Let me re-phase this way...I would rather to run 3x50 watters thru 6 4x12 cabs than to run 300 watts thru one or two 12s.
Three 50 watt amps through six 412’s would have the potential to create around 2.5 times the sound pressure level and be almost
twice as loud as a 300 watt amp through a pair of 12’s.
I would rather to run 3x150 watts thru 6 4x12 cabs than 450 watts through one 4x12, or even 2 4x12s.
So would three 150 watt amps through six 412’s vs. a 450 watt amp through a single 412, however if you added a second 412 to the 450 watt amp the six cab rig would only be about 4.5 dB louder.
There is, of course, a point of deminishing returns, but 6 4x12s is below the threshold (IMHO) and provides a nice full "wall" of tone.
Of course it matters little how many speakers you are running if your amp tone is crap or you do not have some degree of "touch" or "mojo" in yer playing.
Multiple identical cabs don't really have any effect on "tone", multiple cabs only make the rig louder.
Of course up to a certain level
louder many time sounds
better, at least it does to me.
As far as a “nice full wall of tone”, that omnipresent surround effect would only be really noticeable in a near field proximity, and aligning all of those cabs would be critical do avoid phase issues that could defeat to SPL gains to the audience inherent to the multiple speaker array.
IMO the only benefits to running a huge stage rig are if you need to be seriously LOUD on stage, or the image it conveys. In the olden days Sound Reinforcement technology wasn’t up to the challenge of big venues and loud rock and roll acts. Stage gear needed to fill the rooms, and huge stacks was the only way to do it; seriously LOUD on stage.
Nowadays dummy cabs (like most big touring acts use) and megawatt SR systems are far easier to move than the real deal if “the look” is what you’re after.
However there is no arguing the investment potential of the vintage gear IMO, as I tell my wife whenever the subject comes up…
