Gear whoring showdown (zilla, orange, bogner cabs, 5150, Pittbull and stuff

[MDV]

Mate of mine came round with a 5150 and a spanking new Zilla fatboy. We made lots of noise. Then moved cables and suff around and made more. Then did it again.

Proof of existance/reality.



Ubercab, stock loadout.
Orange - swamp thang and jensen C12k
Zilla - swamp thang and legend
CL100EQ
Powerball
6505+
JVM
Legras were the weapons of choice, since they're awesome, but the jacksons got a look in for the BK comparison, of course.

Findings - short version

Uber >>> Zilla >>>>> Orange
CL >>>>> . (for my tastes at least)

I shant bother with the in depth and subjective assessment of each, as we'll be here all day. I certainly wont bother telling you what quite common amps like 5150s and JVMs sound like (though if you have any specific questions regarding comparison between them, I'll be happy to answer). I have two main observations:

The zilla killed the orange, which surprised me...I mean, I was perfectly open to the possibility that it would be better/I would like it more, but the difference was really shocking, especially given the similarity of the loadout (to my ears at least; one could elaborate with various adjectives like 'clear' 'smooth' tight' 'full' blah blah). I didnt expect that, given that the orange is quite good and has a generally superb reputation. I even moved them to the same location in the room to make the comparison to make sure that couldnt sway anything. The Ubercab rules all, however, quite effortlessly. Though, the zilla has quite the 'ubercab lite' sound and feel; like a both physically and sonically stripped down and compacted ubercab; about as tight, the Ubers low end could easily engulf the zillas with a similar actual magnitude/balance of lows in the tone, but they have as similar depth, thickness and size as I can expect a 2x12 and 4x12 to have to one another, both have good note definition (but the ubers got more) both are quite smooth souding (but the ubers smoother) both are punchy, but the...blah blah you get the idea. That may sound like an uncharitable comparison, but it in fact means I love the zilla!

And

This is the first time I've had the chance to play multiple guitars through a 5150, and I was really surprised how homogeneous it made them all sound. Theres more difference between guitars by far through all the other amps there. I didnt expect that, for some reason. 

Really, I expected to have 5150 gas today, being reminded what they sound like in person, playing one with my guitars and cab. I thought it might fill a hole between my amps that I could use to provide clients with a wider and more precisely realised range of tones (within the realms of metal at least)....but I'm not that fussed. I wouldnt say no, it'd be handy to have one around, and the 5150 has a 'classic modern metal' (oxymoron I know) sound is one that it would be nice to have (relatively) easy (easier/whatever) access to...but the zilla came out of left field, and impressed me enough that I kind of forgot about it :lol:

[dave_mc]

nice gear there :)

that's interesting about the zilla. They are pretty good value, nice to know it's good (in case i ever get one :D)

[MDV]

Frankly silly-good for the money.

Dont tell him I said that before I get one. Which may be never, so just dont :lol:

[JDC]

Tis nice! Guessing this is a Zilla Fatboy.

My eyes are playing tricks on me as I am sure there are 2 sets of active pickups in that photo, what are your thoughts and preference on speakers now since the Bogner is back to stock?

[MDV]

No tricks. 2 legras with EMGs, 2 Jacksons with BKs. There was no way to balance the 2nd jackson in the pic.

Yes, its a fatboy.

It was nice to explore different sounds for a bit and try out new combinations, but in the end I found the strengths of the various other speakers and combos didnt outweigh the weaknesses compared to the T75/V30 pairing, especially that of having 2 'workhorse' tonally reliable and familar speakers to mic up, that happen to blend very well, both in the room and in mixes. Though I only tried 2 other speakers in place of the 75s: K100s and Swamp thangs its not like it was an exhaustative search, but when I got the chance to put T75s back in and heard it again, I had and have no inclination at all to change it again.  

Edit: I should add that aside from the inate tonal difference, on account of that pesky physics stuff, between a 2 and 4x12, having a 2x12 with different speakers to the UC was in great part to, well, have different speakers without $%&#ing with the UC anymore. So the search/speaker experimentation continues. The Jensen is nice btw; comparatively smooth, bit of a scoop in the top of the mids/bottom of the high mids, big, fat low end that rivals the swamp thangs.

[JacksonRR]

I'd love to try a Zilla myself, but there's a slim chance over here. It's always nice to be surprised in a nice way though.  :)
If you're looking for new speakers to try, I've been having real good luck with Warehouse Guitar speakers. Ditched my G12T-75s and Vin30s for their HM75s and Veteran30s. I have two G12T75s left to be sold sometime after working hours this week(craigslist). Looking forward to picking up a few more WGS models, a Retro30, a Liberator and a British Lead with that cash. The Retro30 is what I'm really looking forward to trying out. I spent some time last weekend with my local WGS part-time dealer and I wish he had that model when I bought the Vets. Compared side-by-side in JCM800 cabs, the Retro30 was a lot tighter in the bass department than a Celestion Vin30, was thicker overall and had a smidge more highs. Really liked that one.
 

[witeter]

Im actually thinking of modding by Marshall 1960a to have the X pattern design with V30s and G12T75s a la Uberkab-whats your experience of this combination in a marshall?

[Dmoney]

I have V30's and T-75's in an X pattern, in a 1960A cab.
I've never really liked any cab I've played with 4xV30's but they do sound cool with the T-75's I think, and for me better than 4xT75's. The Uberkab also has some dacron cladding in the back of it, i added that to my cab also. I really like how my cab sounds. If I had the money though, I'd take out the celestions and install Tayden's.

[witeter]

hey man thanks for that! nice to actually chat to someone who has that pattern in a marshall-when changing the speakers did you have to solder them back on? or do they just clip on? cheers

[Dmoney]

i rewired my cab with beefier guage speaker wire. I also replaced the input jacks and panel at the back with hardwired jack sockets on a metal plater rather than the PCB mounted ones with the switch. I have it 8ohm stereo, or 16ohm ONLY for mono.

[witeter]

Cool man-thanks for that

[MDV]

Im actually thinking of modding by Marshall 1960a to have the X pattern design with V30s and G12T75s a la Uberkab-whats your experience of this combination in a marshall?

Zero. Only knowingly, all T75s in marshalls. But the difference between the marshalls and the uber was much bigger than the difference between V30s and T75s. The closest cab I've heard to it was a deizel, which had 4 V30s. I'm starting to think speakers are much less important than cab :) (previously I tought both were important, but speakers moreso)

I wouldnt advise against the speaker combo in anything, however. Its a good combo

[witeter]

Ah ok cheers man good to know-yeah seems like the build is really important (a fact id also overlooked in the past)-not sure if i can afford a whole new cab just yet so probably just do the speaker swap and see how it hangs. In a recording situation though-whats the best way to get the best out of a cab with that combo? do u mic the v30 and the G12T75? or ujst one and not the other?

[sgmypod]

Nice orange. Is zilla closed back as well. Always liked the jensen in that one would definatly have one again

[MDV]

Yeah the Zilla is closed marc.

witeter, depends what I want or what works best. Theres a mic setup there for a blues-rock project that I was reamping earlier with both T75s (57 and NT1a) and one V30. Often I'll just use one or another, sometimes I'll blend. Depends. Having the ability to choose, first from 2 different speakers and then since they're in X one next to the ground and one higher in the room of each gives a lot of micing flexibility out of one cab.