Rig update -- new speakers, pedals, etc

[Denim n Leather]

I just completed a rather significant change in my rig which involved taking the V30s out of my Rivera 4x12 and replacing them with a pair of Eminence Wizards and Swamp Thangs.

I rewired the cab so it operates as dual-mono 8Ohm pairs in an X pattern. One pair is the Wizards, the other is the Swamp Thangs. This enables me to use a different amp for each pair and blend the tones together. It's really opened up a lot of tonal possibilities and will take a bit to dial in, but I'm very happy with my initial results:





I am using the Wizards with the Cielo and the Swamp Thangs with the Studio 2.

A couple of clips, recorded with a Tascam DR-1 about 3.5ft away at 'party volume'; louder than TV volume, but not gig SPLs.

This is a quick clip with and without my favourite 'always on' pedal, the Nick Greer Sweetback Driver. I do not have the Sweetback set for boost, I just pass my signal through it for its incredible tone shaping:

http://soundcloud.com/bena/with-and-without-sweetness

This clip is both amps/speaker sets with the HE Descend providing the clean tone. Xotic PP Preamp is on at all times:

http://soundcloud.com/bena/patriotic-union-1

[Mr. Air]

I like the riffing at the end of the clip in the second link. Raunchy tone!  :D

[shobet]

Interestingly you've gone for the same choice of speakers that I went for in my Zilla cab.

Have you given them time to break in yet as I noticed with mine that there's a definite difference in sound between the Swamp Thang and the Wizard? One also seemed to project a bit better than the other. I'll need to check which was which as my memory fails me.

[Denim n Leather]

I should hope there's a definite difference in sound between the drivers -- they are built completely different from each other!

As for which projects better ... I think that depends on too many factors to say that 'X projects better than Y', especially as I'm using 2 amps.

In the main, however, the voicings really complement each other -- the STs are open with a recessed mid and a late breakup; the Wizards are focused with a pronounced mid spike and an early breakup. They combine to make a sound that is detailed yet crunchy with plenty of LF authority and a clear HF response that is not brittle or thin.