Author Topic: Need speaker recommendation. (Read 7238 times)

cjpmmd · « **on:** June 18, 2006, 11:20:16 AM »

As I try to knock more of the rust off my playing lately, I'm finding that my amp just isn't doing what I want. It's a Marshall JCM2000 DSL50, with one 1960A cabinet. I like the amp itself, and at lower volumes it sounds OK, but when I start to wind it up it can get piercing and harsh. I was going to just invest in something new, but am wondering if a change of speakers might be a better (and cheaper) answer. Would appreciate any input on my best options for a warmer blues/rock tone (circa 1970's +/-) than these stock 75-watters are giving me.

Eye thank yew!

Chris

jordan · « **Reply #1 on:** June 18, 2006, 12:27:33 PM »

Interesting topic....Lately I've been looking at the same thing.

I haven't made any changes yet, but I've spent a fair amount of time researching the Celestion line of speakers. It seems the V30s are pretty much the standard for rock (Slash is a famous endorsee, among others). If money's no object, they've just released the Alnico Gold speaker, which is a 50w version of their famous Alnico Blue speaker. Apparently it's the tits, but it will be very expensive.

Personally I'm tempted by the Century Vintage speaker. It's half the weight of regular speakers as it's made of neodynium (spelling?), and seems like a good new option.

Let us know what you decide, speakers contribute so much to the tone of an amp, yet few people seem to consider changing them.

Cheers,
Jordan.

dave_mc · « **Reply #2 on:** June 18, 2006, 12:58:31 PM »

I have vintage 30's, and they're nice, but they may be a little modern sounding for what you want (though if slash uses them...). They have a nice growl in the mids that I like, but it may not be what you want...

I don't really have any other experience with other speakers- just don't forget about the other speaker guys like, for example, eminence etc. too...

j7899 · « **Reply #3 on:** June 18, 2006, 01:01:01 PM »

Since I have only owned combo amps I recently purchased an Avatar cab, their G212H Custom with a Celestion G12H30 and a Classic Lead 80. I am waiting on my Zvex nano head, and also a Epiphone valve jr. head so I haven't been able to try out the cabinet. I chose those two speakers as they should complement one another really well.

http://www.avatarspeakers.com very good prices, cab ended up costing about $80, if you consider the speakers cost $120 each through online retailers.

PhilKing · « **Reply #4 on:** June 18, 2006, 02:50:56 PM »

I went through a lot of speakers at Matamp (they have 8 or 10 set up to test with all the time). The celestion blue was the best, but the vintage G12H was also really good. I have Tone Tubby speakers in one of my Fenders and they sound great but are not at all cheap.

I am not a Vintage 30 fan, but a lot of people swear by them (unlike me who just swears at them :P ). The new greenback heritage G12M also gets great reviews, but the problem with the G12H and G12M is power, they are rated 30 and 20 (in the heritage versions), vs 60 watts for a misnamed vintage 30!

Check out the Hellatones on Ebay, these are a hotrodded G12H. I also like the Eminence Wizard.

last one, if you can find a Celestion Sidewinder then buy that. I have one in my Silver Jubilee and it sounds great.

HTH AMPS · « **Reply #5 on:** June 18, 2006, 03:44:37 PM »

best speakers for 70s rock are G12Ms or G12Hs - I personally like two of each in a 4x12. wouldn't go anywhere near V30s unless you're using alot of gain.

what sort of volume are you playing at btw? - those 75w Celestions sound really good, but you really need to blast them.

:twisted:

FELINEGUITARS · « **Reply #6 on:** June 18, 2006, 04:39:16 PM »

Quote from: PhilKing

last one, if you can find a Celestion Sidewinder then buy that. I have one in my Silver Jubilee and it sounds great.

All my speaker cabs have celestion sidewinders
Very efficient and accurate speaker
Sounds like a cross betweeen an EV and a celestion
Handles 150 watts and has a realistic midrange - what you put in is what you get - lets you hear your amp and what pickups you are using

cjpmmd · « **Reply #7 on:** June 18, 2006, 06:59:07 PM »

I don't usually crank as much volume as I used to 20 years ago (with a 100-watt Laney AOR head and a 4x12 with Fanes), but even when I do the stock speakers in the Marshall cabinet just don't do it for me any more. I looked at the Tone Tubbies (what's not to like about hemp?), but they're a few ticks above my budget at the moment. On the website for South Valley Vintage Amps (svvintageamps.com) they offer a Mojo "British Vintage" speaker as (supposedly) a Greenback-type at a lower price. Never heard of that brand, anyone here ever try 'em?

cjpm

indysmith · « **Reply #8 on:** June 18, 2006, 07:24:42 PM »

where abouts are you cranking up this amp? I had the same problem with my JCM800 - but i realised in the end that my bedroom has shitety acoustics, and i was standing way too close to the speakers. If you crank it in a larger area with better acoustics, standing further away from the speakers than usual you may be in for a pleasant suprise.

PhilKing · « **Reply #9 on:** June 18, 2006, 09:53:10 PM »

Not sure if they still are, but Mojo's used to be made by Eminence. I have a couple of their alnico 10's (one in my Princeton Reverb), but I don't think that it would be a match for the heritage G12 H or M. You might want to check out the Weber ceramic magnet speakers, they have a good reputation.

Twinfan · « **Reply #10 on:** June 18, 2006, 10:05:37 PM »

Quote from: HEAVIER THAN HELL

wouldn't go anywhere near V30s unless you're using alot of gain.

Angus Young uses V30s with very little gain, and his tone sounds good to me ;)

V30s do have a hefty midrange which some like and others don't. I'd try and play thorugh a few cabs and see which you like the sound of.

_tom_ · « **Reply #11 on:** June 18, 2006, 10:13:59 PM »

Quote from: indysmith

where abouts are you cranking up this amp? I had the same problem with my JCM800 - but i realised in the end that my bedroom has shitety acoustics, and i was standing way too close to the speakers. If you crank it in a larger area with better acoustics, standing further away from the speakers than usual you may be in for a pleasant suprise.

+1, my amp always sounds cr@p in my bedroom, but when I get to the studio where we do band practise it sounds awesome.

HTH AMPS · « **Reply #12 on:** June 18, 2006, 10:40:01 PM »

Quote

Angus Young uses V30s with very little gain, and his tone sounds good to me Wink

When I think classic AC/DC tones I think of anything from Back In Black backover - V30s weren't around then. It was all G12Ms and G12Hs on the classic AC/DC albums.

The more recent AC/DC recordings have never recaptured that awesome tone they 'used' to have :(

:twisted:

hunter · « **Reply #13 on:** June 19, 2006, 07:53:37 AM »

Combination cabs are good because they are more complex sounding and they give you the choice if you want to mike your amp live (however choice can be a bad thing if there is no time).

I have a G12H30 and Vintage 30 mix in a 2x12Heritage cab and I'm very happy.

However, do you compensate settings when you crank your amp? The DSL50 with G12/75s should not be that bad (or can Gary Moore be so wrong?). Maybe backing off Presence and Treble a little will do the trick already.

Otherwise, take your Head and Guitar and walk to a dealer and try some alternative Marshall cabs, some with V30, Greenback etc. If you don't wanna buy a new CAB, I'd not try different brands, as the cab itself has a significant impact on the sound. An Orange or Bogner Cab will always sound superior to a Marshall, even with the same speakers.

mikeluke · « **Reply #14 on:** June 19, 2006, 11:04:43 AM »

+1 for the Eminence Wizard as a Celestion alternative