I have a Mesa Mini and have experimented with reduced size cabs - 2x12, 2/3 2x12 slant cab and a 15" cube 2x10. I have a pile of beautiful flame cherry and walnut to build one cab and I am experimenting with designs to see which one will get the cherry.
This weekend 8" speakers popped into to view and the jones to build a mini 20" sized 4x8 slant cab is on. I get booming bass from the Mesa and have to cut all bass off by the time I get to medium volume so I hope that will overcome some of the low end loss associated with 8's.
Any experience, strength, hope or horror in this area?
It should be done this week! It's large, basically a traditional 4x10 size, 3/4 baltic, double angled-baffle
Dual chambers with 3/4 back, so top chamber is closed back, bottom is half-closed back. The 2x8 half-cab chambers each have two jacks, so can then be run independently or in parallel, (and of course each/both in parallel with other cabinets, on hand is a twin twelve reaper, single 15", 4x10 greenback, 6x10 g10c/60s Jensens mix, whatever etc.) so I hope I'll be able to say something about a few different options. From a couple experiments so far, I've been impressed with the amount of bass served up.
My Fender champ has newer meatier transformers and with a G8c has become a gnarly little pummeler. 4xg8c's? we'll see...