10" v. 12" speaker -- what's the tonal difference?

[hellatone]

:smokin: I'm starting to think about putting together a new amp -- I'm thinking blackface deluxe reverb clone, maybe even just a head -- and i'm thinking maybe a 2x10 cabinet? lighter than lugging around a 2x12 (i guess) and with two speakers i can mix speakers for different sounds -- opinions?

 

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Re: 10" v. 12" speaker -- what's the tonal difference?

Ermmm, well, mixing the speakers can be done to the 12's too . . .

. . . and you will have a much bigger choice, as there are so much more 12incers out there compared to 10's !

Also, i do not think that a 1x10 will be all that lighter than a 2x12 ?
Yes, slighlty bigger cab = more wood = slightly heavier, and sam can go for the speakers, but if you go to a site like Avatar.com (fantastic cab co.), you will see the weight diff. between nthe 10's & 12's are minimal !

TONE :

Never AB'ed them, but i believe that the 12's would have the upper hand on the bass front. (move more air an' all that)

My 2 cents

 

[hellatone]

Re: 10" v. 12" speaker -- what's the tonal difference?

actually, now that you say it, it seems pretty obvious......:smack:

 

[frpax]

Re: 10" v. 12" speaker -- what's the tonal difference?

Are 10's lighter than 12's?

Depends on the speakers themselves. A 10" w/ a heavier duty chassis and big magnet will weigh more than some 12's.

 

[sufferinrewind]

Re: 10" v. 12" speaker -- what's the tonal difference?

Are 10's lighter than 12's?

Depends on the speakers themselves. A 10" w/ a heavier duty chassis and big magnet will weigh more than some 12's.

But, generally, 12's are a little heavier.

 

[Lake Placid Blues]

Re: 10" v. 12" speaker -- what's the tonal difference?

I think you can get a tighter, faster (punchier), bass response from a ten. A 12 is almost always fatter in the midrange though.

 

[doveman]

Re: 10" v. 12" speaker -- what's the tonal difference?

Sounds like all those 4x10 Fenders ... which is good. I built a 2x10 sealed cabinet with JBLs in it years ago ... I liked it alot ... but a friend wanted to buy and I needed the cash ... burned up in a bar fire.

The 2x10 is a little tighter ... a bit more volume than a similar 1x12 EVM that I built (in my avatar by the way) but not quite as much as a 2x12. It was still pretty heavy with the old JBLs.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: 10" v. 12" speaker -- what's the tonal difference?

If you had a 10 and a 12 that were the same model just different sizes you would notice that the 10 is tighter and faster but also had more mids and a tad less bass...not enopugh to be a problem IMO. I think 10's are better than 12's for a lot of people but the truth is that a 12 is cinsidered the "standard' so more companies focus on 12's giving us FAR more options for good 12's than good 10's...

 

[doveman]

Re: 10" v. 12" speaker -- what's the tonal difference?

If you had a 10 and a 12 that were the same model just different sizes you would notice that the 10 is tighter and faster but also had more mids and a tad less bass...not enopugh to be a problem IMO. I think 10's are better than 12's for a lot of people but the truth is that a 12 is cinsidered the "standard' so more companies focus on 12's giving us FAR more options for good 12's than good 10's...

Tad less bass ... mids can vary with speaker design. Would agree that more options would be nice ... but most people go after the 12s and certain configurations ... so that's what you see. There is almost nothing that can complete with a Black Face Super Reverb with 4x10 open back. I had a buddy with one of those. I played with him for years and that thing was sweet. Yep ... I'd like to have some more 2x10 choices. I like the sealed cabinets like the one I built. Maybe I'll get a table saw and a router again and start making them ... :27:

 

[Virtual Kevorkian]

Re: 10" v. 12" speaker -- what's the tonal difference?

10's always sound thin and kinda tinny to me, and fizzy in the 10/12Khz range, but I'm always playing with gain.

 

[doveman]

Re: 10" v. 12" speaker -- what's the tonal difference?

10's always sound thin and kinda tinny to me, and fizzy in the 10/12Khz range, but I'm always playing with gain.

What brand of 10s are you using? I know there's not a lot of them out there?

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: 10" v. 12" speaker -- what's the tonal difference?

10's always sound thin and kinda tinny to me, and fizzy in the 10/12Khz range, but I'm always playing with gain.

Hmm...all this sounds SO familar...

 

[Quencho092]

Re: 10" v. 12" speaker -- what's the tonal difference?

10's always sound thin and kinda tinny to me, and fizzy in the 10/12Khz range, but I'm always playing with gain.

Wait a minute.....i think that's because......(insert Lew's favorite tone)

 

[doveman]

Re: 10" v. 12" speaker -- what's the tonal difference?

Hmm...all this sounds SO familar...

Hmm ... I think you're right. :smack:
It's probably wrong to run 2x10 ... they should be run in 4x10s like the Super Reverb ... NO STOP! :smack:
But it can be done. NO STOP! :smack:
But I have a deep seeded need to run a 1x12 8ohm load with a 2x10 8ohm load in ... ... ... ... ... PARALLEL. NO STOP! :smack:
It can't be done ... we have too many things to consider! PLEASE STOP! :smack:

Yeah ... I think you're right! I need to do search on all my past posts ... just in case there are other "pairs discussions" lurking. Someone might respond to one of them and I'll be ... well we don't even want to go there ... I hate math!

 

[doveman]

Re: 10" v. 12" speaker -- what's the tonal difference?

10's always sound thin and kinda tinny to me, and fizzy in the 10/12Khz range, but I'm always playing with gain.

But I'd still like to know what brand of 10s your using. :27:

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: 10" v. 12" speaker -- what's the tonal difference?

What does all that mean?!

t be hoenst my favorite set up is 2x10...in the right set up 2x10 can be plenty for gigging and it's smaller and easier to move that 2x12 and louder and fuller than 1x12. Im not much for 4x10 combos due to the weight but 4x10 cabs are cool...plus with 10's oiver 12's you never have to really worry about mud!

 

[doveman]

Re: 10" v. 12" speaker -- what's the tonal difference?

What does all that mean?!

t be hoenst my favorite set up is 2x10...in the right set up 2x10 can be plenty for gigging and it's smaller and easier to move that 2x12 and louder and fuller than 1x12. Im not much for 4x10 combos due to the weight but 4x10 cabs are cool...plus with 10's oiver 12's you never have to really worry about mud!

I'm just playing ... I had the same discussion about 2x12s earlier. You just reminded me. I like the 2x10 myself ... I wish they were more available. Sorry ... just having some fun. :13:

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: 10" v. 12" speaker -- what's the tonal difference?

I'm just playing ... I had the same discussion about 2x12s earlier. You just reminded me. I like the 2x10 myself ... I wish they were more available. Sorry ... just having some fun. :13:

All good!

Don't get me wrong...I love 12's and have quite a few of them but for me and in my playing settings a set of good 10's is just better...one of the problems with 10's is that there are just not that many killer 10's on the market...almost all speaker makes focus on 12 leaving 10's and 15's out in the wind so to speak!

 

[doveman]

Re: 10" v. 12" speaker -- what's the tonal difference?

You're preachin' to the choir! Back when I started there were so many high quality 10" choices. I actually built a cabinet with 2x10 JBLs (looked just like my 1x12 EVM in the Avatar). It was pretty bright ... being JBLs and all. I really wish I had not gotten rid of that cabinet. Of course neither EVM or JBL make these speakers any more. It's sad. I'd love to see them out there. I'd still like to recreate that 2x10 combo with what's available in 10s. That's the reason I was asking about the make ... doing a little up front research to learn what 10s are like now. If you do a search on speaker cabs just about all you see is 12s. I've only found two making 2x10 except for bass speakers.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: 10" v. 12" speaker -- what's the tonal difference?

If you're looking for those old JBL 10's (or EV's for that matter) get the Weber clones and be done with it...they are VERY close to the originals and have options that can tame the brightness (different dust caps) as well as magnet options. The Weber 10's I have tried have actually blown me away everytime so far...in fact all of Ted's speakers have blown me away!