone Tools Fat Cat 2x12. I've never done a side by side A/B comparison with the same speakers/amp, but I have moved the same pair of speakers(Celestion Blue & Weber ceramic Silver Bell) from one cab to the other and I think I can make a fair assessment based on that.

Build quality on both cabinets is top notch, no problems there.

As far as tone, the PC sounds better in every regard IMO. That's not to say the TT sounds bad, it's actually a great sounding cabinet. In fact, until I got my PC I thought the TT was one of the best sounding 2x12's I'd ever heard. Here's some of the differences I hear:

The PC has better bass response. Not necessarily more bass(although I do think the PC offers a bit more low end), but tighter, punchier and clearer. Never boomy.

The PC has a more even response overall. Keep in mind the only speakers I've tried in the PC are the Celestion Blue and Weber Silver Bell, but the response is very smooth. No particular frequencies seem to be accentuated or subdued. The TT on the other hand seems to have some peaks and valleys in it's response. Certain low frequencies can boom and the mids aren't quite as full. I have tried many, many speakers in the TT by the way.

Where the PC really smokes the TT is the projection. The PC sounds frickin huge. The sound just blossoms out of this thing, I don't know how else to describe it. The TT sounds focused and a little boxy in comparison. This is not my opinion, it's a fact, anyone can hear it. Your audience will hear it. Such a huge, wide sound from a relatively compact cabinet is very impressive.

I am admittedly still in the honeymoon phase with the Port City, but it is far and away the best 2x12 I have ever owned or heard. The Tone Tools is a fine cabinet and I don't mean to bash it. I like mine a lot and I'll be keeping it. I hope this comparison was helpful, I tried not to gush over the PC, but it's hard not to.

[Richards]

I apologize for hijacking this thread guys, I was wondering if a Port City Wave 2x12 (open back)cab would be a good match for a Bruno Cowtipper 35watt. To me right now they are much more affordable then the Bruno cab, + people seem to really like the engineered design element of the cabinet. As far as speakers go , two G12H30's. I know Bruno cabs are great too, tough choice......................???? My apologies to tjs, if this interferes with the original thread, please remove and I shall repost. I have been researching these cabs extensively for the last 2 days , so when I seen this thread I decided to jump right in, instead of starting a similar thread, sorry if I offended anyone. Thanks Richards

[tjs]

Originally Posted by Richards

My apologies to tjs, if this interferes with the original thread, please remove and I shall repost. I have been researching these cabs extensively for the last 2 days , so when I seen this thread I decided to jump right in, instead of starting a similar thread, sorry if I offended anyone. Thanks Richards

No problem; it's been quite a while since I started this thread anyway. I ended up getting a used Fat Cat and have been fairly happy with it, but I would definitely get a Port City at this time (if you haven't read the thread about the problems Tone Tools has been having, you should).

[Dave]

Originally Posted by tjs

...I would definitely get a Port City at this time (if you haven't read the thread about the problems Tone Tools has been having, you should).

While I've never dealt with Cas directly, I will say that my Tone Tools Fat Cat is damn near flawless. The construction is solid and neat, the tolex is perfectly applied and the cab sounds great. It's obvious that Cas is capable of some stellar work.

Originally Posted by Richards

I was wondering if a Port City Wave 2x12 (open back)cab would be a good match for a Bruno Cowtipper 35watt.

I don't think PC makes an open back Wave cabinet. I could be wrong, but I don't see that option on the website and it seems to me an open back would conflict with the front ported design, so it really wouldn't make sense.

[jamison162]

Originally Posted by Richards

I apologize for hijacking this thread guys, I was wondering if a Port City Wave 2x12 (open back)cab would be a good match for a Bruno Cowtipper 35watt.

The Port City Wave is a closed back, front port (slotted), detuned cab. No open/closed back options. It is what it is, and that's what makes it great. Best of both worlds.

[teleamp]

PortCity usually has his cabinets in stock and ready to ship, I don't think that is the case with Tone Tools.

MikeY

[jamison162]

Originally Posted by teleamp

PortCity usually has his cabinets in stock and ready to ship, I don't think that is the case with Tone Tools.

MikeY

Well TT is no more anyway - at least on the "custom shop". Cas quit taking orders on June 30th. Supposedly all are now production cabs directly through dealers. 112 is $329, 212 is $349 I believe.

[portcitymusic]

Hi Guys! Thanks for the kind words. I wanted to correct something that jamison162 said. The Port City Wave cab is NOT a detuned cab. The Wave does not boost or cut any low or high end frequencies. It is meant to harness all of the sound of the speaker. Balance and clarity are the key. Thanks.

Daniel

Port City Amps

[ryhlick]

A BIG +1 for the Portcity! Great cabs and wonderful service.

[jamison162]

Originally Posted by portcitymusic

Hi Guys! Thanks for the kind words. I wanted to correct something that jamison162 said. The Port City Wave cab is NOT a detuned cab. The Wave does not boost or cut any low or high end frequencies. It is meant to harness all of the sound of the speaker. Balance and clarity are the key. Thanks.

Daniel

Port City Amps

Daniel.....I thought that's exaclty what detuned meant? No? And a "tuned" or circular ported cab (i.e. Diezel, Bogner cube, etc.) is tuned to enhance certain frequencies; mainly low end.

[portcitymusic]

Sorry for the confusion....many people I have spoke with view the ported cabs as detuned and associate them with add low end frequencies. Like when you detune your guitar you lower the pitch.

Daniel

[MitchC]

I have 3 PCW 1x12 cabs and I ain't lookin' back ! GREAT with every speaker I've installed in them !