Mixing Speakers in a marshall cab - questions and suggestions?

[Catalyst77]

I'm looking to replace the standard speakers in my marshall 1960a cab (and also build a 2 x 12" speaker cab for practice)

In terms of power i have a 100watt, 120 watt and 50 watt amp.  I'm not sure what power rating the speakers need to be?

Does all 4 or 2 added together need to exceed either 50, 100, or 120 watts (depending on the amp to be used) or does each indivdual speaker need to be rated above the power level of the amp?

Can I mix speakers of different wattage?

Other than that - has anyone got any suggestions on some good combo's?  I'm looking for a fat sound with a decent amount of poke, chunky tight bottom end lots of articulation, with good cleans and complex but not nu-metal style distortion. 

Cheers


 

[Twinfan]

The total wattage of the cab needs to exceed the wattage of the amp you'll be using it with.  If you're mixing speakers of different wattage then the cab is valued as: "lowest speaker power x number of speakers in cab".  Eg a 2x12 with one 100w speaker and one 25w speaker is a 50w cab (25w x 2 = 50w).

I can recommend:

* A 2x12 with V30 and G12H30 - bright in a n open back cab, but OK in a closed back.  Suits Marshall style amps.
* A 2x12 with Hot 100s - very balanced in an open or closed back cab.  Great all rounder, my 2x12 has these.
* A 4x12 with V30s and G12H Heritages - A beefier tone than some would like, but still plenty of cut.  My favourite cab  :D
* A 4x12 with Hot 100s and G12T-75s - surprisingly nice, brighter than the above 4x12.  Chunky but cutting.

I use heavy Martamp/Matamp/Orange style cabs which have a big impact one tone, so you'll need to bear that in mind.  New Marshall cabs can sound a bit thin and shrill with the wrong speakers in my experience.

[hamfist]

Also bear in mind that your 100 and 120W amps may well be putting out close to 200W when fully cranked. I'd say that you need a speaker combo that can handle at least 200W to use with those amps. In a 4x12, that means that your lowest wattage handling speaker has to be at least capable of handling 50W.

  If you've got the standard G12T-75's in your cab at the moment, why not try swapping two of them out, and replacing with V30's.
   2 x V30's and 2 x G12T-75's in an X pattern in a 4x12 is a popular combination. Won't break the bank either.

[JamesHealey]

50w, 86w cranked
100, 159w cranked

^^ Rough guide to cranked amps although some will exceed this and some won't come near this it just depends on the amp, but basically to be safe go 2x the amp wattage.

[Catalyst77]

Cheers Guys

Does anyone know if there's anywhere to actually go and test out speakers or is it a case of just trial and error?

[Twinfan]

If you're going to buy your speakers from Matamp you can try out their speaker wall?

Other than that it's trial and error yourself, or trying out other people's cabs.

[Catalyst77]

Derby s a bit of an excursion for me, i could probably buy as set of speakers with the petrol money!

Seeing as I need the cab to handle at least 120watts ater spending ages on the celestion website I was considering:

2x Classic Lead 80's
2X G12K-100's

I had considered the heritage G12H-30 but would only have given me 120watts which sounds like it may not be enough for 120 & 100 watt amps.

[Roobubba]

Derby s a bit of an excursion for me, i could probably buy as set of speakers with the petrol money!

Seeing as I need the cab to handle at least 120watts ater spending ages on the celestion website I was considering:

2x Classic Lead 80's
2X G12K-100's

I had considered the heritage G12H-30 but would only have given me 120watts which sounds like it may not be enough for 120 & 100 watt amps.

Sounds top to me!

Roo