Speaker favorites: compromise between $$$ & quality?

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stevesuk
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Post by stevesuk »

I am just about to put speakers in my prototype 36 watt combo and I have the following to choose from:

3 X G12Hs
2 X G12Ms
2 X Goodmans Audiums
2 X Fane POP 50s
2 X HH 65s
2 X G12-65s

My first thought is to use proven straightforward 2 X G12Hs or one G12H and one G12M. The others are mostly untried, except the G12-65s which are too clean for an 18 watt.
Now I have listed them I know what ' her indoors ' means when she say's ' why do you need all this stuff ? '
:)
Steve UK
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zaphod_phil
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Post by zaphod_phil »

Twigley wrote:well i have a 10" weber pup in my P1 and dont listen to guys saing 10"'s dont kick it...
Generally, 10 inch speakers can't do justice to a guitar's sound. However, Graydon's Mini 18W has a choice of Weber 10-inchers that apparently really hold up the low end very well.
Graydon wrote:I have 35W and 50W Webers that both work great. the 50W has more bass and is a little louder but the 35w has a more chimey top end... I like the 50 since it still has plenty of top end charm. It's low end is astounding for a cab of this size.
wannatone wrote:There is nothing that sounds like a pair of Blue´s. Period.
Nor costs as much, either! :lol: Personally, I find the blues' top end a little too bright, so I think for anyone loaded with money, they couldn't do any better than a Celestion Blue and a G12H-30 in the same cab. At the moment I'm making do with vintage G12M/Greenbacks and G12H-30s, as my mortgage is already quite big enough. :wink: I like both, but the G12H has a fantastic, big, gutsy rock sound!
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RossH
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Post by RossH »

zaphod_phil wrote: they couldn't do any better than a Celestion Blue and a G12H-30 in the same cab. I like both, but the G12H has a fantastic, big, gutsy rock sound!
This is where I have landed. It is great. They really compliment each other well. I also LOVE each of these speakers on their own. I played both of them separately for a couple of months. They are both unique in there own way. Together they are a third thing. I would say if you are leaning more toward the "Beano" album you would want the Blue, and if you are leaning more toward A$$-kicking Hendrix, you want the G12H-30. You could also wire them in so you could choose between either single speaker @ 8ohm or both connected @ 16ohm for additional flexibility.

I've been entertaining one of these 15W mini-MASS devices for the basement jam's. Do these work like they say? How do they compare to Trainwreck Air Brake, Hot Plate, Power Brake, etc. I realize that they have a real speaker and they are less expensive. I suppose I will just order one. :)

~ Ross
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zaphod_phil
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Post by zaphod_phil »

RossH wrote:I've been entertaining one of these 15W mini-MASS devices for the basement jam's. Do these work like they say? How do they compare to Trainwreck Air Brake, Hot Plate, Power Brake, etc. I realize that they have a real speaker and they are less expensive.
Well like most folks here, I've never had the chance to compare all of those together. However, I did once come across a review of several attenuators somewhere, and the Weber came out as being the most natural sounding out of all of them...
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Post by gkelm »

GlennG wrote:Hello Ohmie

I have tried many Webers , a few of the more popular Jensens, all the Cellestions and a lot of quality vintage speakers too. In the Marshall 18 amp I like the Celestion blue, Celestion Greenback, Celestion Vintage 30, Celestion G12H80 (cheap :D ) and lately I tried Mojo British Vintage Series that really sound impressive, they are modeled after the Celestion Greenback, I think. Some of these are stupid expensive and some are a real value, any of them will sound terrific in your amp.

Glenn G
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That sure looks familiar. :) And they (the Mojos) & it (the amp) sound great.
Greg
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wiggle
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Post by wiggle »

In my opinion
Kendrick brown or black frames single 12" sound the very best in low watt amps
dont be afraid to go with higher wattage kendrick speaks they are still responsive in low watt amps.
Anything from 15-35 watts.
Clean to cranked
12" or 10"
Cant hardly stand to deal w Kendrick though.

Webers are also cool very similar.
Cool company to deal with.

Jensens sound thinnish cranked but not terrible clean.

Celestions sound cool cranked but not so cool clean.
Never tried the blues though.

I ve used, owned about 20-30 el 84 amps. only 2 marshall clones.

Travis
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Post by Retro »

Does anyone have any hands on experience with the Carvin GS-12-75-8? Their price of $29.99 makes me sceptical, but magnadude seemed to think their PS-10 was pretty good..
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Post by HeeBGB »

You could try the Sammi's. They aren't as cheap as the Carvin's but they are still cheap and sound VERY good.

Greg
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NitroLiq
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Post by NitroLiq »

Has anyone tried G12H-30s in both combo and closed cabinets? Is there a big difference in sound?
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Post by rjgtr »

Nitro,

I have a G12H30 in a combo and it is a really nice speaker. Think Vintage 30 without the mid spike. A real classic tone.

In my opinion, with dave a avatar speakers, the price isn't a huge issue anymore since his prices are sp good.
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Post by dartanion »

I am using 2 AlNiCo Weber Signature 10 speakers in my 5E3 based amp. They sound great together, or as a single. Even as a single, each of these speakers has more than adequate punch. The Sig 10S is a little darker tone wise, and breaks up later than the Sig 10. These babies are only $50 each, and worth ever penny. I haven't tried the Signature 12, but this is supposed to be voiced like the 10S. The Sig 12 is $60. I have played through my band mate's cab with 2 greenbacks and agree that they sound best overdriven. They are difficult to get a sweet clean tone from, well at least in his cab.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but weren't the g12h-30 speakers voiced to sound like AlNICo speakers but to handle higher wattage applications? If this is true, why not stick to some of the modern AlNiCo speakers that do handle higher wattages?

Anyone ever tried the insanely expensive Tone Tubby Hemp Cone series speakers? I have been wondering if these are really worth the coin.
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JonFrum
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Post by JonFrum »

I have a G12H30 and two Reverend Alltones.I have to say, I prefer the Alltones. Big, full sound, lots of projection I'll be selling the Celestion and getting another speaker for my 1x12.

Just goes to show, there's no explaining taste.


:D
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Post by s2 »

A lot of people are raving about Sammi speakers, and at only $50, but must be worth a try.
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Post by Plexi »

""""A lot of people are raving about Sammi speakers, and at only $50, but must be worth a try.""""

I think when more people try these there will be more people useing them.
Richie
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Post by dotfret »

LOL vintage speakers again! Makes me feel like an old car!

In 70s GB we could get Celestion, Fane and Goodman speakers fairly easily. Fanes were easiest because the factory was only 20 miles away. Celestions were generally liked. Goodmans had a good, slightly warmer sound, but were quieter. Fanes were regarded as tolerable, and usually could handle more power for the money - a critical factor when you have to do your own roadie work! Less cabs, easier lifting.
There was no argument as far as we were concerned. British speakers were all good value, but it was worth paying for JBL speakers. Jensens were good if they came with your amp, but they were overpriced if you bought them separately. Electrovoice were nice for bass. JBL was what everybody wanted. They were literally over twice the price of any British speaker, but people bought them and threw out the Celestions and what have you - JBLs in your AC30 or Marshall cab was a big selling point, I jest not.

Now, in the late 70s a couple of things happened. A firm called MacKenzie started making good cheap speakers, which ate out a chunk of the bottom of the market. You find them in reloaded cabs a lot. The other thing was HH started making their own speakers - previously they had been getting speakers labelled up. The speakers that HH made were serious contenders to the JBLs - those Black Widows are serious business! Despite the fact that HH didn't make valve amps, their speakers are really good. I have been using a pair of HH Power Baby 100w monitors as my stack for over 20 years, and I do have a perfectly good Laney 4x12 which props up my 100w MV at home - I never plug it in. Steve - try the HH speakers first IF it is apparent that they are suited to open back use - if they are designed for a closed cab they should have gaskets on the rear to allow for front mounting.
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Post by Greenback »

Did anyone try these Hempcone speakers. All the big guys go nuts about them ?

http://www.tonetubby.com/
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Post by erl »

I have a Tone Tubby that a use with a single ended EL34 amp. The amp was a little to shrill with my 2x12 cab (Weber Alnico Blue Dog and ceramic Silver Bell) but with the tubby it smoothed out considerably. One thing I did notice with the speaker is that it has quite a long break in period, and the sound defiantly improved as the speaker broke in, more so then with other speakers I have used. With my TMB I really like the combo of the alnico blue dog and the ceramic silver bell. I have also used a Red Fang with my TMB and tremolo 18 watters and have been very impressed with it, especially for the price. :lol:

Eddie
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Post by Jwalker »

The Sammi provides the most bang for the buck by far!

Runner up in the bang for buck equation is the Avatar Hellatone 30 (Celestion G12H30).

Both sound great in an 18 watt.
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