Speaker decisions

[Crazy_Joe]

I was originally going to get V30's for my Laney 2x12 which has Celestion Seventy 80's in it. I run a Laney VH100R through it and really they don't have enough push for metal and i'm finding it hard to get a good usable tone. So as i was saying i was going to get V30's as it's kind of the "industry standard" for metal but the reviews have put me of it saying it sounds nasally and has this mid spike and stuff so i'm not sure i want them. The solid-state 2x12 Fender amps at college have Celestion G12T-100's  in them (Hot 100) and i can honestly say i get a better metal tone out of them than i do with my 100 watt Valve Laney :(

But then i saw there's a G12K-100, would i be right in saying they are just a better quality version of the Hot 100?
There isn't much difference in the specs at all apart from the huge magnet size difference, which is probably going to be a big difference in the sound. But then again everyone loves the Hot 100 on this forum (i know Twinfan loves them) and i must like them because i can get a good tone out of them in a solid state Fender :lol:

But i don't want to buy them then regret not getting the G12K because after all the Hot 100's are cheap speakers and are in the same range as these Seventy 80's which are complete rubbish for metal if i'm going to be honest.

What would you guys suggest?

[gwEm]

G12T-100 are a development of the G12T-75
G12K-100 are a development of the G12H-100 (a nice speaker - I have two)

Why not mix it up with a G12K-100 and a V30? If I was looking at those speakers you mention, I'd give that a go. They both have the heavy magnet.

[hamfist]

Yeah the G12K-100's have been receiving a bit of love in different places on the interweb recently, espec for their bass response.
  I haven't played a G12K-100 myself, but I'd be tempted to mix a V30 with a G12K-100 for metal.

If you have all your speakers being rather mid-scooped or flat-reponse speakers, then there is a danger of getting lost in a mix. The V30's are upper-mid orientated and will therefore tend to add the "cut through" that you will need in a live situation.

[Crazy_Joe]

Interesting, so you think a V30 and G12K-100 would mix well together for some awesome metal attack?

[gwEm]

the 12K for its famous bass, and the V30 for its upper mids, both with the heavy magnet and similar sensitivity. they should balance well i reckon, without being too much of one or the other.

V30 and H30 is a well known 'good' combination, and as the 12K is based on the H100, based on the H30... well it seems like it could work. the two different drivers give a larger sound.

obviously i've never tried it.. but this is the what i would go for in your place, reading your post and so on. the good thing about mixing is that it won't be too dominating with the character of one speaker. obviously the combo will do metal, but i have an idea it might be quite nice for jazz and other styles as well. i like the V30 for clean work, and with the extra bass of the K12, it should be killer for jazz i think. obviously it will be a bold, modern sounding cabinet which you'll create.

anyway, 100% conjecture ;) just an idea...

[Crazy_Joe]

Sounds good to me :D

[hamfist]

Interesting, so you think a V30 and G12K-100 would mix well together for some awesome metal attack?

Yes I do !

[AdamB]

This is helping me too!

Thanks :D

So the G12K - 100 are better than the Hot 100's?

[noodleplugerine]

I looooooooove k100s.

[BigK]

Ive got a v30 mixed with a G12k-100 in a framus 2x12 and It sounds awesome.

The g12k really fills out the bass and low mids and adds a little more grind to the mids and the vintage 30 warms up the mids a little and adds more prescence to cut through better. A really good mix for metal. The only problem is I still dont like the top end of the vintage 30 which to me sounds a little ice-picky at times but thats just me.

You could always try the old v30 and g12t-75 mix like the bogner uberkab.

[Crazy_Joe]

Hmmm i had 2 G12T-75's in a cab before and they were horrible, though in a mix with a V30 it might work?

I'm still liking the V30-G12K-100 combo but JackBauer still thinks the V30 is a bit "ice picky" in the highs. Exactly what do you mean when you say ice picky?

[Crazy_Joe]

By the way i wasn't really specific when i said metal, i don't mean all out death/black metal i'm more into a bit of a mix of classic heavy/80's/thrash metal, one of my favourite tones is the tone on Megadeth - Rust In Peace album. I like my cleans too and play a bit of John Mayer/Eric Johnson here and there.

[BigK]

Hmmm i had 2 G12T-75's in a cab before and they were horrible, though in a mix with a V30 it might work?

I'm still liking the V30-G12K-100 combo but JackBauer still thinks the V30 is a bit "ice picky" in the highs. Exactly what do you mean when you say ice picky?

I meant that I think v30's in general can get a little sharp and thin in the treble if you're not conservative with your eq'ing of your amp or they are not in a warm sounding cab. The G12K-100 does help to round out the highs a little whilst keeping it relatively aggressive.

 I personally really like the G12K's cleans as the are deep and round with really good definition. the vintage 30 gives the sound a little more sparkle, although a little of the honky mids can still come thru but you can generally get a balance with your eq.

[Roobubba]

G12K-100s will definitely suit you for what you're after. I've not mixed them with V30s, only with EVM 12L black labels, and they go REALLY nicely together. I would be surprised if the V30/G12K mix isn't superb, let's put it that way :)

Roo

[Crazy_Joe]

Cool, i'll probably end up with the G12K-100 and V30 combo. :D