50w amp, 50w cab?

ex-250

ex-250

Riffologist Extraordinaire
So I play through an Orange OR50. I'm selling my Mesa 4x12 because its complete overkill and a real bastard to squeeze in and out of a Corolla on a regular basis. Also the more time goes on the more I dislike V30s. Far too modern sounding, plus the renowned spike.

I have my eyes on a used 2x12 with Greenbacks (G12M25), but I'm concerned about dead evenly matched wattage. Through a 2x12 I'll generally play with the master volume at noon. Gain just past noon. Often hitting it with fuzz, octave down, and delay. Am I being overcautious here, or am I likely to do damage?

Also, as its a single-channel amp (and its my nature to do so anyhow), all my cleans are achieved by rolling back the guitar's volume pot. I'm a bit concerned about headroom as Greenies are known for early breakup. Just want to make sure I can still get some decent cleans with a roll back. This is probably the dumber of the two issues, but hey thats what the internet is for.

Suppose I should just go get something with those fancy new Creambacks, but money is a big issue and I'd save over $200 going with this used cab.

Any advice?
 
Re: 50w amp, 50w cab?

I would say you will be just fine. I mean yes greenback do break up early, however people have been getting clean tones from them by rolling back for decades. Granted if your amp is dimed you may not get fender twin clean, but clean none the less.
 
Re: 50w amp, 50w cab?

Case in point I use wgs reaper 55hz 30 watt speakers through a 50 watt blackface fender and I can get fender clean as well as dirty by rolling back the guitar . The reaper 55 is rated at the same cone breakup as a greenie.
 
Re: 50w amp, 50w cab?

as long as you dont push the speakers too hard, i think youre fine. a 50w amp can put out more than 50w though so do be careful with your volume and listen to your speakers. without effects you can usually hear when you are pushing your speakers too far, much harder with fuzz, octave and delay.
 
Re: 50w amp, 50w cab?

ex-250 said:
..............Suppose I should just go get something with those fancy new Creambacks, but money is a big issue and I'd save over $200 going with this used cab.

Any advice?
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Save the $200, sell the greenbacks for $30-$50 ea (assuming they're not the UK mfg.). and buy a couple of WGS (model of your choice) for around $140. You still saved $120-$160.
 
Re: 50w amp, 50w cab?

It'd be fine unless you regularly dime the amp. The 50 watt rating is RMS - clean headroom. The power section breakup is extra wattage on top of that, and the signal is clipped like a block so that would be kicking the crap out of the speakers on top of excess wattage. A slightly higher rated cab would be fine for running the amp wide open.
 
Re: 50w amp, 50w cab?

Yeah not likely to be diming. Wasn't sure about the math when accounting for gain and such, but keeping the volume at noon I suppose I'll be alright.
 
Re: 50w amp, 50w cab?

ex-250 said:
So I play through an Orange OR50. I'm selling my Mesa 4x12 because its complete overkill and a real bastard to squeeze in and out of a Corolla on a regular basis. Also the more time goes on the more I dislike V30s. Far too modern sounding, plus the renowned spike.

I have my eyes on a used 2x12 with Greenbacks (G12M25), but I'm concerned about dead evenly matched wattage. Through a 2x12 I'll generally play with the master volume at noon. Gain just past noon. Often hitting it with fuzz, octave down, and delay. Am I being overcautious here, or am I likely to do damage?

Also, as its a single-channel amp (and its my nature to do so anyhow), all my cleans are achieved by rolling back the guitar's volume pot. I'm a bit concerned about headroom as Greenies are known for early breakup. Just want to make sure I can still get some decent cleans with a roll back. This is probably the dumber of the two issues, but hey thats what the internet is for.

Suppose I should just go get something with those fancy new Creambacks, but money is a big issue and I'd save over $200 going with this used cab.

Any advice?
Click to expand...

i prefer a speaker cab that can handle at least twice the head power. i ran a 100W marshall through a 4x12 GB marshall cab and it's not good. cone cry and speaker distortion at high volumes.

also beware that the GBs have a flubby low end so you won't get clean and tight palm muting riffing at higher volumes. i'd look at the creambacks. having owned all of the 12" celestion speakers marshall offers i like the vintage most. creambacks are on my wish list. i believe they have the heavy magnet and they have all the wattage any head can offer.
 
Re: 50w amp, 50w cab?

You could also sell the GBs and get a pair of Golds...95% the same tone, twice the wattage handling. All it takes is one good spike to fry one of the coils of the GBs, and then you're screwed. Running the master and gain at noon, you're likely already past the amp's rated wattage.
 
Re: 50w amp, 50w cab?

FOR ME- I like to have about double the wattage rating of the amp when using g12ms. I currently don't have that luxury (40w amp, 1x25w, 1x20w g12m in a 2x12). So I run my master lower than I like as they get too blitzed (and old ones sound better blitzed than current production).

I don't care as much for the creambacks or wgs. I would go with heritage 12-65s, or a pair of private-jacks if YOU feel the need for more headroom.
 
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Re: 50w amp, 50w cab?

I recommend an orange 212 closed back cab, thats what I use for my orange head, wont sound like a 412 but its cool. I know you dont like the v30s but that was in a mesa and not a cab designed for orange
 
Re: 50w amp, 50w cab?

guitfiddle said:
You could also sell the GBs and get a pair of Golds...95% the same tone, twice the wattage handling. All it takes is one good spike to fry one of the coils of the GBs, and then you're screwed. Running the master and gain at noon, you're likely already past the amp's rated wattage.
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golds and greenbacks sound the same? ive owned both and dont agree with that. love the greenback, sold the gold
 
Re: 50w amp, 50w cab?

guitfiddle said:
All it takes is one good spike to fry one of the coils of the GBs, and then you're screwed. Running the master and gain at noon, you're likely already past the amp's rated wattage.
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I'm not sure you'd be past, but with the master at noon you'll be getting close to rated wattage.

JeffB said:
FOR ME- I like to have about double the wattage rating of the amp when using g12ms. I currently don't have that luxury (40w amp, 1x25w, 1x20w g12m in a 2x12). So I run my master lower than I like as they get too blitzed (and old ones sound better blitzed than current production).

I don't care as much for the creambacks or wgs. I would go with heritage 12-65s, or a pair of private-jacks if YOU feel the need for more headroom.
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+1 for Private Jacks. They handle more wattage than GBs, and get tighter as you push them harder as opposed to more loose.
 
Re: 50w amp, 50w cab?

The rule of thumb is that speakers should be minimum 1 1/2 times the amp wattage. That said unless you're cranking the amp you should be OK.
 
Re: 50w amp, 50w cab?

If you're used to running the volume at half with a 4x12, you'll be pushing it higher going through a 2x12. The loss of db's from those two speakers you're taking away will be compensated by turning the volume up, assuming you like and are used to your current volume. I agree with getting the cab and selling/trading the GBs.
 
Re: 50w amp, 50w cab?

speed2dirt said:
If you're used to running the volume at half with a 4x12, you'll be pushing it higher going through a 2x12. The loss of db's from those two speakers you're taking away will be compensated by turning the volume up, assuming you like and are used to your current volume. I agree with getting the cab and selling/trading the GBs.
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With the same speakers, that's true. I went from a 4x12 with G12H30s (100db) to a 2x12 with Eminence Wizards (103db) and the volume was effectively the same.
 
Re: 50w amp, 50w cab?

guitfiddle said:
You could also sell the GBs and get a pair of Golds...95% the same tone, twice the wattage handling. All it takes is one good spike to fry one of the coils of the GBs, and then you're screwed. Running the master and gain at noon, you're likely already past the amp's rated wattage.
Click to expand...

Can damage be detected using a 9V battery?
 
Re: 50w amp, 50w cab?

You'll be fine with that setup.
Still, if it puts your mind at ease to have higher rated speakers, have a look at eminence private jacks rather than the creambacks. Killer speakers. Gutsy yet sweet and no greenback flab.
 
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