Eminence Texas Heat speaker...

[Lewguitar]

How do you guys feel about this speaker?

Bruce put a new baffle and a Texas Heat in one of my Princeton Reverb amps. My other Princeton has a Weber 10 based on the mid 60's Jensen C12N. The Weber 10 is louder and has fuller bass than the Eminence 12...but the Weber breaks up faster, isn't as bright and isn't as clear.

We're trying to find the ideal speaker for my heavily modded Princeton Reverb amps.

I really like both the Weber 10 and the Texas Heat 12. But I would kinda like to hear a fuller, deeper tone out of the Texas Heat. I'm really surprised that the Weber 10 has so much bass and a fuller tone.

All in all, I prefer the Texas Heat - it seems to have more of the kind of tone I gravitate towards and it's a high quality clear tone...but for a 12 it doesn't have as much bass as I would have expected.

Some reviews claim it has a bit of a flat dull tone...I sure don't hear that! It's bright.

And some reviews say it sounds more like ZZ Top than SRV...I don't hear that either. Sometimes it seems like guys listen with something other than their ears! Call something a "Texas this" or "Texas that" and just the power of suggestion makes some guys feel like the speaker has some kind of Texas Blues tone.

(Kinda like the "Texas Sizzle" I've never heard the Duncan Pearly Gates as having...as if it's some kind of burger or ribs sizzling away on the grill instead of being a guitar pickup!)

Anyways: what has been your experience with the Emi Texas Heat? I like it - even if it doesn't sound like "Texas Heat" or particularly bluesy.

To me, it just sounds like some kind of really good Blackface Fender era 12...

 

[LoFiBrian]

Re: Eminence Texas Heat speaker...

I dig mine...which is in a hot rod deluxe of my sisters right now.

it has a very cool low end and def has that sizzle which my sister had t get used to. but what I like most is the mid range when you push that speaker. Maybe its because its not as super efficient like the other eminence with similar specs at only 99db? but once it gets moving and the power tubes fatten up the tone...it just is very cool.

it reminds me of a Jensen and v30 if they had a baby...

but for you lew...you would prob like the red white and blues which has a thick almost percusive american tone. though it was muddy IMO. and obviously the swamp thang which has enough bottom for anyone. and still sparkles too. I vote for the swamp. but its heftly with a 56oz mag.

honest get a good pair of phones and listen to the clips on their websiste
listen to the TH and then look what missing in the other models...you never know what might jump out at you.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Eminence Texas Heat speaker...

I've not tried the Texas Heat, I did however try the Lil Texas in the Mission V-Lux and was quite impressed...there was something going on in the top end of the Lil Texas that I didn't warm up to but overall I thought it was a great speaker. Are you trying a Texas Heat or the Lil Texas?? I know Bruce was really into those Lil Texas speakers...

That Weber 10 you have in the other one is a killer speaker, and you're right it has MASSIVE bottom for a 10! Personally I think I'd stick with a 10 in a PR but if you want or need the 12 go for it...what else have you tried besies the Texas Heat???

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Eminence Texas Heat speaker...

I've not tried the Texas Heat, I did however try the Lil Texas in the Mission V-Lux and was quite impressed...there was something going on in the top end of the Lil Texas that I didn't warm up to but overall I thought it was a great speaker. Are you trying a Texas Heat or the Lil Texas?? I know Bruce was really into those Lil Texas speakers...

That Weber 10 you have in the other one is a killer speaker, and you're right it has MASSIVE bottom for a 10! Personally I think I'd stick with a 10 in a PR but if you want or need the 12 go for it...what else have you tried besies the Texas Heat???

I dig mine...which is in a hot rod deluxe of my sisters right now.

it has a very cool low end and def has that sizzle which my sister had t get used to. but what I like most is the mid range when you push that speaker. Maybe its because its not as super efficient like the other eminence with similar specs at only 99db? but once it gets moving and the power tubes fatten up the tone...it just is very cool.

it reminds me of a Jensen and v30 if they had a baby...

but for you lew...you would prob like the red white and blues which has a thick almost percusive american tone. though it was muddy IMO. and obviously the swamp thang which has enough bottom for anyone. and still sparkles too. I vote for the swamp. but its heftly with a 56oz mag.

honest get a good pair of phones and listen to the clips on their websiste
listen to the TH and then look what missing in the other models...you never know what might jump out at you.

Thanks guys. Bruce wants to use a 12. What he's done is redesign the PR so it's really quite a different amp. More like a Vox with reverb. Totally unique phase inverter design, tone stack, voltages, different output tranny that's more like a DR's tranny for more output, etc. He's just using the PR chassis as a platform. The 12 does sound better than the 10. But boy that Weber has a fat full deep loud tone! It's a bit grainy and rough compared to the Emi 12 though. I thought it was the amp but it's the speaker. Anyways, this is the design that's going to be my Lew Collins Signature model. Lew

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Eminence Texas Heat speaker...

RIght on Lew! I was wondering what ever happened with this amp.

So, is it a plain Texas Heat or is it the Lil Texas?

I didn't find the Lil Texas dull at all, in fact the one thing that I never got into was the treble on that speaker...it wasn't at all harsh but there was something in the high that bugged me after a few hours of play time, but MAN did that speaker have some lows...massive deep bass in that little speaker, blew me away from a single 12 in an open back!

What about your old standby, G12H30?? Also, I know Bruce is a fan of those Mojo speakers and they have a raelly great G12H30 clone that MIA.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Eminence Texas Heat speaker...

It's a regular full size Texas Heat 12. Bruce is looking for a less expensive alternative to the Celestion. Don't know why he didn't use the Mojo...I think he wanted me to hear something that would be new to me. Although I played through the Texas Heat at NAMM and liked it. As much as anything I think Bruce just wanted my opinion on the Emi in a PR. I told him I'd probably replace it eventually with a G12H30 or G1265. I only just got the amp so the Emi is still very new and not broken in yet. Sounds great right out of the box though.

I need to try different guitars today. Tried the Strat with the EMG's and my Tele with the Bardens last night and was knocked out! I'm liking that Strat with the David Gilmour set of EMG's more and more every day, BTW.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Eminence Texas Heat speaker...

If you like the Texas Heat but want more bottom try the Lil Texas...it's a neo speaker and has a very big, bold bass that has a lot of depth to it plus it's a VERY loud speaker not to mention weights almost nothing! Before you go to the Celestion speakers try the Lil Texas...I think you'll be surprised!

I think I would have liked it more in an amp with more than just a single tone control. I like single tone control amps because I hear something fat and juicy in the mids that I never hear out of amps with real tone stacks but if the amp/speaker/guitar combo you're using needs a small adjustment to be right your out of luck, and that was the case with the Lil Texas in the Mission V Lux...just a little teak in the highs and I would have been very happy!

Bruce has also been trying the Emi Tonker Lite which is another neo speaker but it has more of a Britt vibe to it...

Let me know if you get a chance to try the Lil Texas...

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Eminence Texas Heat speaker...

If you like the Texas Heat but want more bottom try the Lil Texas...it's a neo speaker and has a very big, bold bass that has a lot of depth to it plus it's a VERY loud speaker not to mention weights almost nothing! Before you go to the Celestion speakers try the Lil Texas...I think you'll be surprised!

I think I would have liked it more in an amp with more than just a single tone control. I like single tone control amps because I hear something fat and juicy in the mids that I never hear out of amps with real tone stacks but if the amp/speaker/guitar combo you're using needs a small adjustment to be right your out of luck, and that was the case with the Lil Texas in the Mission V Lux...just a little teak in the highs and I would have been very happy!

Bruce has also been trying the Emi Tonker Lite which is another neo speaker but it has more of a Britt vibe to it...

Let me know if you get a chance to try the Lil Texas...

I thought you had tried the Neo speaker in the tweed covered prototype that
Bruce sent you to beta test and that you were unsatisfied with that speaker but, according to Bruce, couldn't put your finger on what it was that you didn't like about it.

In any any case, that's how I felt about that speaker too. Didn't dislike it but just didn't feel excited about it either. It was good but not textured enough or familiar sounding or tonally interesting or something.

I do like the Texas Heat better...although I'm hearing it in a totally different amp than that tweed prototype. It's a very American sounding speaker...not Celestion-esque at all.

To me, the Texas Heat reminds me of an old '66 Jensen C12N, but brighter and clearer with its own thing going for it.

It does not remind me of SRV or ZZ though! That "Texas Heat" thing is just marketing babble...

Like my dad (who was a great salesman) used to say: "Sell the sizzle...not the steak."

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Eminence Texas Heat speaker...

Thats right...it just didn't sound right to me but it did have a gob of low end...

Anyway, let me know what you end up with in the long run!

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Eminence Texas Heat speaker...

Thats right...it just didn't sound right to me but it did have a gob of low end...

Anyway, let me know what you end up with in the long run!

Let's chat. Any chance you could call me at the store today? 303-443-2030.

I'd love for you to hear this amp...

Lew

 

[flank]

Re: Eminence Texas Heat speaker...

i have a pair of Texas Heat in my vintage twin reverb and i think they are a solid match for old fender amps. I don't think they are as bright as what you're hearing, and i think they have plenty ample bass...but i guess some of that all depends on the rest of the rig/settings/etc.

but for the money, i easily recommend the Texas Heat for any Fender amp

 

[LtKojak]

Re: Eminence Texas Heat speaker...

Hey Lew!

Eminence Cannabis Rex.

Best guitar speaker ever made.

It might take a little while to break-in, but sounds it sounds great from day one and it just gets even better after a while.

HTH,

 

[krankguitarist]

Re: Eminence Texas Heat speaker...

Ever think about trying the swamp thang? From what I hear, its basically a texas heat with a bigger magnet on it. I've got one in my cab right now, and it's got a really deep, full bottom end to it.

 

[Scott_F]

Re: Eminence Texas Heat speaker...

I ran a pair of those Heats in a 2x12 with a two rock for a while. Excellent speakers.

 

[wixedmords]

Re: Eminence Texas Heat speaker...

I like them if I want a little more bass and less mids.

But, I do find a little bit of an upper mid spike in them, not as bad as most V30's to my ears. This can be a bit amp dependent.

I think the TH is a great speaker choice for certain applications.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Eminence Texas Heat speaker...

i like the texas heat but i prefer the cannabis rex, does take a while to break in but ive been using one in my dr for a while now and really like it.

 

[missionamps]

Re: Eminence Texas Heat speaker...

I've not tried the Texas Heat, I did however try the Lil Texas in the Mission V-Lux and was quite impressed...there was something going on in the top end of the Lil Texas that I didn't warm up to but overall I thought it was a great speaker. Are you trying a Texas Heat or the Lil Texas?? I know Bruce was really into those Lil Texas speakers...

That Weber 10 you have in the other one is a killer speaker, and you're right it has MASSIVE bottom for a 10! Personally I think I'd stick with a 10 in a PR but if you want or need the 12 go for it...what else have you tried besies the Texas Heat???

It has been my experience with gigging musicians that most of the players find single 10" combo amps a little light weight when it comes to actually gigging with bass, drums and another melody or chord supporting instrument.
Of course there are venues where it is totally acceptable.
I do like the Lil Texas NEO speaker a lot... I still think it is a great speaker for a tweed sounding amp using a single tone control.
The Tonker Lite is a great speaker too... I have one in another modified Princeton Reverb being used out in the real gigging world right now.
The Princeton Reverb mod amp is a totally different amp then a tweed amp and I think the NEOs might be a little top endy for some players so I'm still searching and I don't want to use Weber speakers.
I like the clean, low bass response in these two NEO speakers and how sensitive (loud) both are. It is much easier for a lower powered amp to drive the speaker cone, lighter weight voice coil and magnet structure to a very powerful sound.

I'm working with another new speaker now... an LCS 12BB, an American made, Alnico Celestion Blue clone at a very competitive price.
It uses the same British Mueller cones Celestion uses, an AlNiCo Ring magnet and a little heavier Kapton voice coil for better power handling... still built like a Celestion Blue (but has no bell cover).
If I had time, I'd drive up to Lew's today and install it in the modified Princeton Reverb and get some feedback.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Eminence Texas Heat speaker...

It has been my experience with gigging musicians that most of the players find single 10" combo amps a little light weight when it comes to actually gigging with bass, drums and another melody or chord supporting instrument.
Of course there are venues where it is totally acceptable.
I do like the Lil Texas NEO speaker a lot... I still think it is a great speaker for a tweed sounding amp using a single tone control.
The Tonker Lite is a great speaker too... I have one in another modified Princeton Reverb being used out in the real gigging world right now.
The Princeton Reverb mod amp is a totally different amp then a tweed amp and I think the NEOs might be a little top endy for some players so I'm still searching and I don't want to use Weber speakers.
I like the clean, low bass response in these two NEO speakers and how sensitive (loud) both are. It is much easier for a lower powered amp to drive the speaker cone, lighter weight voice coil and magnet structure to a very powerful sound.

I'm working with another new speaker now... an LCS 12BB, an American made, Alnico Celestion Blue clone at a very competitive price.
It uses the same British Mueller cones Celestion uses, an AlNiCo Ring magnet and a little heavier Kapton voice coil for better power handling... still built like a Celestion Blue (but has no bell cover).
If I had time, I'd drive up to Lew's today and install it in the modified Princeton Reverb and get some feedback.

Bruce: are you coming to the Rockies/Diamond Backs game on Thursday night? We have four tickets. Maybe you could bring the speaker with you?

I love the amp, BTW! And really like the Texas Heat speaker. But I do think most guys would like a little more bass, especially when playing at home. Onstage, where I tend to use less bass, I have a feeling the Texas Heat would be just fine. It's just fine now to be honest...just not the tone I'm used to from my G12H30's and G1265's. You know how you get a tone in your head and just get used to it.

To be honest, I'm not sure if its more bass or more mids that I'd like to hear from the Texas Heat. Since it has such a blackface Fender vibe to it, I'm thinking I just like speakers with more of a British tone. That sort of means more mids and more crunch to the mids. But I wouldn't want to over do it. I do like a clearish articulate tone even when I'm playing with a lot of overdrive.

Lew

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Eminence Texas Heat speaker...

Well - last night I replaced the Texas Heat with an Orange County reconed early 80's Celestion G12-65.

The Texas Heat is a great speaker but I'm going to leave the Celestion in there for a while and break it in. The recone is brand new.

I liked the crisp high end of the Texas Heat - it has a classic blackface Fender kind of personality to it. It's brighter than old Jensen 12's though.

The Celestion G12-65 is much smoother. It's also much smoother than the Celestion G12H-30.
The G12H-30 seems a little brighter and clearer.

I'm not sure the Celestion G12-65 will stay in my Princeton-Reverb forever. I might switch to a G12H-30 eventually.

 

[kjrocks]

Re: Eminence Texas Heat speaker...

I really like the TH in my amp. I havent play out with it yet so I cant say if I'd keep it either